I've never played Bioshock Infinite. I might someday.
This guy, Tevis Thompson, wrote a very interesting piece. If you liked it, maybe also consider reading his other articles.
I found Saving Zelda to be particularly worthwhile, as well as Indie Criticism, though I confess, I have never read an article of his and considered it to be wasted time.
I have played Bioshock Infinite. It went something like this: - whoa. Nice graphics. - okay, it's not actually an open world, there are just a few things I have to trip over before the story will advance. - this is an interesting place but not at all interactive. - what a truly implausible yet entertaining-looking level. - huh. I'd sure like to check all that stuff out but apparently that's not a possibility. - yes, arrow, I know you want me to go over there. - A ha. pointless, needless racism. How offensive. Oh, I see. I'm supposed to be offended. - why no, game, I don't want to start a fight in a crowd full of racists. Not ten minutes ago you told me to keep a low profile, remember? Considering how few instructions you gave me, I assume that one was important. - Oh, I see. If I don't start a violent, knock-down, drag-out brawl right here the game is effectively over. - wow. There's some troma-grade gore up in here. - huh. doesn't seem to matter where I shoot. - and dying does not appear to be a major setback, just majorly gory. - Dude. This is like Doom with better graphics and worse logic. Is the whole game like this? - The whole game is like this. I'm out, bitchez. Peace. Great article. Spot on criticism. There have been a lot of disappointing games crossing my platforms; it saddens me that this much money can be spent on this much entertainment and still none of it is very good. The fact that Lara Croft remains the gold standard for women in gaming sucks. At least Samus curled into a ball.
This is a great article, with some truths hidden in it that apply well beyond gaming reviews. One of the parts that I found interesting was this one: I had a fantastic professor with whom I've had very interesting discussions. He'd state his opinion as a solid fact, often with very strong arguments. I combated him, in an attempt to find The Truth, aka objectiveness. Most of the time he'd find a good counterargument that subtly attacked that objectiveness ("how can you know that for sure"). It took me a long time and lots of discussions to figure out that his strong opinion was openly, unabashedly subjective and that he was trying to teach us how you can discuss with that in mind.A good review is openly, flagrantly, unabashedly subjective. It goes all in with the reviewer’s biases. It claims them for what they really are – not tastes, not mere opinions, but values. It is a full-throated expression of one person’s experience...
Dude. This bites me in the ass so much. As everyone has noticed, I voice strong opinions. Therefore, people assume that I believe my opinions are facts. The fact that I also often share facts doesn't help - in my mind, the facts and opinions are crystal clear ("I hate X" - clearly an opinion; "X received a lot of negative press according to wikipedia" - clearly a fact). Unfortunately, this gives opponents the leeway to act as if my facts are opinions. It also allows people to assume that every opinion I hold is held deeply. The fact that I wouldn't contribute to a conversation in which I have no opinion never enters the equation - that I only chime in about stuff I know about (or am curious about) ends up being to my detriment. So much inflection is lost on the internet. So much context. (opinion, but I can back it up if I have to) It makes conversations unnecessarily prickly.
Yay, someone who likes videogames and is good at writing and critique! I agree with all that this dude has got to say. I've said before that games and games journalism are WAY too close to each other and in that there lacks professionalism that can be found in film, music, etc. It's a community that needs to grow up in more ways than one, and this guy has a good idea of where it should be going. God damn. Thanks for the read, cov, this was awesome.Tough criticism is an act of belief. It is sincere in its hopes for the future but clear-eyed about the present. Most videogames are disappointing, and disappointing in dependable ways. But it is possible to love individual games, to be ignited by them, and see a future worth pursuing. We’re not at all sure what this medium is capable of, but it certainly deserves more than our regular pronouncements of excellence and the glib advice that we simply accept every familiar trope and gameism. As if criticism is just the sour grumbling of the ungrateful.