New Video Game Rating SystemJun 06 '08 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line New gaming review system I will place into effect beginning June 15, 2008.
[Introduction] It goes without saying that most Epinions writers and most certainly all game reviewers and critics in today's game industry follow and enforce a rigorous rating system for every game he plays, regardless of whether it's on the PlayStation 3, the Nintendo Wii, or even an old Sega Genesis Classic. But which rating system is the best? Can we truly penalize reviewers for throwing in a couple of extra tidbits or possibly even his or her own genuine category creations? Having recent conversations with another individual who writes for the site (the person's name will not be mentioned,) it's a bit difficult to decide. While every game must have its own predetermined categories to work with, I do think every once in a while, a game review could "break the mold" so to speak, and offer readers a little extra in the way of information. So, I've been working on a new way to rate games, and this new formula will be followed in all subsequent game reviews that I write for the site. Some hardcore gamers may disagree with the rating system, but, first and foremost, I feel that if the categories included in this listing pertain to the overall game, and the more categories that can be created, the more accurately the rating will reflect the true quality and nature of the video game in question. Now, this is not to say that I would go off on a crazy spiel and create 15 categories for a game. But, we do have several hardcore reviewers who like to stick to the traditional 3-category method of rating a game. I like to think we may be able to break it into about 5 or 6 different areas. [Categorical Breakdown] Below is a breakdown of each category I will use in game ratings. Extra categories may be added to certain games if I feel they are especially helpful in bringing out its best features. **Please note, optional categories are categories that may or may not be featured in a game review. These categories are meant to highlight specific categories that are a staple of a certain type of video game, such as Optional Category Five---User Interface, which will be used in RPGs.** Each category is based on a 10-point scale with decimals rounded off to the nearest tenth. ---------------------------------- Category One Graphics Graphics are, debatably, one of the most important features of any new video game today. Hardcore gamers actually do not comprise the entire populace of the gaming world, however, and I assume a larger portion of those individuals playing games are recreational users of consoles, and therefore, they may be more inclined to the periodic throes and desires of the gaming market. What is important today is the use of graphics and any and all groundbreaking attempts to make a game look and feel more realistic and lifelike. That's saying a lot, and it places a very high standard upon the industry, because many of the great PS2 games already, in my opinion, look about as lifelike as I could imagine. But, with each new console, people continue to be impressed and awe-inspired at the latest creations in the visual world of video games. Thus, graphics are the first category to be reviewed. Obviously, a newer game must uphold and be held to a high standard of quality in graphics if it is to be rated highly in this area. Older video games, such as those on the PS1, the Sega Genesis, or the Nintendo GameCube, will not be held to as high of a standard, obviously due to technological limitations. However, these games will still be rated relative to other games on that particular system. Category Two Sound Naturally, graphics and sound go hand-in-hand, and without this marriage in video games, the gaming world would be devoid of enjoyment. As with all new video games and with newer technology being made available on newer HDTVs, games should automatically be prepackaged with the ability to play in Stereo and/or Dolby ProLogic II. Monaural games are a thing of the past as many people now have the ability to play games in their living rooms in high-definition surround sound. As a rule of thumb, I will expect all newer games to have clear, crisp, and unmistakable sound. Sound effects and musical compositions both work under this category, so when a game is reviewed, such as Final Fantasy XII, both areas are considered and weighed against one another to give this category its rating. Category Three Controls Have you ever played a game that looked absolutely stunning but then when it came time to run across a field, or atop a castle, you felt like you were walking on banana peels? Or, perhaps you felt like you were wearing armor that weighed 20,000 pounds? Well, none of these are pleasant, and you don't have to have me tell you about it to know. We've all experienced the "joys" of horrible control schemes from the beginning. Resident Evil was notoriously bad in several areas, and one I distinctly remember was the ability to turn around quickly. It was almost as if your character were born to exist in slow-motion speed instead of having normal, healthy adrenaline rushes that allowed you to move at breakneck speed, whatever the action. However, with the advent of Resident Evil 4, I'm happy to say the series has made a transition towards the better. The control category will be very scrutinous to the areas of how the controller responds to certain actions the player takes. If the controls respond slowly or too quickly or even repeatedly when it is not necessary, then slashes will be made to the game's overall score. Controls are extremely important in racing games, and those games should be put to the highest caliber of inspection. But, again, controls are very important in all types of games, for without good control, we feel as if we have no substantial effect on the overall game itself. Category Four Atmosphere / Environment This goes along with the first two categories, but I personally feel that no matter how much we delve into how great the graphics are or how crisp and clear the sound is, I still want to know what makes this game mesh together so well! The Atmosphere / Environment category will tell the reader about the overall atmosphere or environment the player is participating in, if it feels realistic to the setting the game is supposed to portray, and if the player feels as though he's on the other side of the television when he's playing it. This category simply needs its own distinction, I think. If, in subsequent reviews this category does not add to the quality of a review, it may be omitted. Optional Category Five User Interface User Interface is almost standard in today's games. What I will discuss here is the actual efficiency and layout of menus contained in the games. Games such as the Final Fantasy Series will be just one of the many games to be reviewed in this category, and more than likely, any and all RPGs will be held to this standard as well. Optional Category Six Storyline Some gamers really enjoy having a game that gives them not just great graphics, sound, and controls, but also a compelling storyline. In this instance, any game that has a complicated or complex storyline will have this area featured if I deem it is especially helpful or detrimental to the overall game experience. Again, RPGs will more than likely feature this category. [Other Areas] Highlights Section Each game review will also have an optional highlights section, where I will include two different categories. It should be stated ahead of time, however, that these categories will not have ratings associated with them, they are simply here for your information. The first is Magic Moment. If there is a particularly humbling or otherwise endearing portion to a game's storyline or in its progression of events, I will include this in the review, simply because I felt the event was similar to a "climax" in a story--it brought out my emotions and/or my love and respect for the game. Secondly is Minor Gripes. We've all played games that were awesome, but still had a few technical shortcomings here and there. This section will highlight those pesky or irritating features that some gamers may be particularly sensitive to, so as to give them advance warning about it. Final Ratings Final Category Overall Score Instead of giving the "overall score" its own categorical rating, does it not suffice to say it should be an average of all the previous categories? If we are to rate games honestly and effectively, we must give several categories deep thought, and then average those out. If we are honest with ourselves and with the gaming world, the ratings we give here (that are averages of the other categories,)should always come out consistently and will accurately reflect the true nature of a game. In the case of a game that has one or more "optional" categories, those category scores will be used and averaged together with the rest of the categorical ratings as well. Thanks for listening to this discussion, and if you have any constructive input, please be sure to leave it in the comments section. Note, however, that attempts to change the categorical rating system will not necessarily be acknowledged. Good luck out there, and happy gaming!  |
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