institutional

Editorial, Ethics & Review Policy

Last updated: September 30, 2025

TL;DR

We buy or clearly disclose what we didn’t. We verify, reproduce, and cite. We separate ads from editorial. We fix mistakes fast. We don’t sell verdicts, ever.

1) Scope

This policy covers all editorial on fandoming.com: news, reviews, previews, tutorials, guides, opinion, and scandal/investigative reporting (labor disputes, monetization schemes, data/privacy issues, moderation failures, etc.).

2) Independence & Conflicts of Interest

  • No paid editorials. Sponsored posts are labeled “Advertisement” at the top and excluded from scoring/verdicts.
  • Gifts & review code. We accept review code, early access, or loaner hardware only under non-influence terms. We disclose the source in each article. Loaners are returned or purchased at street price.
  • Personal ties. Staff must disclose financial interests, consulting gigs, or close relationships with sources or studios. Editors may reassign coverage to avoid bias.
  • Affiliate links. If a story contains affiliate links, we label that at the top and again near the links. Affiliates never affect scores or coverage.

3) Sourcing, Attribution & AI

  • Primary beats hearsay. We prefer firsthand docs, patch notes, regulatory filings, court records, on-the-record interviews, and direct data to social-media rumors.
  • Citations. If we didn’t dig it up ourselves, we link to the original source. Aggregators are not “original sources.”
  • AI tools. We don’t publish machine-generated text as final copy. AI may be used for transcription, outline scaffolding, or data parsing under editor supervision. All claims are human-verified.
  • Plagiarism. Zero tolerance. Quotes are quoted, sources are linked, lifts get retracted.

4) Reviews: Methodology & Scoring

Goal: tell you if a game is worth your time and money today, on specific hardware/patches.

4.1 Test Environment

Each review includes a Methodology box listing:

  • Platforms tested (PC specs / console model, storage type, display, controller & M&K)
  • Build/patch number and review window dates
  • Settings used (upscaler mode, frame caps, RT, FSR/DLSS/XeSS, HDR on/off)
  • Capture/measurement tools (frame-time capture, input-lag meter, network logs)

4.2 Evaluation Criteria

  • Performance & Stability: average FPS plus 1%/0.1% lows, stutter, crashes, shader compilation behavior, VRAM use.
  • Design & Systems: progression, balance, difficulty options, onboarding, grind vs. reward.
  • Content & Value: length, replayability, post-launch plans, paid vs. free updates.
  • UX & Accessibility: readability, remapping, colorblind modes, motor/cognitive assists, subtitle quality.
  • Monetization: base price vs. microtransactions/battle passes/loot boxes; time-to-fun; paywalls.
  • Online Experience: netcode, matchmaking quality, anti-cheat impact, server stability.

4.3 Score & Verdict

  • We use a 10-point scale with .5 steps and a short verdict line.
  • No pre-patch scores. Day-one or embargo builds are clearly labeled; if day-one patch materially changes the game, we hold the score or run a “Provisional Review”.
  • Re-reviews occur for transformative patches/expansions with a clear “Updated on” stamp and change log.

5) Tutorials, Guides & Walkthroughs

  • Version-locked. Guides list patch/build and platform.
  • Reproducible steps. Each step is tested on at least one additional platform when relevant.
  • Spoiler policy. Spoilers sit behind warnings; critical surprises are not in headlines or thumbnails.
  • Save integrity. We call out save-breaking bugs and provide backup steps when possible.

6) News & “Scandal” Reporting

  • Evidence first. We won’t publish allegations without verifiable documentation or on-record sources. “A person familiar with” is the exception, not the rule, and only with editor approval.
  • Right of comment. Companies or individuals named in a critical story receive a reasonable window for comment. Their responses are included verbatim or linked in full.
  • Legal review. Sensitive pieces (workplace conduct, defamation risk, leaked materials) receive legal read-through before publication.
  • Source protection. We honor off-the-record and background terms we explicitly agree to. Whistleblower identities are protected to the fullest extent permitted by law.
  • Corrections > stealth edits. Substantive changes are labeled Correction or Update with timestamps.

7) Advertising, Sponsorship & Commerce

  • Church and state. Sales and ad teams have no authority over editorial.
  • Labeling. Sponsorships are marked clearly; partner logos do not confer influence.
  • Merch/commerce. Roundups and buying guides follow the same editorial standards. Discounts or affiliations are disclosed.

8) Embargoes, Events & Travel

  • Embargo compliance. We honor embargoes we agree to; we won’t sign NDAs that restrict core editorial judgment.
  • Travel disclosure. If a company pays for travel, accommodation, or meals, we disclose it prominently.
  • Hands-on coverage. Event previews identify build type (pre-alpha, beta, review candidate), session length, platform, and constraints (guided demo, remote stream, etc.).

9) Corrections & Updates

  • Fast fixes. Factual errors get corrected with a timestamped note: “Correction (Date): …”
  • Living pieces. Guides and ongoing news receive Update notes when materially changed.
  • Appeals. If you believe we got something wrong, email [email protected] with evidence or documentation.

10) Data, Privacy & Security

  • User data. We do not publish personally identifiable information without explicit consent or clear public-interest justification.
  • Security testing. We don’t publish active exploit details without coordinated disclosure to the affected party.

11) Accessibility Commitment

  • Reviews and guides include an Accessibility Snapshot: font size options, subtitle quality, control remapping, difficulty assists, colorblind modes, quick-time-event bypass, and haptics toggles.
  • If access features are missing or broken, we say so, plainly.

12) Editorial Process (How a Story Ships)

1) Pitch & assignment → 2) Reporting & testing → 3) Draft (with sources linked) → 4) Edit pass (fact-check, legal if needed) → 5) Standards check (disclosures, methodology box) → 6) Publish → 7) Post-publish monitoring (patches, reader feedback).

13) Contact Channels

14) FAQ

Q: Do you change scores post-launch? Yes, for major patches or expansions. The article gains an Updated note and a changelog.

Q: Do you take money for positive coverage? No. Ads and sponsors don’t touch editorial. If money is involved, it’s labeled “Advertisement.”

Q: Why didn’t you review on every platform? We only score what we test. If we lack sufficient time or access, we label the missing platforms and update when tested.

Q: How do you handle leaked material? We verify authenticity, assess public interest, seek comment, and consult legal before publishing.

Got a tip for us? Email: [email protected]. Did you find an error in this article? Email: [email protected].