What do you think of this video game site?

[Gunslinger08]

Not a spam thread.

One of my friends has been working on this site for a while. I think he's getting ready to spend some money on advertising. I just wanted to know what you guys thought about it.

http://thumbsticks.com/

 

[purbeast0]

i mean it looks decent w/a clean interface, but why would i go to that site over metacritic?

 

[gorcorps]

i mean it looks decent w/a clean interface, but why would i go to that site over metacritic?

I agree. If he's just putting up the game info then there's really no point to it as there's hundreds of other sites that do the exact same thing, plus they have reviews and gameplay vids. I don't think he should give up on it, because it's really a nice looking site, but it needs something more for people to take notice.

 

[Queasy]

i mean it looks decent w/a clean interface, but why would i go to that site over metacritic?

Especially since it uses metacritic.

He's going to have to find some sort of hook beyond just putting up basic game information, the metacritic score, and allowing users to rate the game themselves.

 

[Gunslinger08]

i mean it looks decent w/a clean interface, but why would i go to that site over metacritic?

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm wondering too. What types of features could he add that would make people want to visit?

 

[purbeast0]

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm wondering too. What types of features could he add that would make people want to visit?

no clue.

the hardest part of designing software/websites is figuring out that exact question.

 

[hooflung]

All it needs is content and a community to make it happen. Tie into the YouTube gaming community and you'd do that site a service. Maybe have the owner do video based reviews with gameplay and commentary and have a weekly or bi-weekly show.

People like PeteDor and HappyConsoleGamer on Youtube have excellent shows and give shout outs to other awesome channels. Could be a start. Get some sort of cacheing going on the server though... it was a bit slow on loading images etc.

 

[Pia]

I agree. If he's just putting up the game info then there's really no point to it as there's hundreds of other sites that do the exact same thing, plus they have reviews and gameplay vids. I don't think he should give up on it, because it's really a nice looking site

Would you tell someone to write a book based solely on how nice his existing typography and layout is? I would think it takes a little more than that.

As it stands the guy is in direct competition with Metacritic, Giantbomb, IGN, Gamespot et cetera. For the site to be worthwhile (to users; of course if it's just for his own amusement, anything goes) it has to beat the above in at least some aspect. If it doesn't, and he sees no way to get there, it's time to put the project on hold at the very least.

One way to one-up those sites would be heavy moderation, actual editing, expecting the users to act like adults. If anyone is welcome to post retarded stuff as much as they want, that's the end of quality content right there.

 

[PieIsAwesome]

I'd like to find a good gaming news and reviews site that isn't bloated with flash, scripts, and images. Maybe one exists, but its one thing that can set this site apart from IGN, Gamespot, etc. I hate those sites.

 

[gorcorps]

Would you tell someone to write a book based solely on how nice his existing typography and layout is? I would think it takes a little more than that.

As it stands the guy is in direct competition with Metacritic, Giantbomb, IGN, Gamespot et cetera. For the site to be worthwhile (to users; of course if it's just for his own amusement, anything goes) it has to beat the above in at least some aspect. If it doesn't, and he sees no way to get there, it's time to put the project on hold at the very least.

One way to one-up those sites would be heavy moderation, actual editing, expecting the users to act like adults. If anyone is welcome to post retarded stuff as much as they want, that's the end of quality content right there.

Apples and oranges there pal. While the font and layout aren't important to the book, the layout and functionality are ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL when talking websites. Everything looks incredibly professional on that site, and with some reviews and maybe a forum (I know they're everywhere but still) plus some other stuff it could really shine.

Yes it's competing against giants but so what? As the guy after you said they're bloated and full of ads and flash nonsense. If you could get that good stuff on a site that loads in a fraction of the time why not go there? Plus he doesn't NEED to get that big if he doesn't want to.

Just ask Warcrow, he writes reviews for fun from what I gather, yet he's been doing it long enough with some others and is known enough to get interviews with developers and is given early review copies of games. They'll never be bigger than gamespot but I'll bet he's just fine with that.