Question Official reviews vs Review threads...

[Taleweaver]

Okay...I'm not sure if this is a suggestion or a question, but it's certainly a dilemma I'm facing.

A short time ago, I decided (pretty much upon implicit request) to review doki doki literature club. I've played through it and wanted to share my opinion about it. I don't do them often (read: it was my first time), but it seemed simple enough: click, 'Reviews', click 'Post a review' and fill in the details.

As I can tell: the technical part is fine. I had stuff written down before and it was mostly a copy-paste job from the text. I could use the spoiler tags and add a few pictures, so all seemed to be working.

The next morning, I could barely find my own review. The reason: clicking on 'reviews' shows you a list of official gbatemp reviews. I never enrolled in anything, so I wasn't listed there. Nor was it ever on the front page. In itself, I can see no flaw in that - you don't want random dolts posting "reviews" on their political views or Chuck Tingle's biography directly on the front page.

The flip side to this is that as a non-official gbatemp member, posting a review this way seems like an exercise in futility. Everyone expects reviews on the front page and/or in the review threads section, so they don't dig deeper. You can't even find it when clicking on 'reviews', but you have to specify the type of review as well.


So I'm not sure on my course of action. Using the predefined structure for reviews isn't very interesting if I can generate more views by putting it in the review thread section (where I'll also have more artistic freedom to shape the review). Becoming an official gbatemp reviewer could also be an option, but I don't know the qualifications or requirements for that.

So...can you share some thoughts on this one? (either as gbatemp administrator or regular temper)

 

[Dionicio3]

Okay...I'm not sure if this is a suggestion or a question, but it's certainly a dilemma I'm facing.

A short time ago, I decided (pretty much upon implicit request) to review doki doki literature club. I've played through it and wanted to share my opinion about it. I don't do them often (read: it was my first time), but it seemed simple enough: click, 'Reviews', click 'Post a review' and fill in the details.

As I can tell: the technical part is fine. I had stuff written down before and it was mostly a copy-paste job from the text. I could use the spoiler tags and add a few pictures, so all seemed to be working.

The next morning, I could barely find my own review. The reason: clicking on 'reviews' shows you a list of official gbatemp reviews. I never enrolled in anything, so I wasn't listed there. Nor was it ever on the front page. In itself, I can see no flaw in that - you don't want random dolts posting "reviews" on their political views or Chuck Tingle's biography directly on the front page.

The flip side to this is that as a non-official gbatemp member, posting a review this way seems like an exercise in futility. Everyone expects reviews on the front page and/or in the review threads section, so they don't dig deeper. You can't even find it when clicking on 'reviews', but you have to specify the type of review as well.


So I'm not sure on my course of action. Using the predefined structure for reviews isn't very interesting if I can generate more views by putting it in the review thread section (where I'll also have more artistic freedom to shape the review). Becoming an official gbatemp reviewer could also be an option, but I don't know the qualifications or requirements for that.

So...can you share some thoughts on this one? (either as gbatemp administrator or regular temper)

I think you need to ask a reporter in order for it to become an offical review

 

[Scarlet]

User submitted reviews are a little out of the way, I'll agree there. It could be nice to have another tab in recent content with user submitted reviews and subsequent comments, like blogs.

As for becoming mag staff, it's a case of writing reviews with good grammar and professional presentation, a good while work ethic, and a desire to improve. In my opinion anyway. I really enjoy reading user reviews for what it's worth, though I don't comment as much as I should lol.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

I can see what you mean, the idea of making a review and having people actually notice is there to view it is less likely cause is not "Official" or not on the front page, but I submitted more than 10 reviews, sure not many people do comment on it as I wish but is just what I come to accept. Is a matter of people just finding it I guess. Make it a status message so your followers (or whoever views your profile finds it) Post it in the shout box (No rule against that) Or just bring it up if conversation enables it. Sure is not as great as being official or anything but is just how I try.

I even made some "Not so legit reviews" by making a small blog about it or even a standard post about a beta test for a game like Dissidia Final Fantasy NT or Arms Global "Testpunch" People viewed it but it wasn't a legit enough for a spot in review section, it was just a impression with pretty screenshots

Still My aim was to discuss games I enjoy or dislike so people and I have something to talk about and start having more conversations with people. Just don't worry about things and do it. Keep trying with more reviews.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Erm...have you tried...scrolling down on the Reviews page? There are two sections right on the main reviews page, Official, and User submitted reviews. It's literally on the same page, just below official reviews

Spoiler

Reviews on the front page are reviews that are official and will never be user-submitted, because we're a "proper" review site. Just like GameSpot or IGN don't put unofficial user reviews on their front page, neither do we. Unless you think scrolling down is too difficult for users, I see no reason to change anything as it is now.

 

[T-hug]

The forum of review threads is super old and not maintained any more. Iirc we looked at importing those threads into the review center once but it would've broken a lot of them.
Really that board should be set to read only so no one posts new reviews in it.

 

[Cyan]

when you click the review link, you can see the latest user's posted reviews, below the official ones.
Your review is visible, at the bottom.
https://gbatemp.net/reviews/

Sure, it's not very well advertised, and users have to specifically look at the review center to see if there are anything new.
Maybe a new "user's review" block to customize the portal layout could be useful, but it would rely on the users to submit proper banner size for portal display.

though, I thought I already seen user's review on portal. maybe they are displayed, but quickly replaced with official ones as they are posted more often?

 

[Taleweaver]

Some nice replies here. I've got to say thanks for that.

I'm not really sure on what I'm going to do. Truth be told, I'm really getting into mobile board game apps lately, and the google play store is a horrible place to leave lengthy reviews. Or even board games themselves (I like that new section ). I'm just not sure yet on where to put 'em. I'll get back to you on that.

(note: below this part are replies I made, but where I formed the opinion above while I wrote the replies).

Reviews on the front page are reviews that are official and will never be user-submitted, because we're a "proper" review site. Just like GameSpot or IGN don't put unofficial user reviews on their front page, neither do we. Unless you think scrolling down is too difficult for users, I see no reason to change anything as it is now.

I understand this viewpoint. I really do. But as I don't see a way to address this without it sounding demeaning, I've really gotta say it and honestly hope you don't take offense (sorry in advance ): yes...I actually do think scrolling down is too much to ask for users*. It's very similar to google: we can click to go to the second page of search results, but we both know we're not going to do it. Users trust the ranking systems: why read the reviews of someone you don't know when you could be reading the reviews of someone else you don't know but whom has a good stance with the site?

There's also more to this. On the left, there's a button for the overview, your own reviews (I'll get to that) and for official reviews. No 'user submitted reviews' (what @Cyan also mentions). Meaning: when it drops off the 6-entry list in the overview, you have to know either the game name (to search for it) or the category (which isn't that easy when a game is multiplatform).
Also...as a test, I tried looking for all @Sonic Angel Knight 's reviews. The only way I could find it was entering his name as author in the search bar in the review section. There's no reviews-part in his profile (or anyone, for that matter).

I admit this sounds like nitpicking. But as a non-official reviewer, these are (albeit small) disadvantages over just posting it as either a new thread or a blog entry. The amount of likes or comments one gets may not always indicate much (and the blogs don't have the 'view' option afaics), but on average I think the latter is where the traffic's at.

The forum of review threads is super old and not maintained any more. Iirc we looked at importing those threads into the review center once but it would've broken a lot of them.
Really that board should be set to read only so no one posts new reviews in it.

That certainly would divert some reading traffic elsewhere. Even when taking the official vs other reviewer dilemma out of the picture, it makes not much sense to have review threads and...erm...common reviews in a separated spot**.


*I admit it: I missed that one. but what does it say when I can't find my own review this way when searching for it?
** and I'm aware this is an argument against my own pondering on just posting my reviews in the blogs section.

 

[Scarlet]

Some nice replies here. I've got to say thanks for that.

I'm not really sure on what I'm going to do. Truth be told, I'm really getting into mobile board game apps lately, and the google play store is a horrible place to leave lengthy reviews. Or even board games themselves (I like that new section ). I'm just not sure yet on where to put 'em. I'll get back to you on that.

(note: below this part are replies I made, but where I formed the opinion above while I wrote the replies).


I understand this viewpoint. I really do. But as I don't see a way to address this without it sounding demeaning, I've really gotta say it and honestly hope you don't take offense (sorry in advance ): yes...I actually do think scrolling down is too much to ask for users*. It's very similar to google: we can click to go to the second page of search results, but we both know we're not going to do it. Users trust the ranking systems: why read the reviews of someone you don't know when you could be reading the reviews of someone else you don't know but whom has a good stance with the site?

There's also more to this. On the left, there's a button for the overview, your own reviews (I'll get to that) and for official reviews. No 'user submitted reviews' (what @Cyan also mentions). Meaning: when it drops off the 6-entry list in the overview, you have to know either the game name (to search for it) or the category (which isn't that easy when a game is multiplatform).
Also...as a test, I tried looking for all @Sonic Angel Knight 's reviews. The only way I could find it was entering his name as author in the search bar in the review section. There's no reviews-part in his profile (or anyone, for that matter).

I admit this sounds like nitpicking. But as a non-official reviewer, these are (albeit small) disadvantages over just posting it as either a new thread or a blog entry. The amount of likes or comments one gets may not always indicate much (and the blogs don't have the 'view' option afaics), but on average I think the latter is where the traffic's at.




That certainly would divert some reading traffic elsewhere. Even when taking the official vs other reviewer dilemma out of the picture, it makes not much sense to have review threads and...erm...common reviews in a separated spot**.


*I admit it: I missed that one. but what does it say when I can't find my own review this way when searching for it?
** and I'm aware this is an argument against my own pondering on just posting my reviews in the blogs section.

For what it's worth, you can find reviews on a user's profile; though it's quite out of the way if you don't know where to look. You just click on their postings tab, scroll down to the bottom, and pick reviews out of the content types listed. Hardly intuitive, but it works how it should.