All: What Game Developers Hate About Videogame Reviewers

Foe · 15-July-06, 03:30 AM

They smile at junkets, exchange pleasantries at E3 and treat the enthusiast press exceptionally well, but behind closed doors, many game developers take a dim view of videogame reviewers. Media Coverage looks at the key reasons why and asks you for more.

This week I received a late night phone call on the Media Coverage hotline. It was from an old friend who, years ago, made the perilous leap from videogame journalism to videogame development. This week he was not happy.

"I hate videogame reviewers." As usual, he rushed directly to the point. The guy who regularly savaged games in concise, laser-targeted articles was now steaming over a couple 100 word reviews. His transition from game critic to critical-target changed his perspective on this whole enthusiast press thing.

Read the Rest

Graaille · 15-July-06, 11:43 PM

After reading this, I'm glad that I play each game completely thru to the end before I write the first word. But I did take a couple of points away as a reviewer, some good things to think about.

NCXCStud · 16-July-06, 01:00 PM

I feel that that review of 'game reviewers' was fair and honest. He did a good job.

As a reviewer myself, I try very hard to play the game from the perspective of the target audience, and I usually stay away from genre's that I don't particulary like very much. But, every once in awhile, I venture out of my safety box and find a game I particulary enjoy (Table Tennis

)

He brings up lots of good points though. I like his argument for reviewers to be more like Roger Ebert, was it enjoyable...was it good for the target audience, etc...

15-July-06, 03:30 AM		#1 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God	All: What Game Developers Hate About Videogame Reviewers They smile at junkets, exchange pleasantries at E3 and treat the enthusiast press exceptionally well, but behind closed doors, many game developers take a dim view of videogame reviewers. Media Coverage looks at the key reasons why and asks you for more. This week I received a late night phone call on the Media Coverage hotline. It was from an old friend who, years ago, made the perilous leap from videogame journalism to videogame development. This week he was not happy. "I hate videogame reviewers." As usual, he rushed directly to the point. The guy who regularly savaged games in concise, laser-targeted articles was now steaming over a couple 100 word reviews. His transition from game critic to critical-target changed his perspective on this whole enthusiast press thing. Read the Rest

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15-July-06, 11:43 PM		#2 (permalink)
Graaille Apex Master Tech	After reading this, I'm glad that I play each game completely thru to the end before I write the first word. But I did take a couple of points away as a reviewer, some good things to think about.

16-July-06, 01:00 PM		#3 (permalink)
NCXCStud Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	I feel that that review of 'game reviewers' was fair and honest. He did a good job. As a reviewer myself, I try very hard to play the game from the perspective of the target audience, and I usually stay away from genre's that I don't particulary like very much. But, every once in awhile, I venture out of my safety box and find a game I particulary enjoy (Table Tennis ) He brings up lots of good points though. I like his argument for reviewers to be more like Roger Ebert, was it enjoyable...was it good for the target audience, etc...