If Only Every Game Came with a “Reviewers Guide” (Update)
September 7th, 2007This has to be one of the most absurd things I’ve seen. Sony is sending out a “Reviewer’s Guide” for Lair to various media outlets. Let’s ignore the fact that the outlets have already reviewed the game weeks ago… What exactly am I supposed to think if I receive a “Reviewers Guide” for a game?
To me it says, “We know this game is shitty, but if you play it JUST RIGHT it can be fun!”
Here’s the thing with games, or for that matter, any media. When it’s in my possession, I get to do with it what I like. I can read a manual that tells me how to play, ok… but if I don’t like it, then I don’t need the developer/director/writer telling me “No no no… you just didn’t play/watch/read it right. What you really need to do is…”
It kind of reminds me of this old Penny Arcade comic where Kevin Smith defended his crappy movie “Jersey Girl” by saying it “wasn’t for critics.” Guess what? Critics are people too, just like non-critics, and they can watch a movie, read a book, and watch a movie however they want. We don’t need a guide to tell us how we should use your media to have fun as long as you *gasp* actually make it fun.
*UPDATE* If you want to see the whole thing, Destructoid has it here.
Posted in Idiocy, Jeff, PS3, Sony |
September 7th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
While I agree a reviewers guide is completely idiotic, I would like to say that any good reviewer will endeavor to consume the media that they are reviewing in a manner consistent with its intended audience.
You wouldn’t criticize a childrens game for being childlike just because you as a reviewer are not a child.
In the mind of a creator (movie, music, or games, etc) their work is somewhat a gift, a labor of love in many cases. It wouldn’t make sense for someone to criticize a gift when it was meant for another. I mean, adult diapers might seem stupid to me, but if they are intended for an audience other than myself, my appraisal of them holds less sway.
I’m not defending lair, but I’m saying there is some truth to the idea.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
I certainly agree with you, but I don’t think that the bad reviews were just a matter of reviewers not understanding the audience.
I also think most reviewers do try to take this into account. But they also need to balance this with the interests of THEIR audience.
And to be completely honest, if you have to explain to someone exactly how to enjoy your work, then it’s probably not that great. Did 2k and Nintendo have to send out “guides” for Bioshock and Metroid?
I feel bad for developers that put so much energy into something only to have it crapped on by critics and the general public. It’s unfortunately what you have to deal with when you’re in the entertainment business, though.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Shame on you, standing in the way of reeducation.
September 7th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
“but I don’t think that the bad reviews were just a matter of reviewers not understanding the audience.”
Oh, I know. I’m not saying its the situation in this case, I’m just saying that its a real issue. In this case, I think its a cop out.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I skimmed the guide and I actually don’t have any objections to it. It seems basically like an instruction manual, with some additional background on the game’s world and creation… there’s nothing particularly egregious like “You need to hold your controller at a 90 degree angle or it will crash on you,” or “You should give Lair a 90% for these reasons.”
It seems like an overly high standard to demand that players be able to play your game well upon picking it up without any instruction. After all, Monopoly’s a fun game but you wouldn’t expect someone to master it without the manual.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Geoff-
I don’t have a problem with an instruction manual. I don’t know exactly what comes in a review copy, but theoretically it shouldn’t differ from what a normal user would get when they buy the game. A normal user would get an instruction manual, not a “reviewers guide”. If this is just a blown up version of their instruction manual, then ok. But the fact that they sent it out after the game started getting miserable reviews seems to indicate that it’s trying to serve a different purpose.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
It may be trying to, but read the thing - it’s right up on Destructoid. Then tell me what offends you. Because I really can’t figure it out now…?
September 10th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Well, I have 2 responses… direct and indirect.
Direct: The Foreward seems a bit pretentious, basically making sure that the reviewers mind is “open” to the game. That should theoretically be a pre-requisite for being a reviewer for anything, and I would think that’s kind of insulting to reviewers and “average” players alike.
Indirect: Again, manuals aren’t called “reviewers guides” when given to either reviewers or consumers. The fact is that this is something specifically created for reviewers. If the Lair developers just wanted to make sure the reviewers could play the game, they should’ve sent them the actual manual… the same manual that is shipped with the retail game (which may or may not actually be given to them typically… I really don’t know).
It reminds me of when a writer or director desperately tries to tell people why their work is so good and the people viewing/reading their work are wrong. If an artist needs to explain to their audience what their work means and why its good, then it probably isn’t.