Idea: Reviewers Top Ten?

[Russman]

What if you asked all the contributors to provide a thorough, but personal, Top Ten list of theirs. Say give a solid paragraph for each game on why that game is in their list. These could be like Profile pages, a whole page for each reviewer's list along with 1 screenshot for each game, plus the paragraph. Kind of like how you formatted the Shmup extravaganza?

Please brainstorm this idea guys if you think its has potential, or do you think it's too narcisistic?

[Drixxel]

Could be interesting. Russman, is your plan to compile all contributors' top ten lists into a superbeast of an article, or have a dedicated page per reviewer accessible like a profile? Either way.. could be interesting. If there were only a handful of 'star reviewers' picked to provide their glorius ten, it would make for a far more manageable article. Not entirely sure I see the point of it, but it might go somewhere.

Adding more personalization to the public profiles would give members more reason to wittle away the hours here, like a 'favourite of the moment' or 'Genesis recommendation' field that could be changed whenever. Sure, it'd all be pretty self-indulgent, but this is after all the internet.

Making personal favourites known is a neat idea, especially if it was somewhere permanent like on a profile as opposed to a recent thread.

[Melf]

We could profile a different reviewer each week, and have them give a run down of their favorite games. Instead of just another list, they could perhaps talk about games they're just discovering now, or an underrated gem that flew under the radar and may not be too well known.

[Drixxel]

Sounds cool. It would certainly keep the flow of new content steady.

[Genesis Knight]

Sounds like a great idea to me. Good suggestion, Russman.

[janus]

I'd be up for that! Mini-reviews would be fun because I could rant away on games that I hate without Sega 16 having a load of reviews with scores that go against popular opinion!

You could ask a bunch of people their views on certain games like this site: http://www.shadatannis.com/review/indexb.html

[Melf]

I'm liking this idea more and more. We could do little capsule reviews like they used to do in Gamefan. Each reviewer would write about 100 words or so.

We could give 'em each an avatar and do it monthly or something. It wouldn't have to be only reviews, and could encompass certain topics about what's going on in the Genesis and Sega world, etc.

Me likey!

[Drixxel]

This idea's really taking shape. I'd totally be willing to contribute to this.

[Genesis Knight]

Would I be part of this, since I've written articles?

[Melf]

Of course you would. A Sega-16 feature just wouldn't be the same without you. :)

We'd need about five people, plus myself. Once we get the ideas down, we can give it shape and see who wants in.

[Drixxel]

I've only contributed one review so far to the Sega-16 vault of wisdom, but a Pac-Man 2 evaluation is under construction. Melf, I'm clearly not the most prolific reviewer here, but when it comes time to pick the precious few who get to toil on this capsule review fest, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd consider me for one of the five.

[Genesis Knight]

Same sentiments here. I'd be honored beyond measure if you'd select me for the ranks of the priveleged few. ^_^

[janus]

And me! I can promise you some HARD HITTING, left of centre comments, especially if we do games like Gunstar Heroes and Pirates! Gold.

[Genesis Knight]

So let me guess...you're going to bash aforementioned games? ^_~

[crazyjoedavola]

I like this idea too. I'd definitely be willing to contribute if needed.

[VinnyT]

Well, I sure picked the right day to return...

I'd love to do this too. Sorry i've been gone without reason.

[Genesis Knight]

Nice to see ya back! I'd been wondering...

[j_factor]

I'd be in on this business too.

[janus]

So let me guess...you're going to bash aforementioned games? ^_~

Well, they wouldn't get glowing reviews. Although if I got to review Bloodlines, Hard Corps and Shinobi III I would be passing out the 10s!

[Vorty]

I'll be up for that.

[Genesis Knight]

But...I thought you didn't like your writing quality. That's why you left, right?

[Sega Uranus]

I would love to work on this too, and I promise you I would work as hard as possible!

[Platonism]

I'd love to do this as well.

[Genesis Knight]

Is this ever going to happen? Melf seems to have forgotten it.

[Melf]

Everyone's up for it. Now we need to decide exactly how to go about it. We're going to be doing capsule reviews, so we need some volunteers.

First, we should pick five volunteers. I'd like to do something that hasn't already been posted on the site, like underappreciated games or games that were overhyped (we could perhaps turn this into that "Contender or Pretender" article I mentioned before). Then, each contributor could talk for about 100 words or so about the game.

Thoughts?

[Drixxel]

I like it. I think we have credible enough dudes with thorough knowledge of the Sega way to create a spiffy set o' capsule reviews. As it is, more than five able lads have volunteered, but I'll say it again that I'd dig the opportunity to write for this.

Coverage of the underappreciated and overhyped sounds good. Melf, would you only want to cover games that haven't been reviewed yet? As it is, the majority of overhyped titles that spring to mind have damn fine reviews written already (Kid Chameleon, Sword of Vermillion, Sonic 2, etc.). For the purposes of the capsule review carnival, I don't think it'd be redundant to go over games that have been covered before simply because the new review format would give a fresh take on them, and the selection of the underappreciated up on the chopping block would compensate for any review repeating, seeing as any crazy obscure title could be chosen (c'mon Fighting Masters!).

[Genesis Knight]

I liked the idea of having the panel go over the games they're currently playing, and having a new installment every few weeks or whatever.

That way, at least, you could be sure that everyone would have played the games being discussed.

Have I volunteered already? :ok:

[Melf]

Hmm, I like your idea better than my own Nick. That lets us discuss any game we want, reviewed or not, and opens things up for some nice discussion.

Ok, this is looking good. We can have a weekly/biweekly feature on this as soon as we have all the entries. We can have more than five people too. Hell, the more the merrier. This would make an excellent community feature, since we have many more readers than forum members. It'd be a great way to increase our membership.

The contributors are:

- Russman
- janus
- crazyjoedavola
- Genesis Knight
- Drixxel
- Sega Uranus
- Platonism
- j_factor
- VinnyT
- Myself

Anyone else?

What to do: Pick out a single Genesis/Sega CD/32X game that you've been playing lately (one is cool, since we'll have from 5-10 contributors), and tell us about your experience. Share your thoughts about why you're playing it, your overall opinion on the game, whether or not you recommend it, etc. Try not to review the game outright, but instead give an overall impression of it. For examples of what I mean, check out the capsule reviews in any issue of Game Fan (they were usually at the beginning). Keep it under 200 words or so, as we have enough contributors to make this a decently sized feature.

I'd like to have submissions by next Saturday (Nov. 19), to have it up the following Tuesday. Should we have a decent enough turnout, we could make this a regular thing!

[Drixxel]

Rock solid.
Would you rather, Melf, that our choices remain a surprise until we submit the capsule review, or shall we announce the beauties outright?

[Genesis Knight]

Excellent! I'll get started immediately. This is going to be great...

[Melf]

Either way is cool, Drixxel. :)

[Vorty]

Do we just have to do one each? I have mine written already (for Last Battle) but I'd like to do more if possible.

[Melf]

One is fine, since there are ten contributors. Send it in when you're ready. :)

[Vorty]

I've written two already. You can read them both here.

http://www.honestgamers.com/blogs/index.php?username=goldenvortex

[Melf]

Submissions received from:

- Vorty
- Genesis Knight
- Drixxel

That's four with me. Anyone else? C'mon guys! Let's get cracking!

[Drixxel]

Yarr, that Trevor be me.

[Melf]

Cool. :)

Anyone else?

[j_factor]

I haven't been playing any Genesis games lately!

I'll probably start one tonight and send it to you tomorrow.

[Drixxel]

Melf, I've been wondering - is this feature on indefinate hiatus, or are you simply waiting for more submissions?

[Melf]

Waiting for more submissions. :(

[Vorty]

If you need more you can have my Splatterhouse 2 one or I could easily write a new one. I have some free time this weekend.

[Melf]

I'm just wondering where everyone else went. We have four so far, and if no others are received by this Thursday, I'll just post what we have for Friday's update.

[Vorty]

Hey, what games have been done so far?

[Melf]

Target Earth, Sagaia, Last Battle, and Super Hang-On.

[David J.]

Did you get my other reviews?

[Melf]

Which ones? The 32X and Genny ones? Sure did!

[David J.]

Yup, those ones!

[j_factor]

I didn't do it because I came down with the flu. I thought the article was going to run last Tuesday? But if you're still taking 'em, I guess I could do it.

[Melf]

I wanted to give everyone a chance to turn something in. It's going up tonight, but if you submit something I'll happily add it in. The more the merrier!

The feature will be called "Reader's Roundtable" and I figured we could do something like this once a month. It doesn't have to be the same people every month, so don't feel obligated to participate. As long as I get two or three people a month, it's enough for a feature (along with my entry).

[David J.]

It's for the readers of the site, and we do what now?!

[Melf]

It's by the people, for the people! I lump the readers and forum users together, so you're included too. :)

It's up! Anyone not happy with their SF avatar, please let me know and I'll swap it out for one (that hasn't been taken yet). I hope to see everyone contribute in the future, as this was a fun article to do.

[Vorty]

I'd be up for doing it once a month.

[Melf]

Cool. I was thinking of having it go up the first week of every month, and as it's a simple thing to do, with two or three contributors beside myself we should have no problem coming up with something.

[VinnyT]

I should be able to whip up something each month.

[Vorty]

Whoever edited that Last Battle screenshot is a genious.

Melf, did you get my Splatterhouse 2 capsule review?

[Melf]

I did the shot. Thanks! :)

Nope, didn't get it. Send it again and I'll make sure you're included in the January installment.