Hedek
Sentinel
- Joined
- December 24, 2006
- Messages
- 203
I'm not saying whether this particular review/reviewer is good or not.
I'm arguing that:
A. it's possible to write an honest and factually true low score review of a game after only a few hours if and only if:
1. the bad elements are present from the start,
2. they are factually true (for example: the reviewer didn't notice that an option in the control panel easily fixes it)
3. they remain unchanged throughout the game (for example: high level abilities don't dramatically improve the inaccurate controls encountered at low level),
4. they are fundamental issues which affect every other aspect of the game to the point where later good elements would unfortunately not make up for it and thus increase the initial score.
B. conversely and unfortunately for game developers, it's impossible to write a high score review after so little playtime, as you have described it perfectly with AoC.
Now if I had to judge the quality of this specific review, it'd have to pass the 4 tests I've described in A:
1. true
2. Since I've never played Darkfall, I can't tell. For the purpose of this discussion I'll assume true. If a Darkfall player proves otherwise then indeed it's a sorry excuse for a review.
3. That's where I'd have to agree with people who believe it's a bad review. But it's not totally impossible to determine in a few hours of play. Depending on the issue, asking veterans in game or looking at the list of features might be enough. For example, if the reviewer complains about distances and time spent running around, you don't need to play till the end to find out whether you get mounts at higher level.
4. Given the nature of the issues he complains about, I'd tend to say it's true.
Now I'll follow your advice and wait for other opinions. But if they confirm what has been said in this review, I'll have to admit this reviewer managed to write a valid review after only a few hours of play. A rare and unlikely feat indeed, but definitely doable in theory.
I think the comparison with books is relevant to illustrate what I'm trying to say. If the style is so unbearable from the start and doesn't change throughout the book that you can't even read/understand it no matter how interesting the story and characters might be, does the critic reviewing this book commit a professional crime if he doesn't read it to the last page? What would be the point/benefit of reading it to the end? Again, I'm assuming here writing style remains identical.
I'm arguing that:
A. it's possible to write an honest and factually true low score review of a game after only a few hours if and only if:
1. the bad elements are present from the start,
2. they are factually true (for example: the reviewer didn't notice that an option in the control panel easily fixes it)
3. they remain unchanged throughout the game (for example: high level abilities don't dramatically improve the inaccurate controls encountered at low level),
4. they are fundamental issues which affect every other aspect of the game to the point where later good elements would unfortunately not make up for it and thus increase the initial score.
B. conversely and unfortunately for game developers, it's impossible to write a high score review after so little playtime, as you have described it perfectly with AoC.
Now if I had to judge the quality of this specific review, it'd have to pass the 4 tests I've described in A:
1. true
2. Since I've never played Darkfall, I can't tell. For the purpose of this discussion I'll assume true. If a Darkfall player proves otherwise then indeed it's a sorry excuse for a review.
3. That's where I'd have to agree with people who believe it's a bad review. But it's not totally impossible to determine in a few hours of play. Depending on the issue, asking veterans in game or looking at the list of features might be enough. For example, if the reviewer complains about distances and time spent running around, you don't need to play till the end to find out whether you get mounts at higher level.
4. Given the nature of the issues he complains about, I'd tend to say it's true.
Now I'll follow your advice and wait for other opinions. But if they confirm what has been said in this review, I'll have to admit this reviewer managed to write a valid review after only a few hours of play. A rare and unlikely feat indeed, but definitely doable in theory.
I think the comparison with books is relevant to illustrate what I'm trying to say. If the style is so unbearable from the start and doesn't change throughout the book that you can't even read/understand it no matter how interesting the story and characters might be, does the critic reviewing this book commit a professional crime if he doesn't read it to the last page? What would be the point/benefit of reading it to the end? Again, I'm assuming here writing style remains identical.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2006
- Messages
- 203