Reviews: positive or negative

[w_earle_wheeler]

When it comes to reviews, I don't care if they're positive or negative, I just want the writer to be honest with her or his opinion.

For RPG reviews, I only care about "in play" reviews, not book reports.

 

[weem]

Either one, and then (as mentioned above) I want to know why (whichever kind was given).

But the reviews I like best are those that come from people I know, whose preferences I am familiar with (so friends basically).

 

[Derulbaskul]

Frankly, I'm just grateful that some people do this as a service to the community so to impose my preferences (in a sense, and I know you're asking) doesn't quite seem fair.

That said, I particularly like reviews where the reviewer has used the product or has otherwise generated some ideas for its use. I actually read reviews more for this practical look at how another DM uses the content than for a recommendation as to whether to buy or not (although I love it when more obscure products are brought to my attention and subsequently turn out to be gems).

 

[Derulbaskul]

Frankly, I'm just grateful that some people do this as a service to the community so to impose my preferences (in a sense, and I know you're asking) doesn't quite seem fair.

That said, I particularly like reviews where the reviewer has used the product or has otherwise generated some ideas for its use. I actually read reviews more for this practical look at how another DM uses the content than for a recommendation as to whether to buy or not (although I love it when more obscure products are brought to my attention and subsequently turn out to be gems).

 

[Wombat]

I remember when I went to college and took my first history course that my professor taught me a valuable lesson about writing papers -- write because you either really like or really don't like the topic. If you are wishy-washy, your paper will not amount to anything because you simply won't care about marshaling your facts.

Same is true with reviews: write a review because you are passionate, because you either really like or really dislike the product. Most "meh" reviews simply don't go anywhere.

Conversely, tell why you like/dislike the product and give clear examples from the product to back up your opinion.

Yeah, just like a college essay.

 

[EricNoah]

I want a good description of the product. Take me there, show me around, because I can't be there myself. Point out the nice features, point out the flaws as you see them. But don't tell me what to think.

 

[Oni]

The most helpful reviews to me, are the ones in which the writer A)breaks down a product in such a manner that I can form some opinion of whether I'll like the product or not because I'll have a good idea of what I'll actually be buying and B)talks about both the things that where done right and the things that were done wrong in their opinion and the tone of the review is set by a fair assessment of the quality of the product i.e. good products will have more good things to say about them, and bad products will have more bad things to say about them.

That said, negative reviews are usually more fun to read, because they tend to be more bombastic.

 

[Jack99]

I voted either, but to be honest, I never read any reviews but my own. And I am not even sure I always read those...

 

[Lord Mhoram]

When it comes to reviews, I don't care if they're positive or negative, I just want the writer to be honest with her or his opinion.

This. I want an honest opinion. I can make up my own mind about a game, just give me the info, and what you think.

 

[Glyfair]

I tend to prefer positive or balanced reviews. The excessively positive reviews tend not to be too useful, though. For example, I somewhat recently read a review gushing over Mouse Guard. that was written by someone who either worked in the company or was friends with the creator of Burning Wheel. It was all over how innovative the system was and how great this version was. While it could be true, the combination of the connection of the writer and the lack of any criticisms made it completely useless as a review.

On the other hand, negative reviews can be useful. Still, I find that a large percentage of negative reviews are just rants. I can point to a number of reviews of the 4E Forgotten Realms books that just go off on how they "ruined the setting." That's not exactly useful for deciding whether the product is worth buying, especially for someone not emotionally invested in the setting.