how the 'reviews' work.

Since I intend to write 'reviews' about 'videogames' I suppose it would help if I 'explained how I approach the process'. None of the preceding terms actually needed quotations.

In short, there are no number scores. Number scores are silly and fruitless; the monkey brain trying desperately establish a hierarchy where none need exist. Forget about numbers and what they mean when applied to art. I can't tell you if you're going to like a game with a number. What I can do is explain my personal experience with the game and if you feel like you'd have somewhat of a similar experience well then its up to you to fork over the sixty dollars American (plus tax) to take that plunge.

That said, I am a consumer, like most of you. I do not write for a magazine, I am not sent review copies of a game prior to release. I am a full-blooded consumer of the highest order. I have to be smart with my dollar and its not easy to do that when somebody tells you "This game is a 10!" and then provides absolutely no valuable context in which to place that statement. What if the reviewer likes dating sims, eats red meat, and votes Republican? Two of those don't make any difference but perhaps you have such a deep-seated hatred of dating sims that anyone who likes them is automatically a terrible person and should not be trusted.

Honestly, it pays to have somebody who isn't pushed on a daily basis for 'clicks' and pressured with 'generating ad revenue' (those needed quotes) to give you the straight shit on whether or not a game is worth your money. I'm not the only person to do this, but I feel like there might be some of you out there who'd like to hear more opinions. These reviews are mine.

So back to the original point: no numbers. No letter scale, no grading curve, no "bad, okay, good" system. All of these are subjective and quite frankly game reviewers do not have the time to fully explain the context of their reviews. So they invite convenient systems to compress their opinion into a web-byte and then bitch when that's the only thing that winds up on Metacritic.

That said, games will essentially be graded upon "Is it worth buying?" or "No, it is not worth buying at this time". Key to note the "at this time" as there will be games available for purchase at $60 that may be worth perhaps...$40, or even $10. Its all relative; and it is important to note that not all games reviewed here will be new releases. Is Too Human worth $60? Absolutely not. Is it worth the $10 used price? Absolutely yes.

Secondly and just as important, I will attempt to provide a 'Reviewer Bias' score of sorts. Essentially this will range from +5 to -5. The higher the number the more I was likely to enjoy the game despite some of its flaws. This would be akin to an absolute die-hard Final Fantasy fan reviewing Final Fantasy XIII. They're probably going to love its androgynous doll creatures and terrible naming conventions even if the game plays like shit and you can't understand who's busy being mad at what. Conversely, the lower the number (closer to -5) the less likely it was I was going to enjoy this game. This is again akin to a die-hard Final Fantasy fan who hates sports games reviewing Madden 10. Its probably just not going to work out.

For the most part, the 'Reviewer Bias' is a measurement of my pre-conceived notions on the game prior to reviewing/playing it. I feel this is of the utmost importance as many reviewers will give a game high marks and then in some small, obtuse manner suggest to you that they were jerking off to screenshots of the game during their down time at E3 last summer. This is deceptive and more members of the gaming 'press' should be forced to give an objective (as much as possible) viewpoint on their own expectations when passing judgment. I understand this doesn't generate 'sales' or 'clicks' but come on; you're telling people what to do with what little money they earn. Have some transparency.

So thats how the reviews work. I tell you what I thought of the game and whether or not I think its worth the current retail asking price. Afterwards I let you know just what my expectations were going in so you're not under any kind of illusion that a game I claim to be "Worth double the price tag!" isn't just something I was going to love even if it came sealed in dog shit.