Who likes reading reviews...

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I should add to that that a story, if you like writing stories, can be a good read. I enjoyed reading Gus's story of TW Shogun 2. That is not what I look for if I am about to make a purchase decision. If I am about to buy, given some games can be such a crapshoot (buyer beware), I need solid, to the point reviews to help me decide.

[bbmike]

A good AAR can be as good as or better than a game review.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

A good AAR can be as good as or better than a game review.

For what purpose? I am not disagreeing with the statement.

Reviews are common in our society. We look at Consumer Reports for big ticket purchases. We go to magazines for all kinds of sector specific reviews. Stereos, cameras, etc. So I am saying when someone searches for a review they expect information that caters to a well understood need. There are all kinds of other things out there that are better for other purposes.

[Rayfer]

A good AAR can be as good as or better than a game review.

Agreed. They certainly can add to and supplement a review by showing actual gameplay, the decision process, choices and their outcomes. A well done AAR is a great assist in making a purchase decision.

[Jarhead0331]

Let's put it this way...I can think of more than a handful of games that I have purchased right after reading a solid AAR.

[TheCommandTent]

Let's put it this way...I can think of more than a handful of games that I have purchased right after reading a solid AAR.

A good AAR can be as good as or better than a game review.

Agreed. They certainly can add to and supplement a review by showing actual gameplay, the decision process, choices and their outcomes. A well done AAR is a great assist in making a purchase decision.

Let's put it this way...I can think of more than a handful of games that I have purchased right after reading a solid AAR.

+1  I think that a well done AAR can be a games best unintentional marketing tool.

[bayonetbrant]

Let's hope now one is reading the giant ball of sarcasm that I'm passing off as a Civ V AAR!   O:-)

[MengJiao]

A good AAR can be as good as or better than a game review.

  I agree that an AAR can be the best way to look into a game you don't have.  Of course a demo is even better.

  On the other hand (and thinking over the RPS article at the root of our collective misery), I would generally like to know something about a reviewer and I don't mean biographical details, I mean the tricker question that goes -- are my tastes much like his?  Now how do you get an idea about that?  I mean from one text and no cheating with lists of other games  they like (whatever that means -- and that can be misleading I think).  Basically you have to go on style.  If they reviewer or WOT-I-thinker sounds like a tedious grumpy fellow who wishes he'd lived in the 19th century and made the world safe for the pet peeves of his later and even more elderly self, then I will very likely like games he hates and not be very happy with the games he loves.  On the other hand, if his WOT-I think suggests a certain distaste for silly FPS games combined with a reluctant excitement in the face of pure idiocy -- well then I will very likely like what he likes etc.

[bbmike]

...a tedious grumpy fellow who wishes he'd lived in the 19th century and made the world safe for the pet peeves of his later and even more elderly self...

I think that guy is on this forum somewhere. 

[MengJiao]

...a tedious grumpy fellow who wishes he'd lived in the 19th century and made the world safe for the pet peeves of his later and even more elderly self...

I think that guy is on this forum somewhere. 

  He's virtually everywhere war games are played.  Not so much on RPS, but very likely hiding somewhere in Armchair General's bowels (Armchair General -- gad, that really sums things up) or The Wargamer.

[Ian C]

Let's put it this way...I can think of more than a handful of games that I have purchased right after reading a solid AAR.

+1