GAME CRITIQUE IS DEAD: Why Reviewers SHOULD Be Skilled Players | The Definitive Discussion

GAME CRITIQUE IS DEAD: Why Reviewers SHOULD Be Skilled Players | The Definitive Discussion. Today is a very special video where  @boghogSTG 

and I discuss the current (and awful) state of video game reviews and

critique. This isn't just a bunch of empty complaining, however (at

least I hope so). Instead we discuss the nature of what is good

critique, what is the role of the critic vs reviewer, what forces

influence critics and reviewers, both conscious and unconscious. We also

make our strongest case for why video game reviewers SHOULD be skilled

players, why this is an important value a critic should strive for, and

how being a skilled player not only improves reviews, but also is an

important asset for game developers as well. We also get into the topic

of access journalism that we see IGN and the major game publishers

engaging in (such as IGN infamously "forgetting" to review Cyber Punk

2077) and how the video game review space has more in common with the

Yakuza than it does open artistic discourse. Sphere Hunter may be

invited to Capcom events, but she's not at the IGN level of access to be

allowed to review the game before the release date. Imagine all the

NDA's that level of access would involve.

Talking about IGN, eurogamer, Polygon, Kotaku, and Gamespot is one

thing, but we also get into what is the role of the youtuber in this

equation and how even if the youtuber is not directly being contacted by

game publishers, he is still being indirectly shaped by the marketing

of AAA games and their vocal fan bases. As a result, we see a cyclical

trend of hype marketing around releases like Resident Evil 4 Remake, The

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild (and soon to be Tears of the

Kingdom), and Bayonetta 3, where all the reviews are going to fall in

line with the marketing. And if you are more critical of these games

during their release window, prepare to be hit by the hype train, which

is not going to be a fun experience. As a result, I think we've seen a

shift in the youtubing meta away from the over the top reviews that we

saw in the Angry Video Game Nerd era of gaming youtube. Instead, we are

now in the fluf**** era, where youtubers take games that are already

hyped and highly anticipated, and then just dial the hype levels up even

higher (as we see on Maxamillion Dood's channel). So now all average

games are *amazing* and all good games are modern masterpieces.