Build a Better Review System, Templates might help -- but they just as easily hinder Options

[ZarroTsu]

Wanting to write reviews, I decided I'd use the strategy discussed by one Yatzee Croshaw here.

The problem is that, because I don't give an "overall rating", this kind of review is rejected from the forum.

What reason is there for there to be an "overall rating"? Isn't it suppose to be what I think of the game? Giving it an overall rating because that fits your format is fine. But forcing me to follow this strategy isn't asking for what I think of the game; it's asking me for what you WANT me to think of the game. And that defeats the purpose of writing in general.

Moreover, their presence from a reader perspective is solely to ignore the rest of the review and judge the game on a given number. Some here might say they don't do this, but often times even they are guilty of it. Even I do it. But if these numbers don't exist, then it compels me to actually read the review. So...


Generic forum discussion question for the reasoning impaired:
Why do "Overall Ratings" exist? Are they there to help, or are they there to defeat the purpose of writing a review when you could just write a number?



This post has been edited by ZarroTsu: Oct 4 2012, 02:51 PM

[X-M-O]

I'd love to hear more discussion on this topic, as ZarroTsu mentions we currently have only allowed community reviews to be approved if they have an "overall rating".
It was originally considered a requirement based on the idea that members prefer having a conclusion based on a frame of reference that most members are able to easily relate to (ex: 1 to 10 rating).

ZarroTsu has a few questions that make sense, but what solutions are there?
Well, here are several that could replace the "overall rating" requirement:
1 - No rating requirement. No frame of reference.
2 - A subject-based rating requirement (at least one aspect of the game would be required to be given a 1 to 10 rating, ex: Gameplay would be given a 1 out of 10 rating or Story would be given a rating).
3 - More than one subject-based rating requirement (same as above, but would require more than one aspect of the game to be given a 1 to 10 rating).

Any other ideas?


I suspect that not requiring a review has potential problems, for example most members don't spend more than a few seconds reading a topic and will simply not read the review if it doesn't supply a rating for the game it reviews.
Also, without a frame of reference such as a 1 to 10 rating, a member may be unable to decide if the review gave an overall positive or negative perspective. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it's 50/50 and you really aren't sure where the opinion truly lies.
Of course, these might or might not be concerns for many members, but we won't know unless you tell us!
So join in and help discuss the issue!
(Unless of course you want us to decide everything without you and we won't be as willing to listen to complaints if you never contribute to the conversation. In other words, if the topic matters to you, then speak up!)

[ZarroTsu]

Also, without a frame of reference such as a 1 to 10 rating, a member may be unable to decide if the review gave an overall positive or negative perspective. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it's 50/50 and you really aren't sure where the opinion truly lies.

If they were smart though, they'd take the review as a presentation of the ideas present in the game, and decide if they want to play it from there. If the review danced around too much to convey what it needs to be considered a review, then it may as well not be accepted.

[Shaddow]

Also, without a frame of reference such as a 1 to 10 rating, a member may be unable to decide if the review gave an overall positive or negative perspective. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it's 50/50 and you really aren't sure where the opinion truly lies.

If they were smart though, they'd take the review as a presentation of the ideas present in the game, and decide if they want to play it from there. If the review danced around too much to convey what it needs to be considered a review, then it may as well not be accepted.

This may be true, but a lot of people who come on here are just kids, or do not really want to read all the information. Sure they SHOULD be putting thought into reading the review and what it says about the game, but not everyone wants to spend that time and it is not our place to judge them for not doing so. That's why I think a numbered review makes sense.

Now don't get me wrong, I love that we need to put details into the actual review, it shows WHY we rated it what we did. I also think that the number system is not enough information. We should take a note from formal gaming magazines and put a rating system on each section, as well as a summary of the reasoning. I.E.:

Sound 7/10 - While the sound was interesting and well placed, it wasn't anything that hasn't been heard before, a lot of the RTP was used and it could have been more unique.

I hope this makes sense.