Blog 2: Two Thumbs Up or Four Stars
This week we are looking at video game reviews. Have you ever read a video game review before? Have you ever read a movie review before? HOW are they alike/different? Have you ever read a book review? HOW is it similar/different to a video game review? Take a stab at answering either WHY (not how) the reviews are different or WHY they are similar.
Also, you were asked to bring a game review to class Wednesday night. Post where you found your review.
Also, you were asked to bring a game review to class Wednesday night. Post where you found your review.
posted by cmartin at 12:37 AM
31 Comments:
I just recently read my first video game review and I have to say, i think it differed from movie reviews. In my lifetime, I have seen many movie reviews, which seem to give a basic overview of the movie and tell you whether is is worth your time to see in a theater. Since video games dont come out in a theater and the only way to view them is to rent or buy, it seems to me the reviews are less harsh. If the game was produced and distributed, I would assume its probably good enough to at least rent, for the cost of what, a dollar...this way, you arent wasting money, and if it's not your thing, dont play it and definetly dont buy it. In other words, i think video game reviews more just summarize the game and encourage playing than movie reviews which are much more critical. Oh, i got my review of mario party 3 off of a google search.
Before being assigned to read a video game review, I had never read one. Unlike a movie review, I feel that a video game review stays more objective at times.
More extreme or harsh opinions are made in movie reviews. I think the reason why movie reviews tend to be more objective is because video games require more skill than watching a movie does. Therefore naturally, the author of a video game review might take the time out to somehow explain the basics of the video game. A movie review is more subjective and opinion-based. Now a book review and a video game review are more alike. Similar to some video game reviews, some book reviews are written with subheadings. For example, different aspects of the book are reviewed and analyzed separately; as do some video game review authors. The skill needed for reading books requires some sort of understanding of words, more than just watching movies, more similar to the level of skills needed for playing video games. Nonetheless, like Jon R. said: these three types of reviews are all similar in that they all have the same goal in mind.
Reviews, for movies, books and videos are all useful in that it helps you pick and choose what you are going to see, read or play. We do not always have enough leisure time to see every movie we think we might like,read every book that we have interest in or
play every video game we have heard about. All three reviews are great sources available in print, on screen and also on line, which make them very accessible to all. However, they do differ in their substance. A movie review gives you the actors, plot, purpose and theme, to help you decide if this is your type of movie. Then you can decide whether to pay big bucks and see it in the theatre, wait and rent it, or not see it at all. With a book, the review usually is more personal, giving the plot, characters and theme with an analysis of that piece of literature. It is up to you whether it is worth buying the book for your personal libary or checking it out at the local library. On the other hand, I have found game reviews to be much more technical and seem to be geared to level of difficulty, content age appropriateness and degree of entertainment.
---in response to Jordan----
I have to say, i love the stories in games, better than the graphics....the story is the real basis of the game, and if the story is good, i think the game is too. I understand how you say graphics are important, but i think their importance is more focused towards facility of playing. Otherwise, who really cares?
I’ve read a few movie reviews before, but I’ve never read a book review, and until this week, a game review. Though a movie review and a game review are similar in structure, they differ greatly in content. I’ve found that game reviews are a lot more technical than movie reviews. Where game reviews delve into graphics, pixilation and other terms that tend to go straight over my head, movie reviews go over the basics: plot, characters, acting and script. Though video games are growing in popularity, they haven’t been around as long as movies. Everyone’s had the experience of wasting time and money at a truly horrendous movie, however, not as many people have had that same experience with a video game. I think that this is why they differ, because they are written for different readers. Only people who play video games devoutly read reviews of them, where movies are currently more far-reaching. I got my video game review at Game Spot.
In response to bianca:
I agree that movie reviews tend to be more critical than game reviews. The fact that video games require skill is a big part of that, but I also think it’s the fact that the actors being reviewed have been in other movies before. This gives us a preconceived notion of their acting ability and the type of character they should play. After all, Brad Pitt is much more likely to shock us by playing completely against type than Mario.
This week was the first time in my life I actually took the time to sit down and read a video game review. As unappealing as it first sounded to me, I ended up really enjoying the enthusiasm expressed in the game review and was even tempted to go out and play it some where. I can now understand why people who play video games look towards these reviews for advice and knowledge. I myself am an advocate of Rottentomatoes.com (a website for movie reviews) and basically use that website before even seeing a movie. Although there has been a few here and there that I believe should not have been reviewed as “must see”, overall my experience with the source has been positive. From reading the video game review, I can tell it serves the same purpose.
I think the reviews may be different in how they are written because they are geared to different audiences. For example, movie reviews are written for EVERYONE, meaning that everyone has seen a movie and probably read a review on a movie, whether is was in a newspaper, online, on tv, or in a movie theatre itself. Now, video game reviews are written for those who read them, with all the technical wording and emphasis on technical aspects of game playing. I think that’s what sets them apart.
I found my game review on the Nintendo Power website.
-- in response to msimhan --
You know, something that was somewhat mentioned in this post that is important to every single person out there is money. I think a MAJOR reason why video game reviews are so technical and thorough is because buying and in some cases renting a game is more expensive than seeing a bad movie. Also, when you think about it a typical movie lasts no longer than 2 hours. People who play video games usually spend hours and hours playing it until they have a feel for the game, which is needed to write such a technical review.
Ditto what Kate had to say. I think the reviews are a good source of information on how to spend money and of course time, which I mentioned in my blog. Movies and books can be purchased, rented or checked out, so there are different levels of commitment which you give based on what the reviews inform you. The video games are exactly that, a summary of the techinical and difficultness of the game, with less of a personal comment. I found my video game on channel4.com, Sponge Bob Flipper Flop.
I have read video game, book, and movie reviews. All three types of reviews are opinionated and meant to let the reader decide if the subject under review is worth their money. These reviews have in common a focus on plot and storyline with an emphasis on being able to hold the viewer/reader/player’s interest. Movie and video games have sound and video, which the book does not. This additional component allows for reviewers to write about graphics/special effects and music/score. Video games take the movie a step further by letting the player control the environment and plot of the game. This aspect of the video game creates a need for the reviewer to talk about the playability of the game. This comparison shows that each aspect of a review is dependant on the ways the media being reviewed interacts with the person. My video game review was found on GameSpot.
--In response to msimhan in response to bianca—
I totally forgot about actors being reviewed in movies when writing my post. Actors can also tell us about the quality of the movie. The better an actor, the better the movie. While this is not always the case, it is a good indicator of how good the movie is. Your post also got me to thinking about how actors are starting to lend their voices to video games. It shows how video games are becoming more and more like movies in our culture.
I have a read many movie reviews, a couple of book reviews, and as of last week, a few video game reviews. As some of my classmates have said, all three reviews serve to accomplish the same major task: to critique. The point of a book/movie/video game review is to give the reader an idea of whether or not to spend the time or money on reading the book, watching the movie, or playing the video game. These reviews all contain the opinions and views of the critic(s). However, video game reviews stand out from book or movie reviews. Book and movie reviews usually focus on the development of the plot, characters and the situations they face, and talent of the writer, director, and actors. The video game reviews that I have read discuss console, summary, gameplay, graphics, and sound. I found my video game review of The Dukes of Hazzard from www.videogamereview.com.
I'm mostly familiar with movie reviews because that's what interests me most out of the three categories: books, video games and movies. Movie reviews usually comment on the actors' performances and the plot. They also look at originality--no one wants to see a trite story on screen. I've read a few book reviews and they talk about the same sort of thing--how well-developed the characters were and if they were believable and the plot. They also check for holes in the story and might compare that one book to others by the same author, esp. if it's a book from a series. In that way, a book review is similar to a viedo game review. The first game review I read was the one I did for class, which was on Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon. The reviewer compared this game to the others in the Tycoon series. VG reviews usually look at sound (something you don't really see in movie or book reviews), gameplay and graphics.
All these reviews are different because each genre appeals to the masses for different reasons. While movies may appeal to people because of the "happening" actors and actresses starring in it, a book might appeal to someone because of the intricate, complicated plot that so beautifully develops, or because of the style of writing of the author. Video games might appeal to people depending on the challenge of gameplay and graphics.
Video game review from www.videogamereview.com
---Re: ashley's post
I agree that video game reviews are more technical. I noticed that they target video game player, who are already familiar with the lingo. I was clueless as to some of the terms in my game review, like "sandbox" and "interface."
that last response was me.
I have read movie, video games, TV shows,music, and book reviews. All of them are pretty much the same, except for the fact that the writer is crtiquing different types of media. I am unsure of what my feelings are towards the "review". I normally only use the review if I am unsure of something, and want to know if it is worth my money. I realize that this is why most people read reviews, but I am still aprehensive about them because there are times when I don't want to be "spoiled". I know that in most reviews the writer will try to avoid spoilers or at least put a warning towards them, but I still can't help reading forward. I am the type of person that wants to know everything, right away. Sometimes it's hard for me to wait to find out on my own. Yes, I am the person that reads the end of the book first! Movie reviews are different from video game reviews I feel because they go more in depth. The video game review includes critiques on graphics, plays, etc. , but I have yet to read a movie review where they go into detail on cinematography, audio, and other things. I found my video game review through google, and then on gamereview.com/kids
---In response to Vilmarie---
I agree completely that a lot of the time, the actors and actresses appearing in the movies are what appeals to the audience. If Owen or Luke Wilson are in a movie, I will definitely see that film, because I know I have enjoyed previous movies they have been involved with. I think that is the same for video games. I remember when Professor Martin said she would buy the new Nintendo game system because she thought they produced more quality over time.
---in response to Vilmarie---
You make a good point when you point out that video game reviews are different from movie reviews in that movies may appeal to viewers because of different reasons like actors, while video game reviews are more centered around gameplay, graphics, and such; and stay more true to the quality of the game rather than focusing on outside factors. I agree, the way they appeal to the masses influences their reviews and their authors.
From the looks of things, it seems as though I'm one of the few classmates that is well-versed in the different forms of media reviews. I'm an avid reader of Fandango.com (movies), ign.com (video games), and I often read literary critiques in magazines and online. From experience, I have noticed that (and yes the line may be somewhat blurred) each type of critique has its own unique writing style. Since the audience for each media ranges dramatically, the formality and structure of a review differs according to its readers. For example, as video games are mostly played by younger generations (though this is changing)they tend to include more humor. On the other hand, book reviews seem to be geared toward more intellectual and mature audiences, and are written more formally with a more serious tone. Further differences include media-specific lingo, as well as the different important aspects of each unique media. For example, videogame reviews talk about "game engines," "HUDs", and "bump mapping", all of which is jibberish to the film and book audiences. Likewise, movies and books have their own unique terminology.
Overall though, as it has been said, each review serves to warn or encourage its audience to the material under review. This means whether or not a reader will lay down 50 bucks on a game, 12 on a book, or 8 on a ticket stub. In each media, one hopes to be deeply engrossed and in entirety, reviews serve to explain whether or not the said media accomplishes such.
----in reply to Natalie----
I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to be spoiled, I can't count how many times that an ending has been ruined for me (it is officially the worst thing in the world). And for me, it's 100 times worse when its the ending to a videogame I'm looking forward to playing. One thing I could never do though is skip to the end, as you sometimes said you do. I guess I have a lot of self control, but the worst part about playing a truly innovative and engrossing game is that when you beat it, you realize the experience is over and the great story or gameplay must come to an end. A great game is just like a great book or movie, but the hours put in and the accomplishment that you yourself persevered makes the ending that much harder to bear. Personal examples would be Zelda, Halo, or any of the Final Fantasy games.
Everyone knows how basically why the reviews are created: either to help someone why has no idea about the topic being reviewed to better understand the subject being reviewed. Another form is to inform and compare experiences; for the reader who is interested on the subject and is looking for a positive or negative opinion from the reviewer for comparison. I believe that out of the three areas (book, movies, video games), movies are the most popular, while books are more prestigious; leaving video games in a different axiom that can't be reached by books or movies: Interaction.
i'm sitting here reminiscing the days when I had a subscription to "The Official" Nintendo magazine. seems so long ago.
of the three, movie and video game reviews parallel each other best, although each of the three forms of media appeal to different audiences. each provokes a very different sensory experience, and reviews written about each medium reflect that fact. it is difficult(if not impossible)to provide a philosophical analysis of a video game. in the same manner, it is hard to analyze the "stunning graphics" of a best-selling novel.
I got my review from gamespot.com, after getting a recommendation from rottentomatoes.com (which ranks movies/games by popularity).
I have never read a video game review. I've read movie reviews, but not often beacuase i don't like to go inot a movie with an opionon already in my head. And the only time I have read a book review, are suggestions in magazine (so they have always been in favor of the book). I think a big difference is that in video game reviews, they tell you everything that happens, where in movie and book reviews, they give a vauge synopsis on what types of things to expect, but not too much to give away anything. The video game reviews can be more open to teling you what is ogin to happen because it is not like people are just watching and waiting for somehting ot happen, since they dictate most of what is going on. Another difference is that a lot of reviews talk about the graphics, and you dont read about the cinematography. I think this is because video gamers go in expecting good graphis, and even more advanced one as technologies grows every day. But movie reviews cannot really say anything about the cinematography because each film is done differntly with a specific artistic intent. But like most people have said, all reviews are just to give consumers a heads up.
in response to julia...
after reading your post, i was curious to know what game ratings were actually out there...turns out there are 7 ratings from the Entertainment Software Rating Board...i had no idea! if anyone's curious, they are: early childhood, everyone 10+, mature, everyone, teen, adults only, and rating pending.
--in reply to Ceasar--
Brilliant! I totally agree that video game reviews are written more for video gamers, and movie reviews are written for a general audience. I know there was some lingo (even in the example shown in class) thatI had no idea what it meant, but avid video game players knew what was ebing talked about.
also, i got my game at Kaboose.com
--in response to julia's response to natalie--
There was a particular line that intrested me about your response: "While with books and movies there is no common objective between all of them." While there is some reality to this, your statement could probably be slowly disproved if entertainment media in general stays on course. As most have seen, clever marketing has lead to books converting to movies and video games, or any mix between the three mediums; this is made evident with the Tom Clancy books being turned into movies and video games.
I have also read all three different kinds of review. I'd say of the three varieties, the video game review is the most focused on the product. Book and movie reviews often get into directors and actors or authors. So in a way, videogame reviews are unique that they dont really get off on a tangent-- they stick to the material. I think that all three mediums do a decent job of getting a picture of what you are about to partake in. The largest inconvenience I've found in reviews is that they are often loaded with bias and opinion, so it is possible to get a very skewed picture of the material. I would actually say that videogames probably have the least biased articles for the same reasons as i stated before, they are most likely to stick to the material. I got my review for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time from gamespot.com.
in response to Jen...
I'm also most likely to read movie reviews because they are probably the most common thing i partake in. I read, but usually to people's recommendation and I play lots of video games, but usually by word of mouth. I've rented a video game only a handful times in my life. However, blockbuster loves me. For the most part I do not read reviews because I'm usually not all that particular about what I see or play. If the trailer looks good, or the commercial for it, than its probably good enough for me!
Good job.
Another successful blog!
Stephen,
Good point about actors voicing in video games. This is becoming very popular.
--In response to Kate--
I agree with you that movie reviews are much more harsh. Critics sometimes have no mercy on actors, writers, and directors. Then again, that's usually their job. Movie critics make it their profession to critique new movies. In comparison to movie reviews, I think that video game reviews are more informal.
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