Former IGN Review Response to Plagiarism

After being let go from IGN because of plagiarism, former Nintendo Editor Filip Miucin took to YouTube to respond to the situation and give his side of the story. He eventually took down the original video, but it was re-uploaded by THD.

In the video, Miucin claimed he was taking full responsibility for what happened. He said:

I do as much research I can about it. A game, a product, an event. I try to look at all resources that are available to me before I start formulating my own critical opinion so I can offer the most cohesive, possible review.

He also apologized to IGN, his co-workers, and Motion Twin.

When mentioning Boomstick Gaming, he said he wishes him the best and “hopes his [Boomstick Gaming’s] wave of success lasts a long time.” However, Miucin didn’t directly apologize to the channel in the video.

Miucin also explained his pre-IGN history as a small-time YouTuber, before calling out Kotaku News Editor, Jason Schreier, for the accusation that Miucin plagiarized a Nintindo Life review of FIFA 18.

Miucin said that wasn’t the case and “maybe he [Schreier] was implying that if you have similarly opinionated reviews, then you’re just plagiarizing.” Miucin also said that he thought Schreier was potentially taking advantage of the situation to gain clicks.

[Schreier is] just maybe trying to get as many clicks off of my name right now as possible, or maybe he just likes kicking people when they’re down. I don’t know. I mean, check it out for yourselves and you be the judge.

Reports state that the writer who had originally written about FIFA 18 through a tweet claimed Miucin wasn’t taking plagiarism seriously while contesting Miucin’s claim that the FIFA 18 review wasn’t plagiarized: 

I can’t believe you’re actually suggesting that you didn’t plagiarize my FIFA 18 review for Nintendo Life, and claiming that plagiarizing the Dead Cells review ‘wasn’t intentional’. You have completely failed to accept and understand what you’ve done.

Schreier, meanwhile, received another account of Miucin plagiarizing, Engadget’s review of Metroid: Samus Returns, of which Schreier received a transcription. 

Since his apology, Miucin has received criticism from various outlets. YouTube gaming commentator, YongYea, criticized Miucin for not talking about his side of the story, refusal to admit to plagiarism, and not apologizing to Boomstick Gaming. 

According to reports, Miucin’s former co-worker and IGN’s Executive Editor of Reviews, Dan Stapleton, said on Twitter that he “hasn’t seen an apology so poorly received since Kevin Spacey,” he felt like Miucin had stabbed him in the back.

Another of Miucin’s former colleagues, IGN PC Editor Tom Marks, tweeted this:

“Just to be abundantly clear, plagiarism isn’t a mistake: it’s a choice.”

Near the end of his apology video, Miucin also mentions how his family members have been harassed and asks those taking issue with him to leave them out of it. He goes on to thank the people still supporting him, and he said he hopes to do better in the future.

“I didn’t get into this industry to make money or to get famous,” Miucin said. “I started this whole journey because I love video games…. I wanted to share my passion for entertainment with you and maybe inspire others to go out and chase their dreams as well.”