Great post with some interesting insight into the business! That's great that you have an excellent editor-in-chief as a buffer to maintain the industry relationships while allowing you to retain your editorial integrity. Keep up the good work!
It makes me happy to learn that Chris is telling you guys not to worry about the publisher when reviewing a game. It makes me feel guilty for not checking out Gamer Limit more often. You guys are pretty awesome over there.
Very nice insight, man. I've run into similar problems at my music site, especially since I'm writing about the sort of bands that don't get a lot of coverage anyway. Sometimes, I'm basically the only site that agrees to give these bands the time of day, and it sucks to have to write about how crappy the sound is when I know that they didn't have the money to make it better, or about how terrible the vocalist is when I know that the vocalist himself might very well read the review. Sadly, it hasn't gotten any easier for me. I hope it gets easier for you!
Having to write a negative review of a game you really wanted to like sucks, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Also, you overuse commas just as badly as I do. XP
Also, you overuse commas just as badly as I do. XP
It's good to know that you don't pull any punches, but also have enough care that you do not want to slaughter and pulverize those behind the game because of the way you felt about it.
Being brutally honest may not earn you the most friends, but atleast people will respect you.
Being brutally honest may not earn you the most friends, but atleast people will respect you.
but I’m not going to link it hear because Yojimbo will give me lots of shit for pimping my articles through the Cblogs.
lol. I don't give you lots of shit...I just say its a shameless plug!
Good read Shawn. Now who's the tough guy?
lol. I don't give you lots of shit...I just say its a shameless plug!
Good read Shawn. Now who's the tough guy?
I really don't see why you couldn't provide a link to the review... your blog was on a different topic and wasn't just a cut and paste... the link would be no different than linking to other reference material.
It's interesting to point out the possible influences on review writing though... especially the part about having to send a copy of the review back to the devs - yeah, that would be pretty rough. They have to know that your review is for other gamers though... and that you just have to be honest!
... and now I'm off to hunt down said review that you didn't provide a link to! :)
It's interesting to point out the possible influences on review writing though... especially the part about having to send a copy of the review back to the devs - yeah, that would be pretty rough. They have to know that your review is for other gamers though... and that you just have to be honest!
... and now I'm off to hunt down said review that you didn't provide a link to! :)
I guess sometimes we don't really realize that good people can make bad games, the type of people you feel bad for criticizing. Hopefully they don't take the negatives personally and learn from their mistakes so that they can build a better game next time.
For the record, please put the link to your review in the blog. No one will think you are "pimping".
Also, sorry to hear about your experience. I had a similar feeling about reviewing Eduardo the Samurai Toaster. It felt bad to "destroy" a game made by four guys who are just starting out.
Thing is, I wasn't really destroying it, just as you didn't destroy Darkest Days. It sounds like your review was written without any spite or malice. You just said what had to be said.
If I was on the team that made the game, I'd take the criticism for what it's worth and move on.
Also, sorry to hear about your experience. I had a similar feeling about reviewing Eduardo the Samurai Toaster. It felt bad to "destroy" a game made by four guys who are just starting out.
Thing is, I wasn't really destroying it, just as you didn't destroy Darkest Days. It sounds like your review was written without any spite or malice. You just said what had to be said.
If I was on the team that made the game, I'd take the criticism for what it's worth and move on.
Developers don't go out of their way to make intentionally bad games, but when the end product is dire then it's completely fine to give them hell. The guys who made Darkest of Days are probably nice but they ultimately messed up, so do they deserve someone's hard earned money for their mistakes?
No way. You write for the consumer and not the company...Unless you're Gamespot (oooh...cheeky).
No way. You write for the consumer and not the company...Unless you're Gamespot (oooh...cheeky).
Its hard telling something they've made or what they think is bad. I'm an atheist and the other day a church called asking me if I wanted a free bible. I said no, but of course he has to go on and explain his religion anyways. I found it really hard telling this guy I think his beliefs are bullshit. I felt for the guy, you know?
Good luck with future reviews.
Good luck with future reviews.
You just had to give them a negative review. To them a well written negative review is worth much more than somebody sucking up and saying the game is great. Or being a douchebag about it.
Also, I, think, Blehman, is, onto, something comma.
Also, I, think, Blehman, is, onto, something comma.
Haha amazing! I've been mentioned!
I felt SO bad, Shawn, when you made that huge forum post about how bad the game was. I'm glad you were brutally honest in your review, because really, you did an excellent job.
Here's a link to the review, because Shawn definitely deserves a plug.
Oh, and for the record, this is the response I got back from the Darkest of Days PR rep:
"Thanks for sending the link over Chris! It was great working with you as well and I’ll DEFINITELY keep you in mind for future products. :D"
It's all good, Shawn! <3
I felt SO bad, Shawn, when you made that huge forum post about how bad the game was. I'm glad you were brutally honest in your review, because really, you did an excellent job.
Here's a link to the review, because Shawn definitely deserves a plug.
Oh, and for the record, this is the response I got back from the Darkest of Days PR rep:
"Thanks for sending the link over Chris! It was great working with you as well and I’ll DEFINITELY keep you in mind for future products. :D"
It's all good, Shawn! <3
I've had similar experiences in my field. Right now I'm working for a small sci-fi publishing company and I've had to write rejection letters/critiques/editing etc. And some of the stuff I've had to read is baaaad. It's tough to have to balance being honest but not completely ripping that person to shreds.
Good blog though. When I have a little bit more free time I'll go check out your article.
Good blog though. When I have a little bit more free time I'll go check out your article.
I don't think I could ever really rip apart someone's hardwork and be happy about about. I mean, if they just through shit together, and it's evident they did that, I'd rip 'em a new one, but hardwork?
Couldn't do it.
Couldn't do it.
Good thing i don't have to go through that.
But holding yourself would be worse, so just as the Prophet says, be brutally honest.
But holding yourself would be worse, so just as the Prophet says, be brutally honest.
Being brutally honest is the best thing you can do. They made a bad game, tell them what they did wrong without glorifying it. They need to know to improve.
Awesome blog, this is one of the things I hated about being a manager, telling people they suck. It's fun in theory, but when you see their lip start quivering and you know that they can't help it, they are just destined to suck, well you feel badly for them. I tended to mask it with bitter sarcasm so at the end of the day they not only hated me, but also themselves. Ah the good old days.
Back on a related topic, I need to check out Magnalon's site, I've been aware of it, but I'm pretty lazy/pressed for time so haven't made the effort to get out there and experience it. I think this blog is just the push I need. Well done on the free PR Shawn.
Back on a related topic, I need to check out Magnalon's site, I've been aware of it, but I'm pretty lazy/pressed for time so haven't made the effort to get out there and experience it. I think this blog is just the push I need. Well done on the free PR Shawn.
Jesus. Recently I started writing reviews, if only for myself. I wonder how I'd feel about having to do a negative review that gets serious recognition. On one hand I do feel bad about tearing peoples' work down. On the other hand I can be a real dick. It's actually why I even started writing reviews: To see if I could avoid my critical tendencies.
They let you write for a site? For real people to read? Madness!
Ok, realistically that was a fantastic article and gave me a broader picture of what goes into the process of writing a review when there is a solid chance that someone who worked on the product being reviewed might read it. Now, Im off to read the review!
Ok, realistically that was a fantastic article and gave me a broader picture of what goes into the process of writing a review when there is a solid chance that someone who worked on the product being reviewed might read it. Now, Im off to read the review!

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