Jacob Ross at Save/Continue writes:
"When I read a video game review of any sort, be it professional or otherwise, I carry aboard certain expectations. I expect the critic to have a base level of gaming competence as to not compromise the review with irrelevant frustrations of their own creation. I expect the critic to have the writing ability to expound on their praises with clarity and levy criticism with incisiveness. I expect the critic to have finished the game, or to have experienced enough content to render sound judgement in the rare cases where just "beating" the game would be short of comprehensive.
Many reviews fail to meet even these most basic of standards."
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EK Cooling allegedly has slipped itself into a hot soup of seemingly endless financial woes, where it has not paid its staff, suppliers, and contractors for many months as the company is facing liquidity problems and a surplus of inventory left unsold, stuck in the warehouse for a more extended period. Gamers Nexus investigated these claims made by former and current personnel, where he found trails of unpaid bills lasting as long as three to four months and unpaid raises that accumulated for almost a year.
EK Water Blocks has two entities—a Slovenian-based headquarters and a US-based subsidiary, EK Cooling Solutions. Steve narrated the series of events in detail, stating that the company was reportedly irresponsible and negligent regarding payment. Consequently, partners and employees are forced to share the burden of alleged mismanagement. It all begins with its extensive range of products, leading to a surplus of goods. EK has over 230 water blocks, 40 liquid cooling kits, 85 reservoirs, 40 pumps, 73 radiators, and 212 miscellaneous accessories.
Yes this is not about video games directly but indirectly this will impact the pc gaming/workstation space hard.
This company is massive one of two in the water cool space so if it goes poof then thousands out there have no spare parts or half built computers.
SO yeah i know not about a video game but think of it as amd leaving the pc space but this is ekwb that could be leaving water cooling in the pc space
Jayz2cents a supporter of there products also has issues
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
This guy's just another one of those people who desperately want games to exist in a bubble safe from issues of politics and culture, and he's trying to force them into that bubble. They can't and never will be able to exist outside those things.
This isn't "ideology" we're dealing with here. We're dealing with humanism, sensitivity, decency, and responsibility. If it were ideology, there would be an underlying power motive- a grab for some manner of supremacy. Ideology is deployed as a "hypothetical universal"- a distorted form of reality taken as reality itself as a whole. This allows for exclusivity and exclusion, as well as elitism. These things enable the assertion of a kind of power over others. This is not what cultural critique is. Cultural critique aims to question preconceptions and complacencies we have, as well as to heighten people's consciousnesses about what is fundamentally the idea of living in a world with other people, and the responsibility, consideration, senstitivity, decency, inclusivity, and respect that this requires.
I don't really think he is saying that, after reading most of the article so far.
He even went as far as to say:
"Subjectivity within reason."
...which related to one of the main themes of the article, which is that reviews are supposed to be mostly objective, leaving out personal prejudices, bias, agenda, etc. (for the most part)
You are correct that games shouldn't exist in a bubble, but he mentioned that critics are free to address those issues as long as they don't ignore positive aspects of the game as well.
The author references a review of bladerunner where the author ignored positive aspects of movie because they personally(subjectively) were angry about certain aspects, therefore making them lose an unreasonable amount of objectivity.
I find that a lot of the overly sensitive sensationalist reviews are often pushing some agenda anyway, like trying to get people riled up, make a name for themselves, get hits or sales, exact some kind of fury upon something they don't like etc.
A responsible reviewer can voice their concerns and still give commentary on what other positive aspects the game may have to offer.
I am speaking as an artist and one who wishes to see video games elevated into high art within the cultural eye.
Firstly; posting an article attempting to convince others to leave notions of fully critiquing art at the door in favor of formalistic review might be better served if the author didn't place pictures of sexualized women all over their piece. It comes off as immature, and gives me the idea you're simply defending your desire to see over sexualized women in the medium of games. Which you are.
There is a difference between a review and a critique. A review is an overview designed to benefit the consumer. A critique is an assessment of artistic concepts using many different viewing methods to explain the piece and it's meaning if any.
I am all for defending games as a medium of art. Games should be allowed to tackle mature, controversial topics as much as film or books can. However, defending the medium as an art to achieve a selfish agenda that does not benefit the medium as an art, is a fruitless and pathetic endeavor. The over sexualization, the pandering to people based on their gender, the conditioning of a product to sell as much as possible---is not art and does not lead to art. The inclusion of any of these should classify the game as poor. Gameplay can not and should not forgive sexist, racists, or other any other type of dehumanizing ideas. Holding up the “art” shield to defend your position when it suits and benefits you, not only damages the elevation of the medium of as art, but makes you look foolish.
On a final note: “Because despite your vile portrayal of us as oafish, adolescent boors who instinctively holler and drool at even the slightest glimpse of cleavage, we are not stupid.” --Quote from the article.
I find it interesting the author didn't refute the generalizations made against him and the group he represents, he simply clarified -as they stand- to be of satisfactory intelligence. Made me giggle.
In total agreement. Reviews should at least strive for objectivity. Once you let your personal feelings seep into a piece, it loses credibility as a review.