Hello,

Firstly, it pleases me to see so many people anxious to write reviews as a staff member, or just in general. For those who don't know me, I was a reviewer on this site a year ago, and writing reviews helped me develop my writing, even when the actual work's quality varied. As such, I would like to pass along advice from that period for those applying or already accepted from my experiences and general advice.

I will also make a warning: if you take your reviewing seriously (which if you are applying I hope you do), then be aware that you may not look at games the same way after. It is much more likely you'll be critical of a game after reviewing for an extended period of time than someone who is not a critic would.

Anyways, onwards to my tips

General Tips

1) Watch grammar/spelling - Probably one of my biggest flaws when I was writing reviews on a regular basis. Main reason I'm bringing this up is that when I reread my old reviews, I found that the errors that I've initially missed distracting. It goes a long way to see a well written, cohesive piece of work contrary to a poorly written mess, as I have learned the hard way.

2) Try to be fair with a game - The job of a reviewer is, in my eyes, to give a report of whatever it is you're reviewing. Even if a game is extremely bad, you have to give it its day in court. I strongly recommend commending what the game got right, what didn't work and how it could be improved rather than bashing it. The inverse is true for good games: even if the game appears perfect, point out potential problems that could arise.

3) Report, not bash/praise - Tied in with number 2, basically you want to give an overview of what the game is like. Just stating how it runs or how it looks/sounds on its own without context is not very informative. In my own opinion, a good review will give the reader an idea if they want to play a game or not, despite the reviewer's overall tone.

4) Write what is necessary - A review's job is to provide information on a piece of work, and however long it takes to convey the appropriate information should be the length.

5) Add a personal touch - While I do generally discourage including Nostalgia as a part of a review, as it can distort the truth, I do suggest that you include how you felt while dealing with individual elements in the modern sense. If you laughed during the story, say you laughed. If you got frustrated due to controls, cite that the controls can get frustrating for some players. Something I found when doing mine is I often wrote in a more adult perspective, distanced from the gamer and in an objective sense. While that worked for me, I found that it is not always the best approach, so find a nice middle ground between informative/objective and personal, since gaming is a personal experience.

6) Give every game a fair chance - NEVER base a game's performance on the first segment. The general rule I always had was if the game has a definitive end, try tor each the halfway point if feasible. While story, graphical and audio based evaluations can be provided externally, such as watching a lets-play, the reviewer should till play the game as much as they can to allow for a fair review. Games without an end just take a pre-determined time-frame for playing and play it through.

7) Pace yourself - Probably my biggest mistake. Don't write more than what you can in a given time-frame or you WILL burn yourself out. I found when I got busy in life, I was stretching myself hard for reviews and was over-extending myself to the point of sacrificing quality. If you don't feel you can keep up, then I recommend not applying. If so, then keep up with it but don't push yourself too hard if you physically can not. If you can do more, great but if not...take care of yourself there.

8) Write if its worth it - Ok what do I mean here exactly? Basically, before writing any review, think if there's enough to really say about it, or say that is different. If the former is the case, and there isn't much to say...skip the game. If a game has a lot to say about it, but everyone else has said a lot about it already, ask yourself two closely related questions: Can you say anything different about the same elements, and can you add something completely different. If the answer to either or both is yes, go for it. if not...may be worth skipping.

9) Don't make assumptions - A pretty big one. Never enter a game or a review with preconceptions from previous feedback or knowledge. Try to do as much of the game without  this crutch as you can to give it a fair review. Helps avoid some of the other pitfalls I've cited earlier.

10) USE YOUR VOICE - This is my biggest tip BY FAR. Every other bit of advice leads up to this bit...just speak as you. if you don't believe in what you're writing, then its not reviewing "journalism", its ventriloquism. Speak your mind on what you're reviewing, even if it goes against the masses. Be real with your reviews and they will be a lot better.

Well that is all I have to say for now so good luck to all applying.

Davideo7 :
Hi ender44 here, I went to check on my application, but I didn't see it so I thought I would write this again. You might have seen it, but I'm a little cautious. My name is ender and I would like to apply for either the game tester position or the reviewer position (or both, I guess). I believe I know a lot about video games. I've played at least 2 or 3 games on almost every system and read reviews and discussions about video games online. I love vizzed and have been on here for awhile. Please pick me, ender44 for either the game tester or reviewer position. Thanks for reading David. (funny coincidence, I have a brother named David) I am 27 so meet the age requirement.

Davideo7 : Can I become a staff? (I just hope i am not too young 10)

Davideo7 : may I be a game reviewer PLEEEEASE I will bee a very diligent one im 18 

Davideo7 : Hey, I finally got around to writing a couple of reviews. I'd like to apply for Game Reviewer, please take a look at these and consider it.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (Review) - https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49020&ppp=20&page=0#677445
Metroid Fusion (Review) - https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49009

Davideo7 :
Sorry, Ender44 here again. I just realized that you have to submit reviews to get hired as a new member of the reviewer squad, I review mainly games that I have personal interest in, which is why one of my reviews is of ocarina of time. Basically I love video games and most of all, I love discussing and criticizing them. Its what I spend a good hour of each day doing and I would love to do it for this site.

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49024 This is of ocarina of time


https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49027 This is of pokemon emerald

please pick me

Nobel123 : You should specify what position you want on the Staff. You can be a game tester or a game reviewr. To be a game reviewer though, you need to have written 2 quality reviews and post a link to both of them here.

Nobel123 :   Sorry, but the minimum age requirement for staff is 13. 
Also, I would suggest that if you want to be a game reviewer, you post the links to the review in your post so we can actually see your work.

Hello Davideo7
                           Can I start review I know I'm quite new, like 2 months old to this, but I  have learnt from that 2 months.
                           I'm 13 so I'm okay to do the jobs (if that makes sense but I think it does) & here is links to a review I did:
                           https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49029  
                           

                           I have played video games since I was 5 & been playing since I also play computer games if I'm bored.
                           I found out how to embed Vizzed games this is how : 
                           https://www.vizzed.com/playonlinegames/play.php?id=XXXXXX&windowSize=664x560" frameborder="0" style="border:none;" width="664" height="560" scrolling="no">
Play">https://www.vizzed.com/">Play Games on vizzed.com
                           replace XXXXXX with game id btw game id is on the url so I think everyone would know that
                           So please tell me if I got it

Black_Tornado : There's nothing on the page for the first link. Try reposting the link for that review. Also, for the second link, the game doesn't exist. It may just be my computer though.

Davideo7 :
Hi, Ender44 here again, vie posted my application already but I saw that you made the exception to that one girl and I wanted  to say that I'm not a write-a-super-ton kind of guy, and although my reviews are short I really think you should look into them, here is one more

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49030

Davideo7 :

Hello again. This is the Shogun Gamer, I've finished my video review that goes with my ninja baseball batman review. My second review is on my past post on the third page.

I feel by combining my video reviews with my written reviews, it would contribute greatly to Vizzed.com as it would increase popularity of the site through youtube, show gameplay in action, and it also acts as another alternative to those who don't feel like reading reviews sometimes.

I will do my best for vizzed.com and work towards becoming a great site staff video game reviewer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPyOeXCnZ2E&feature=plcp

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=48972 - Ninja Baseball Batman

Davideo7 : This is Mewtwo i play games on this website everyday and i also tell all my friends about this website cause a snes was my first gaming system i got when i was a child and i would love to help with this website to keep old school gaming alive thank you 

Bleh... I'd apply to be a game reviewer, but unfortunately I'd have difficulty finding the time to invest in it. I'm in the late part of my college schooling for game development, and the work is getting very rigorous. Class is usually spread out 2-3 days a week, which would give me four days a week to invest, but how much time I can invest per month depends on how much of the work I wind up having to do at home.

If for whatever reason you decide to consider me even after all that, here are the last two reviews I wrote. I play a game through to the end before I write a review to make sure I gather up as much information as possible and write a detailed review. It isn't professional work, like what you might see in game magazines, but I'd say they're still pretty good.

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=25581 Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising.

https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=36013 Yu-Gi-Oh: Dungeon Dice Monsters.

(Edit: Fixed link. Apparently accidentally copy pasted the Dungeon Dice Monsters one twice.
Edit2: Fixed url BBCode.)

ah a job opportunity! well i see your post and raise you a youtube video. not only will i post a review in the topics but i shall also record and give my thoughts on the gameplay while playing it for the first time. i shall apply for game tester and game reviewer. if not one or the other then ill stick to my own videos.

first review https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49052

second review https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49055

Do you still have open spots for reviewers like me ? If so .....

Davideo7 : Here is my 1st review thread , it has 900+ words ( 986 to be exact ) . I reviewed the Pokemon Emerald Game , here's the link : https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49059

This next review is all about Pokemon TCG ( Trading Card Game ) that has 800+ words . Here's the link :
https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49062

I hope I get chosen this time .

Hold a spot for me, I'll get a couple of reviews to you by the end of today.

I love being playing games on hear and I am on this site everyday I wish to join the family

Davideo7 : I want to become a game reviewer and that's why I made those two reviews in the past 2 days. I hope you like them.
https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49070
(Final Fantasy mystic quest)
https://www.vizzed.com/boards/thread.php?id=49023
(super mario bros.)