Unit 14 Reviewing Computer Games

Reviewing a Video Game

Game Reviews

• The following elements are examined when reviewing a video game:– Platform – which console/s is the game for– Genre – the type of game e.g. adventure, fps, platform– Graphics – the quality, realism– Sound – quality, relevance– Rewards – achievements, opening new levels/areas, scoring– Audience – age determined by game play and rating– Player modes – single player, co-op, multi-player, online– Difficulty – complexity of game– Longevity – completion time, replay value– Addiction – how often you want to play / immersive– PEGI Rating – official age rating / content information

How can we Review Games

• PEGI – Pan European Games Information– Official

• Game Reviewer Opinions– Magazine reviews– Teletext– Online reviews/magazines

PEGI• The PEGI system was developed and based

on existing systems in Europe

Sex

Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references

Age Rating

Bad Language

Game contains bad language

Violence

Game contains depictions of violence

FearGame may be frightening or scary for

young children

SexGame depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references

GamblingGames that encourage or teach gambling

DrugsGame refers to or depicts the use of drugs

DiscriminationGame contains depictions of, or material which may encourage, discrimination

• Console magazines publish monthly reviews of the latest games– Xbox 360: The Official Magazine– Official PS3– Nintendo: The Official Magazine (Nintendo Wii/ NDS)– NGamer (Nintendo Wii/ Nintendo DS)– PS2

• Reviews consist of:– Developer/platform details– Introduction– Main text– Ratings– Screen shots

Magazine Game Reviews

Online Reviews

• IGN site– http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/852/852936p1.ht

ml

• Computer and Video Games– http://www.computerandvideogames.com/revi

ews.php?

Teletext Reviews• GameCentral reviews consist of:

– Game Party (Wii) Review by David Jenkins – Main Body - It's increasingly obvious that Western developers just don't get

Nintendo.– There's plenty of decent third-party games on the DS and Wii but we'd struggle to

think of a single one that wasn't from a Japanese developer.Western developers only want to work on the most graphically capable formats, which leaves the Wii at the mercy of publishers' own creative decisions...We weren't going to review this but when we saw it sneak in to the bottom of the UK top 10 we thought we better……..

– IN SHORT: The absolute worst mini-game collection on the Wii – which is really saying something given the competition

– PROS: It's only £20.– CONS: Only seven games, all of which have been done better before – not that

any were much fun in the first place.– SCORE: 1/10 Out: Now (UK)

• Teletext GameCentral: – http://www.teletext.co.uk/Entertainment/Games/Features-Reviews/default.aspx– Teletext (ITV channels) page 805

Activities

• PEGI Ratings– Complete the evidence sheet finding the

appropriate PEGI ratings for the 5 games listed and 5 of your favourite games

• Produce a group review in the style of a magazine review article

• Produce an individual review in the style of a magazine review article