MushroomSamba
Member
A fairly sensible stance to take, IMO. One common reply to that in this thread has been, "but they can review the visuals". It kinda misses the point of it still having gameplay mechanics, but whatever.
So, Polygon 'playing' Doom...
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A fairly sensible stance to take, IMO. One common reply to that in this thread has been, "but they can review the visuals". It kinda misses the point of it still having gameplay mechanics, but whatever.
Wow that video. That reminds me of the first time I got my little brother to play a twin stick game. He couldn't walk and control the camera at the same time and I remember laughing because to me it's second nature. He is very good at gaming these days and could hand me my ass on a controller as I mostly use Kb/m for shooters. Something to remember is we all start somewhere but from a gaming website you'd think before playing and reviewing games you would have started and learned basic gaming skills a long time ago.
Yeah, it's really not a Polygon specific thing. It's especially bad when it comes to racing games. This is from a video of someone at Gamespot playing GT6 at TGS
He lets go of the wheel in frustration at the end. Lol. Who plays in third person view like that?
SmoothRunningGun
Member
I'm torn. I hate when people crap on someone's vid game skilz but I kinda like crapping on polygon. Quite the dilemma.
Once for a split second. Might've been an accident though.
M0nochromatic
Member
it always gets me that critique and reviews are used as if they mean the same thing in "games journalism".
Any writer worth their salt should acknowledge their skill level if it's relevant to their writings on the game. It's funny watching poor gameplay, but there honestely dosen't seem like any integrity is being lost here.
Any writer worth their salt should acknowledge their skill level if it's relevant to their writings on the game. It's funny watching poor gameplay, but there honestely dosen't seem like any integrity is being lost here.
F0rneus
Tears in the rain
I could only imagine one of two situations.
- The person may have problems with brain activity and response in terms of doing multiple actions at once
- The person playing it is either unfamiliar with a controller, or fps games in general
I don't think the former passes to be a reviewer for a game site, unfortunately. And I have no problem with that video, so long as that's not the person they chose to review the game...
- The person may have problems with brain activity and response in terms of doing multiple actions at once
- The person playing it is either unfamiliar with a controller, or fps games in general
I don't think the former passes to be a reviewer for a game site, unfortunately. And I have no problem with that video, so long as that's not the person they chose to review the game...
Jeff Gerstmann.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Shouldn't y'all's greater concern be that a game is so easy that it enables someone who clearly has no idea what they're doing to progress?
TriniTrin
war of titties grampa
They removed comments and dislike numbers from the video. They know damn well what they put up! LOL
Or they were distracted. Going straight to "brain problems" is kinda shitty.
Not really, but it does mean that this review is kind of meaningless for advanced players since an unskilled player is unlikely to have the same criteria for a good shooter.
KatamariOnTheRocks
Member
People love to take laughably stupid positions because they think it makes them seem smart to defend something that's objectively incorrect because nobody else is dumb enough to defend that thing so they feel unique by being the only ones to do it.
When it comes to gaming, people constantly defend the most ridiculous things that are clearly bad even for themselves and then get outraged at even dumber things that are of no consequence when there is always a reasonable middle ground in between that is conveniently ignored in favor of pointless outrage that goes in opposite contradicting directions but is coming from the same exact people both times.
JesseEwiak
Member
I understand perfectly how to play basketball. I still shoot bricks every time I pull up jumpers.
That doesn't stop me from saying, "oh, the 76ers are making terrible basketball moves" or "the Spurs are really good at basketball for these reasons." Same way with games - I realize that reviewers are all shills who actually hate games, but I believe most reviewers can separate their skill from the quality of the game.
A know a LOT of people who played racing games with controllers in third person who are physically incapable of switching to first person if they use the wheel. The moment you make it like they're "actually" driving a car it messes them up real bad.
Air Zombie Meat
Member
They definitely don't need to be skillful or rehearsed. But this looks like someone playing the game one handed. I thought this thread was going to be some elitist nonsense before I watched it but this goes beyond that.
partyphone
Banned
i have a crazy idea. what if we stopped caring about review scores?
nhlducks35
Member
There's a difference between skillful and not being able to have basic experience with an fps
Snkfanatic
Banned
Sensible chuckle.
Yeah, it's really not a Polygon specific thing. It's especially bad when it comes to racing games. This is from a video of someone at Gamespot playing GT6 at TGS
well this aint nearly as bad to be fair
I also dont know the context but im more inclined to understand someone having issues with a specificil wheel considering its far more unusual than a controller with 2 sticks we've been using for years
Will advanced players still need the service of a review to know if they want to play Doom or not? This is purely theoretical since there's no review in question but in my case, for genres I'm passionate about, I generally do not depend on reviews for a purchase.
JesseEwiak
Member
Bingo. I'm sure there are hardcore FPS sites out there. Go look at them. Sites like Polygon, IGN, etc. are aimed at the slightly above average player out there, not frankly, anybody who spends a lot of time on this website.
This makes the game look unresponsive, or at best shitty to control, which is not the case. So a game review website who shows that kind of footage is not showing a good representation of the game, and that's before the review is out.
Seasoned console gamers who will be interested in playing doom on console know about gamepad controls on a console FPS. People who want to play Doom on console but have never touched a FPS before with a gamepad will have a very bad first time, but that's completely not related to the game; it's just about the control scheme.
Showing that is putting a negative light on the game for reasons not related to the game. A well-recognized review website shouldn't do that.
Seasoned console gamers who will be interested in playing doom on console know about gamepad controls on a console FPS. People who want to play Doom on console but have never touched a FPS before with a gamepad will have a very bad first time, but that's completely not related to the game; it's just about the control scheme.
Showing that is putting a negative light on the game for reasons not related to the game. A well-recognized review website shouldn't do that.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
Then those people should seek reviews from pro-gamers™. Just like everyone should be seeking reviews from sources fitting their aptitude.
For people who don't play a lot of 3d games with seperate camera and movement controls(which is a lot of people) The controls of a FPS will be really confusing and weird feeling just like star fox. A review by someone in the same boat is valuable to those people.
I am not saying it's straight up brain problems, but the person playing is very clearly having difficulty playing it. For a game site, that can only mean the person is absolutely alien to something about the way it plays.
Some people can handle more than others regarding certain activities, which was all I was implying with the brain example, that a person may have a deficit. And as I said, I doubt game sites would accommodate those people.
If they were distracted, that's kind of even worse that they feel comfortable putting that video out. That's just lazy ass stuff.
Bronetta
Ask me about the moon landing or the temperature at which jet fuel burns. You may be surprised at what you learn.
Since you're so crazy, what should we care about instead?
Garrett Hawke
Member
Unique racing lineYeah, it's really not a Polygon specific thing. It's especially bad when it comes to racing games. This is from a video of someone at Gamespot playing GT6 at TGS
That sounds more like a critique than a review, to me. Preferably a review would evaluate the totality of what the game has to offer so that readers can make a personal value judgment.
Also this:
is dumb and not conducive to a civil discussion about the topic at hand.
Valkyr1983
Banned
If i cared about an objective view on Doom Im smart enough to know where to look, so should anyone who posts here on Neogaf
There are hundreds of review sites out there. Its inevitable that some are not going to be good at playing games, some might straight up suck
What good does mocking their lack of skills do? just move on and find a site who's opinion you trust
just comes across as lame
If it was coming from a source like Polygon, then it needs to meet a competence threshold because their reviews are not targeted at first time gamers.
ebullientprism
Member
Holy shit. That gif is like someone using a twin sticks for the first time in their life.
I dont need reviewers to be great at the game but jesus, how about some competence at the very least? That was painful to watch.
I dont need reviewers to be great at the game but jesus, how about some competence at the very least? That was painful to watch.
Valkyr1983
Banned
People who actually want to see the car they are driving? what kind of question is that?
As someone who is paid to review games, and has done that as a job for multiple outlets across my lifetime, I think you should have to have a base level of competence at every genre in order to be in this industry. I'm not saying you have to be great, or even good—but you should be able to pick up a controller for any game and be able to play it. That is a basic skill you should have if you're going to play games for a living.
Beyond that, specialize in what you do, and make sure the right people are getting the right games. I'm not sure the story behind how this video game together, but I would personally be embarrassed to have this video up on my website—and I say that knowing and being friendly with some of the Polygon folks. There's just no way this video should ever have been cleared for approval.
I don't care if it's just showing off the beginning of the game or not, have someone who can properly show off the game, and not make your outlet look bad.
Edit: The above Gran Turismo TGS video may not be totally fair, though. I'm not great at hardcore racing games, but I can play them—and yet I might look like that if I sat down to try a racing demo with a wheel as part of the set-up. If you aren't used to wheels, they can be super tricky to get the hang of. And I play all racing games in third person, so come at me.
Beyond that, specialize in what you do, and make sure the right people are getting the right games. I'm not sure the story behind how this video game together, but I would personally be embarrassed to have this video up on my website—and I say that knowing and being friendly with some of the Polygon folks. There's just no way this video should ever have been cleared for approval.
I don't care if it's just showing off the beginning of the game or not, have someone who can properly show off the game, and not make your outlet look bad.
Edit: The above Gran Turismo TGS video may not be totally fair, though. I'm not great at hardcore racing games, but I can play them—and yet I might look like that if I sat down to try a racing demo with a wheel as part of the set-up. If you aren't used to wheels, they can be super tricky to get the hang of. And I play all racing games in third person, so come at me.
did they upload this very quickly or something? like race to the top?
person in the video stands in front of a medkit and shoots at it like thrice before fumbling into it
itd be nice to know the context but at this point I wouldnt be surprised if this was someone who managed to grab a ton of footage early by chance and Polygon just bought it or something and tried to put it up for early clicks
it just has to be a scenario like that, not that it makes it any better
person in the video stands in front of a medkit and shoots at it like thrice before fumbling into it
itd be nice to know the context but at this point I wouldnt be surprised if this was someone who managed to grab a ton of footage early by chance and Polygon just bought it or something and tried to put it up for early clicks
it just has to be a scenario like that, not that it makes it any better
It's not exactly a secret a lot of gaming journalists aren't especially great at games.
If you look at footage from almost any tradeshow, you will see a lot of videos where the journalist is really struggling to get through the demo level.
I remember an Alice preview where the player couldn't manage to jump between two slow moving platform about five times in a row.
Most companies just release their own gameplay videos these days or give them to streamers who are known for doing quite well.
That said, a review by someone who is not good at shooters is probably helpful for someone who is not good at shooters, but is interested in Doom.
If you look at footage from almost any tradeshow, you will see a lot of videos where the journalist is really struggling to get through the demo level.
I remember an Alice preview where the player couldn't manage to jump between two slow moving platform about five times in a row.
Most companies just release their own gameplay videos these days or give them to streamers who are known for doing quite well.
That said, a review by someone who is not good at shooters is probably helpful for someone who is not good at shooters, but is interested in Doom.
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SolidSnakex
Member
He does it again on the very next corner after the car loses traction because he dips the tires off road by over shooting the corner
https://youtu.be/_4Un5zfIolw?t=150
Watch the above video. There doesn't seem to be any issue with the wheel.
Rather reductive set of criteria for the evaluation of a performative game. At a level of proficiency this low, the player is literally incapable of interacting with the product and its systems in the way in which they were designed to work. It isn't simply that s/he will perceive interface and tuning differently than players with moderate environmental awareness and who enjoy the ability to simultaneously move and aim in different directions. Their entire experience and perception of the product will differ dramatically. None of the design decisions will make any more sense to him/her than the allusion, metaphor, and word play in a literary novel will to readers whose libraries are comprised of Star Wars novels and little else. This hypothetical reader's take on, say, Pale Fire isn't at all invalid. But it's likely to interest only fellow Star Wars novel fans, as well as marketing people and an author interested in exotic extremities within the range of reader response. That said, you'd also expect the critic to clarify their special perspective same as you would want an NYT book reviewer for whom the literary novel is a foreign concept to say so.
on the contrary, i'd argue that people who browse this site cares about games in general more, and about the industry in general. we get posts about journalism, the industry, game companies, etc equally. It's something to talk about.
it'd be a very boring forum if everything was "lol it doesnt affect you specifically, who cares, look elsewhere"
SatanicNemesis2K
Banned
The person played poorly, like a first timer, and it wasn't a good showing.
That said, some posts in this thread are pretty mean to say the least. The person playing may be new, may be a keyboard/mouse gamer with only a console copy to show, or it could be Arthur Gies' grandmother. Why the bitterness?
If someone watched that and thought "i wont buy it, it looks awful" because of that one stream,without watching ANY other footage or trailer etc.. then they lose out, whats it matter to the people here who know better? If this was review footage then I feel there would be something worth criticising.
That said, some posts in this thread are pretty mean to say the least. The person playing may be new, may be a keyboard/mouse gamer with only a console copy to show, or it could be Arthur Gies' grandmother. Why the bitterness?
If someone watched that and thought "i wont buy it, it looks awful" because of that one stream,without watching ANY other footage or trailer etc.. then they lose out, whats it matter to the people here who know better? If this was review footage then I feel there would be something worth criticising.
Polygon clowned themselves on this one already lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3pQ0oO_cDE&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3pQ0oO_cDE&feature=youtu.be
Yeah, it's really not a Polygon specific thing. It's especially bad when it comes to racing games. This is from a video of someone at Gamespot playing GT6 at TGS
I'm fucking triggered over here.
akidnamededdy
Banned
Nobody said you need to know how to make games to review them. Your comparison is flawed.
Now, if Ebert didn't have eyes or ears and still miraculously ended up being a legendary film critic, then you might be on to something.
The person streaming on Twitch isn't passing themselves off as a professional games critic.
I can't believe I'm trying to argue why it's important that someone who is paid money to review videogames be able to handle using two analogue sticks at the same time.
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