Post by Bytor on May 6, 2011 15:00:39 GMT -5
As the saying goes, opinions are like....well, you know how the saying goes 
. My point is really, what makes these guys ideas and critiques better than yours or mine? How do you become a professional game reviewer is my point. I realize part of the job criteria is certainly experience. I feel confident some of it is somewhat of an innate ability to problem solve, after all, games are in essence one big problem that needs to be solved. And of course they need to be at least a competent writer or else no one would be able to even read their reviews. perhaps more importantly they need access and time to be able to play the games, this is probably most important, because without the material and time nothing will ever get done. Now, all of this is basically logistics to a certain extent. Practice, as they say, makes perfect, so given time and material most people could become at least a good enough writer to write and review and given enough time (and determination) most could (I'd hope) finish pretty much any game. But, does all of that necessarily make their opinion any more valid than yours or mine? After all, one persons rose is another's garbage. Obviously what I like you may not and what you like I may not. That's not only understandable but it's what makes humans individuals and not ants. But should so much credence be put on the "experts" opinion? And really that is what it boils down to. It's an opinion. It is not a fact, it cannot be proven scientifically and it may be taken as gospel by most, but that still does not make it a universal truth. Instead it makes it, at best, an educated (?) opinion.
I just finished playing Nier a day or so ago and while I have had some thoughts along this line before playing this game really made me evaluate what I like, why, and what others like and why they may not agree with me. You can't simply say, "oh, you just don't get it". Well, you can but that does not make you or me anymore right or wrong than each other. I have read many reviews of Nier and almost all agree on one thing, the graphics are horrible. IGN gave the graphics a 4.5 and few gave it much higher. Hmmmm, I can't help but wonder if we were playing the same game. While I agree the graphics are nowhere near many of the games counterparts. However, what it is is a game where the graphics match the game wonderfully. But I'm not here to discuss Nier, I just wanted to use it as an example.
And now for my meandering point. We write reviews here, we are no different from any other site on video games which are scattered throughout the web. We have our opinions, they have theirs and you have yours....I hope. That is my point. Have an opinion, play the game and decide for yourself what it is worth. Sure, I use other sites before I purchase a game to decide if I think I'll be interested or not. I also use others opinions about games to see what they think, and often the reviews and opinions expressed are spot on. But sometimes, just sometimes you may discover a true jewel by deciding to ignore others and think for yourself. Now I'm not saying you'll find a Metal Gear Solid in some obscure game from Luxembourg, but you may, as I did find a Nier and find a great game with a touching story. Ya never really know 'til ya try.
. My point is really, what makes these guys ideas and critiques better than yours or mine? How do you become a professional game reviewer is my point. I realize part of the job criteria is certainly experience. I feel confident some of it is somewhat of an innate ability to problem solve, after all, games are in essence one big problem that needs to be solved. And of course they need to be at least a competent writer or else no one would be able to even read their reviews. perhaps more importantly they need access and time to be able to play the games, this is probably most important, because without the material and time nothing will ever get done. Now, all of this is basically logistics to a certain extent. Practice, as they say, makes perfect, so given time and material most people could become at least a good enough writer to write and review and given enough time (and determination) most could (I'd hope) finish pretty much any game. But, does all of that necessarily make their opinion any more valid than yours or mine? After all, one persons rose is another's garbage. Obviously what I like you may not and what you like I may not. That's not only understandable but it's what makes humans individuals and not ants. But should so much credence be put on the "experts" opinion? And really that is what it boils down to. It's an opinion. It is not a fact, it cannot be proven scientifically and it may be taken as gospel by most, but that still does not make it a universal truth. Instead it makes it, at best, an educated (?) opinion.I just finished playing Nier a day or so ago and while I have had some thoughts along this line before playing this game really made me evaluate what I like, why, and what others like and why they may not agree with me. You can't simply say, "oh, you just don't get it". Well, you can but that does not make you or me anymore right or wrong than each other. I have read many reviews of Nier and almost all agree on one thing, the graphics are horrible. IGN gave the graphics a 4.5 and few gave it much higher. Hmmmm, I can't help but wonder if we were playing the same game. While I agree the graphics are nowhere near many of the games counterparts. However, what it is is a game where the graphics match the game wonderfully. But I'm not here to discuss Nier, I just wanted to use it as an example.
And now for my meandering point. We write reviews here, we are no different from any other site on video games which are scattered throughout the web. We have our opinions, they have theirs and you have yours....I hope. That is my point. Have an opinion, play the game and decide for yourself what it is worth. Sure, I use other sites before I purchase a game to decide if I think I'll be interested or not. I also use others opinions about games to see what they think, and often the reviews and opinions expressed are spot on. But sometimes, just sometimes you may discover a true jewel by deciding to ignore others and think for yourself. Now I'm not saying you'll find a Metal Gear Solid in some obscure game from Luxembourg, but you may, as I did find a Nier and find a great game with a touching story. Ya never really know 'til ya try.
