Reviewers' Guild?

Taluntain · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:34pm

Every now and then we get an offer for free review copies or codes, but usually none of our senior staff pick them up for reviewing due to one reason or another, but it wouldn't hurt if somebody else from the community did. So I'm wondering, is there any interest here in reviewing various new games? The only obligation when it comes to reviewing games that you'd have is that you write a review of the selected game in a reasonable time frame and take a few screenshots to go along with it, then post it all here on the boards.

Ideally, we'd make a small guild of trusted reviewers who'd decide whether they want to review a specific game on a case by case basis. Naturally, long-standing members with good writing skills that I already know will have preference when it comes to gaining membership in the guild. But anyone with good writing skills will be able to post their reviews of any game that they've played.

Right now we've got an offer to review Dungeonbowl, so post here if you're interested and your thoughts about the whole concept.

Tarrasque · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:40pm

Sounds like a good idea in principle. Only real issue I can see is if people agree to review then due to 'real life' issues drop out without telling anyone - how do you determine how long they have, and when to reasssign a review.

Fuzzzeeee · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:50pm

I certainly would be interested in doing this, and in some ways, it would actually help me to have the opportunity to get involved. As an English student, a lot of my degree relies on good writing skills, but honestly I don't feel motivated enough to actually practice very often even though I find it enjoyable. If I had something to work towards and a definite reason to do it, I'm sure I'd get around to actually doing more writing in general.

I've never felt super-confident about my reviewing skills, but having said that, the last time I tried to do something like that was several years ago when I was considerably younger. I think the point of this whole ramble is that I'd certainly appreciate the opportunity, as I'm a competent writer (hell, I should hope so anyway!), and I'm fairly sure it would give me more of an incentive to get better and become more confident with my writing over time.

Taluntain · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 8:57pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarrasque

Sounds like a good idea in principle. Only real issue I can see is if people agree to review then due to 'real life' issues drop out without telling anyone - how do you determine how long they have, and when to reasssign a review.

I think a couple of weeks would be a reasonable time frame to do it in (maybe extend it a bit for more complex games)... if a reviewer has nothing to show by then, someone else can take over.

Splunge · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 10:16pm

I've just finished my first runthrough of Mass Effect, so I might be able to squeeze in a review.

I know you said "new games" - well, it was new for me!

Tarrasque · Thu, 21st Jun '12, 10:39pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taluntain

I think a couple of weeks would be a reasonable time frame to do it in (maybe extend it a bit for more complex games)... if a reviewer has nothing to show by then, someone else can take over.

In that case sounds like a good plan

Taluntain · Fri, 22nd Jun '12, 12:04am

Splunge, any games would be up for review, really.

Taluntain · Thu, 5th Jul '12, 1:32am

Ok, I'll reuse this thread for starters. Anyone who'd like to review Dungeonbowl, please PM me. I'll post here once it's been taken.

For more information : www.dungeonbowl-game.com

Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:34pm	#1
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,857 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 172 Liked 132 Times in 85 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,277 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 54.6% Daily Activity 134.66% Weekly Activity 54.51% Monthly Activity 45.5% Achievements Awards	Reviewers' Guild? Every now and then we get an offer for free review copies or codes, but usually none of our senior staff pick them up for reviewing due to one reason or another, but it wouldn't hurt if somebody else from the community did. So I'm wondering, is there any interest here in reviewing various new games? The only obligation when it comes to reviewing games that you'd have is that you write a review of the selected game in a reasonable time frame and take a few screenshots to go along with it, then post it all here on the boards. Ideally, we'd make a small guild of trusted reviewers who'd decide whether they want to review a specific game on a case by case basis. Naturally, long-standing members with good writing skills that I already know will have preference when it comes to gaining membership in the guild. But anyone with good writing skills will be able to post their reviews of any game that they've played. Right now we've got an offer to review Dungeonbowl, so post here if you're interested and your thoughts about the whole concept.
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Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:50pm	#3
Fuzzzeeee Gems: 1/31 Latest gem: Turquoise Stick Avalanche Champion! Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 19 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 77 Level: 2 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 95.33% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	I certainly would be interested in doing this, and in some ways, it would actually help me to have the opportunity to get involved. As an English student, a lot of my degree relies on good writing skills, but honestly I don't feel motivated enough to actually practice very often even though I find it enjoyable. If I had something to work towards and a definite reason to do it, I'm sure I'd get around to actually doing more writing in general. I've never felt super-confident about my reviewing skills, but having said that, the last time I tried to do something like that was several years ago when I was considerably younger. I think the point of this whole ramble is that I'd certainly appreciate the opportunity, as I'm a competent writer (hell, I should hope so anyway!), and I'm fairly sure it would give me more of an incentive to get better and become more confident with my writing over time.
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Thu, 21st Jun '12, 10:16pm	#5
Splunge SPS Account Holder Bhaal’s financial advisor Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: In hiding after Bhaal became Lord of Murder when I had him put everything into subprime mortgages. Posts: 6,555 Like: 13 Liked 61 Times in 41 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 15,935 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 25.14% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 7.25% Monthly Activity 5.81% Achievements Awards	I've just finished my first runthrough of Mass Effect, so I might be able to squeeze in a review. I know you said "new games" - well, it was new for me!
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Fri, 22nd Jun '12, 12:04am	#7
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,857 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 172 Liked 132 Times in 85 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,277 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 54.6% Daily Activity 134.66% Weekly Activity 54.51% Monthly Activity 45.5% Achievements Awards	Splunge, any games would be up for review, really.
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Thu, 5th Jul '12, 1:32am	#8
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,857 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 172 Liked 132 Times in 85 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,277 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 54.6% Daily Activity 134.66% Weekly Activity 54.51% Monthly Activity 45.5% Achievements Awards	Ok, I'll reuse this thread for starters. Anyone who'd like to review Dungeonbowl, please PM me. I'll post here once it's been taken. For more information : www.dungeonbowl-game.com
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Thu, 21st Jun '12, 7:40pm	#2
Tarrasque SPS Account Holder Whoever said Paladins had to be charismatic? Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 268 Like: 3 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,071 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 27.52% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 2.87% Achievements Awards	Sounds like a good idea in principle. Only real issue I can see is if people agree to review then due to 'real life' issues drop out without telling anyone - how do you determine how long they have, and when to reasssign a review.