Comments on: Steps Towards An Elitist Critic Future

By: Roland Austinat

Roland Austinat — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:26:10 +0000

Hey Kieron, interesting thoughts.

“I think both problems are well on the way to a solution.”

I hope that’s right, but am discouraged by readers who demand a percent rating under a review because it’s “the reviewer’s job to recommend games”. Not so. The revier’s job is to write a critic of a game. The reader has to make up his/her mind after reading it.

Maybe, maybe, with the demise of the print gaming mags (one PC gaming mag left in the US!) and the move to online, there will be more room for real reviews, not extended marketing blurbs. Real reviews that report on the reviewer’s feelings when playing, not just listing the number of levels, weapons, enemies etc.

By: ColbyCheese

ColbyCheese — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:52:04 +0000

Huh!?!? You lost me somewhere between the anus weeds and Rhianna.

By: christian

christian — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:46:11 +0000

Action Button is great. They actually review the games.
I don’t think we need ‘elitist’ critics. We need people like Roger Ebert, who care about the medium enough to write intelligently about it
I used to want to be a rock critic. I reckon being a game critic might be a bit more fun

By: Erlam

Erlam — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:56:09 +0000

What I want is pretty much diametrically opposite to what actually works. I would rather hear not a single word about GTAIV/CoD4/GoW/Halo/etc, and rather hear only about smaller, more niche games. The reason being I can hear about fucking Halo or some shit just by walking outside, or turning on a TV.

Tell me about the Psychonauts; the Stalkers (err, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s); Natural Selections; Dungeon Keepers, etc.

By: Octopus

Octopus — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:55:45 +0000

Excellent article by a consistently superb writer. It’s pretty obvious that someone was drinking when they wrote this as there are numerous spelling and grammar errors.

Braid is the best 2d game I have played since Super Mario World 16 years ago. I didn’t like GTA4. The story was cliched and rubbish and I wanted to kill my cousin Roman. Sad but true. GTA made me want to murder my own cousin. ;)

By: Alex

Alex — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:29:32 +0000

With this medium, only satisfactory mediocrity truly languishes in obscurity.

By: CGB

CGB — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:54:13 +0000

See, this is why I like Play Magazine. They make an effort to inform their readers about some lesser-known games, and their end-of-year lists often vary wildly between writers. Oh, and Dave Halverson can see into my brain and tell me what I’ll like. It’s creepy.

By: Tom Bramwell

Tom Bramwell — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:50:17 +0000

I like the idea of being a meme. On the other hand, I took four attempts to type http://www.eurogamer.net just now, so I shouldn’t be adding to this thread today.

By: jupiter

jupiter — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:12:11 +0000

But does it have a good framerate?

(This is me seconding the point that at least half of a game reviewer’s job should be to make sure games are actually working and playable).

I don’t think we need critics to tell us about obscure must-play games, we have various fancy web 2.75 social aggregator doodads for that.

By: Kieron Gillen

Kieron Gillen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:05:56 +0000

Pop music overcomes.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:19:53 +0000

Let’s see if we can’t start some serious pop music discussion. Kieron: What do you think of Rhinna squeezing a fourth syllable out of umbrella?

By: Rosti

Rosti — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:35:43 +0000

I agree with Jodi, but only because “Bramwell Bramwell Bamwell” pushes all the same mental buttons as OM NOM NOM NOM is at the moment.

Also; wonderful piece there. This sort of thought-splurge is the meat of RPS’ meat-and-potatoes to my mind. Obviously PC games are the potatoes and the and is something else.