My recent game review got a review of it’s own. 
It’s funny, because the critiques are a bit odd (especially suggesting that using the stable version was the wrong choice?!?!)
There’s no such thing as bad press, so I’m not complaining. And it wasn’t really a bad review review, but I thought I’d share anyway.
#1 by MWT on February 13, 2008 - 1:21 pm
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Hmm. My review was more informative.
#2 by Brad on February 13, 2008 - 1:23 pm
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Yeah Shawn who uses the stable version. I only run the Alpha version for all my software.
That person obviously takes the game way to seriously. You pretty much got bashed for a good review.
#3 by Shawn Powers on February 13, 2008 - 1:42 pm
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MWT: Indeed. And while your review of my review may not have had the effect you expected, it is changing the way I do game reviews from now on. It will be clearly from the, “review by a non-gamer” angle. It will both be kinda funny that way, and realistically show what to expect from what I produce.
Arguably, game developers might benefit from that viewpoint perspective as well. Some games have such a steep learning curve that folks like me will never play them.
#4 by Michelle K on February 13, 2008 - 6:05 pm
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waitwaitwait!
Can I review your review of his review of your review?
#5 by Shawn Powers on February 13, 2008 - 9:02 pm
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Michelle:
YES!
Pingback: Reviewedededed | Random (but not really)
#6 by db0 on February 14, 2008 - 6:34 am
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You’d you have to go an dish on me maaaaan?
Seriously though, you make it sound a bit worse than it actually is (Hell, even my title was a joke). I was only raising some points on how your review could have gone better not bashing your attempt (and I do believe you realized that).
I don’t think the critiques are that weird, the thing that really should have been a bit better would be to show some more gameplay which was my major issue.
The comparison to CIV and playing the stable version where minor points as I mentioned. Specifically I think you should have used the latest version because it’s much more polished and it would look better in your review and thus make more people want to play the game
Cheers!
#7 by Shawn Powers on February 14, 2008 - 7:34 am
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db0:
No hard feelings — if you hang around, you’ll find I’m more silly than anything. Michelle trumped me though, if you check out the pingback below, she was TOTALLY HARSH on my review of your review of my review.
#8 by db0 on February 14, 2008 - 7:43 am
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Hehe, no worries Shawn, I figured that you were being a bit silly but those extra exclamation and question marks really got me riled
We’re all in the same boat anyway, and by giving you some constructive criticism I hope your later reviews will become even better than what they would have been. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I wasn’t trying to bash the attempt
Cheers!
#9 by Random Michelle K on February 14, 2008 - 8:17 am
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Shawn,
DID YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINE TODAY?!
Just checking.
#10 by Brad on February 14, 2008 - 8:57 am
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At what point does reviewing a review of a review stop being a review and just turns into a discussion?
#11 by Shawn Powers on February 14, 2008 - 10:57 am
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…I did not take my medicine today. I will do so at lunch.
*doh*
#12 by Random Michelle K on February 14, 2008 - 11:38 am
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(tapping foot)
I’m WAIT-ing!
#13 by Tom on February 14, 2008 - 1:05 pm
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Curses! And curses again, Ms. Michelle! Recursive reviewsion!
Because, of course, she beat me too it! Curses (but only mild ones). I tried to view the review, but it was blocked. On re-veiwing, it was still blocked. Curses!
#14 by MWT on February 14, 2008 - 1:45 pm
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db0: The main thing that first one told me was “this guy is obviously not a gamer” – and any attempts to pretend to be one in the future will just be worse. So realistically, unless Shawn actually wants to get totally sucked into the gaming world (which might be severely detrimental to his personal life), I think going in the direction of teh funnay makes the most sense.
#15 by db0 on February 14, 2008 - 3:08 pm
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MWT, you’re probably correct, however there is only so much you can replace with humor before you stop being a review anymore
#16 by Shawn Powers on February 14, 2008 - 5:01 pm
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db0:
You underestimate my silly-fu.
Seriously though, there is some value to a review from a person that is a n00b. It gives developers insight they likely can’t get themselves, and offers a potential new user (skilled or not) some expectations regarding the ease of use.
I’m also not a total idiot, so hopefully the reviews will continue to be at least slightly more than, “ooo, pretty colors!!!” (I’ve spent more hours playing Nethack than I care to admit. And back in the heyday of telnet based MUDs, I was one of those guys claiming ANSI colors were for wimps…)