Comments on: Playing the Numbers Game http://www.woogmoog.com/2010/07/02/playing-the-numbers-game/ Geekbabble and shenanigans Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:16:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Marc http://www.woogmoog.com/2010/07/02/playing-the-numbers-game/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Marc Fri, 02 Jul 2010 11:32:31 +0000 http://www.woogmoog.com/?p=293#comment-63 well said. sometimes when i'm unsure on a movie, i consult ebert's site - my brother is always whining about how he gives out 3 star ratings like it's nothing...and it is nothing. it's supposed to mean "worth viewing," but that term really applies to the general public, which might always include you, the reader. you have to read the thing if you're unsure. on the other hand, when he gives a half-star i either a) don't watch the damn thing unless it seems hilariously bad (and free) or b) read the review to laugh because he's the best when he's being an asshole. I like numerical ratings when they're away from the 6 or 8 range, because those can mean damn near anything, depending on the reviewer. Unless it's a game coming from developers i know, or a concept i know, i have no idea if the game will really captivate me. I've played the hell out of games in the 6.x range (sometimes i even hate the game but have to play it), but anything 9 or above has generally been awesome to me, or at least "i can see why people would like it." ...whatever that means. i seem to be the only person who lost interest in golden sun mid-game. and you touched on a point i always ponder, that nobody seems to use the entire ten point scale. an average game should fall on the 5 or 6, but it's usually around 7 or 8. hell, a 4.0 should be a playable game that's just slightly on the bad side. i just spent a few hours playing street fighter: the movie (arcade version) and had a pretty good time. as far as movies go, if it's before i see a movie, and i see four stars, i'll actually skip the review because if it's considered that good, i'll have to see for myself. sometimes ebert is swayed by bullshit, and that's what reading the review is good for. at least in his case, i can't say i've seen a four star movie and walked out totally disappointed. so in my case, i have basically just found a reviewer who is (usually) in line with my views, and i find that a lot more helpful than seeing how a movie got 80 or 90 percent fresh/positive/gdlk. well said. sometimes when i’m unsure on a movie, i consult ebert’s site – my brother is always whining about how he gives out 3 star ratings like it’s nothing…and it is nothing. it’s supposed to mean “worth viewing,” but that term really applies to the general public, which might always include you, the reader. you have to read the thing if you’re unsure. on the other hand, when he gives a half-star i either a) don’t watch the damn thing unless it seems hilariously bad (and free) or b) read the review to laugh because he’s the best when he’s being an asshole.

I like numerical ratings when they’re away from the 6 or 8 range, because those can mean damn near anything, depending on the reviewer. Unless it’s a game coming from developers i know, or a concept i know, i have no idea if the game will really captivate me. I’ve played the hell out of games in the 6.x range (sometimes i even hate the game but have to play it), but anything 9 or above has generally been awesome to me, or at least “i can see why people would like it.” …whatever that means. i seem to be the only person who lost interest in golden sun mid-game. and you touched on a point i always ponder, that nobody seems to use the entire ten point scale. an average game should fall on the 5 or 6, but it’s usually around 7 or 8. hell, a 4.0 should be a playable game that’s just slightly on the bad side. i just spent a few hours playing street fighter: the movie (arcade version) and had a pretty good time.

as far as movies go, if it’s before i see a movie, and i see four stars, i’ll actually skip the review because if it’s considered that good, i’ll have to see for myself. sometimes ebert is swayed by bullshit, and that’s what reading the review is good for. at least in his case, i can’t say i’ve seen a four star movie and walked out totally disappointed.

so in my case, i have basically just found a reviewer who is (usually) in line with my views, and i find that a lot more helpful than seeing how a movie got 80 or 90 percent fresh/positive/gdlk.

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