Project+2

The genre that I am discussing is the Video Game review category. I approached it by reading many reviews on major video game websites such as IGN.com and learned the proper way to write a video game review. I also have read reviews on Video Games for many years in magazines such as Gameinformer and on the website IGN.com.

When an editor is writing a review for a video game, they go through a very straightforward process that is followed almost every time//. Through the use of// specific examples in the game, descriptive adjectives describing elements of the game, and a number based scoring system, the reader receives an overall summary of whether the game is amazing, passable, or completely terrible. While searching for a video game review that embodied all that is a stereotypical game review, I came upon a review for the most recent Halo game, “Halo: Reach”. The review was found at IGN.com and is three pages in length. This review was particularly long, yet when an editor writes a review for a game, the popularity of the game and anticipation for its release plays a major role in how lengthy the review is. “Halo: Reach” is one of the most anticipated games of 2010, and so the three-page review of the game is very normal for a game of its stature. When an editor sits down to begin writing his review on any particular game, he/she almost always begins with some kind of summary of the game. Whether it is a summary of the history of the game, the development team, or any other aspect of the game. In the specific article I looked at, the editor summarized the history of the Halo franchise and gave informative background information regarding the game that readers may or may not have know. Yet this background information ties into the article, and the editor then ties this information full circle back to the game they are reviewing. This is a tactic that the editor uses to break the ice with the reader and intrigue them at the same time with facts about the game so that the reader wants to continue to read more of the review. After the editor has set the background, they move on to the actual review of the game. They start with either a negative tone or a positive tone and this tone sets the feel of the review from then on. If the game is going to get a good rating, the editor will be enthusiastic. If the game didn’t quiet live up to the expectations of the editor, then the beginning tone will be negative of derogatory. //The following is an example of// the editors opening statement in his review on the game Halo: Reach, “Now, though the Halo formula is intact and there are plenty of wink-and-a-nod references to past games, Reach is a big step forward” (IGN.com). The positive tone that is portrayed by saying that the game is a “big step forward” implies that the game is good and that the editor will be writing a positive review. If the editor were to instead write something very negative such as saying the game was lacking in many areas and didn’t live up to the hype, then the reader would know that the game isn’t very good and that the following review will be negative and address many of the cons of playing the game. This is a very important tool for writing video game reviews, because it sets the tone for the rest of the review. After the introduction the author of the review moves on to judge the major four things that can make or break a video game. They talk about the graphics, sound, gameplay, and lasting impression. These four things can usually provide a complete review of any video game and will tell the reader if the game will be good or bad and if they may or may not enjoy playing the game. These four genres of the game are also very important because everyone who plays video games cares about certain elements in a game more than others. When an editor breaks down the game into the four major genres and then goes into detail about each one, it gives every person details about a specific part of the game that is important to them. If the graphics are the most important aspect to a “gamer” then they can judge based off of the review whether the graphics are up to par or not and if the game will be a good fit for them. At the same time if the gameplay is the most important aspect to another player, then the detail that the author goes into regarding the gameplay will help the reader choose whether they want to purchase the game or not. These four aspects of a game are not explicitly written about however and the editor simply addresses them throughout the entire review sporadically, adding negative or positive comments depending on the game. When these four aspects of the game have been explained and reviewed in detail, the editor then adds any other information he believes the reader will want to know regarding the game, whether it be positive or negative. For example in the review of “Halo: Reach” the author was done with his review of the four major point, yet he went on to describe what the multiplayer experience was like and how it shaped the overall game as a whole. He also included information on the developer of the game and put in a good word for them and how well they did with creating the “masterpiece” of a game. These closing comments have a surprising effect on the reader being that they are the last things the reader will remember. If the tone from the beginning of the review is still present in the closing comments, that felling will stick with the reader as they ponder whether or not to buy the game or wait for it to go on sale a year later. //While many may believe// that writing a video game review is a simple and requires no thought on the topic//, that belief is entirely untrue//. The editor must review all aspects of the game and then culminate all of their findings, finally coming to a conclusion on how to rate the final product.

// Chris, // // Looks like you have the moves down, although you start out a bit rocky. In your next revision, try not to imagine what the author/editor is doing, and instead make the article the subject of your sentences. For example, consider the difference between these two (hypothetical) statements: //

//"After writing a short summary of the game, the author then considers the mechanics of the game."// //"After summarizing the game's main selling points, the review highlights the game's graphics and sound."//

//Next, try to list the moves in the introduction; it's good that you've identified a particular review for analysis, and described it as "typical," but the one missing piece to this intro is to tell the reader what makes it typical. Furthermore, you've pretty much written a paragraph for each move, but if you're going to separate out the "big four" (and you could), you should also treat them in individual (even if short) paragraphs. Finally, you should summarize your main points in your conclusion--what were those moves again? --Deome//


 * -- Zach Lecomte**

+ followed the genre analysis assignment accordingly.
 * Assignment--** Great job

+ Established main idea with great info + Nice use of higher vocabulary skills it demonstrated interest in topic. +Continued on topic throughout entire paper.
 * Focus--** Great Job

+ Correct use of format + Flows logically through the paper + Organized ideas well
 * Organization--** Great Job

+backed up information with citations. + Information looked correct.
 * Support--** Great Job

+ good use of grammar and punctuation + High level of Vocab + sentence structure was good for the most part. - one or two misspelled words.
 * Proofreading--** Good

Chris, great job overall on this paper, you really brought me into the works of a game reviewer. I feel like i could write a successful game review based on all the information you gave. There were only two or three things that were off. One or too misplaced/misspelled words and one or two sentences that didn't flow so proofread and it should be great! I am impressed with your writing so far, all of it sounds really formal and professional. Keep it up!

Chelsea- Assignment: Good job staying on topic! Focus: Paper read very smoothly and stayed on topic throughout the paper. Organization: Clear sections, clear opening, body and closing. Support: Used strong citations to back up your ideas. Proofreading: I saw no errors in your grammar or spelling. Overall great paper Chris!!