L.B. Jeffries is one of the best video game critics on the web right now, in my humble opinion. Back last April through June he wrote a 10 part series on how to critique as oppose to review games. He called it Zarathustran analysis. It is a little dense, but then the subject its working with isn’t exactly easy to work with. These articles are a little old, but are a must read. (Only on the internet is 7 months old.)
Given the symposium going on now and the next part about the idea of reviews and critiques and where they exist in relation to one another I think this is a good time to reread his writings. Okay this is for my benefit too. It’s much easier to have the links here, so I don’t have to go searching every time.
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 2: The Role of Depth
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 3: Plotting the Plot
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 4: Player Input via the Silent Protagonist
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 5: The Four Forms
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 6: Accomodating Nonconformty
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 7: Application of Forms
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 8: The Factions of Gaming
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 9: Flaws in Criticism Today
Zarathustran Analytics in Video Games part 10: The Value of Player Expirience