Serious Game Reviews? Post your ideas here.

[drenrin2120]

Nahh, I don't think they do...

*go and checks.*

EDIT: Nope, they don't seem to exist anymore. If this goes anywhere, we could probably just make another board. Or something to that effect.

[fruckert]

Sai threatened to destroy it unless serious activity was made.
I think we should plan a bit more, like actually making a team and getting some games to review.

Hey, why not we wait until the game contest is over?
Then we'll have a selection of games to actually review.
Interesting ones, too.

[drenrin2120]

Oh, fruckert is right. I wasn't even thinking of that. That should give us time to set up a game plan as well.

Here's an idea. We categorize our reviews. Something like, Tech Demos, Demos/WIPs, and full game reviews. Tech Demo's would not include gameplay and would focus on evaluating the system that is being showcased. Demos/WIP reviews will obviously be our most common review and will be shorter and easier to do. They would be more focused on evaluating the game as a total package (music, gameplay, storyline, graphics) while keeping in mind it is just a demo/wip. Full game reviews won't necessarily mean longer reviews, but will mean harsher reviews.

Not sure how to go about designating who reviews what. I'm assuming we're gonna have a team of people doing this? How large should our team be? Too big might get messy. Too big might also be really good, meaning we have a lot of older members who can be trusted to make good reviews.

Also, another idea. Since one point of view is lame, we could have one lucky person do a video review while the other members of the team just do written reviews. That way there's more than one opinion as well as a video to put up and attract attention.

Just some ideas to toss around.

[Natako]

Here's an idea. We categorize our reviews. Something like, Tech Demos, Demos/WIPs, and full game reviews. Tech Demo's would not include gameplay and would focus on evaluating the system that is being showcased. Demos/WIP reviews will obviously be our most common review and will be shorter and easier to do. They would be more focused on evaluating the game as a total package (music, gameplay, storyline, graphics) while keeping in mind it is just a demo/wip. Full game reviews won't necessarily mean longer reviews, but will mean harsher reviews.

Seeing that I'm a writer and have been a contributor on sites which have made fun of clichés and generally nonsensical things in video games, I'd probably be best at Full Game reviews or Demos/WIP reviews. As long as I get to criticize the story at length, I'm fine with whichever of these positions that I end up with.

Not sure how to go about designating who reviews what. I'm assuming we're gonna have a team of people doing this? How large should our team be? Too big might get messy. Too big might also be really good, meaning we have a lot of older members who can be trusted to make good reviews.

Let's wait a bit longer to see who's interested in the project. So far, you, Fruckert, and I are the only people who have shown great interest in being reviewers. It's impossible to tell whether our team is going to be large or small yet.

Also, another idea. Since one point of view is lame, we could have one lucky person do a video review while the other members of the team just do written reviews. That way there's more than one opinion as well as a video to put up and attract attention.

Perhaps we could take turns with this. One person could do a video review for one game and another can do it for the next. Likewise, we could take turns with the written reviews. We'll have to switch it up and see what works best for us. It would also spice the reviews up a bit, as spoken humor is often much different than written humor.

[carmen]

I wouldn't mind reviewing a game or two, when I get time. I could easily do demos. Gawd, I've played so many wips its ridiculous. I also like the idea of a universal rating system in different elements.

[zuhane]

Okay, without sounding harsh in the nicest possible terms, we need some clear-minded reviewers who can
appreciate talent and effort and analyse games properly. Not people who are ready to make quick-fire and jaded
judgements about a game early on. Perhaps reviewers with a bit of Charas/rm2k/3 wisdom would be needed. It'd
also help if we got a reviewer with a snappy or attention-grabbing voice!

This idea could potentially be great if it goes through!!

[SaiKar]

Considering I still use RM2k3 pseudo-daily, I might be able to fill that roll. No promises about the voice though.

[drenrin2120]

Zuhane: sounds ideal. But I think everyone here who's willing to do reviews understands all that. You can't be bias and you have to take a lot into consideration, some of it is personal opinion, some of it is from personal experience with the program in question. Also, we'll (hopefully) be reviewing more than just rm2k3 games.

That considered, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

Sai: =D

Also, I like the idea of having multiple people do reviews. At the very least in the beginning. That way we can sort out who's good at video reviews (though I don't like putting it that way) and who wants to actually keep doing it. Because I imagine, like everything else, actually doing video reviews isn't all berries and cream like we first think.

[Natako]

Um...despite being new to the forums, I've actually dabbled extensively in all of the RPG Makers, including the ones for Playstation. I've never managed to complete a game (as my games are quite long and my inner perfectionist compels me to change the storyline in a major way halfway through, often resulting in months of re-working dialogue and events). As for the reviewing part, I have done plenty of text reviews before on console video games and I think I'm pretty good at keeping an open mind about most things. I've kind of gained a reviewer's mindset over time from years of playing RPG's. Heck, I played through an RPGM2k3 game yesterday and was critiquing it in my head as I went along. It's just kind of something I do.

I'd like to try my hand at video reviews. I've done two before, and I think I'm pretty decent at making them entertaining. As for the voice thing...I don't know. I'll let you guys decide when you hear it. Like I said, we should all experiment a bit and see what works best for us.

On another note, I think I'll spend most of today working on my own RPG. I'm sick, so singing isn't an option...

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

Here's a tip:

You want a voice that grips attention? Use a girl's voice. Or given, a male  voice with an English or Australian accent. Like Razor's.

[Natako]

You want a voice that grips attention? Use a girl's voice.

I believe Carmen and I both fit that criterion. XD

[drenrin2120]

xD
Kijuki has a point.

[carmen]

Kijuki?  Gawd I'm so in the dark. Bleh have you ever heard me? There's I reason I'm a shower only diva. I'm pretty sure I uploaded a jam where I sang here once. Nuff said. I say Australian, I want Steve Irwin to tell me about games!

Also, are we still talking rm2k3?  We still do that here? What is the copyright deal on...the others?  O.o

[Natako]

Also, are we still talking rm2k3?  We still do that here? What is the copyright deal on...the others?  O.o

I think we're talking about reviewing amateur games in general. It doesn't even have to be made with one of the RPG Makers as long as it's a custom game.

As for copyright, I know that Enterbrain has stated that it's all right to release games you make with their software as long as you don't try to make a profit off of them. I don't think reviewing them would be an issue so long as you don't include copyrighted material along with your reviews (background music, for example).

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

Kijuki?  Gawd I'm so in the dark. Bleh have you ever heard me? There's I reason I'm a shower only diva. I'm pretty sure I uploaded a jam where I sang here once. Nuff said. I say Australian, I want Steve Irwin to tell me about games!

Also, are we still talking rm2k3?  We still do that here? What is the copyright deal on...the others?  O.o

Yeah. I don't publicly state that i am 'he who is not to be named'. And then Saikar justifiably knows i am either giving too much credit to myself or just trollin. So yah, I am Kij. As to the whole old members weirdly coming back(or never leaving), it just simply bores me.

Amateur games open up for noob's game spam. You got to have a bar risen if you're to be taken seriously when it comes to redirecting the site's posture. There's HARDLY games made with RM engines which are 100% original material, or 100% cited and credential material. If you plan to review games with a strict sense of copyright, prepare yourselves to be at the same stance in which you are now. Oddly, I just realized how i mixed the amateur and strict natures of both sides.