By Jessica N. Bowles-Martinez
The layout of the page is simple. Its simplicity initially surprised
me because I always imagined that pages reviewing and talking about
video games would feel the need to be flashy and interactive. I was
a bit relieved to not be bombarded with lots of graphics but a bit
disappointed that it at first seemed like they didn't try too hard.
Then I started to read the articles, and realized that the people
writing know what they are talking about and have a real love for
video games.
The site has a basic layout of banner on top and index on the side
which make it easy to jump to preferred areas. The graphics used throughout
as the permanent fixtures on the site are simple geometric shapes
and there are either screen shots or one simple photograph at the
top of articles. The pictures don't detract from the article and are
lacking in much information. Clicking around without reading makes
the site seem like its very boring with nothing to look at besides
all this text.
Once I settled into the acceptance that there was not an abundance
of eye-candy I began to look at the text and read articles. All the
ones I read had the enthusiasm of someone talking about a hobby they
genuinely love and as a result naturally know a lot about. There wasn't
an attitude that tried to imply that the writer was superior because
he knew so much, but rather that of someone wanting to inform in hopes
of exciting others.
This site is created for people who love videogames and is created
by likeminded people. There are antidotes about how videogames have
affected friendships and influenced music, along with interviews of
video game designers by people who seem intimately familiar with their.
I am not a fan of videogames, yet I found most of the articles interesting
as a result of good writing and the lack of assumptions about videogame
knowledge.
The biggest draw back is that it will take patience and willingness
to read the site before its quality is made evident. While I like
the graphics being subdued even I was a bit taken aback by the lack
of them.
Hopefully people will take the time to explore the site and read
some of the articles. This site is about more than just specific games
and focuses on the culture and pleasures derived from playing videogames.
If anything it's a way for non-gamers to get a feel of the excitement
video gamers experience.