Here is a letter that you can put into the next issue if you like. It is a flame though, and so is perhaps not appropriate.
It's not a question of being appropriate, Bill. Don't worry, this will be in there...
What has always bothered me about the print game magazines is how biased their reviews often appear to be. Bugs or design deficiencies that hobble a game can be so glossed over or ignored entirely that the paying consumer wonders how the reviewer (who likely didn't buy the game) could have missed such a critical point. Magazines such as GameBytes are written by the consumer, and as such reviews are usually more incisive and informative. There are always exceptions however.
Always! Remember, I'm at the mercy of the submissions that I can beg and plead for. I don't have a reviewer 'budget', remember? I'm in 'business' because readers want to see Game Bytes continue. That said, I know what's coming next...
Scott Summer's review of Outpost in issue #20 of GameBytes is a prime example of how a review/er can mislead and misguide potential consumers. It is fortunate indeed that most readers of GameBytes have modems at their disposal and can thus follow online advice given by owners of such turkeys as Outpost. Otherwise, on the basis of Mr. Summer's enthusiastic review, despite some "minor" glitches in the game, this is one product worth rushing out to purchase.
Exactly. And IN HIS OPINION, the game IS still great. Obviously, your
mileage may vary. Many other's 'MILEAGE MAY VARY'.
What Mr. Summer failed completely in conveying to the reader is that Outpost is so riddled with technical problems that cripple the game that few people, if any, would derive much enjoyment from their purchase.
I happen to fully agree. I awarded it a design achievement award at C. E.S. because it truly stood out among the other new games of the show. What makes me upset is, like Command Adventures: Starship,.....THEY DIDN'T FINISH IT!! They probably shipped it under pressure from the top brass to start recouping their development investment. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up on it. I know that Sierra is committed to 'finishing' the design and writing a real manual, but you only get one chance to make a first impression.
Perhaps a few more hours playing the game would have made Mr. Summer more aware of Outpost's many deficiencies, or at least come to the realization that the manual, though big, is devoid of much useful information.
I'm in violent agreement.
One great feature of GameBytes is that we are often treated to multiple reviews of major releases. In this case, we can thank Mr. David Reed for telling it like it is.
Again, thanks to David, as I did NOT want to go to 'press' with just this one review, knowing that it truly conveyed only one (and in my opinion, flawed) opinion. Thanks for the letter.