“Not long before I left my previous job writing reviews of video games, I got this little gem from someone involved in the production of a game I didn’t exactly care for,” Alex says. “Game-makers bitching about reviews is nothing new, but rarely do they do it with as much sarcastic flair as this one does.”
related: An occasion that Blue Mountain Arts has yet to animate
99 responses so far ↓
#1
b13
He writes almost as good as MAMA!!!
Apr 15, 2008 at 12:35 am rating: 6
#2
emmzz
simple sarcasm. love it.
Apr 15, 2008 at 12:38 am rating: 0
#3
Crash
I wonder how he means “Stay Golden”…?
Apr 15, 2008 at 12:50 am rating: 1
#4
Agargara
Just a note: the link is broken in your post.
It links to “http://http//www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/cookingmama2/review.html”
When it should be “http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/cookingmama2/review.html”
Apr 15, 2008 at 12:59 am rating: 0
#5
Sarah
Uwe Boll would be proud.
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:05 am rating: 2
#6
Tad
Stay golden, Pony Boy!
Also, for some reason this entire post reminds me of the song Go to Hell, Miss Rydell by Pelle Carlburg– the entire song is an account of his reaction to a bad review. Worth a listen.
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:52 am rating: 0
#7
Set To Evil
I would like a car that runs on pure ego. I could drive From LA to New York non stop!
Apr 15, 2008 at 2:14 am rating: 4
#8
honeyedhemlock
I tip my cap to the author of this letter for such a nerdy display of PA. It holds a special place in my heart. Absolutely golden. By the way, didn’t some car company already make an EGO? Oh sorry, that was a YUGO.
Apr 15, 2008 at 2:56 am rating: 1
#9
Costas
“Bentley’s”, “Maybach’s”?
APOSTROPHE ABUSE!!
Apr 15, 2008 at 4:00 am rating: 1
#10
Nicolas
You review was f***ing delicious.
Apr 15, 2008 at 7:18 am rating: 1
#11
grumpygranolagirl
The game would have received a better review if it involved hurling ramekins at people.
Apr 15, 2008 at 7:19 am rating: 0
#12
claw71
Translation: nanny, nanny boo-boo
Of course the notes fails to address the fact that millions of people can be wrong. Look at George W. Bush and Bud Lite.
Apr 15, 2008 at 8:30 am rating: 8
#13
Joe
Well, I for one am relieved to know that the game makers are indeed financially well-off. Now I don’t have to feel bad about piracy — which is a good thing, because I’m just a hard-working guy trying to pay my bills. I can’t afford all the entertainment I need!
Apr 15, 2008 at 8:35 am rating: 15
#14
RunBarbara
I’m going to safely leave this note alone, it’s not worthwhile.
Apr 15, 2008 at 9:07 am rating: 2
#15
Mung Bean
Well played. So well played, in fact, that I’ll forgive the egregious apostrophe abuse.
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:03 am rating: 0
#16
Mishee
I am still wondering how he thinks he would ever be able to afford a Bentley Lifestyle off of a Cooking game! And from the review it sounds just riveting, all of the boys, 10-17 are gonna be lining up outside of Best Buy to get this one when it hits the shelves!!! It’s gonna be the next Super Mario Brothers! (ok, so I am not “hip” to the new game systems, I am a girl dammit!!)
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:11 am rating: 2
#17
Oveta
“Hip”? What’s with the quotation mark abuse? I imagine you did little bunny fingers while typing that.
I admit I have Cooking Mama for the Wii, but I am surprised the DS original version sold so many copies that they made a sequel. It is one of the rare games that young girls actually like, but everyone knows there is no market in that.
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:21 am rating: 0
#18
Lisa
My partner designs games, and it’s hard to see someone blasting all your hard work, even if your work is something as apparently inane as a cooking video game. My guess is that the emailer is new to the field, and just needs to develop a thicker skin. Cooking Mama was actually pretty fun though, so boo to you video game naysayers!
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:29 am rating: 0
#19
GhostWriter
Back in 1980′s, If someone had predicted that one day, a crude simulation played by following cooking instructions, on a substandard handheld game system, would sell 2 million units, they would have been laughed right out of the Halls of Mario.
How far we have come.
Apr 15, 2008 at 10:38 am rating: 6
#20
theblackdog
Isn’t gamespot the same company that fires reviewers that bad-mouth products that come from their advertisers?
Apr 15, 2008 at 11:22 am rating: 0
#21
unholyghost2003
ooooh! Entitlement run amok! The moral of this note is “You should say everything we make is GREAT otherwise you are just stealing food from the mouths of our babies, born and unborn.”
No, if you made a crap product, SUCK IT UP. Just because you worked hard on it doesn’t mean people should buy it from you. Babies work hard on the duce they leave in their nappies, doesn’t mean I should give them $20 for it.
Apr 15, 2008 at 11:54 am rating: 10
#22
Sarah
Wait a sec. I just realized something.
Cooking Mama? What is this, A Modest Proposal?
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:02 pm rating: 2
#23
John
The review wasn’t even that negative! All it said was that this game was basically the same as the first Cooking Mama game, and if you liked that, you’ll probably like this one, and if you didn’t like that one, you’re not going to like the second one.
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:05 pm rating: 2
#24
SailorAlphaCentauri
I actually own both Cooking Mama and the sequel (I couldn’t see myself buying it for the Wii because it was too expensive) and the games are a fun distraction and the sequel did get rid of the difficulties the first game had in the game mechanics (peeling carrots was a pain in the ass). I never expected it to get a high review (most of the games I like GameSpot hates with a passion) and the game is essentially like the other games that people play online for a few-minutes distraction.
However, the PA letter-writer does need to toughen up. It’s not an earth-shattering game, so get over it. It’s fun and that’s all that matters.
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:24 pm rating: 1
#25
Lorrie
“Peeling carrots is a pain in the ass.”
Isn’t it always?
Apr 15, 2008 at 2:13 pm rating: 1
#26
Katzndogz
Man, all that time I’ve spent
messing upmaking actual recipes I could have spent doing the same thing virtually! Imagine getting points for my effort instead of acrappymeal!Apr 15, 2008 at 2:30 pm rating: 1
#27
secondsout
Did anyone else notice that the PA complainer misspelled his own product’s name in the subject line of the email?
Apr 15, 2008 at 3:02 pm rating: 1
#28
Summer
son people don’ check before they sneb.
Apr 15, 2008 at 4:10 pm rating: 1
#29
marcopuffin
The game-maker does seem to be taking it more seriously than it warrants. Perhaps he had loftier aspirations and has failed to notice that his life’s work involves virtual carrot peeling. A more strongly rooted individual wouldn’t get in such a stew about a review.
Apr 15, 2008 at 4:11 pm rating: 2
#30
southern girl
What did they expect? They’ve already cooked poor Mama to death once. Now they are back for a second time???
The nerve.
Video gamers and their Bentleys…pffft!
Apr 15, 2008 at 4:20 pm rating: 0
#31
damon
I could’ve poured that sarcasm over pancakes and ate it. Fucking delicious!
Apr 15, 2008 at 4:20 pm rating: 0
#32
Heidi
Meh! Without clip art, this one boring. hahaha
Apr 15, 2008 at 5:13 pm rating: 1
#33
TuesdayPillow
I think Britney Spears has made it very clear that not everything that is popular is good.
Apr 15, 2008 at 5:50 pm rating: 0
#34
TuesdayPillow
I saw her face on some magazine in the store today. And I was doing SO GOOD this week, too!
(why did I click on that link? I think it must be time for bed).
Apr 16, 2008 at 4:39 am rating: 0
#35
RP
I’m sorry but how does whether or not they’re just hard working people trying to pay off their bills have to do with the game review?
Maybe I missed it but nothing in the review implies that the game makers are rich. He didn’t say to skip the game because the people who made it don’t need the money. He said to skip it because there’s not much new in it.
Can someone explain this? Right now their letter isn’t making a whole lot of sense to me.
Apr 16, 2008 at 12:18 pm rating: 1
#36
Sundaeg1rl
I used to write for a PlayStation magazine, part of the job being game reviews. One day we got this game in by Sony, which was a) too babyish for our reader demographic and b) ten tons of shite, so I reviewed it accordingly and gave it 3/10. The next thing I know, I’m getting shit from the editor for giving it a bad score. Turns out HE was getting shit from the Sony rep for the low score, and consequently that was affecting his chances of getting freebies courtesy of Sony. The whole fucking system was nepotistic bollocks and game scores generally reflected the size of backhanded gift.
The sub-editor then decided to change the score for the games round-up in the back of future issues AND slag me off in the process. I changed it back immediately and no-one noticed.
My god, that was a shit job for a shit magazine in an office populated by wankers. I feel this guy’s pain.
Apr 16, 2008 at 3:11 pm rating: 5
#37
Agent Inspired
… Since when is the reviewer responsible for marketting a product? It’s not that kid’s fault that the Emperor is naked.
Apr 16, 2008 at 4:47 pm rating: 0
#38
Tom
Stay gold Ponyboy, stay gold.
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:04 am rating: 0
#39
EBautista
Mama will fix it.
Apr 18, 2008 at 5:56 am rating: 0
#40
tom
I work in the game industry now, and I can tell you in all honesty that the vast majority of the people I work with are complete and utter assholes and generally fail at being human beings at every opportunity to do so. That this particular asshole equates sales with quality shows so much.
Stay Golden is going on every PA note I write from now on.
Apr 18, 2008 at 11:56 pm rating: 0
#41
Happysin
I bet I know who wrote that email…
May 9, 2008 at 1:40 pm rating: 0
#42
malixiang
Dear sir or madam,
Your company’s name has been given to us by the internet.
Our company would like to establish trade relationships with you. Our company are selling NIKE, ADIDAS, PUMA, LV, AF series of productions and so on. They’re of good quality and have fine, workmanship, our price are also competitive, Our productions are very popular in home and abroad.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Jun 3, 2008 at 9:44 am rating: 0
#43
guo fengxiang
Dear sir or madam,
Your company’s name has been given to us by the internet.
Our company would like to establish trade relationships with you. Our company are selling NIKE, ADIDAS, PUMA, LV, AF series of productions and so on. They’re of good quality and have fine, workmanship, our price are also competitive, Our productions are very popular in home and abroad.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Contact us by
Jun 3, 2008 at 9:46 am rating: 0
#44 All my Enemies Review Update — AndroiDear
[...] review went up a couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Drowning Zebra, who instead of sending a passive aggressive note, took the criticisms and quickly made their game better. The most important thing they added was [...]
Feb 5, 2011 at 5:29 pm rating: 0
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