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.

Gethyn : Thank you for your comments, means a lot to me to hear the support.

SunflowerGaming : Hello,

Thanks for the comments, it makes me feel good to know someone is nodding in approval at my decisions. I'm not truly back, as I am more engaged in my projects and whatnot, but I do occasionally check in here.

I won't go into too many specifics on the forums, for obvious security reasons, but the simplest way to describe it is if you took Fahrenheit 451, and2001: a Space odyssey and mixed them together with a small pinch of Star Trek. I'd rather not go much further into details ANYWHERE until I begin negotiations with a publisher, which won't be for several months.

A writers guild is essentially a group that promotes and distributes writing projects. It acts a source for writers to find writing jobs or to spread their own creative works. For example, a screenwriter who is a part of a writers guild would be more likely approached to write a movie script for a director through the various connections and standards the guilds has. A writers guild more-less serves as a hub for high quality literature or scripts. I believe there is a writers guild of America (Likely where the Canadian writer's guild took influence from), but there is very likely many others across the country and even within the specific states.

Hello

Have to say, its been a while since I took the time to actively post on this site, especially as someone who is not a staff member. This is just my own quick little update on what happened exactly...

Back in December some personal issues came up I ahd to attend to and various factors in the months prior prompted me to resign as a staff member and go on an unofficial hiatus from this site. I also resigned from reviewing in part because I was burned out: my reviews were starting to feel forced in the later days by writing the number that i was to the detail that I was. Hence, in a sense, I let myself be overwhelmed, and I needed a break from that sort of writing...but more on that momentarily.

After my issues were resolved, my computer died and it was only recently I was able to adequately use a computer that didn't take 45 minutes to load up an email (hence scattered visits at the ebst with no gameplay).

However, recently... I began work on several projects, including working towards getting my first novel published. Hopefully sometime over the enxt eyar it can be negotiated, along with other projects I have ongoign currently, but thats in part why I was inactive: been busy figuring out the intracacies, my pre-draft writing stages, etc. I plan to redivert my writing time and skills towards making my goals, and arguably dreams, come to reality...I suspect it wont be until summer of next year that everything is good to go but...yeah. One of my other goals is to join the WRC, the Writers Guild of Canada, and I'm preparing a variety of works to apply with in time.

I guess, in summation, the main reasons I was away was that I eneded to do soem soul searching and I am persuing my dreams.

I wish those applying well and best of luck to them. Vizzed is a site that is more-so made by the community and this is a great chance for thsoe to help make the community the ebst it could be in their respective positions. I am not applying, of coruse, due to my "projects" in the past few months.

supersam4ever08 : Thats not quite what this thread is mentioning. This thread is focusing more-so on if Pokemon existed on planet Earth as we know it, and we had early contact with pokemon and our technology gravitated somewhat to a pro-Pokemon world. Places like New York or London would be drastically different due to Pokemon but they would still be there. Pokemon like say Sandshrew would be in the actual deserts around the world like the Sahara, in Arabia, the Gobi desert and whatnot.

Well you did order the alphabet soup after all...the alternative is that its the count for what your essay is supposed to be.

Excuse me, but there appears to be a Luger handgun in my soup.

I'm sorry sir but we do not provide service to rather rude customers who can only resort to "your mother" jokes for any semblance of humor.

Excuse me, butt here appears to be a thingummywhat in my soup.

catfight09 : In all actuality, that's how Pokemon would have to work in the real world. The games are, in all actuality, rather streamlined in all of the aspects, such as breeding, contests and combat. If I'm interpreting your post properly, then its just a more accurate representation of how Pokemon would work in the real world...

In the real world combat, its gonna be a lot more complicated anyways...for example a flying Pokemon will be very hard to hit with most moves that would shred them in the games. In the real world you are going to have a lot more manipulation of terrain and various variables...the show depicts a number of them (as I never read the manga I cant speak for it) but only as a representation that it is complicated.

In reality...what you suggested is simply a trainer recognizing this basic fact. My team, as I mentioned on the first page, is very dragon oriented and wanderer like...I have to recognize their weaknesses and know how to adapt their strengths into actual applications BEYOND the basic power struggle represented by the games.

I'm glad you see things that way though, as it is true.

catfight09 : *blinks confusion* erm what do you mean by that exactly?

Granted...but it is believed that you have acquired it illegally and you are thrown in prison, forcing you to sell the car for bail.

I wish for a barcode battler.

septembern : I was referring mainly to if we had to apply Pokemon to the real world. In the games I find that the wild Pokemon only works to 5 levels beyond the highest wild Pokemon in the game, then it sorta stalls...I will say that I think that the games should have more high level areas but,...yeah. Thats why the real world would be cool as every fight would be true training and there is always potential for gain...usually.

septembern : Not that simple...there is no true level 99 system as everything don't generally raise... As well, it takes a lifetime for Pokemon to reach such high levels, if such a system was to be used. Pokemon would also technically have to train their whole lives to reach that point. As well...under the right circumstances, a level "5" pokemon can defeat a level 99 with enough tactical skill.,..albeit its a fluke.

Ok sorry about the nitpicking.

Its interesting to see some of the choices I'm getting...we could almost create a Pokemon game ourselves with the given archetypes plus the other ones we would expect.

Hmm...good question...

For pseudo science fiction, Clarisse McClellan from Fahrenheit 451...she is a stand out character in that book's world and one I find very intriguing. Technically also science fiction, I would have to take...pretty well any character from the Destroyermen series...there are so many excellent characters I simply can not choose one.

For Fantasy...*frowns thinking* I don't read a lot of Fantasy so i can't really think of a standout character off the top of my head. I tend to read more sci fi than fantasy.

*looks up from guitar* I'm sorry but I really couldn't care less. I see a lot of superficiality in the celebrities world, and I don't see them in that way. Rather...I find the ladies I know in my own life infinitely more attractive, both physically (as they are more natural) and on a psychological or emotional level.

Like the previous poster, I don't want to switch places with ANY celebrity as it is constant unwanted attention over superficial things...you get nailed badly for disregarding the "high class norms" like all those really stupid red carpet gatherings...whats the point? The fact that you are also held to exceptionally high standards yet simultaneously expected to do the lowest of things is also asinine...besides, a large number of these celebrities don't even deserve the recognition of the international community...its a pointless waste of time really.

i guess you can argue I'm like the famous silent film actor Lon Chaney Sr. in that I despise the limelight and prefers a quiet existence while still doing what I loves.

0...as I don't use Facebook. I REALLY dislike how their services are and all the issues you gotta wade through to be of any practical use. Besides...I'd rather a few close friends over a couple of hundred update posts to be reading.

Granted but it got loose one night and its right in season...my apologies.

I wish for the ten words.

I find villains who lack a motivation and/or are there only for the sake of having an antagonist weak...in a well written story, a good villain should come naturally...or if you wrote all the characters, a good antagonist should also come naturally. Most villains who goes for the "world domination" angle I find exceptionally boring UNLESS there is a very interesting twist on it.

Villains in most low budget movies tend to be stock cliches which I despise, unless there is something that is perfectly executed. I won't really go into specifics on villains I think deserve the worst as when I think I found them, I finds another that's worse.

I am sorry to report this but...the vast majority of them objects to the ham due to religious reasons and due to sanctions caused by another country due to said decree, and cheese is in shortage.

As the new dictator, I decree that everyone must destroy all Rap records.