Curator page details, summary of reviewing philosophy, general metrics, and the all important question, "Is your game right for me?"
Chances are you are likely a small indie developer or studio who happened to stumble across my channels (Schmaltzy Cynical Reviews and, collaboratively, Pro-G) as a result of the recent Steam Curator update. As there is now a greater access for developers and reviewers to not only communicate more effectively, there is also a greater need to use this system responsibility. Whether it's to prevent possible collusion in the interests of the general consumer or to prevent wasting keys and time to reach out to outlets, this new change can become the blessing it deserves to be.
Now I am under new delusions about the value of my own reviews, which is why I rely more so on outlets like Pro-G to reach a wider audience as I accumulate more followers, but I wish to make my personal values understood. While I do value and examine games from a more critical perspective, I also respect developers who show their passion in their work as a writer myself as well as consumers who mainly want to enjoy your products. This is the symbiotic relationship I wish to foster over time, and given that the curator page is only six months in development (with reviews written over three years) with 55 followers, 180+ reviews, and 1500+ influences, I believe this to be a personal investment worth pursuing on my own time.
That time, however, is a hobby and something that I treat as such because until it's something monetizable. Games, thankfully, are a greater interest in my life, and my thoughts to describe them come naturally as I've become proficient with my reflections. (I don't always try to sound verbose; it's enough words to get the point across.) Maybe the channel will grow to become something bigger, maybe it will always stay an obscurity. The important thing is that my reviews should retain their quality, and given the rise of algorithms promoting games on Steam, old and new, one small factor could be responsible to many great futures.
The All Important Question: Is Your Game Right for Me?
Now before I directly answer that question, I want to make it clear that these are guidelines always prone to exceptions. Some of which are less likely to change.
My main interests in games are all boiled down to three key components (in no order): Storytelling/Narrative, Choices and Gameplay. Some games excel at one trait; some games do well-enough in all three; some may even have one saving grace to make up for the rest. Even boiling it down to this general statement doesn't do it justice because art style, premise and hundreds of other factors may influence me on a game by game basis.
For example, my recent interest in RTS/Strategy games is too broad of a category to illustrate the games I enjoy from the games that I have no interest in. Top-down RTS classics like Starcraft 1&2 are more to my playstyle than the arcane Command & Conquer format. Single-player RTS experiences and bot skirmishes matter more than competitive PVP RTSs. 2D games RTS/tactics games like Worms are not my preferred playstyle compared to isometric “3D” and 3D games like Homeworld given their limitations. Management games hold little to no interest given they look, feel and play like real-life work; however, Space Run intrigued me because it’s about being a space-trader. Immersive games like Euro Truck and the X series sound too devoid of interest and too demanding of time to master, while games like The Long Dark excel in its immersion above anything else.
As you can see in this one example, like everything in life, answers to tough questions are complicated; however, there generally is a pattern to follow. These will be listed as factors to consider as there is always the possibility something new will change my mind. (If you don’t see something listed, assume that it’s in the so-so category, not negative, and please explain some details on the Curator Connect. These may be updated in the future.)
Positive Factors:
-Single Player
-Original Mechanics
-Narrative/Linear Focus
-Sandboxes That Tell Stories Through Gameplay
-Games with Depth
- Role-Playing, Not RPG
- Survival Horror
- Strategy / Tactical Gameplay
- Clean UI / Easy to Read
- Choices (Story or Gameplay)
- 5 – 30 Hour Experiences
- Realism / Immersion / Historical Accuracy
- Unique Art Styles
So-So Factors:
- 40+ Hour Experiences
- PVE Multiplayer
-1st Person / 3rd Person / Isometric
- 2D, 2.5D and 3D
- Early Access
- Walking Sim with Some Gameplay
- Learning Curves
- Platformers / Brawlers (2D or 3D)
- Open Worlds
- 3rd Person Horror Games
- 1st Person Action Horror
- Rogue-Lites/Likes with Meta Progression
- Puzzle Games with Unique Concepts
Negative Factors:
- 100+ Hours / Endless Experiences
- Survival/Crafting/Simulator Games
- JRPGs with No Unique Changes
- Visual/Kinesthetic/Kinetic Novels
- Hold W to Wander Walking Sims
- Rogue-Lites/Likes with Zero Progression
- Traditional Puzzle Games (Hidden Object, Point & Click)
- Little to None Single-Player Components
- Multiplayer Only
- Free-to-Play
- Lootboxes / RNG Microtransactions (Cosmetics/DLC Like Titanfall 2 are OK)
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