* An Editorial On Video Game Journalism *

Video games have been around for quite a bit of time. However, video game journalism, especially online, is fairly new. With magazine subscriptions declining over the years, online news has become the most prevalent in our society. Of course not everyone has access to internet, and many people still prefer reading something in their hands, which is why I am hoping video game magazines will be around for quite a long time.

Unfortunately because of this online world, it becomes extremely stressful to make sure that there is a constant stream of news flowing in. But when the quality of the news is lacking and misleading on more than one occasion, it makes me and many consumers upset. Many video game websites review video games and hardly spend enough time with the select game, and it shows in their writing. Some even say that a specific feature is not in the game, when in fact it is. Furthermore, this carelessness makes them lose clientèle because we (the readers and consumers) find that their reviews are not trustworthy.

It is frustrating to see someone write that a game is offline when in fact it is online, and many other errors that are done out of either not enough research or because they just don’t care. While I am making assumptions as to why these mistakes happen, there should be no reason why it begins in the first place. These mistakes are so obvious that I am surprised I don’t come across more people realizing it.

Now let’s focus some attention on the review itself. Many video game journalists use a grading scale – perhaps from five stars to a 10 grade point. However each publication may make a number different on their grading chart. For instance while to one a 5 may be average, another may be really bad. These different grading scales become confusing, and can mislead consumers into believing a certain game is very mediocre.

But instead of looking at the numbers, one really needs to look at how the review is written. Instead of looking at the numbers, read the words. See if what the journalist writes is accurate, and ask yourself questions. Just because you read something does not mean it is accurate. Furthermore, many journalists will complain about a game not having new features from its predecessors – but truth be told many people may not have played the prequels, so this piece of information should not make them think differently.

When it comes to my reviews, I do my best to write them in a way that anyone can relate to. While appealing to the fans of a particular game, or to just those that are newcomers – I spend many hours playing a video game before I write a review on it. I want those who are planning on purchasing the game to come with a really good idea what the game is about and if the game is worth their time and hard-earned money. Because it is no fun buying a game that you are disappointed with. Just remember that everyone has their own personal preferences, and sometimes a game you may like may not appeal to others. Good luck, and game on!