Review & Preview sections...

Blad3 · 10-03-2006, 05:18 PM

Suggestions:

1) Make the default "View ALL games" & by review date, this just seems more logical; people want to see the latest reviews for the newest (best?) games.

2) Do the same with the preview section, also have more than four games showing preview photos, to increase the chance of clicking on the preview.

3) Make your reviews half the length, more concise, or I'll just end up reading the "pros/cons".

4) Also, make the rating a percentage rather than stars ratings -- more accurate, will allow you to have a top 100 etc.

***Jackal*** · 10-03-2006, 05:47 PM

1) Since we routinely review both old and new games, there's nothing intuitive about your suggestion. There's really nothing much more logical than alphabetical order.

2) Previews are listed that way, in reverse order of article date. The screenshots have nothing to do with particular previews on that page. They are simply the four most recent screenshot updates.

3) Not a chance. A game gets the coverage it deserves. People who want less can skim or use the highlight lists. Many others are happy to have comprehensive articles, and we're not going to ignore them.

Blad3 · 10-03-2006, 05:53 PM

1) Disagree. See above. Also, it most certainly is more logical: I like to see the latest reviews first and in order, therefore for me, it's more logic. If others agree it would be the better choice. I'm not sure either way how it's more "intuitive", though, but I see it as more logical. Isn't it the conventional way of doing things on most sites?

What I would put down to intuition however, is every time I access a review, then press "back" I then have to reorder the reviews by pressing "order by date" again, this is irritating to me, but I don't see it as illogical, especially as the site prefers to put things in alphabetical order.

2) Ok, my mistake.
3) Fair enough.
4) I just added a fourth.

***Jackal*** · 10-03-2006, 08:09 PM

Our most recent reviews are listed right on the front page generally for three weeks to a month. Anyone looking up reviews over a month old are probably looking for something specific, making alphabetical order the most logical. You don't go into a library and go to a "new release" section, do you? Same idea.

Anyway, you're just arguing a default. We have options so people can choose the one they want, and we're happy with the default as is.

#4 is purely a matter of preference. It's been debated before, and there just doesn't seem to be enough incentive to change it. The biggest hurdle is that anything previously graded can't be properly converted to a percentage system.

AGA · 10-04-2006, 05:19 AM

It's hard enough choosing from the 10 possible grades we currently have. How exactly do you logically decide if a game is worth 81% or 82% instead of say 78%? Any grading finer than about 1/10 (which is what we have, only in half-stars instead of whole numbers) is going to involve a lot of instinct and guesswork, rather than necessarily being a fair measure of a game's worth.

***fov*** · 10-04-2006, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Make the default "View ALL games" & by review date, this just seems more logical; people want to see the latest reviews for the newest (best?) games.

The newest reviews aren't always for the newest games. Our two most recent reviews are for Broken Sword 4, which just came out, and King's Quest 4, which came out 18 years ago.

If you don't want to have to re-sort after clicking the Back button, you could open the review in a new window or tab instead of just clicking the link.

Cellardoor · 10-04-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fov

The newest reviews aren't always for the newest games. Our two most recent reviews are for Broken Sword 4, which just came out, and King's Quest 4, which came out 18 years ago.

Heh, we could do a "List Recently Reviewed Recent Games" option.

***Jackal*** · 10-04-2006, 11:40 AM

Actually, we're aiming for a completely personalized preference system, but we're still working the kinks out. The brain probes continue to cause our testers some discomfort.

Intrepid Homoludens · 10-04-2006, 06:49 PM

Thank gawd I'm not one of your ~~guinea pigs~~ beta testers.

***tabacco*** · 10-04-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

Thank gawd I'm not one of your ~~guinea pigs~~ beta testers.

Maybe you are, and the brain probes are keeping you from knowing it.

Intrepid Homoludens · 10-04-2006, 08:13 PM

I'll get you for this.

Squinky · 10-04-2006, 08:16 PM

...and your little dog too?

Trumgottist · 10-05-2006, 01:25 AM

I'll get you...

10-03-2006, 05:18 PM	#1
Blad3 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 50	Review & Preview sections... Suggestions: 1) Make the default "View ALL games" & by review date, this just seems more logical; people want to see the latest reviews for the newest (best?) games. 2) Do the same with the preview section, also have more than four games showing preview photos, to increase the chance of clicking on the preview. 3) Make your reviews half the length, more concise, or I'll just end up reading the "pros/cons". 4) Also, make the rating a percentage rather than stars ratings -- more accurate, will allow you to have a top 100 etc. Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Blad3; 10-03-2006 at 05:51 PM.

10-03-2006, 05:47 PM	#2
*Jackal* Hopeful skeptic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,743	1) Since we routinely review both old and new games, there's nothing intuitive about your suggestion. There's really nothing much more logical than alphabetical order. 2) Previews are listed that way, in reverse order of article date. The screenshots have nothing to do with particular previews on that page. They are simply the four most recent screenshot updates. 3) Not a chance. A game gets the coverage it deserves. People who want less can skim or use the highlight lists. Many others are happy to have comprehensive articles, and we're not going to ignore them. Share Share this post on Twitter

10-03-2006, 05:53 PM	#3
Blad3 Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 50	1) Disagree. See above. Also, it most certainly is more logical: I like to see the latest reviews first and in order, therefore for me, it's more logic. If others agree it would be the better choice. I'm not sure either way how it's more "intuitive", though, but I see it as more logical. Isn't it the conventional way of doing things on most sites? What I would put down to intuition however, is every time I access a review, then press "back" I then have to reorder the reviews by pressing "order by date" again, this is irritating to me, but I don't see it as illogical, especially as the site prefers to put things in alphabetical order. 2) Ok, my mistake. 3) Fair enough. 4) I just added a fourth. Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by Blad3; 10-03-2006 at 06:08 PM.

10-04-2006, 05:19 AM	#5
AGA AdventureGameAficionado Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cardiff, Wales Posts: 1,968	It's hard enough choosing from the 10 possible grades we currently have. How exactly do you logically decide if a game is worth 81% or 82% instead of say 78%? Any grading finer than about 1/10 (which is what we have, only in half-stars instead of whole numbers) is going to involve a lot of instinct and guesswork, rather than necessarily being a fair measure of a game's worth. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Berian Williams - [SIZE=1]Visit agagames.com for free adventure games!

10-04-2006, 11:40 AM	#8
*Jackal* Hopeful skeptic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,743	Actually, we're aiming for a completely personalized preference system, but we're still working the kinks out. The brain probes continue to cause our testers some discomfort. Share Share this post on Twitter

10-03-2006, 08:09 PM	#4
*Jackal* Hopeful skeptic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 7,743	Our most recent reviews are listed right on the front page generally for three weeks to a month. Anyone looking up reviews over a month old are probably looking for something specific, making alphabetical order the most logical. You don't go into a library and go to a "new release" section, do you? Same idea. Anyway, you're just arguing a default. We have options so people can choose the one they want, and we're happy with the default as is. #4 is purely a matter of preference. It's been debated before, and there just doesn't seem to be enough incentive to change it. The biggest hurdle is that anything previously graded can't be properly converted to a percentage system. Share Share this post on Twitter

10-04-2006, 06:49 PM	#9
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Thank gawd I'm not one of your ~~guinea pigs~~ beta testers. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

10-04-2006, 08:13 PM	#11
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	I'll get you for this. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

10-04-2006, 08:16 PM	#12
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	...and your little dog too? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

10-05-2006, 01:25 AM	#13
Trumgottist Game Creator Hobbyist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Stockholm (or Gotland) Posts: 2,609	I'll get you... Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Play my game: Frasse and the Peas of Kejick. The Special Edition is now available! (Mac OS X or Windows.)

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