A Bad Review (Full Version)

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Kevinugly -> A Bad Review (10/15/2003 5:33:00 AM)

Just picked up my copy of 'PC Zone' here in the UK and found a review of KP in which it received an appalling 20%. I'll quote one paragraph:-

"For starters, the icons are appalling, requiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of the NATO icon system to decipher, which is baffling considering [I]Korsun Pocket[/I] is set at the end of WWII. Of course you can click every bloody tile to find out what's what - assuming you can make out the badly pixellated images. There's no point-sensitive help menus or an easy-to-understand interface - the entire game looks like it was designed by a monkey on amphetamines. Even the combat system features dice. This is 2003 not 1990!"

Sad isn't it.



Ozie -> (10/15/2003 5:56:23 AM)

LoL!

Thats quite hilarious compared to other (good) reviews. :)



DPoM -> (10/15/2003 9:50:12 AM)

[QUOTE=Kevinugly]assuming you can make out the badly pixellated images. [/QUOTE]

Someone has been playing too much FPS lately and expecting every game to match up :sleep:



Pawlock -> (10/15/2003 3:29:49 PM)

[QUOTE=Kevinugly]Just picked up my copy of 'PC Zone' here in the UK and found a review of KP in which it received an appalling 20%. I'll quote one paragraph:- "For starters, the icons are appalling, requiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of the NATO icon system to decipher, which is baffling considering Korsun Pocket is set at the end of WWII. Of course you can click every bloody tile to find out what's what - assuming you can make out the badly pixellated images. There's no point-sensitive help menus or an easy-to-understand interface - the entire game looks like it was designed by a monkey on amphetamines. Even the combat system features dice. This is 2003 not 1990!" Sad isn't it.[/QUOTE] It is quite obvious that the reviewer is not a wargamer as we know it from the getgo. He should stick to reviewing FPS or realtime strategy before attemting to cast an objective view on something he is clueless about. The graphics are great, apart from thier smallness sometimes(which has now been addressed in patch) the interface is the best I have seen for a wargame, full stop. achh,, I cant be bothered, this guy is a moron.



Lionfish -> (10/16/2003 5:03:59 AM)

[QUOTE=Kevinugly]Just picked up my copy of 'PC Zone' here in the UK and found a review of KP in which it received an appalling 20%. I'll quote one paragraph:-

"For starters, the icons are appalling, requiring an encyclopaedic knowledge of the NATO icon system to decipher, which is baffling considering [I]Korsun Pocket[/I] is set at the end of WWII. Of course you can click every bloody tile to find out what's what - assuming you can make out the badly pixellated images. There's no point-sensitive help menus or an easy-to-understand interface - the entire game looks like it was designed by a monkey on amphetamines. Even the combat system features dice. This is 2003 not 1990!"

Sad isn't it.[/QUOTE]


Where can I subscribe? haa haa haa...

Are you sure PC Zone is a computer games mag. The reviewer probably thought that Korsun Pocket was some new Hot Pocket flavor and through it in the mircowave.


The tagline for PC Zone is:

A mag for horney, pimply faced teenagers that are exploring their sexuality through Lara Croft.

If you read the fine print in the index of PC Zone it states the following:

Reviews are based on eye candy, cut scenes, 3D graphics, and sound. Bonus are given to games that require a negative learning curve, the ability to use a joystick or gamepad, and weak AIs. Games with nude women or big boobs automatically receive 100%.



parusski -> RE: (2/6/2004 6:56:44 PM)

Lionfish great eye you have there.

PC-Zone is so annoying to read because it would not recognize a great game like Korsun Pocket if it hit the magazine head on.

The fine print in PC-Zone says all that needs to be said.



ASHBERY76 -> RE: RE: (2/6/2004 7:02:10 PM)

nuts.



carnifex -> RE: RE: (2/6/2004 9:06:40 PM)

Man that is some funny crap. I looked at their site http://www.pczone.co.uk the review is not up yet but I will keep checking :)



BrubakerII -> RE: RE: (2/8/2004 3:18:52 AM)

It certainly says more about PCZone and its choice of reviewers than much else. Still, everyone is entitled to their opinion (even if its wrong [:'(])

[>:][>:][>:]



yamaslob -> RE: RE: (2/14/2004 5:37:35 PM)

I happen to think that the die roll in KP is one of the great things about it. I absolutely love it. Now I can see why something happens or doesnt.

I can only hope that WIF will have the same for every decision.

Yes to dice rolls!!

yamaslob



Tavs -> RE: A Bad Review (3/27/2004 3:07:54 AM)

I too was completely taken aback by this review.

I am a subscriber to PC Zone (I generally enjoy the sarcasm of the magazine) , but when I saw this horrid review, I felt I had to act.

I actually wrote a letter to PC Zone highlighting the various mistakes made throughout the review, and I highlighted the general poor quality of the review.

I actually got a response back to my letter too ! (both from the editor and the reviewer).

The editor (Mr. Korda) was very professional and supportive of my comments, whilst the reviewer wrote back his rebuttal just like a spoiled child acts when they are disciplined by their parents. I found this quite amusing to say the least.

I would like to "cut and paste" some of the comments I received back from Mr. Emery (the reviewer) on my feedback.

Here is the feedback from Mr. Korda explaining / highlighting the methodology of Mr.. Emery:

"I think that in this particular instance, we have a case of 'One man's meat is anotherman's fish'. With games as specialised as this, it can often be a tough call between marking the game for a few hardcore fans, and marking the game for people who generally wouldn't buy games such as Korsun Pocket, but may have an interest in getting into games of this type. From Dan's reply, I think it becomes clear that he has done the latter, although in light of your letter, I will be reviewing the scoring system for
situations such as these to attempt to reflect more of a middle ground. "

As you can see from the Above, Mr. Korda addressed my feedback quite seriously and professionally.

Mr. Emery was another case ...

here was my comment:

"His (Daniel Emery) comments like "For Starters, the icons are appalling, requiring an
encyclopaedic knowledge of the NATO icon system to decipher, which is baffling considering Korsun Pocket is set at the end of WWII" are proof of his obvious lack of credibility to effectively review wargames. NATO Symbols have been used in wargames as far back as the original Avalon-Hill Blitzkrieg, which was originally released in the 50s, with reprints in 1965 and 1975 !!) "

Here is Mr. Emery's response:

"We are reviewing computer games released in 2003 not having a nostalgic look at old boardgames from the dark ages. Just because odd, strange, bad things were done in the past is no justification to carry on that tradition.

When I review a game for PC Zone, I am writing for a typical PC Zone reader. That's a bloke aged between 16-38 who, like most of us, will NOT know what the NATO icons mean nor will they have played a 1950's board game.

It wouldn't have been rocket science to create icons that look like what they are. eg a tank icon to represent a tank, a solider to represent infantry etc."

I have many other comments and responses from Mr. Emery that follow along this line also. If you are interested I can post some more cut/paste from my feedback letter to PC Zone !

Cheers!
-Tavs



Marc von Martial -> RE: A Bad Review (3/27/2004 12:33:06 PM)

Iīm definetly interested. Mr. Emery isnīt a graphic artist by chance, LOL?



Tavs -> RE: A Bad Review (3/27/2004 1:50:32 PM)

HEHEH [:D] I don't have a clue about Daniel Emery's "real job" but here are some more comments/responses from my letter to the editor for your "enjoyment" hehehe

My comments:

"But by Far his most damning action was his comparison of the Panzer General Series of Games by SSI to this game by SSG. His comparison of a beer and pretzels war game (PG) to a Korsun Pocket (a much more detailed simulation) ~is akin to comparing Checkers with chess, just because they use the same board !!! Both games have their merits but one does not do a direct comparison -. remember the 'apples to apples' rule of thumb ..."

Mr. Emery's retort:

"As a 22 year wargaming veteran, and a PC user, you should be quite aware that the Panzer General series was, and still is, the best selling WarGame series of all time. In Germany alone, the game sold over 120,000 copies. That's a triple-A title in anyone's book. You may see it as a beer and pretzels war game, but that's what sells and that's what a typical PC Zone reader wants to play. And that's the person I write my review for."

--- as you can see here, I think Mr. Emery has completely missed the boat here. Just because a game sells millions of copies does not make it great (look at the shooter "enter the matrix" for supporting evidence ! ---

My comments:

"Korsun is in fact an excellent turn-based wargame that is a superb follow On to SSG's The Ardennes Offensive. I think a more factual reviewer (who knew their topic) would have given this game ... high scores for AI, game mechanics and game flow... "

Mr. Emery's comeback:

"Sorry, I review a game on graphics, sound, atmosphere, ease of gameplay, historical accuracy and fun. Korsun scores low in every department except accuracy.

I realise that every genre of a game has its dedicated fan base, who put up with flaws and faults, purely because so few games of that genre get released. But when I write a review I am writing for the typical reader and if they bought Korsun Pocket, they would be as disappointed as I was. "

-- I think Mr Emery's big fault is applying FPS/RTS "reviewing criteria" to a wargame ! Calling Korsun difficult !! I think it is one of the most playable wargames out there ! (I don't think Mr. Emery has ever played wargames -- remember some large wargames like The Operational Art of War, or the older Talonsoft games (BG seriers), and even Steel Panthers ! (all of these are much more difficult to play from an interface and micro-management standpoint ) ... He obviously is lacking any credible "wargame playing expertise" or indeed strategy gaming credibility at all !!! ---

I did have some more clever (IMHO) snips about Mr Emery's Slamming of NATO symbol usage :

"The decision was made in wargaming circles to amalgamate the various individual country military symbols to NATO symbols for reasons of simplicity - to remove Mr. Emery's so called need of encyclopaedic knowledge~ !! (As an interesting side note Germany, Russia, and the allies all had different symbols to represent their military
formations in the war!!!)"

his response to this is in my previous post !

all in all, I think Mr Emery should have a chat with some of his reviewing peers, and get some tips on how to effectively review wargames (or strategy games in general) ... not all strategy games are RTS's , nor should they be !!

All in all PC Zone is a fun magazine to read (and I did re-new my subscription), but I think they really need to re-evaluate some of there freelance reviewers work prior to publication !

RANT ENDS !

hehehe
-Tavs [:D][8D]



MasterBlaster -> RE: A Bad Review (3/27/2004 2:17:15 PM)

A typical case of "I know my ****, what do you pitty gamer now?"

Itīs a problem with a lot of european gaming magazines. They donīt review games based on the category they fall in. Thatīs completly different in US magazines. They base reviews upon the game's categorie. Thatīs exactly why I gave up on european gaming magazines. Theyīre actually are not very helpfull at all with their reviews.

I personally switched to US PC Gamer magazine (sure itīs expensive if you buy it in Europe, but well worth the extra Euro), or read US online review wesbites. They not only help me more for wargames but also help me a lot more for 3D shooters and other games, cause they simply compare them to each other and not to what the "casuall gamer" is expecting. How do they (reviewers) know that anyway?

Just look at how often wargames win awards in the US, I think hell has to freeze over before a european gaming magazine will hand out an award to a wargame. Well to a "serious" wargame at least. "Wargames" like Sudden Strike, Blitzkrieg and the likes of course get rave reviews [8|]

I fail to see how european magazines can deny the fact that reviews based on the games categorie are "not fair". Hell, Iīm not bitching because they use the same comb for wargames, but the same comb for EVERY type of game.



benpark -> RE: A Bad Review (3/27/2004 7:48:40 PM)

Bwahhahaahaha!! That's asinine!!

Obviously not a publication that caters to non-mutated humans (aka-adults).



Tavs -> RE: A Bad Review (3/28/2004 11:16:10 AM)

Some of the comments from the reviewer were completely perplexing (asinine is a wonderful expression of it as well).

I have to agree with MasterBlasters comments about the poor nature of European magazines (and their inability to break down games into their specific genre's).

I have been a subscriber to numerous PC magazines over the past few years (PC Gamer - when it first came out in north America, CGW, CG strat+ --- now Computer Games, PC Zone and others). I must say the north american game magazines generally report far better on wargames and strategy games in general.

I still thing Computer Games Strategy Plus (Computer Gamer) is still the best "adult" magazine out there. They are small and independent. Because of their "non union" with a large "mega publisher" they are not under the same sort of pressure as many magazines are to review games and give them a high score based upon how much page space they use in advertisements . I found in a lot of magazines that they gave a high score to games if they advertised loads in their magazine (I found PC Gamer in north america did this A LOT! [:@]).

But one thing that still really angers me, is the european "rule" that RTS is the "end all be all" of strategy games. That all others are "old" or passé or "not fun". you can really see this mentality in my previous posts.

I wonder when the european magazines will wake up, and realise there are numerous game genre's that should not be compared to each other, but taken separately and reviewed on their own merit, in their own genre ![&o]

-Tavs



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