- All of my reviews are written and edited by myself. I am a one-person team.
- My reviews are almost always written in a first-person perspective, as if I were talking to a friend. I believe that this makes reviews more interesting to read and/or watch.
- I use the entire rating scale when scoring a game, where 5 is average and 9’s are rare. I do not score using a rubric, but rather give what I feel the product deserves as a whole.
- I do not alter reviews as the result of updates, patches, etc. My review reflects the experience at that time. If I were to do so, then I would be spending all of my time updating reviews for games that constantly get updated.
- However, I will update a review if I made an honest mistake. This update will come in the form of edits to the written version and pinned comment to the video version.
- Spoilers will always be avoided. Always. This may make discussion on story-focused games a bit more difficult, but I believe it is important to maintain the integrity of that first experience while also making a review accessible to those that have not played the game.
- I avoid allowing game developers or publishers to influence my reviews/first impressions. If I think the game is bad, I will say so.
- I do not factor a game’s price into my reviews. I believe a review should judge the game’s quality itself and leave price considerations to the reader/viewer. This also makes my reviews more accessible for future readers/viewers since prices can fluctuate.
ACTUAL Game Reviews
- My goal with ACTUAL Game Reviews is to provide honest (sponsorship-free) reviews that are easy to watch and/or read.
- I also make use of the ENTIRE rating scale. No more 7/10 being “average”, 5/10 should be average. 9/10 should be rare and given only to ACTUALLY good games (hence the title).
- My mean score hovers around 5.9
- I usually will beat the game prior to doing this type of review, but may review it earlier if I believe I have experienced enough of it (especially for games that have no definite end).
Quick Reviews
- A bit shorter than a normal review. Gives an overview of my thoughts on the game without assigning a numeric score to it, instead just a positive or negative recommendation at the end.
- Although I do not assign numeric scores in these reviews, a positive recommendation can be seen as anything above a 5/10 and a negative being anything below and including a 5/10.
Game Impressions / “Checking Out..”
- Generally reserved for games I did not have time to fully cover or games I otherwise did not want to do a full review for.
- Early Access titles generally will fall under this series.
Cub Plays
- Instead of a review, these take the form of longer, gameplay-focused videos where I provide live commentary over my playing.
- Any and all sponsored content will fall under this label. I WILL NOT give such games a score or positive/negative recommendation like I do with my other posts/videos. I do not think that a “sponsored review” is ethical, hence why I keep exclusive to this series.
The Scale
I use a standard 1-10 scale, with half-points allowed. It is called the “Dangometer” and looks something like this:
cublikefoot 