xkcd because they do so often have relevant information
https://xkcd.com/937/
Hmm...while the cartoon is both hilarious and to the point it tries to make, it is not the point that Sonic Angel Knight is making (@SAK: correct me when I'm wrong, okay?
).
The point is that there's this trending regard that reviews and comments are the same thing. And of course it's useful to let the developer know that their app or game isn't working. However, that was never the point of a review in the first place. Reviews should be about how well the program set out to do what it promises to be doing. Yes, being technologically able to do that is a pretty darn part of it...but to be honest, that should have been a given (to take the cartoon as an example: you shouldn't be able to actually review the game unless you actually had the chance to actually USE the program to detect an actual tornado...actually* ). If you ask me, programs on a store should at least give two ratings (one for aesthetics, and one for technological decency). It takes more time to rate a game, but that's not necessarily a bad thing: it's not like five stars are really worth it if the damn thing is just a bunch of fancy bells and whistles.
Perhaps it's better to look at it from another perspective...reviews in their current store-form say something of the product how it is AT THAT POINT, no matter how much that may change. Many games are boo-ed because they contain bugs at launch, but may turn out to be great game once the developer irons them out. However, at that time, it's pretty hard to get "a second first impression".
Two examples: anno 2070 and origin. The former is probably the game I most doubted to buy on steam. It was severely discounted and looked gorgeous, but the steam reviews were DEVASTATING. Everyone and their dog seemed to hate the game. Sure, this anger was mostly aimed at uplay (which obviously isn't a core part of the experience), and there's something to be said when someone says they hate it while their very steam account says they've played it for over 100 hours...but I never felt like buying a game was such a gamble (unrightfully so, btw: that game is awesome).
Things are more tricky with origin. While I have most C&C games, they're a pain to set up on windows. And the whole 17 game collection on origin for 20 bucks? That's in all ways worth it...except it needs origin. And I have no freaking idea how the hell I'm going to know objectively whether that's a good thing or not because people just vent their rage or past trauma's on the thing. I have no doubt that it used to be terrible, but how it is NOW I can only guess**.
For google apps, I don't even bother reading "reviews": most near-five-star rated apps always have a beggaton button in them ("hey, you tried this game...how about you giving us five stars, yeah?
"), and it's not like you can really say anything useful over "yes it works".
*yeah, I noticed the overuse of the word actually after I wrote it...but why edit it?
**for those unaware: upon launch, steam was crucified by gamers as well for being "a steaming pile of sh**". Opinions may have changed a bit since then.
