Advice for Game Critics

“As is well known, early film suffered what might be called 'the anxiety of photography.' That is, because film is a product of photography and photography cannot be art, then film is not art. The reason for supposing that photography could not be art was that it was believed that photography could only slavishly reproduce reality. The task of silent filmmakers and of theoreticians of the nascent art form was generally to refute these charges by showing that film need not slavishly reproduce reality; it could also creatively reconstitute it.”
-Notes on the Sight Gag, Noel Carroll

"Movies and TV are stories told via pictures, sound and performance. They are not purely literary media. Don't just write about the characters and themes. Write about how the show makes its points, because sometimes the how is the point."

-Advice to Young Critics, Matt Seitz

I believe it was Roger Ebert who said that a critic should examine a work of art by how well it does what it's trying to do. Take it on its own merits. Don't talk about what it should be but what it is. 

Here are a few guidelines for videogame criticism: 

• What do you do in the game and how does it make you feel? Games are meant to provoke a response through interaction, so what is that response? 
• What, if anything, is the game trying to say? Is there a statement the game is making? Even games without strong narratives can tell us things. Sometimes new meanings can be gleaned. Don't be limited by the obvious. 
• How well does what the game says support what you do in the game? Is there a disconnect between any narrative elements and the interactive elements? 
• Are there any intrusive elements that interrupt immersion or flow? 
• Is there a balance between positive and negative feedback loops? Positive loops give satisfaction but too many cause a lack of challenge and ultimately boredom. Negative loops provide challenge but too many lead to frustration and ultimately in a player quitting.
• Don't compare it to other games, unless it's a sequel. You shouldn't be focusing on a game you think is better or worse but the game in front of you. If it's a sequel, then comparisons are fair, but at the same time treat it as a something new that can be examined by itself.
• Don't speculate about how you would make the game. Of course your ideas are perfect. And irrelevant.