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So, Polygon 'playing' Doom...
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FunkyMunkey
Banned
yeah there should. just like there's a reasonable threshold for a review for any other medium other than the novelty "_____ does _____ for the first time" scenarios.
i don't want someone who never drinks beer, or doesn't like beer, reviewing my potential beer purchases, for example. they can, their opinion will just hold zero weight about it
MMaRsu
Banned
They need to be capable enough to not control the game like a first time player.
Android18a
Member
Been gaming all my life and still struggle with twin-stick controls. Even controlling the camera properly on games like Uncharted and Xenoblade X always screw me up.
So this gif is about my level of play.
So this gif is about my level of play.
UnluckyKate
Member
That why easy modes are in. For casuals
SunBroDave
Member
lol, GAF is killing it today
Glass Shark
Banned
yeah it's a real shame they didn't get their best MLG pro gamers assigned to do this video, they're probably going to stop getting all those moneyhats from AAA publishers if they don't show the games exactly how Bethesda wants them to!
I don't expect reviewers to be great, or even that good, at games, but I do expect them to have a basic understanding of how a dual analog controller works. Doom isn't using a brand new control scheme, bit faster than the average current FPS, but at the core is the same, nearly two decade old, twin stick set up. Considering the uncertain nature of whether this would be a "true Doom" game, this is an awful preview that does the game a massive disservice. Hoping their review doesn't follow, but this is Polygon...
Just from what I've observed, people unaccustomed to console shooters tend to whip the camera around like crazy. This looks like someone who literally does not understand they can move both sticks simultaneously.
If you all took a look at Polygon's youtube channel, you see they have a bunch of recurring "The first X minutes" or just "x minutes" videos of gameplay for new and upcoming games. Each and every one of those shows someone who I would at least call competent at playing video games, playing that game. Or at least I can assume so given me skimming the first 5 minutes of each, and the lack of massive downvoting on any of the videos.
Why exactly is Doom the odd one out? Why was the Doom video the one where they decided to pick someone (or someone volunteered), who didn't know how to play an FPS with a controller? Why did anyone think this was a good look for the site?
Why exactly is Doom the odd one out? Why was the Doom video the one where they decided to pick someone (or someone volunteered), who didn't know how to play an FPS with a controller? Why did anyone think this was a good look for the site?
It also makes the game look bad to a casual viewer. There's no real way to tell if it's the player's fault or the controls.
Absolutely, but even a novice needs basic competence to provide a useful review. I'm not so good at SF for example but I can give a solid assessment of SFV for anyone with newbie-to-modest skill. What good is my opinion if I can't do basic jumping, blocking and fireball moves and my experience boils down to "I don't know the controls"? Knowing how to pull off any game's basic mechanics is a big deal if you plan to tell people of any skill level your thoughts on said game.
Yes, it doesn't need to be a high one, but it needs to be above "I'm basically incompetent at the game I'm playing to an extent that it compromises standard gameplay and my opinion of the game."
Naaaaah, man. No mlg... They just need to know how to hold a controller. It's quite simple really.
Joseph Merrick
Member
you can compare them, like as if they show the opposite thing. pretend the polygon video is showing what appears to be lag, while the racing wheel video is showing actual lag.
FunkyMunkey
Banned
the people defending this are hilarious
i'm sure you'd appreciate a car review where someone sits down in the drivers seat and points at parts of the dashboard going "and this doo-hicky right here does... something. and this round thing... i'm not sure. here we have a weird stick in between the seats, not sure what i'm supposed to do with that." yes, that would be a very useful and informative review that would be worth watching and weighing your opinion of that car on /s
i'm sure you'd appreciate a car review where someone sits down in the drivers seat and points at parts of the dashboard going "and this doo-hicky right here does... something. and this round thing... i'm not sure. here we have a weird stick in between the seats, not sure what i'm supposed to do with that." yes, that would be a very useful and informative review that would be worth watching and weighing your opinion of that car on /s
Glass Shark
Banned
THIS ISN'T A REVIEW.
The person playing the game in this video is not the one writing the review.
Video game outlets are not a single hivemind where everyone has the same skills and tastes in games.
Resident_UA
Member
MMaRsu
Banned
Its an impression tho
I mean since we've already established this is just gameplay, II'm not going to judge the gameplay.
But since this thread has gone into the whole Reviewers should be competent enough to give a review of a game, I thought I would add my 2 cents.
As someone who loves FPS games I enjoy watching reviews for FPS titles. Now if the reviewer cannot aim and move and shoot at the same time, he/she should not review those games. Sorry.
To the guy who said "can I not just review the aesthetics?" That's like someone who can't drive, going into a car and start talking about how lovely the stiching is on the Aston Martin, how comfortable the seats are, then skip out on the whole driving performance and other important details.
You either review the game in full with someone who knows some knowledge of how to play the game genre, or just don't. Simple.
But since this thread has gone into the whole Reviewers should be competent enough to give a review of a game, I thought I would add my 2 cents.
As someone who loves FPS games I enjoy watching reviews for FPS titles. Now if the reviewer cannot aim and move and shoot at the same time, he/she should not review those games. Sorry.
To the guy who said "can I not just review the aesthetics?" That's like someone who can't drive, going into a car and start talking about how lovely the stiching is on the Aston Martin, how comfortable the seats are, then skip out on the whole driving performance and other important details.
You either review the game in full with someone who knows some knowledge of how to play the game genre, or just don't. Simple.
FunkyMunkey
Banned
exactly. there's a huge area of wiggle room between speedrunning doom on the hardest setting and picking up a controller and going "the fuck is this?"
CHANGE REVIEW TO IMPRESSION. STILL STANDS
gunslikewhoa
Member
There has to be a line somewhere. I don't think either of my parents have ever touched a controller. If I let them play Doom for 20 hours or so, how much would you value their opinion?
They have every right to make such an awful review and you have every right in the world to ignore their review. Doesn't mean they can't make a review. They just won't be very successful at it (unless people like it ironically).
funkystudent
Member
Preview of the review
Quick! Call the video game police!
Well, I'd probably be more interested in reading that than reading a serious review.
Cars are not playthings.
Their opinion would not be useful to me as a buyer, but it would be interesting to me as someone who follows the industry, and it would potentially be useful to other new gamers. Since I know that not everything in this universe is about me, I am okay with the fact that other people have different experiences than me and are allowed to express that.
Spiral Insanity
Banned
To this degree? Yes?
There should be . Just like balancing issues in competitive games, you listen to the skilled players on issues,not the scrubs getting killed all the time.
SmiteOfHand
Member
There is literally no impression given though. We have no idea what this person thought while playing or what they left with the experience. There is no voice, positive or negative.
I have a hard time trusting someone's review if it looks like they're incredibly unfamiliar with what they're reviewing.
JesseEwiak
Member
To your first part, from what I've seen, there's a definite lean on GAF toward people in their early to mid 20's.
As for the rest, ignoring the fact this isn't somebody reviewing the game, that sure you could do that in your own home, paying attention to the game. Now, the question is, could you do that on video while also putting forth informative and entertaining patter about the game. Not that this is that specific thing, but most of the "omg video game journalsits sucks at game" videos are usually video where the main goal of the video is talking about the game, not being the best at the game.
Oddly enough, Paradox actually had a much better reaction to said review than the fanbase and as Austin Walker pointed out on the latest Beastcast, said reviewer has played a hell of a lot of Paradox games.
Right. I think people on the Internet highly overrate the ability of even 'average' video game players.
I don't see why that's a surprise. Most people in the games press are writers and other creative types, not people only interested in gameplay and graphics. Of course they're largely going to lean toward narrative over pure gameplay. But, that hasn't stopped gameplay intensive games such as Dark Souls getting high praise from the games press at large.
ItsTheNew
I believe any game made before 1997 is "essentially cave man art."
Yes. Just like there are qualifications and requirements for any line of work.
^Hi.
Zen_Arcade
Banned
I don't think anyone is saying they don't have the right to do it. Just that it's a pretty poor decision to do so because then the review isnt doing it's job very well.
A person who is competent at a genre of game can at least do his best to describe the game for both newcomers and veterans, as that person has been both a newcomer and a veteran to the genre. A person who has never played a game in the genre before is only going to be helpful to others who have never played the genre before. It's a limited analysis and I don't see the point in ever using it.
Turin Turambar
Member
Remember this when you see reviews (in general, not only about Doom) where they gloss over gameplay and focus on the narrative.
hello
7DollarHagane
Banned
Of course there's a lot of hyperbole about pro play and nonsense but this seems a lot like trying to talk about a book but being borderline illiterate.
It's not a good look for polygon which is a shitty site to begin with. Not sure how they are still around.
It's not a good look for polygon which is a shitty site to begin with. Not sure how they are still around.
Aztechnology
Member
Should there be a barrier to entry for skill on reviews? That's a question that I think can be answered by looking at subjectivity. Is there a direct correlation between higher skill level and understanding of a game at a mechanical level? I think so. What about story? Someone's experience in a game can easily be skewed by the perceived challenge and if they actually like to be challenged. I remember watching an IGN video someone linked me and one of their reviewers had quit Fallout 4 on normal after only a small portion of the game because he thought it was too hard. That reflected in his discussions of the game thereafter and potentially changed his views on similar games in the future. I don't think someone should have to be like me to review a game (Normally highest difficulties/greatest challenges I can get) but personally I feel they should certainly be more competent than a casual gamer for me to take them seriously. However, what I want out of a game/review is different from what others want so the reviews I follow are not generally "casual". Every review is highly subjective so there is value in a review from someone who isn't a very skilled gamer, but it should reflect that in the article. Someone who really isn't much of a gamer, or not very skilled who got into video game journalism should tell us that is the lense they look at the game through because it's pertinent to the review of the game.
TLDR: no there's shouldn't be a skill cap on reviews because of their subjective nature. There is value in casual reviews. However, reviewers should make clear the difficulty on which they played and their experience with similar titles as they have a bearing on a review.
TLDR: no there's shouldn't be a skill cap on reviews because of their subjective nature. There is value in casual reviews. However, reviewers should make clear the difficulty on which they played and their experience with similar titles as they have a bearing on a review.
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