Secondly, as my beef with movies critics, STOP reviewing games which you won't like. If you hate turn-based strategy titles and hardly ever play them you have no right to be reviewing the latest and greatest from Intelligent Systems. Not only do you lack the knowledge of what to compare the title to but you are already predisposed to give a bad score
i disagree. a review or critique is valid from ANY PERSPECTIVE. the reviewer does owe it to the audience to be upfront about his / her perspective so the audience can fairly "review the review."
most things that TRULY "hit it big" in this world do it becuase they appeal to those who don't habitually hang in those tight circles. harry potter isn't megahuge because only kids into stories about witches read the books. they appeal to kids who don't normally read those types as well as adults who usually wouldn't be caught dead reading something that is marketed to children.
michael jackson's thriller isn't the all time seller that it is because only fans of bubble gum pop bought it. the album went from being just another top 10 record to it's immortal status in part because of rock and heavy metal fans. and for many of em, it was , and still is the only pop record in their collection.
pac man appealed to people who didn't play video games then. it was revolutionary to the industry not because hard core gamers liked it, but because all those who refused to play before found themselves "waka-wakaing" all day long.
just 3 examples that are commonly known. i'm sure you will think of your own.
finally, while makers of products, especially niche products, appreciate that their core audience buys their product, they also kind of expect that or at least count on it to remain in business. they know the real success comes when they can appeal to people who before wouldn't give that product a second glance. a review by someone who is outside of that circle and may reach that untapped market is most welcome, i'm sure. no one wants to be reviewed negatively, but i'm sure the game makers , who are in it to make a buck in the end, like that their product at least caught the attention of a wider audience. and those reviews usually won't affect the opinions of the hard core players, that are already 1/2 way sold, at least, going in. In fact, like you seem to do, it makes their hard core fans "circle the wagons" which is good for them. so that "outside" review can be good for the gamemaker despite the actual review.
