Chalk Talk - Reviewer Revelry
This weeks Chalk Talk we discuss the impact that video game reviews have on the community. Do these critiques hurt the fans or do they help the hype?
This weeks Chalk Talk we're going to spend some time reflecting on the art of the game review. Sometimes we love them; sometimes we hate them, sometimes we are confused and confounded by their logic when it comes to the games we love as well as the games that we thought were absolute trash. Here's what GameSpotters had to say.
EvanescentCrow: Of course, most common gamers only play a few of the games that are released every year - more if you are fans of a genre and don't mind the similarities or downright repetition - but reviewers, usually, have to play a lot more so what seems or feels perfectly acceptable to you, may be downright grating for the reviewer. This is where we begin to separate the professional reviewers from… everyone else. read more.
GeekyDad: When it comes to reader reviews, I feel a player has the right to chime in at any point in their progress, so long as they intend to offer something of meaning to the community and how it relates to a game. read more.
Darthkaiser: A decent review takes in account the good and the bad things in a game objectively, gives credit when credit is due and mentions the game's flaws or improvements it could have made. Sounds pretty simple and yet the reviewing process can vary a lot from reviewer to reviewer.read more.
benleslie5: Most of these reviews I've read, I would agree with the 1 or 2 reviews on what were the good parts about the game and the bad parts about. Even if it is not worth checking out people are still going to buy it because most people would be a fan of that series, have a look at Call of Duty the series has sold millions and billions of players play online for fun but half the gamers wouldn't even care how bad it is, people would still play it. read more.
Starshine_M2A2: Reviews should always be unbiased, ignorant of the writer's own personal opinion and above all, be a guideline for those unsure about purchasing the subject of the review. While I agree with this stance, I also take a certain pride in knowing that my game collection is of high quality and is regarded by professional game reviewers and that I generally have good taste. read more.
Peanut Gallery
In addtion to the fantastic blogs on GameSpot we also took a quick Community Poll via Facebook and Twitter to find out what others had to say on the subject.
More Chalk
A very special thanks to everyone who contributed to this week's Chalk Talk! To read all of the entrants, you can check out this link here.
Extra Credit
Sometimes a good blog is simply a good blog, and these GameSpot members deserve recognition for their efforts and contributions:
- Are games lacking a challenge? I think so By: Smokescreened84
- Heroes of Paper By: Pierst179
- A Letter to Nathan Drake By: terrascythe
Last Week on Chalk Talk: Achievement Unlocked
Next Week's Assignment:
Downloadable Content (DLC) it can come in many shapes, sizes, forms and costs. For some it is a way for a game that would otherwise age quickly to maintain that fresh out of the box smell. While others feel that it is a slap in the face. Some remember the old times where additional content was a boon gifted to you by the gaming gods for performing a particular feat of strength. This weeks Chalk Talk we're going to discuss Downloadable content, does this nickel and dime action shake your faith in the companies you would otherwise support? Do you feel that DLC adds an other dimension for your gaming experience? Does DLC hurt the consumer and the community? Comment in this thread here with a link to your blog marked as editorial for your chance to be featured. Big thanks to g1rldraco7 for this weeks topic!
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