Daniel Thomas MacInnes
has already been doing this in the
SEGA Saturn appreciation thread, so if you folks like the idea please go over there and show some love.
Much thanks to DunDunDunpachi and the other 4 people who have read my Sega Saturn essays this year. You're very kind.
As to this subject, I'm not sure how "official NeoGAF reviews" would work, as this is an open forum. I think the simplest solution is for people to begin writing reviews. I would recommend using official "appreciation and collectors" threads for the systems in question, as that would be easiest to search. You can also search an individual's posts if you chose to follow a specific review critic.
In addition, there should be appreciation threads for every major videogame system, and if there isn't one now, I highly recommend that you begin them right away. You might even want to combine systems together to save space. For example, I've considered creating an all-purpose Atari appreciation thread that would include all the Atari home systems from 2600 to Jaguar.
The broader issue of videogame review critics is a bit trickier. Today, what most gamers really want is validation. "I spent $500 on this Xbox and games, please tell me I'm good." You can see countless examples of Youtube video reviews where half the comments are complaining that Videogame X was criticized, and it's always taken personally, as though the reviewer attacked the viewer's childhood. This attitude needs to change, but I'm not sure how that happens since videogame critics and magazines took a nosedive at the turn of the century.
When it comes to gaming magazines, the kids were really only interested in two things: "What new games are coming out?" and "Where are the cheat codes?" Once the internet provided easy answers for those two, the market for journalists dried up quickly. And let's be perfectly honest here: most gaming "journalists" were really just lapdogs and groupies for the videogame industry, using magazines and websites as an entry-level position into the business. This doesn't necessarily compromise their work, Chris Charla and Chris Johnston are two admirable examples, but they are often the exceptions to the rule. Far too many Diehard Gamefans and GamePro smiley faces.
When people ask for "balance" or "objectivity," I think they're really asking for fairness. Every critic is biased, since they are sharing their opinions on a given subject. That's just part of the show. We listen to them and then debate their opinions, but we trust their judgement based on their knowledge and experience. A movie critic who has never watched a silent movie or studied film history is less trusted than one who has. The same should apply to videogames.
To be a good videogame critic, you need to know that history. You certainly should have a working knowledge with the major platforms since the 1970s. You should have a working copy of MAME on your computer, as well as classic system emulators, which can be used for reference and study. I don't think you need to be an "expert" player to be a good critic. You don't need to completely "beat" any given videogame to have a good opinion of it, but you should at least understand its content (Youtube play-through videos can be very helpful).
Your most important asset is honesty. Share your experiences. What was it like to play the videogame? Were you drawn in immediately or more gradually over time? Is there a successful "hook" to grab your interest? Did you struggle with the difficulty or controls or gameplay, and if so, how long did you persist? How did your friends and family react to the game? Was there a chance for social or multiplayer play, and how was that?
Equally important, a writer must draw on life experiences beyond videogames. You need to incorporate your other interests and loves, whether it's movies, music, literature, sports, current events, or daily life. I would also recommend studying other review critics, such as Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael, Stanley Kauffman and Andrew Sarris. I also highly recommend taking cues from your favorite writers or other people who inspire you.
Above all, have fun. You're not going to get paid for this (cough,
Zen Arcade on Amazon), so enjoy yourself. Keep yourself open to surprises and be honest with yourself. Never give in to hype or popular opinion. And don't hate on videogames because they're "old" or "outdated." No such creature exists.
