Just reading a few of the hate mail I've gotten lately regarding my review of Global Operations. I got the same thing when I wrote the review of Daikatana. Most of them run along the lines of "This game rocks, you're an idiot." and "WTF is the matter with you? Why can't you do an unbiased review?" (Interestingly, Global Ops did recieve a 70%, it just wasn't an original or inspired game...)

Now, I'm not sure if I'm an idiot or not. Some people likely think so, but that's their opinion. Am I biased? Hmmm... Well, yes. Yes I am. Being biased isn't a bad thing all the time you know. How am I biased? I've been doing game reviews for this site for a long time now. I've also been gaming for... Well... Most of my life actually, since the 'ol Vic20 rolled in the door and got hooked up to the old black and white television in the living room.

Gaming of any sort is an intensely personal matter. It's not like a movie or a book where you're a passive observer. When you game you're actually controlling the action. You're in there with your avatar, you are the game. If it's a very well done game, you actually feel emotions. You get pissed off when your character dies, you jump out of your seat and your heat beats faster during tense scenes. Can anyone who games actually tell me they've never had a dream about a game? If you can, I bet you're a lying little bastard, and you probably cheat at CS as well. I believe this is why people have such strong opinions when a game they like is put down by someone such as myself. (Interestingly, if I give a game two thumbs up, I very rarely get hatemail on it.)

I'm biased, and don't write impartially about games. I don't think it's possible to do otherwise, and if you could do it, it's be boring as hell to read doncha think? When I play a game, and I don't like it, I say so. I really don't care whose feelings I hurt. If the game is good, I'll talk about that. I'll also mention the things I don't like. Many people, perhaps even most will feel differently about it. Is there anything wrong with this? No, I don't think so.

A review is more of an opinion piece than anything else. Don't like what the review says? Well, you have the right to an opinion as well, and guess what? You're just as correct as the reviewer you disagree with. I don't always agree with other people's reviews, and half the time I think they're smoking crack. (And not the good crack I smoke, I mean the cheap nasty crack that Prae and Donut smoke.) That's OK though. I respect the amount of work they put in on the game, and I'll just go read a bunch of reviews and get a general consensus on the product.

Anyhows, I'm running on here. My review are biased. But they're not biased because I hate a company, or just because I'm trying to be a jerk. I call it as I see it. So can you. Ask a hundred people about a game, you're going to get a hundred different answers. The world would be a pretty dull place if we all agreed.