What is a game review and what isn’t

Short version first

This is: http://www.eldergame.com/2010/03/sto-hey-not-too-shabby/

This isn’t: url too long to post as it is

Let’s see … My first thought is that what I read on Elder Game was something I would have like to read on MMORPG.com. What I read on MMORPG.com I wouldn’t mind to read it from on some random blog.

I couldn’t care less about STO. I had a closed beta access (received access just before the start of open beta … sigh …) because of my now dusty Champion Online account but somehow I feel excited about STO when I read about it on Elder Game. Not that the game sounds more interesting now but if I ever feel the need to try it I kinda have a good idea of where to look for the fun and where not to waste too much time.

Bonus points for Elder game for the insider insights. Yeah, “journalists” might not have access to those by themselves but hey … you heard about that thing called eh … email? I found that a lot of people that look out of reach will gladly answer your email if you ask nicely. Might be worth to give it a try once in a while. You know, just to have something actually interesting to say …

Now on the re-review of Pirates of the Burning Sea on MMORPG.com. That game (along with EVE Online) is the game I always wanted to play but never really took the time to try it. The author decided to first say that Flying Lab Software is an indie game developer and then opens with “outdated visuals”. Really?

Oh come on! Heard of things called … eyes … The game has been out for 2 years, there’s tons of screenshots and in-game videos around and there are even some in the article … Oh look! Right above the re-review there’s a screenshots link … I’ll take a look myself if you don’t mind. I can understand why you would talk about graphics in the initial review but there wasn’t any graphic upgrade in the last 2 years. Why not just say “graphics are as before, here’s the link”. Good luck finding the initial review by the way. I couldn’t find it so I must be blind. Why not include a link to it?!

The whole “re-review” just sounds like a feature list taken from the back of the box with minor editorial comments here and there. The question I have is “why would I read your review instead of just going to the game’s website and check it out for myself”. I just can’t answer that. If you’re just going to briefly describes some features with nothing to add then why waste time writing a text at all!

A lot has changed since Pirates of the Burning Sea launched back in 2008

Good, What?

In short, while a lot has been added to the game

Hey! I asked what!

Truth is he doesn’t tell what changed. That just looks like some random comments so the article contains the required number of words.

If you actually go on MMORPG.com to read this “re-review” you’ll also notice the Pros and Cons at the left. It says “Travel as a timesink” in the cons. Fine now tell me about it. Nope there’s nothing in the text about it.

Guess what. Travel is often used as a timesink in MMOs. Dare to describe a bit how bad it is? How often you have to sit and wait? Is there anything unusual to notice while travelling? I don’t know if it’s part of the 2 cons listed maybe it’s worth saying something about it?

Hopefully I don’t have MMORPG.com in my RSS reader because of the reviews but that one was specially unhelpful. I guess I just have to lower my expectations when it comes to that website?

Am I the only one that thought this re-review was useless? Well some comments there seem to agree if you can find them among the “I hear myself typing” posts these forums are always filled with.