tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353084256136267593.post4954381799571309382..comments2023-04-01T12:33:44.777-07:00Comments on Mental Cobwebs: The Internet Thinks it is Better than YouAlex R. Cronk-Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06504789400287276124noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353084256136267593.post-41412081283596494372011-01-26T03:28:39.289-08:002011-01-26T03:28:39.289-08:00I'd say the uproar over the piece is more to d...I'd say the uproar over the piece is more to do with an Internet giant like IGN.com publishing it as a major review of a major release. They should have been delivering a flagship piece of games journalism; instead they gave us a scuttled schooner. Others have picked apart the review's grammar, and while it's true that the writing isn't very strong the problem for me is that the piece as a whole tells the prospective buyer little to nothing about the game itself. It's a review that could have been constructed from bullet points off the back of the game's box. In fact if you watch IGN's video review of the game - which uses much of the same parlance as the text review - there's no need to read the text, because it tells you absolutely nothing new. Any one of us can write a bad review of a game without playing it - we get enough information to do so by watching footage on Gametrailers or reading previews and press releases. For all the information he imparts about the actual experience of playing the game, Mr. Miller might as well have just done that.<br /><br />Compare Alec Meer's article '5 Mistakes You'll Make In Magicka', which doesn't list the different attacks and locations in the game or talk about how 'awesome' it is, but which has been posted all over the Internet as an example of great games journalism and has doubtless sold a lot of copies to people who had no prior knowledge of the game.<br /><br />And then you in all the bad grammar and such into the mix. And you say Mr. Miller's been a staff writer for four years, on arguably the biggest entertainment website out there? Is it any wonder so many people were angry and derisive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353084256136267593.post-17038975495395652182011-01-25T22:17:30.545-08:002011-01-25T22:17:30.545-08:00I read a bit of it and was confused. I guess since...I read a bit of it and was confused. I guess since I don't know the formal rules of writing, I just go by what "feels right". Reading his review felt "wrong" but I couldn't point out specific reasons why. Nobody has yet explained it me either.Tom Heistumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03915378646427734419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353084256136267593.post-71902628531852604642011-01-25T19:33:40.641-08:002011-01-25T19:33:40.641-08:00Yeah, I felt bad for him too. I used to make fun o...Yeah, I felt bad for him too. I used to make fun of places like IGN and Kotaku a lot because of their bad writing, but then that same thing happened to me and I realized, hey, it hurts. A lot. Not constructive criticism either, but the worst-of-the-worst trolling trying to, basically, get me down enough that I'd give up writing.<br /><br />So, I don't attack other writers anymore, or the things they write. It's just silly and pathetic to do so. I'm sure I slip now and then, but I do apologize to anyone if I ever do so or continue to. Sometimes it's hard not to be an ass.<br /><br />Oh, and copy editors. Damn, we need more of them. Every industry does. They might just be the most underrated and under-appreciated group of people in the world, seriously.Cody Winnhttp://oneadaytheory.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353084256136267593.post-58650353674439157622011-01-25T19:05:37.745-08:002011-01-25T19:05:37.745-08:00I feel bad for him, too. If someone has a problem ...I feel bad for him, too. If someone has a problem with the way another person writes, I think it's better to politely give a suggestion or two (as well as point out what went well with the piece) rather than be a douche and pick apart an entire article -- or even worse: the person behind it.<br /><br />I think a lot of people with strong grammar backgrounds aren't very understanding of those who've received a mediocre English education. Instead of being arrogant and lording their "knowledge" over other people, it'd be better for them to offer some advice. Anyway...I better stop since my brain is shutting down, but I like this blog, Alex.Brian Snoreply@blogger.com