I'm super excited to announce that I finally took the plunge and started my own website to house all of my old game reviews, and a place where I can start adding new ones.
I've wanted to do this for a while. The thought started when GameFAQs (where I used to contribute) implemented a policy where unregistered users could leave anonymous feedback for any contribution. GameFAQs already has a bad reputation for being a shitty website because of the users. This feature allowed people to say whatever they wanted without even having to sign up for an account.
I got closer and closer to taking the dive when the site decided to do away with a numeric rating system. The new system they use, which is represented by pixel hearts, looks ridiculous. I think it makes reviews hard to gauge.
The final straw was when they decided to alter contributor recognition. I never did and never will write game reviews for fame and glory, but their alterations felt like a real punch in the gut. Making contributions to them feels like a waste a time.
Just a few things if you decide to check out the site:
The first thing is that not all of my reviews from GameFAQs have been transferred. I didn't see a need to re-share my opinion on something like Karaoke Revolution or Virtua Fighter 4. One of the goals of my site is to capture my taste as a gamer. Reviews that I wrote just to fill up my review count don't need to be re-shared.
The second thing is that many of the reviews have an "author's note" at the top. I started writing these in 2002. My writing from 2002 is, thankfully, nothing like the writing of today. Other than adding an overall score, I chose to make zero changes to my reviews because I feel like they're good indicators of how my writing style has changed over the years. Many of them have more cringe than an old Live Journal post, but I wanted to retain as much authenticity as possible. I can't emphasize how embarrassing some of them are, but I'm happy to remain embarrassed if it means I can share my opinion on something I'm passionate about.
The third thing is that the I'm open to constructive feedback. I love how my site looks. I wanted something functional and easy to use/navigate. But, I'm always looking to improve. The person who helped me design this website is a friend of mine on the PSN, so I can get in touch with him easily if there's something that needs immediate fixing that's out of my scope.
The fourth thing is that I'm not looking to make any sort of profit from this. I've done this since 2002 because I love it. Gaming is a passion, and writing about them after I finish them is a cathartic, pleasant process that lets me turn my thoughts into something tangible.
Finally, enjoy! I'm thrilled that I finally have a site to call my own.
www.kashelltriumph.com