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dhex Breeder
Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 6319 Location: brooklyn, Nev Yiork
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:26 am Post subject: i got five problems (but a game ain't one) |
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http://firingsquad.com/features/problems_with_video_game_journalism/default.asp
some of what they describe is the nature of writing on deadline - if you wait too long you're writing history, not journalism. style issues aside, as that's more a function of writers + editors + editorial slant/nature of publication.
but beyond that...the point about the distortion of a sense of value is actually quite useful. _________________
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Tablesaw .
Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 303 Location: LACAUSA
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:44 am Post subject: |
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Innovation bias is the thing I tend to have the most problem with when I'm reading reviews, and that's a general game-media-culture issue. _________________ It's the saw of the table! |
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Mister Toups Hates your favorite videogame
Joined: 26 Jan 2005 Posts: 1693 Location: Lafayette, LA
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:19 am Post subject: |
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That's actually a realy good article, though it only really scratches the surface while occasionally hinting at the more profound problems with games journalism. _________________ where were you when nana komatsu got a wii? |
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Szczepaniak .
Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 770
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:25 am Post subject: |
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As usual, Mr Hex slowly rises up the ranks of my many heroes in life. That's a good article to link to!
It's also why I like feature writing, and retro coverage.
Fun Fact: I've never, ever been paid to write a review. They've all been features of varying types, mainly historical retrospective features, and interviews.
But I agree completely with the sentiments. For example, when writing about the Popful Mail series, I rushed through the Turbo Duo version in two days. As a result of this hasty work, I failed to wax verbally about the later exclusive stages, which are the reason for playing that version. I only covered it in brief. Only a few weeks after I'd handed it in, did these stages start to weigh down on my mind, and now I regret not covering them more.
Another major problem, unlike films, is that modern games take FAR too long to play. So much so, I don't bother buying many games. I mean, come on! Remember when great RPGs only took 20 hours to complete? You could do them in a weekend!
Now it's all 75 hours plus.
That feature highlights several problems with the industry, which are continuing to grow worse, and are cyclical in nature. |
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Sushi d Moderator
Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 239
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Szczepaniak wrote: |
Another major problem, unlike films, is that modern games take FAR too long to play. So much so, I don't bother buying many games. I mean, come on! Remember when great RPGs only took 20 hours to complete? You could do them in a weekend!
Now it's all 75 hours plus.
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the sad part is, in most contemporary RPGs is that they pretty much have around the same amount of gameplay as their older, shorter bretheren.. _________________ X_X |
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dhex Breeder
Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 6319 Location: brooklyn, Nev Yiork
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Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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one must, of course, separate jrpgs from american ones when discussing play length. american rpgs have probably gotten much shorter. _________________
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Kinuko .
Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 66
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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It's a nice article written from a semi-academic point of view. I'd keep the points he made in mind while editting a review.
But really, there really is a lack of reflection in reviews. It's like writing book reports in high school - all mindless retelling not personal commentary. It's just so easy to fall into.
And this is Persona using Kinuko's computer again. BWARGHAGH. |
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dhex Breeder
Joined: 13 Dec 2004 Posts: 6319 Location: brooklyn, Nev Yiork
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:46 pm Post subject: |
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well, the flipside can be true...i've read plenty of stuff that was mindless personal crap and not enough storytelling.
the one thing that struck me about this list was that there was nothing about making the review/interview/piece compelling. i guess it's assumed that with a fanbase...it's all compelling. _________________
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seryogin JRPG Kommissar
Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 886 Location: Occupied Stalingrad
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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dhex wrote: | well, the flipside can be true...i've read plenty of stuff that was mindless personal crap and not enough storytelling.
the one thing that struck me about this list was that there was nothing about making the review/interview/piece compelling. i guess it's assumed that with a fanbase...it's all compelling. |
I agree there. There are lots of complaints about reviews slobbering over graphics and sound effects, but, really, that doesn't mean that wistful accounts of "Final Fantasy and ice cream" are any more instantly gratifying.
A videogame critic has to make whatever he's talking about sound fresh, and since so many games of a single genre are alike he constantly has to think of new ways of telling the same things, or, if he's of clever the sort, find something that nobody else had noticed. Likewise, many people who pen nostalgia pieces would do well to read and study complelling memoir writing. _________________
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Lackey .
Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 1107 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:51 am Post subject: |
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seryogin wrote: | find something that nobody else had noticed. |
This is what I look for in reviews! Not that I read many. _________________ | Little bird fighting against a bat sect game | |
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