Do You Have Any Unpopular Gaming Opinions?

[AppleQueso]

Yeah, honestly I think "most gaming videos suck" is the farthest thing from an unpopular opinion imaginable.

But like anything, there's the good and bad, and some people actually do manage to pull it off well.

[Luke]

Yeah, honestly I think "most gaming videos suck" is the farthest thing from an unpopular opinion imaginable.

But like anything, there's the good and bad, and some people actually do manage to pull it off well.

Haven't found the good yet.

And to clarify, I'm not speaking on "Gaming videos" but "Video game reviews" that are supposed to be taken seriously.

[MrEco]

Good proof of game criticism being silly and inmature is that someone is hunted down ten years later because they gave Deus Ex a poor review while everyone looks astonished at the fact.

What? When was this?



Also it reminds me of another unpopular opinion I have. I don't believe that all, most, or even many profesional video game critics get bribed for good/bad review scores. And I believe heavily that anyone who cries foul at a game getting a certain score is just trying to use the bribery thing as a cop-out and is actually just mad that the game didn't get the score they think it should have.

[fastbilly1]

Also it reminds me of another unpopular opinion I have. I don't believe that all, most, or even many profesional video game critics get bribed for good/bad review scores. And I believe heavily that anyone who cries foul at a game getting a certain score is just trying to use the bribery thing as a cop-out and is actually just mad that the game didn't get the score they think it should have.

I guess that comes down to what you consider a bribe. A good buddy of mine wrote for an unnamed big website for a short while a couple years ago and was given tons of just random stuff, some lunch/dinners, and had an offer for an all expense paid trip to a company's office to see a game in beta. Heck when I use to write for a small time site I biweekly got emails asking if I wanted review copies or just free tshirts/keychains.

[AppleQueso]

Also it reminds me of another unpopular opinion I have. I don't believe that all, most, or even many profesional video game critics get bribed for good/bad review scores. And I believe heavily that anyone who cries foul at a game getting a certain score is just trying to use the bribery thing as a cop-out and is actually just mad that the game didn't get the score they think it should have.

I guess that comes down to what you consider a bribe. A good buddy of mine wrote for an unnamed big website for a short while a couple years ago and was given tons of just random stuff, some lunch/dinners, and had an offer for an all expense paid trip to a company's office to see a game in beta. Heck when I use to write for a small time site I biweekly got emails asking if I wanted review copies or just free tshirts/keychains.

This sort of thing is pretty standard practice for reviewers in all media though. Film critics get the exact same sort of treatment, and that doesn't stop them from giving a movie a bad review.

[Ack]

True, AppleQueso, but another problem nowadays has to do with advertising. Journalism is struggling, including web journalism, but one means of gaining income comes from advertising products. However if a company dislikes your review, they may pull their advertising, which means you could lose money and be faced with the possibility of layoffs or closing down.

[Erik_Twice]

What? When was this?

Hobie posted it recently. It was called "The man who hated Deus Ex" and was featured in RPS. Pathethic, if you ask me.

I guess that comes down to what you consider a bribe. A good buddy of mine wrote for an unnamed big website for a short while a couple years ago and was given tons of just random stuff, some lunch/dinners, and had an offer for an all expense paid trip to a company's office to see a game in beta. Heck when I use to write for a small time site I biweekly got emails asking if I wanted review copies or just free tshirts/keychains.

This is extremely common. But the biggest bribe is being allowed to get a review copy before launch day or not.

And practically all big game websites have had deals of the "give this game a 7 or we pull the ads" variety, which destroys any credibility.

Not that they will suck much less without corruption. Hey, where's my free copy man? =P

[Luke]

This sort of thing is pretty standard practice for reviewers in all media though. Film critics get the exact same sort of treatment, and that doesn't stop them from giving a movie a bad review.

That all depends on where you are on the ladder. Focus groups don't get to take the movie home with them and usually have to sign forms of keeping their views confidential to the point of facing a lawsuit.

But certainly some reviewers get preferential treatment.

[aaron]

There are zero video game reviews on youtube that appeal to me.

Modding videos from Bacteria and others, where you gain knowledge (and grab things, merry Christmas) are awesome and informative... but I find the rest amateurish and a waste of time.

I do like the ones that are pure satire, say the early avgn videos, but I have yet to find a "review" that contains any substance or intelligence. It's all "Hey, here I/we am/are, and we'll be reviewing this game. Here are screenshots, and we'll say the game sucks or is great, but don't expect us to actually explain why. And if you don't like our videos, screw yourself".

Podcasts, on the other hand, usually will provide info on the game, who was involved in production, and explain why the reviewer likes or dislikes the game. But the videos on youtube...terrible.

Ever seen Chrontendo? He's basically slowly reviewing every single Famicom/NES game ever made in chronological order. He goes pretty in depth. Lots of history and cool info like that.

that is pretty cool, too. there was someone doing sega genesis games, also, year by year, but i don't think they were doing EVERY game.

i also don't mind the classic game room reviews for the most part.

[BoneSnapDeez]

There are zero video game reviews on youtube that appeal to me.

Modding videos from Bacteria and others, where you gain knowledge (and grab things, merry Christmas) are awesome and informative... but I find the rest amateurish and a waste of time.

I do like the ones that are pure satire, say the early avgn videos, but I have yet to find a "review" that contains any substance or intelligence. It's all "Hey, here I/we am/are, and we'll be reviewing this game. Here are screenshots, and we'll say the game sucks or is great, but don't expect us to actually explain why. And if you don't like our videos, screw yourself".

Podcasts, on the other hand, usually will provide info on the game, who was involved in production, and explain why the reviewer likes or dislikes the game. But the videos on youtube...terrible.

I hear ya on the game reviews... Most of them are terrible.

I do like Rolfe but I think he (inadvertently) opened the floodgates to some really awful shit. So many people have tried to imitate his shtick but 99% of them lack the knowledge, charm, and charisma.

Even worse are the snobby video game "historians" and "experts." At the absolute bottom of the barrel we have the "look how much stuff I own" knuckleheads and the unboxers.