The Case for Game Reviewers

I'm not a professional reviewer. I never went to a journalism school. I'm a gamer, just like you. I just happen to work for a site that happens to think I'm a good writer too. There's a lot more to this job than just playing video games. One of our concerns should NOT be whether or not advertisers are going to pull their service based on a sub-par review of their product. Granted, currently this is just a rumor (ed - turns out he really was fired but for reasons unexplained), but we in the gaming community have reason to believe that this is a problem with some sites. This sets a dangerous precedent and it's something that all site owners and advertisers should consider.

Reviewers need to be objective. Imagine yourself in our shoes for a moment. You're playing this game and you're not really enjoying it a whole lot. You have a small clique of fans who hang off your every word. You tell them about the game, what you liked and disliked and attached a score to the end indicating how much you enjoyed the game. You post it and a day later your boss busts through the roof saying that the advertisers are unhappy and threaten to pull their support. You're fired for not liking the game and someone is brought in who will do the job the 'right' way, by attributing a score to each game depending on how much money the company spends on advertisements. "Barbie Horse Adventure 10/10 GOTY!!!! BUY THIS NOW OR DIE!!" Yeah, I'll definitely visit a site that does that. In a shameless attempt to appease advertisers, you'll lose your loyal customers.

Advertisers and Publishers really shouldn't care if their game gets a bad review or not. Your marketing department is supposed to make your crappy product smell like a herbal garden. If it doesn't, then the problem doesn't lie with the reviewers, the problem is you. Lets face it, Gamers buy some $#@! games! Remember the 50 Cent game? That thing was torn to shreds and burned by reviewers (sadly, angry video game nerd hasn't done a review on that one) yet it was one of the best selling games of that year. Meanwhile, Psychonauts sat on store shelves, its genius enjoyed by few. Wii Play is another example. I think I'm the only Wii owner who does not have that game. We don't take everything reviewers say as gospel. We can think for ourselves. Assassin's Creed is a perfect example of this, garnering mixed reviews by the professionals, yet gamers picked it up in droves. Even the PS3 version sold, in fact, it sold more its first week than Mass Effect did!

Gaming Sites, don't fire your staff for doing their job. It's the reason you're paying them. Advertisers, don't throw a fit, just better your marketing techniques, gamers will buy just about anything. Gamers, keep visiting game sites (ed-especially this one) and buying stuff. There, now everyone's happy.