Games Reviewing So Far (295 Words)

If I’m being honest I don’t really like my work being critiqued in public, but it is helpful as I can get an unbiased comment on the condition of the work that I am producing. I want my work to be criticized but I can sometimes find it embarrassing when I make silly mistakes and it’s broadcasted out in public.

The written work that I am producing at the moment for the module is improving. Although I do still feel that there is much work to be done so I can improve further. For example the work that was done on the emphasis of paragraphs helped me to understand how a paragraph should be written in documents such as reports and reviews etc.

When writing my reviews, I found that researching reviews made by online computer game critiques like Game Spot and Gamers Hell. Has helped my understanding of the game a little better and helped me to get in to the right frame of mind to write a new games journalism review.

Future aims that I have for the module are to continue improving the structure and spelling of my written work. I believe that I can do this by having people look at my work and find any problems that they see and highlight them, so I can see where I am going wrong. Another way to improve is to research different writing techniques on the web for example the BBC website or in English writing textbooks.

When writing a document such as essays, reviews and reports I prefer to work on my own and in my own time. But when the work is done, I do like somebody to read though my work and pick up any mistake that I have made.

Void Wars

Definition

Void Wars is a 3D space battlefield game in the form of arcade action style games. With a simple control system that takes several seconds to learn using the common PC controls. Void Wars is a game that the whole gaming world can enjoy and appreciate.

Description

The game Void Wars sets you in a space battle in the future where you must go into battle and destroy every other battleship. There are several levels that must be completed and as each level progress the more difficult the game becomes. The strength and mobility of the opponents becomes greater as more opponents are added throughout the levels. The graphics within the game are impressive as the game was created the arcade style format which is usually in the 2D format. The levels and spaceships are well textured and suit the surrounding areas

Compare and Contrast

I found that Void Wars used the similar setting of Space Invaders for the Game Boy Advanced, where the player had to destroy the alien’s spacecrafts. Void wars takes this concept and turn it into a 3D environment turning alien spacecrafts into vengeful space commandos. Void Wars also uses the same concept of destroying spacecrafts switching no moving spacecrafts into movable ones.

Sequence

When the game loads up there is a sequence of events that need to be followed so that the play can progress onto playing the game. Firstly the player name, type of ship and difficulty must b chosen. This is completed by selecting the “Options” tab on the left hand side of the menu screen. Once completed the tab “Main” must be pressed on the menu options to bring you back to the main screen. From there the “Single Player Game” option must be pressed, the “Star Campaign” to enter the game. This is the basic way to play the game, however there are also several other options available to player for a different types of game play.

Choice

Although I wouldn’t normally play this game I found that Void Wars was quite enjoyable. There are a few hours of enjoyment as you search and destroy the other battleships though each level. The only negative thing I found was the control system. I found that the mouse reaction was to fast for my liking and there was no way of altering it. Although an avid gamer may prefer this I think that a cursor speed setting will encourage more gamers to play.

Evaluation

A good game that is open to all players whether the game is there type of genre. Void Wars offers fun for the whole family especially older members, as it brings back memories of the old style space games that they used to play in the arcades at a younger age. As for the younger members the will enjoy being able to destroy everything that is sight. I gave this game four out of five thumbs up.

Games Journalism (202 Words)

Games journalism today is slowly killing journalism as we know and expect it to be. The articles lack of structure and content, not to mention the whole simplicity of the review. Which I blame as laziness meaning time hasn’t been made to fully understand what the game offers and time to research the background of the game.

Another thing that needs to be revised in the way games are reviewed today is the constant budding up to the game developers. Writing reviews on games that they know are bad but somehow the game gets a good review. If this is the future of games journalism let us see a little criticism in the reviews.

To conclude if publishers (even websites) what people to read what they have to say and buy their magazines every month. There should be a restructure in the way they write their articles. Perhaps look into the way films and music was critiqued in the early days when a well written review whether the film / song was good or bad was required. Of course writing in this way would need modernised to some extent, but the basic structure and more detailed content is all that we ask.