Etiquette when creating a "Best games" list.

[MrEco]

This is a topic I've been curious about for sometime now, and I would like to hear the Racketboy communities insight on it.

When someone is creating a top 10/25/50/100/whatever "Best games of all time" list, what do you believe is the standard they should follow when it comes to ports of games being included on the list?

For instance, on the one hand, perhaps the list should give praise to the original version of the game in order to give credit where it's due to the games accomplishments when it was a brand new game.

On the other, perhaps the port has extra content or is enhanced mechanically in some way and is therefor the definitive version of the game. In this case the port could be considered a "factually" better game than the original, and more deserving to be on the list.

Or perhaps the person making the list should only stick to the version they themselves have played? But what if they've played multiple versions, the original and the port(s)? Or what if the version they played was forced upon them by outside issues, such as the original version not being released in their country but the port was (Or vice versa)?


Perhaps there's another side to the argument that I didn't even think of. In fact there most likely is. Please, let me know what you think.

[Hobie-wan]

I'd just refrain from making yet another best list that will only please 7 other people. Everyone else will take issue with at least one game this is missing, or 'shouldn't' be on the list.

But if you must, don't just make a list. Actually discuss something about the things on it and why they are there.

[isiolia]

I think the games that would rightfully be on a "top 25 of all time" or something would be bigger than any one particular port. Stuff, for example, like Pac-Man, Tetris, or DOOM.

More specific lists would be likely to resolve themselves. Best 16-bit platformers, best fighting games on the SNES, that kind of thing.

Though, I would tend to agree, nobody needs more lists. Or straight up retro reviews for that matter.

[alexis524]

Tops lists are always hard for reasons mentioned. Opinions and tastes always vary and differ from one person to the next, so setting parameters for a best of list is tough. Even going off of critics scores may be tough for the same reasons.
i would think it would make better sense to post or list a "Personal favorite/Best of" list. Besides, we've all seen etiquette go out the window when it comes to naming the top games of so-and-so. Most of the time, it ends up being one big flame war.

[CavZee]

I'd rather just talk about a single particular game I like and why I like it so rather then make a list of my all time favorites or whatnot.

[BurningDoom]

Etiquette should be simple:

Put the games you truly think are the best. Don't worry about including what someone else thinks should be in there, because it's YOUR best games list.

[J T]

It's best to have no etiquette and lots of flame bait. That way your page gets more clicks for your advertisers.

[MrEco]

It's best to have no etiquette and lots of flame bait. That way your page gets more clicks for your advertisers.

I thought that went without saying?

[Cronozilla]

You should cheat and count variations in the same spot.

The only time two in a spot is annoying is if they're entirely different titles and they're like "lol tie".

But if you're making a list and Super Mario Bros. 3 comes up, it should be all incarnations of Super Mario Bros. 3. Metroid should include Zero Mission, etc.

I think maybe it's important to remember the reason you want to make the list in the first place ... nitpicking iterations or version differences is likely not the goal.

[o.pwuaioc]

You should cheat and count variations in the same spot.

The only time two in a spot is annoying is if they're entirely different titles and they're like "lol tie".

But if you're making a list and Super Mario Bros. 3 comes up, it should be all incarnations of Super Mario Bros. 3. Metroid should include Zero Mission, etc.

I think maybe it's important to remember the reason you want to make the list in the first place ... nitpicking iterations or version differences is likely not the goal.

What about Street Fighter II v. Turbo v. Super v. Alpha?