Featuring New Retro Games....

[racketboy]

Looking for more input from you all so I can make sure what I publish is useful and isn't wasteful of my time.

I want to start featuring more of the new game releases of old-school games (like Contra 4, Odin Sphere, etc) but I don't want it to be a fluff piece or something that is overly redundant compared to the major game sites out there. I obviously don't have time to play all of these games in a timely fashion either.

So the question is, what information should I present when a new title of interest has come out and how long after its release should I feature it.
I want to come up with a template of sorts that would allow everybody to make wise decisions on if they should buy it our not and/or give them a good idea of what to expect in the game.

I know many of you said before that watching video clips helps you get a feel for the game. Should I embed videos? Link to them?
Should I have screenshots directly in the post? how many? how big? would a Flickr slideshow be better?
Should I have review excerpts? Or just a Metacritic average?
Any other ideas?

[baphomet_irl]

Looking for more input from you all so I can make sure what I publish is useful and isn't wasteful of my time.

I want to start featuring more of the new game releases of old-school games (like Contra 4, Odin Sphere, etc) but I don't want it to be a fluff piece or something that is overly redundant compared to the major game sites out there. I obviously don't have time to play all of these games in a timely fashion either.

So the question is, what information should I present when a new title of interest has come out and how long after its release should I feature it.
I want to come up with a template of sorts that would allow everybody to make wise decisions on if they should buy it our not and/or give them a good idea of what to expect in the game.

I know many of you said before that watching video clips helps you get a feel for the game. Should I embed videos? Link to them?
Should I have screenshots directly in the post? how many? how big? would a Flickr slideshow be better?
Should I have review excerpts? Or just a Metacritic average?
Any other ideas?

I think you should review modern games which are relevant to the type of ppl which frequent this place, for example a Nights review would go down very well I'm sure (let's face it, I think most people (that frequent the forums anywayz) areound here probably do love that box with the blue or orange spiral more than any of their other consoles ). Also a review of pretty much any 2D shmup or fighter would be appropriate, as they are definitely 'retro' in gameplay style IMO

I think you should have maybe on video embedded in a post, but any more than that and I think you should link to a 'gallery'of videos.

I definitely think you should have screenshots in the post but only large thumbnail size, with links to a gallery of images (i think the thumbnail sizes on eurogamer.net) are pretty much perfect

I personally would not like a flickr slideshow at all...

all I can think of right now

[racketboy]

cool -- but the only problem with actually reviewing them myself is
a) I don't own a Wii, 360, PS3, or PSP.
b) I have a limited budget for games
c) I don't have enough time to play them all

[Adderall]

if you were to review new games I think it would be cool to do the ones that used to be retro (like contra for DS)..

you could compare the old versions with the new and see how it stacks up (strengths, weaknesses, extras, etc).

[Abras]

Well, I don't think you're going to be able to decide if WE should buy a game, if YOU have never played it.

There's really no getting around actually reviewing a game. I say you call on forum members to do some reviews. And as for the other two problems, you could look into obtaining review copies for at least some of the games.

Oh, and I agree with Adderall about comparing old and new games.

[Daniel Primed]

I'd love to contribute but by the time us PAL gamers get our hands on these games its too late, old news.

With the recent releases of Neo Geo Coloseum and KoF XI I could have written reviews up for both back in July (earlier for NG I think) as PAL gamers got these games before the US. Damn.

[baphomet_irl]

I actually bought KOF XI today (and GC Four Swords and a Wii for my friend) - 25 euro which I thought was very reasonable tbh