Reviews
So I already deeply expressed my opinion on critics, but I want to talk about reviewers on amazon etc. who rate products. I am awaiting my copy of The Sims 3 in the mail and have been reading reviews out of desperate excitement to try this game. The first places I checked were well known gaming sites. I was very excited to see that Sims 3 got generally above average reviews. After I ran out of gaming sites I looked at amazon hoping for a good personal review of the game but alas I found something quite different. If this blog hasn’t entirely convinced you, ANYONE can say what they want on the internet! Sims 3 received a 2.5star rating obviously because of the massive differences of opinion. The reviewers mainly complained of crashing and bugs, but most of them probably were too busy to make sure their computer fit the minimum requirements (ITS NOT LIKE THIS GAME TOOK FOREVER TO COME OUT) but I digress. The reason professional reviews are much better is because of their attention to the general public vs. individual annoyances. I am not against people reviewing products online. After all it makes my life easier as a buyer, but people need to follow the 5 rules of reviewing:
1. Don’t say what has been said: Read a review before you write one…it helps no one to have to sift through 300 reviews when considering a product.
2. Think before you type: I have a good angry rant when I write once in a while but really people need to think to themselves whether they are just pissed off at their game not working or have something important to say. Usually if people want to review something they want to complain about it…
3. Write as seriously as you wish to be taken: Bad grammar is everywhere…especially here, but there are many ways for you to get your point across clearly and properly without sounding ignorant.
4. This is kind of a given but make sure your reviewing the right product: You laugh, but that does happen…and it isn’t pretty
5. WHY: I don’t think anyone cares that you decided to sell your copy of Sims 3 on ebay…but please tell us WHY…and whatever you do don’t sell your copy of Sims 3 on ebay after only reading the reviews on amazon
As a buyer you can take very few reviews on a website like amazon seriously, however there are some smart people out there and these reviews should not completely be discouraged. I had already bought the game then started to read reviews, and use them to find out a little bit of USEFUL information and for a good laugh.
