Nintendo Wii U REVIEW!

[8bitgamer]

My review of the Nintendo Wii U is now online, if anyone cares to take a look:

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/11...onsole-in.html

[Mangar]

It reads more like an advertisement for the product then an actual "Review"

[Bojay1997]

It reads more like an advertisement for the product then an actual "Review"

Yep, not to be a jerk about it, but I generally associate a review with a balanced examination of a product or service and not just a glowing recitation of talking points from a PR firm.

[8bitgamer]

I spent a good time playing the system and enjoyed it very much. If I didn't like the console, the controller or the games, I would have said so. If you get a chance to play it, I think you'll agree. A glowing review of a great product is not a bad thing.

[Bojay1997]

I spent a good time playing the system and enjoyed it very much. If I didn't like the console, the controller or the games, I would have said so. If you get a chance to play it, I think you'll agree. A glowing review of a great product is not a bad thing.

Again, I don't think you understand what a review involves. It's not just a summary of whether or not you liked something. I have one preordered and I am excited about it, but I am also acutely aware of the limitations and flaws in the system and I found your review unbalanced and not helpful from the consumer perspective.

[8bitgamer]

Again, I don't think you understand what a review involves. It's not just a summary of whether or not you liked something. I have one preordered and I am excited about it, but I am also acutely aware of the limitations and flaws in the system and I found your review unbalanced and not helpful from the consumer perspective.

I've done hundreds of reviews for the Comics Buyer's Guide, the All Game Guide, etc., so I know a little something about writing reviews. Notice in the review that I wrote "based on a preview and test-drive I got recently" and "at least judging by what I've seen so far." These are qualifiers that let the reader know that their experience may vary when they get the system home and play numerous games for hundreds of hours. Based on the time I spent playing the Wii U, I didn't see a downside. I went in skeptical, but was stunned by how well the new controller works and how it changes the way games are played.

[RCM]

I agree with the sentiments expressed by other DPers. This is a reckless fluff 'review' and contributes to the argument that game journalism and criticism is broken. I don't give a shit how many other reviews you've written; this one has clear flaws.

I hope your other stuff is more thoughtful than this.

[8bitgamer]

I hope your other stuff is more thoughtful than this.

I thought about it a lot, and I think the Wii U is a great system, at least judging by what I've played so far.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

While "games journalism" (like all journalism) is far from being perfect/ideal all of the time, in all fairness, (and Brett, feel free to clarify/correct) this appears to be, from the impression that I get, a light, local news opinion piece. It's pretty clearly a newspaper article that isn't strictly intended for our ultra-niche/ultra-critical crowd.

This will likely be read by novice gamers/consumers that aren't interested in subjects like frame-rates, lag or 3rd party publishers.

I think I'm correctly seeing the forest for the trees here.

If an article like this was published in an outlet like Kotaku, Destructoid, 1UP, etc. I might raise an eyebrow, but I don't see any reason to be so harsh considering the publication and the reader-base. I'm sure that the Star-Telegram wasn't looking for an investigative expose, just some early user impressions of the system.

[8bitgamer]

While "games journalism" (like all journalism) is far from being perfect/ideal all of the time, in all fairness, (and Brett, feel free to clarify/correct) this appears to be, from the impression that I get, a light, local news opinion piece. It's pretty clearly newspaper article that isn't strictly intended for our ultra-niche/ultra-critical crowd.

This will likely be read by novice gamers/consumers that aren't interested in subjects like frame-rates, lag or 3rd party publishers.

I think I'm correctly seeing the forest for the trees here.

If an article like this was published in an outlet like Kotaku, Destructoid, 1UP, etc. I might raise an eyebrow, but I don't see any reason to be so harsh considering the publication and the reader-base. I'm sure that the Star-Telegram wasn't looking for an investigative expose, just some early user impressions of the system.

Exactly--thanks for stating it so well!

[RCM]

I thought about it a lot, and I think the Wii U is a great system, at least judging by what I've played so far.

Then it seems you're conflating "initial impressions" with "review." That's a major distinction, regardless of the qualifiers you have hidden in the piece.

While "games journalism" (like all journalism) is far from being perfect/ideal all of the time, in all fairness, (and Brett, feel free to clarify/correct) this appears to be, from the impression that I get, a light, local news opinion piece. It's pretty clearly newspaper article that isn't strictly intended for our ultra-niche/ultra-critical crowd.

This will likely be read by novice gamers/consumers that aren't interested in subjects like frame-rates, lag or 3rd party publishers.

I think I'm correctly seeing the forest for the trees here.

If an article like this was published in an outlet like Kotaku, Destructoid, 1UP, etc. I might raise an eyebrow, but I don't see any reason to be so harsh considering the publication and the reader-base. I'm sure that the Star-Telegram wasn't looking for an investigative expose, just some early user impressions of the system.

That's like saying my girlfriend is hot... for a fat chick. We shouldn't be excusing poor criticism because it's aimed at a broad audience. If anything, the broader audience would be better served with a more balanced, ethical review. Kotaku readers largely knew what they were getting before Wii U game reviews started flooding the 'net. People reading Brett's stuff more than likely aren't as informed, and after reading his Wii U impressions still aren't in many ways.

[8bitgamer]

Then it seems you're conflating "initial impressions" with "review." That's a major distinction, regardless of the qualifiers you have hidden in the piece.

I guess my post should have said "initial impressions" and you would have been happier (note that the article doesn't say "review"). The qualifiers are hardly hidden--they're right there in black and white, including "based on a preview and test-drive I got recently" stated early on.

[QUOTE=If anything, the broader audience would be better served with a more balanced, ethical review.[/QUOTE]

There's nothing unethical about liking a product without reservation and stating as such.

[QUOTE=Kotaku readers largely knew what they were getting before Wii U game reviews started flooding the 'net. People reading Brett's stuff more than likely aren't as informed, and after reading his Wii U impressions still aren't in many ways.[/QUOTE]

I believe that with a limit of 1500 words, I gave as much information about the Wii U that I possibly could. Other than some imagined negative traits about the system that you seem to want.

[RCM]

I guess my post should have said "initial impressions" and you would have been happier (note that the article doesn't say "review"). The qualifiers are hardly hidden--they're right there in black and white, including "based on a preview and test-drive I got recently" stated early on.



There's nothing unethical about liking a product without reservation and stating as such.



I believe that with a limit of 1500 words, I gave as much information about the Wii U that I possibly could. Other than some imagined negative traits about the system that you seem to want.

You called it a review, not me, regardless of the headline. If we're calling this a review, the way in which you reviewed it -- likely by demoing some games at a Nintendo consumer event and scribbling your thoughts -- isn't an ethical way I would give my approval. I would want to spend more time with the product and observe what it potentially does right and wrong, among other things. Consumers want to know that stuff, especially when making a fairly big purchase in a shit economy. Did Nintendo provide you with a console in the weeks leading up to your review/impressions? If so, and you DID spend hours with Wii U hardware outside of Nintendo PR's view, I apologize.

The lack of negativity in your piece isn't the issue for me or others. It's the regurgitation of Nintendo's PR babble and the seemingly lack of thought put into it. Judging from your piece it seems the Nintendo PR machine has their hand up your ass enough to make you their puppet. You're doing exactly what they want and don't even know it.

I expect this slop from sweaty fanboys in their early 20s-- kinda like me 10 years ago sans the sweaty fanboy part. This is unbecoming of someone who has written hundreds of reviews and has several books published. If this hadn't been written by you I'm guessing (and hoping) you would agree.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

That's like saying my girlfriend is hot... for a fat chick. We shouldn't be excusing poor criticism because it's aimed at a broad audience. If anything, the broader audience would be better served with a more balanced, ethical review. Kotaku readers largely knew what they were getting before Wii U game reviews started flooding the 'net. People reading Brett's stuff more than likely aren't as informed, and after reading his Wii U impressions still aren't in many ways.

Sure, it's fluffy, but again, in the context of the publication, I don't see it as being "unethical". It's just an enthusiastic first impressions article.

The reader base of that paper (which is, again, novice) would likely never identify with or understand or care about the level of critical minutia that will be assigned to a system like the Wii U via a dedicated "games journalism" outlet like Kotaku or discussed in a community like ours.

I don't read a movie review in the penny saver (no offense to this publication) expecting the same level of academic criticism that I'm going to get from an enthusiast publication like Movieline or Entertainment Weekly.

Don't get me wrong, I totally respect your desire to see a more balanced/academic approach to games journalism all the time everywhere, I just don't think it's going to happen with games journalism any faster than it has occurred with any other entertainment medium.

[rolenta]

I don't read a movie review in the penny saver (no offense to this publication) expecting the same level of academic criticism that I'm going to get from an enthusiast publication like Movieline or Entertainment Weekly.

Actually, the Star-Telegram cannot be compared to a PennySaver. It's a major newspaper.

From Wikipedia:
The Star-Telegram’s circulation area is the Fort Worth/Arlington metro area (four counties) and 14 surrounding counties. The newspaper's primary market is the four-county Fort Worth/Arlington metro area (as well as the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie), which is the western part of the fourth-largest U.S. metropolitan area, the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Combined Statistical Area. Fort Worth/Arlington ranks 29th most populous as a metro area.[

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Actually, the Star-Telegram cannot be compared to a PennySaver. It's a major newspaper.

From Wikipedia:
The Star-Telegram’s circulation area is the Fort Worth/Arlington metro area (four counties) and 14 surrounding counties. The newspaper's primary market is the four-county Fort Worth/Arlington metro area (as well as the Dallas suburb of Grand Prairie), which is the western part of the fourth-largest U.S. metropolitan area, the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington Combined Statistical Area. Fort Worth/Arlington ranks 29th most populous as a metro area.[

Thanks for clarifying. Ultimately nothing is as crappy as the penny saver ... unless you're in NJ, there's always "Steppin Out".

Still, generally speaking newspapers reach a far broader/diverse demographic than a dedicated games journalism site or enthusiast community. That was really the crux of my point.

[8bitgamer]

Trust me when I say the bulk of the Star-Telegram's 200,000 subscribers (plus many more online) don't want to read a bunch of technical jargon, nor would the editors accept such a piece.

[RCM]

Trust me when I say the bulk of the Star-Telegram's 200,000 subscribers (plus many more online) don't want to read a bunch of technical jargon, nor would the editors accept such a piece.

You're missing the point.

[8bitgamer]

You're missing the point.

As a full-time professional writer, the point is to write what my editors want to the best of my ability and in turn get paid.

[CDiablo]

Listen bro just listen to everyone and accept that your review sucks. Put a couple years into the system compare multiple games and multi platform games based on framrate, native resoultion, online capibilities and lag input down to the milisecond. Also test it under extreme conditions such as blizzards, homeland invasions(ala Red Dawn) and finding out your wife cheated on you with a relative. Then travel back in time and write a full review on it, then post here, not that hard. Now thats a review.