Re: PBM Review site?

From: lademark@get2net.dk (Niels Lademark)

Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002 08:58:38 +0000

lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl) wrote in message news:<3cb4c7f1$1@news.meer.net>...
> In article <VA.0000185a.0312b699@oemcomputer>,
> Carol Mulholland  <carol@flagship-pbm.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >Do you envisage providing all the reviews yourself, then?
>
> No, I envisage not having reviews.

I for one _like_ reviews even if the reviewer (naturally) has a
different mileage. Nobody expects an _objective_ review. Since Pb(e)m
involves human interaction much of the reviewing process involves
scoring the GM and (albeit implicit) the co-gamers. This is what puts
pbem apart for your average computer game. This process and hence the
review are based on the personal preferences and background of the
reviewer. I expect every one who have ever read a review to accept
this.

> > It obviously helps to have played several games before reviewing
> > any single game and we expect our reviewers to be experienced players, but
> > is total knowledge essential, or even desirable?
>
> No. My point was that a typical player of RPGs has played a larger
> fraction of all RPGs than the typical player of PBMs has played of all
> PBMs.

You dont need to. As long as you either describe the premises for
comparison i.e. I've only player MePBM, War of the Dark God and ...
and whatever and clearly states the pros and cons based on your
experience. Anyhow I expect that the reviewer have played 10 or more
different games which is enough for me. After all it is a _review_ not
a list of statics that is sought here.

> >> Most reviews published in PBM magazines aren't very good, and I'll be
> >> charitable and ascribe that to lack of community.
> >>
> >> No doubt you disagree with this. No surprise there.

Well I disagree. The reviews I've read were very good and to the
point. Check out this review from Flagship (link at the bottom of the
page):

http://www.pbem.dk/wotdg/top.html

The reviewer might be inexperienced in this particular game but he
managed to cover all the essentials, and his grasp of the rules, terms
and conditions leaves nothing to be critizised. Rather impressive
considering that his co-gamers have player several games during a
three year period and still discover new layers in the game....This
being said by one who has played incarnations of his game since the
late 80's.

>
[SNIP]
>
> My professional training says that's not a successful review process.
>

My gaming experience says that this particular review hit the
bullseye. So if the rest of Flagship's reviews are up to this standard
I'll recommend them.

> greg

Niels

References

PBM Review site?
"Sid" <seyed@monkeyx.com>
Tue, 09 Apr 2002 20:37:25 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
Carol Mulholland <carol@flagship-pbm.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:04:02 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 16:07:22 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
Carol Mulholland <carol@flagship-pbm.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 22:34:43 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 23:17:21 +0000

Referenced By

PBM Review site?
"Sid" <seyed@monkeyx.com>
Tue, 09 Apr 2002 20:37:25 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
Carol Mulholland <carol@flagship-pbm.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:04:02 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 16:07:22 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
Carol Mulholland <carol@flagship-pbm.co.uk>
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 22:34:43 +0000
Re: PBM Review site?
lindahl@pbm.com (Greg Lindahl)
Wed, 10 Apr 2002 23:17:21 +0000