Do you read the reviews?

[Toma-kun]

I want you to answer this as honestly as possible; do you actually read the reviews on the site? I'm about to finish my Suikoden V review and since I'm no longer getting any "professional" help with my writing, I was wondering if you had any inputs on the reviews I've written. Any comment is welcome.

[Ward]

I never read reviews
I hate critics

[rikku]

i like reviews, it gives good insights and stuff. Especially if you find a reviewer who likes the same type of thing you do, so its easier to decide weither or not ot spend the x dollars on it

[Soul_Angel]

Only every once in a while I read one. I do it when I'm super bored.

[Silver]

I don't usually read reviews. When I'm looking for a game, I just basically check the scores.

[Crave]

I don't read the reviews on this site. Infact... I still have quite a few (by few I only mean 4) I had finished but haven't gone over to make sure they were ready to post. I don't think many people have much ambition to read the reviews here when they're are bigger sites to check instead like IGN.

They may be more curious if they were more dedicated members, but in order for there to be dedicated members we'd need something that'd draw them here so they'd stay. Reviews aren't going to do that - no matter the quantity.

[Soul_Angel]

Hmm...I think I'll start reading the reviews. I remember the last review I read was really nice.

[Silver]

I used to have a game reviews site a long time ago. It was kinda crappy. We kept it going for like a year, but it had to end.

[Toma-kun]

There's got to be some people out there interested in "amateur" reviews; the difference probably isn't the same as getting a home cooked meal instead of fast food, but the reviews are almost the only things unique to the site. And how knows, maybe that's the problem, but I still think it would be terrible to run a site and not have a voice of opinion.

However, I'll admit, the reviews are about the only thing that I haven't been complemented on yet. The design gets high marks, coding, the forum, graphics, etc, but I can't say I've heard any actual comments over the reviews. I think that may have more to do with people not reading them than them being not up to snuff.

[Ward]

everyone should get together to think of new ways to get more visitors

[Soul_Angel]

I have an idea. We'll transform this site into a site for Hentai! Jk everyone, jk. But seriously, we could all do something little for the site. Whether that would have to do with Art, Games, Music, or even some really funny crap! That should help...especially with tons of Advertisement.

[Silver]

Usually the highest activity forums are ones with a theme. This one does, so that's a good start.

Another thing that would go well is a solid member base. Get a bunch of people, get them posting a lot, and coming up with interesting threads.

Also a spam section wouldn't hurt.

[Lucca]

I've read the reviews, and thought they were quite good. However, I've also noticed that people tend to review the games they enjoy ...and where as there is nothing particularly wrong with that, almost all of the reviews are 80% or higher (in fact, I don't recall seeing any low scores). Professional critics review all sorts of games good or bad, which may be why some may dismiss the reviews as "amature-ish". That said, I don't really think there's anything that needs to be changed in that area...

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a "fan area" a place to view fanart and the like, that would probably go over well.

[UPRC]

I've read the reviews, and thought they were quite good. However, I've also noticed that people tend to review the games they enjoy ...and where as there is nothing particularly wrong with that, almost all of the reviews are 80% or higher (in fact, I don't recall seeing any low scores). Professional critics review all sorts of games good or bad, which may be why some may dismiss the reviews as "amature-ish". That said, I don't really think there's anything that needs to be changed in that area...

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a "fan area" a place to view fanart and the like, that would probably go over well.

Read my Hoshigami review. It is very unpleasant. :)


Anyway, I had an idea a few days ago.. Why not add a new review section for amateur/non-commercial games? Or somehow tie the reviews in to the forums?

[Toma-kun]

The lowest score I gave out was a 72% to Suikoden IV, but it is true that I only play and review RPGs that I'm remotely interested in. I tried getting into Tales of Legendia, but I just couldn't stand it; the lousy voice acting, the cheesy writing, but it wouldn't be fair to review it if I didn't actually play it. :D

As for the fan art; give me a couple of pieces that I can post up and I'll get a section started. I would have just picked some random ones from the Internet, but I'd love to have the artist's permission first and they're not the easiest to contact.

And tying the reviews to the forums; I have had that idea for some time since there's no real way of getting feedback for them and seeing as how I'm out of school I think I might be able to make this happen.

[Lucca]

I've read the reviews, and thought they were quite good. However, I've also noticed that people tend to review the games they enjoy ...and where as there is nothing particularly wrong with that, almost all of the reviews are 80% or higher (in fact, I don't recall seeing any low scores). Professional critics review all sorts of games good or bad, which may be why some may dismiss the reviews as "amature-ish". That said, I don't really think there's anything that needs to be changed in that area...

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing a "fan area" a place to view fanart and the like, that would probably go over well.

Read my Hoshigami review. It is very unpleasant. :)


Anyway, I had an idea a few days ago.. Why not add a new review section for amateur/non-commercial games? Or somehow tie the reviews in to the forums?

I must have missed that one somehow! Hilarious, and I've never even heard of that game, sounds a lot like torture. XP

I like that idea, UPRC. Non-published games hardly ever get any coverage, although I'd imagine there's some good ones out there (I've never really paid much attention to them, admittingly).

but it is true that I only play and review RPGs that I'm remotely interested in.
And that's understandable, really. I guess what I was trying to say was, where as professional critics recieve the games they review, most people don't have that luxury. Since games aren't exactly cheap, you buy what interests you, hence the mostly rave reviews (which in a sense, means you're good at picking out games you think you'll like). The cool thing is, unlike critics, you can choose what you want to review, and nobody's forcing you to play garbage.

As far as fanart goes, I haven't drawn anything in ages, but if I do I'll make sure to send them your way. I could always dig up some ancient stuff, too, that's a possibility.

[Toma-kun]

So it looks like it's near impossible to get any site content meshed with the forum; I'd have to change the entire site to a portal like setup and I can't stand portals. I'll have to think of some other hacks to install.

[Ward]

Another thing that would go well is a solid member base. Get a bunch of people, get them posting a lot, and coming up with interesting threads.

Also a spam section wouldn't hurt.


how come the number of registered members are decreasing?
is someone deleting people?

I think the advertising and recruitment section count as a spam forum

[Lucca]

Unfortunately, many of the "members" that join this site... are really just bots. Funny, if even half the members that joined were human, this forum would be booming.

[Ward]

what do bots do registering at forums?
can't you block them?

[Toma-kun]

No definite way to block them really; they use a million different emails and usernames. I thought enabling admin activation (as in the admins have to approve accounts first) would do well, but it just keeps them from posting; not creating bogus accounts.

[Soul_Angel]

What do bots do in the first place? Are they just there for advertisement or something?

[Toma-kun]

Pretty much just for advertising. I'm going to hunt for some registration hacks tomorrow, maybe they have one where you have to enter the confirmation word; a bot definitely can't do that.

[Soul_Angel]

Good idea. You might get lucky and find one.

[Silver]

Unfortunately, many of the "members" that join this site... are really just bots. Funny, if even half the members that joined were human, this forum would be booming.
It happens sometimes that people join, but don't post at all, or very little. Actually, on most forums I'm on, there's always more inactive members than active ones.

I've yet to figure that one out.

[Toma-kun]

It's probably because the forum doesn't allow guest viewing; I hate it when they do that.

[Soul_Angel]

Well the reason that I don't go to some forums is that the people there are real jerks. That's only in big forums though.

[Ward]

I hate forums where there are thousands of people

[Soul_Angel]

Yeah...that's why these smaller forums are better. There aren't so many people that will just say something offensive for no reason.

[Lucca]

Not to mention large forums feel a bit unpersonal, like you never get to know anyone because it's so crowded. Here, it's like we're a big family. A bit cheesey, I admit...

[Soul_Angel]

Yeah..."One big happy family". It really does seem that way.

[ViralArtist]

Yes because I write a few lol