Originally posted by Hgrpoiu:

[...]

(ii) When I read reviews I like to read something that can summarize itself at the top, while elaborating into something longer that I can skim througt.

[...]

I would like #53 please :)

Hello and thanks a lot for the reply!

A few people have specifically asked for a summary/synopsis at the top of the review page, so it's gaining traction!

I'll have #53 with you later tonight if you're available, or certainly some time this weekend. Thanks again :)

Hi everyone! Here's a giveaway exclusively for group members.


Prize: 1x Steam copy of Deponia Doomsday
http://store.steampowered.com/app/421050/

How to Enter

Reply below with an answer to this question:

Q. What day + time span suits you best for giveaway announcements such as the one that led you here? E.g: Monday-Friday, 5-10 P.M (PST)

• Don't forget to include your timezone!

Winner

And the winner is ... -=LOGO$=-


Thanks & good luck!

Originally posted by filden:

Thank You!
Prize #40 received. Left in the Dark: No One on Board
Excellent!

Thanks filden, enjoy! :)

Originally posted by TheElectricRaichu:

#87 Prize: Metrocide + Hidden Bonus: Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards: Reloaded Received! Thanks a lot, man! I'll make sure to tell some of my friends about this thread!

Many, MANY thanks!

Originally posted by justseedy:

thanks got the game nice

You're welcome Charles, hope you enjoy the game! :)


Many thanks for all of the other confirmations so far too, hope you all enjoy the games!

Originally posted by sylvain_ch21:

[...]

(ii) I prefer to read:
In-depth, lengthy reviews with detailed descriptions and opinions

BUT with in intro a short resume ! (a score, with pros and cons, and a short paragraph to resume what it is about)

(iii) Extra technical details e.g. supported resolutions, configurable options (not performance/optimization details):
Are sometimes desirable in a review - it depends on the game (please elaborate or give examples if possible)

generally modern game are compatible with a wide range of recent material. But for old game technical detail of supported material is more important! (or howto hack to make it compatible, or link to - well ok not perhaps job of reviewer :P)
configuration are also important to detail, when it offer a lot of replayability! (be clear where there are procedural generation?) and for multiplayers.


(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)
I would definitely watch some gameplay footage included with a review

IMPORTANT (thx youtube's here, when not provided ^_^). it's a good way to have a look of how the game really plays. Just don't spoil ! (last boss, or important "surprise" of the game, resolution of puzzle,...)

(v) Screenshots
It depends on the game (please elaborate or give examples if possible)


casual puzzle games don't need much (IMHO), but for 4X and complex game I often feel like it just a few random pick!!!
most of the time what's missing that I would like is more screenshot of the configuration screens. And better overview of the different game "scenario".
And MOST IMPORTANT good detailed legends with the screenshots !

[OPTIONAL] Any other thoughts or opinions regarding review pages would be much appreciated!
multiple reviewers ! (well often google the game to look for different reviews). Also I really appreciate site that give players the opportunity to give their own reviews.

[...]

Hello sylvain, welcome to the group and many thanks for the detailed, specific answers. Great stuff!

(ii) Regardless of the outcome of the vote, I think the new format should you there, for the most part. Let me know when the time comes!

(iii) Very good point! Older games sometimes need extra configuration to work on newer systems, in which case info/links to get it working should be included.

(iv) Revealing the final boss would be quite the spoiler! Not to worry thought, a spoiler-free policy would extended throughout - including gameplay videos :)

(v) Many thanks for specifics here! You're the second person to request configuration screens - duly noted! Same goes for detailed legends - your request has been counted :)

Two interesting (and first to be mentioned) requests for multiple reviewers and user reviews! I've thought about these too, but it's something that would have to be looked into sometime down the line.

Many thanks once again for the answers. Will have you thank you gift with you tomorrow!

Originally posted by justseedy:

(i) I would read reviews for:

New or old releases - age doesn't matter - even if i don't know the game i'd be tempted to read it if i came across a review

[...]

(iii) Extra technical details e.g. supported resolutions, configurable options (not performance/optimization details):

Should always be included in a review - as some older games don't work out of the box on newer machines and vice visa and there is no point reading about a game i can't play beacuse of hard ware problems

(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)

I might watch some - as long as it did not have too many spoliers that would ruin playing the game myself

[...]

[OPTIONAL] Any other thoughts or opinions regarding review pages would be much appreciated! - i think a reivew page blog would go well with a quicker shorter youtube review channel

#89 | Hint: Hidden Object, Biplane | Prize: ??? | Winner: ??? - please

Hello Charles! Welcome to the group and thank you very much for the extended answers.

(i) The votes for newer + older reviews are mounting up as of late. Also, glad to see you are willing to read a wide variety of reviews.

(iii) A very fair point - problems like that (as well as info/links on the remedies) should be pointed out where possible.

(iv) Gotcha! A spoiler-free policy would also extend to gameplay videos.

Interesting parting thoughts, will keep them in mind, but note that video reviews or commentated footage won't be included.

Thanks again Charles! Will send over your thank you gift tomorrow.

Originally posted by TheElectricRaichu:

[...]

(ii) I prefer to read:
In-depth, lengthy reviews with detailed descriptions and opinions

Although, I'm fine with both the first and second options, I mostly prefer in-depth reviews, to give a more detailed and accurate description.

[...]

(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)
I might watch some

If I like the game or are interested in it enough, I might watch some. Unless, I want to experience it all myself without spoilers, such as Danganronpa, for an example.

[...]

I'm down with:
#87 | Hint: Shooting, Cyberpunk | Prize: ??? | Winner: ???
(If that's okay and hopefully, I don't own it yet lol)

Hello there and welcome to the group! Many thanks for your answers, I'll do my best to ensure you get a game you don't own yet :)

(ii) It will be interesting to count the votes on this one when they're all in, it seems like the requests for more detailed reviews are on the rise. Glad to see the opinions coming in!

(iv) Certainly a fair point! Sometimes you want to know as little as possible before trying out a game for yourself.

Many thanks once again for your answers, will get your game to you tomorrow!

Originally posted by filden:

[...]

(ii) I prefer to read:
In-depth, lengthy reviews with detailed descriptions and opinions
Shorter reviews, with concise descriptions and brief overviews
I like to read both. I like to read some short conclusion about the game and it would be nice, that there should be also a longer and detailed version of this.

(iii) Extra technical details e.g. supported resolutions, configurable options (not performance/optimization details):
Are not necessary in a review - I can consult manuals/websites/forums for those
For me this information is not needed. First thing, why I read a review - is read about a game, about game process, about story, about authors impressions.

(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)
It depends on the game (please elaborate or give examples if possible)
There can be a link to videos from this game (like extra separate part of your website), but i dont like, that videos are included or embedded exactly in review. I think, that videos are not so important than text.

[...]

[OPTIONAL] Any other thoughts or opinions regarding review pages would be much appreciated!
It would be great, if each game should have a rating, 0-100 points for example. And there can be something like best 100 games of all time - gold pantheon or something like.

P.S. Thank You for a giveaway, if my answers are acceptable.
#40 | Hint: Hidden Object, Ship | Prize: ??? | Winner: ???

Hi Denis, welcome to the group! Thanks for your detailed answers, they are more than acceptable and are in fact much appreciated :)

(ii) No matter the outcome in this case, I believe you'll like the format I have prepared :)

(iii) Well said, many respondents so far will agree with you here.

(iv) Interesting, a unique response compared to the others so far, duly noted! Same goes for numerical ratings (quite a bit has been said about this if you have a look above, Ill try to summarize it after all of the answers are in!).

You are also the first to suggest "best of" type articles - interesting idea! There are a lot of those out there though, but if anyone else likes this idea please let us know!

Thanks again Denis, will send over your thank you gift soon :)

-----

To be continued tomorrow! Have a good one folks!

Originally posted by xainy:

Originally posted by violace:

I find it important to note here that even in reviews for old games, spoilers should be avoided - many people think that once a game (or movie or tv show) reaches a certain age, you should be allowed to freely talk about everything, which is completely fair, but I think that reviews are not the place for that.

Just want to say, I completely agree with this. If someone is looking at reviews, they're looking for info about the game and whether it's good or bad, likely because they haven't played it.
There have been times I intentionally looked up spoilers for games or movies I wasn't sure I wanted to see and there are plenty of places to do that elsewhere, spoilers have 0 place in a review.

That seems like it should be common sense, but as Violace pointed out, apparently some reviewers don't think about it that way!

Thanks a lot for seconding that opinion (you beat me to it!) - it really helps to gather a consensus! Couldn't say it better than yourself or Violace already have, so if anyone else wants to agree, disagree or add to this in any way please don't hesitate!

Like every other topic raised here, the responses are very interesting. Keep it going folks!

Originally posted by violace:

As promised, I'm back with my answers!


(i)
- I haven't always been as passionate about gaming as I am now, so I missed many big titles that are considered "classics" today (for example, I only just started playing Star Wars KOTOR last year). I've been catching up on some of those and usually read reviews before I start, no matter how old they are.
I find it important to note here that even in reviews for old games, spoilers should be avoided - many people think that once a game (or movie or tv show) reaches a certain age, you should be allowed to freely talk about everything, which is completely fair, but I think that reviews are not the place for that. (I'm still pissed because a review spoiled the big plot twist in KOTOR for me. :( )

(ii)
- This one is difficult to answer. I tend to prefer short, concise reviews because I have the attention span of a goldfish, but some games just call for more detailed descriptions, especially when it involves complex game mechanics. Ideally it would be a detailed review with a good, concise summary at the end.

[...]

(iv)
- I think including a video in addition to screenshots is great. Many times I looked at screenshots of a game before I bought it and was disappointed when I started playing because it felt completely different from what the images conveyed. Experiencing movement, music and sounds of a game before I buy it is important to me.

[...]

My reserved game was #71! Thank you for this, these were some interesting questions to ponder.

Welcome back Tine and thank you very much for the highly detailed answers - excellent stuff!

(i) It seems as we go on, the % of people requesting coverage of older titles and hidden gems increases. Nice to see the opinions coming in!

That's a really excellent point regarding spoilers in reviews of older games. I personally couldn't agree more; a review should never assume the reader has played the game, no matter how old it is. Many respondents have expressed a desire for spoiler-free material and I see no reason not to apply that to each and every review.

If anyone feels otherwise, cast your vote and let us know! Interestingly on this subject, Kida just above us here prefers a certain degree of small spoilers when it comes to Visual Novels, basically because some spoilers are needed to get a decent feeling for the story and scenarios - key features of a VN. Any other opinions on this would be most welcome!

(ii) "Ideally it would be a detailed review with a good, concise summary at the end." - I believe I will have you covered in this scenario :)

(iv) "Experiencing movement, music and sounds of a game before I buy it is important to me." - Well said, my personal goal with gameplay videos is to get the viewer as close as possible to the experience of playing the game themselves.

I'm really glad you enjoyed answering the questions, huge thanks once again for the highly detailed responses!! I'll have thank you gift #71 with you soon :)

Originally posted by xainy:

[...]

(i) I tend to look at reviews for games I'm interested in, no matter when they came out. I'll also sometimes read reviews for random games, in case something in the review intrigues me.

[...]

(ii) I really prefer reviews that have a concise list of pros and cons at the beginning and then an in-depth look at the game in sections such as "graphics," "gameplay," "sound," "atmosphere," "characterization," etc.


(iii) Extra technical details e.g. supported resolutions, configurable options (not performance/optimization details):

Are not necessary in a review - I can consult manuals/websites/forums for those
I will say - if it happens to be a game where these details are hard to find or may surprise some users, it is nice to have them in the review.

[...]

Hey there Kayla and welcome to the group! That's absolutely no problem, I'd be glad to make sure you get a game you don't already own and try to choose whichever hidden object best suits you.

(i) We are on a roll here with the votes for old + new game reviews! I like to idea of reading random reviews and seeing if anything catches your eye - expand your horizons!

(ii) Thanks for the very specific answer here, all points duly noted.

(iii) Gotcha, many other respondents agree with you too! I.e surprising/game-breaking issues and unexpected requirements or optimization issues.

" I would say that reviews which start out with a pro/con list or with a short humorous sentence tend to catch my eye faster than paragraphs of text." I like this idea too, thanks for sharing :)

Huge thanks once more for the highly detailed answers - really appreciate it! Will have a hidden object thank you gift with you by tomorrow :)

Originally posted by fu3ka:

I got Silver Knight and Dawn's Light. Thank you for the games!
I'm sure you'll do nice work with writing reviews and reconstructing website.

Thanks a lot fu3ka, I hope you enjoy them too!

Originally posted by violace:

I would like to reserve #71! Will edit my post with answers later when I get back home. :)

Sure thing Tine! Welcome to the group :)

Originally posted by Balthassar:

[...]

(i) I would read reviews for:
-I consider games as independent Islands. One could be great for 2006 standards but not anymore in 2016. It can still be fun to play casual for fun.


(ii) I prefer to read:

In-depth, lengthy reviews with detailed descriptions and opinions
- This is a funny one. When you see a wall of text it can be a bit much. But by reading the long ones you also get to know the reviewer, what he thinks and wants. I can easily disregard opinions I dont agree with and add up the points if the game is interesting or not.

[...]

(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)

It depends on the game (please elaborate or give examples if possible)
- Only new games where I don't have a clue what it looks like or to see what it is. A description by the game maker alone is not enough. These days they use a lot of different genres smashed up together.

(v) Screenshots

Gallery/galleries of 10+ are best
-The more the better. Pictures are easy media to consume.

[...]

Hello Balthassar! Welcome to the group and thank you very much for your detailed answers!

(i) Excellent point: a fresh look at older releases should be more useful than a review written on the original release date.

(ii) I get you there. It's that initial "will I or won't I jump into this sea of words" question you ask yourself. I've thought about this too and have experimented with presenting the text as pleasingly as possible. I think it helps a little, if longer reviews are voted in you can let me know!

This is becoming quite the divisive answer, but I have something ready that I believe should cater quite well to both sides if it does end up becoming a 50-50 sort of vote.

(iv) That's true, we need more and more tags to try to define a game's genre(s) these days. May I take it that you would look at some screenshots or a video, or perhaps both?

(v) A clickable link to screenshot galleries is certainly a possibility! We'll have to see how the votes work out in the end.

Will add you on Steam right now and get #75 to you as soon as possible. Thanks once again and I hope you enjoy your stay :)

Originally posted by ясно понятно:

Hello Bobmanbob,

just wanted to say that I received #70.
Thank you very much and I wish you all the best.
Take care.

Originally posted by Kida:

[...]

Yeah, I don't mind mild spoilers and in some cases even prefer them as they make me more excited and interested in a game or route than I otherwise would be. I will say that Huge spoilers are bad but that seems to be a pretty much universal opinion so you probably have already known that.

[...]

You are very welcome!

@everyone: thanks for all the confirmations, I appreciate it and hope the games bring some level of enjoyment!

@Kida: Once again, you are very welcome! I really hope you enjoy the VN :)

That's an interesting take on spoilers. Quite a few people so far have expressed a strong desire for spoiler-free material, perhaps when we get down to it that will only apply to big spoilers. I may have to inquire further, thank you for raising this :)

You're right about the pros and cons of (attempting) a humorous writing style, but each style is going to attract some combination of likes and dislikes, right? I'm all for the idea of doing what comes natural to me, but I shall proceed with some measure of trepidation nonetheless :)

I guess trust is the key when it comes to screenshots! You can rest assured there are no reasons for Bobmanbob to make biased choices.

Originally posted by fu3ka:

[...]

(i) I'd rather salvage games from old days and forgotten lists, and read reviews to see if the game has some lures or potential.

[...]

(iii) Sometimes the trailers on store page aren't enough to tell. It'll be good to see how the game works.

[...]

(iv) I don't pay attention to screenshots on reviews because screenshots are only moments in the game, which can be anything. It doesn't tell much about the gameplay itself.

Additional thoughts:
I like reviews with concrete writing. How the game works, where the player will feel enjoyment, are more useful. I want to be excited at reading them. Some reviews are too abstract and depends on the specific memory of the person, which will be hard to understand.

[...]

Hello there and welcome to the group! Thanks for the great answers, I really appreciate your opinions.

(i) There are more and more people agreeing with this as the answers come in, thanks for sharing your view on this!

(iii) Gotcha, pure gameplay trailers seem to be fairly popular for that purpose.

(iv) Interesting, a video is worth 1000 pictures eh? :)

Your closing remarks give me a very good idea of how you like your reviews, thanks for that! I know exactly what you mean by abstract/hard to understand articles. I've thought about that a lot and will do my best to keep everything nice and clear!

Will get #31 to you soon, thanks again and I hope you enjoy your stay :)

Originally posted by ⊰Fenrir XVII⊱:

Question:

(i) I would read reviews for:

New or old releases - age doesn't matter:
There are a lot of games out there, and hidden gems that maybe will be discovered in this way.


(ii) I prefer to read:

Shorter reviews, with concise descriptions and brief overviews*:
I'm not that good at english, and i prefer the short reviews, maybe some exception for bigger/longer games like RPG-s.


(iii) Extra technical details e.g. supported resolutions, configurable options (not performance/optimization details):


Are not necessary in a review - I can consult manuals/websites/forums for those:
There are a lot of sites that show tech details, and it's not a problem looking for them, the reviews are the most important part for me.


(iv) Gameplay Videos (UPDATE: gameplay only - no video reviews or commentated footage)

I might watch some:
I don't watch YT gameplays usually, i check the trailer but that's all


(v) Screenshots

3-6 is enough for 1 review - Usually it's possible to see everything with 6 screenshot:)


I like to take #1, thank you:)

Originally posted by ⊰Fenrir XVII⊱:

[...]

There are a lot of games out there, and hidden gems that maybe will be discovered in this way.

[...]

There are a lot of sites that show tech details, and it's not a problem looking for them, the reviews are the most important part for me.

[...]

Hey Laszlo!

Yet another vote to cover hidden gems, this is becoming a very popular request. It'll be interesting to see how what percentage of you have voted for this when everything is tallied up!

So you prefer focused reviews, gotcha. Definitely some people for and against this one so we will have to see how it pans out in the end. If technical details are voted in, there might be a way to please both sides by separating them from the main text, somewhat.

Many thanks for your extended answers! Thank you gift #1 is on it's way to you!

Originally posted by ясно понятно:

[...]

Hi there, welcome to the group and thank you very much for the highly detailed answers! You have indeed been very clear and I feel I understand your sentiments exactly.

I can second hunting down as much info as possible to help gauge potential enjoyment. Ditto for fps and performance, I understand that's very important to many of us. It might be nice if most of that could be ascertained from fewer resources, even if reading up on all the viewpoints is sometimes part of the fun!

Your second point about waiting to see what happens in the first few weeks post-launch is an interesting one. In some cases, changes could take place that would really warrant a re-review e.g. patches introducing unpopular changes or online communities disappearing. Sometimes, conditional verdicts can arm the reader with enough knowledge in advance, which is another reason why I personally believe attaching a numerical rating to a game is not always the best idea.

About the personal impressions: that's a really important point. A few here have expressed a strong wish for such impressions to be backed up with reasons because as you said, not everyone will enjoy what someone else did. Similarly, trying to be completely objective may leave nothing for the reader to familiarize with. Hopefully we'll see some more input on this one.

Interesting response regarding screenshots. You could say they are cherry-picked by nature, but should they be picked to display the best of the game, the worst or something in between. Tricky one!

You have definitely given me food for thought, thank you very much indeed. #70 will be with you sometime today! :)

Originally posted by Kida:

[...]

Hello there Cassandra and welcome to the group!

I like to write humorous/quirky reviews too, but sometimes I force myself to take a few steps back because humor is very subjective and I fear that those who don't find it funny will back away entirely.

On the other hand however, I agree that wiring formulaic reviews could come across as boring and definitely won't stand out from the crowd.

My personal preference, up to this point, would be to include one or two attempts at humor with each review, if they come to me :) It would be nice to see some more opinions on this!

Regarding screenshots for visual novels, is that to say you don't mind some spoilers in those cases?

Many thanks once again for the extended answers! Will have thank you gift #98 with you today :)