Give us more Options for Reviewing!

[JeremyLokken]

Right now we currently have these options to rate on:

Graphics, Sound, Interactivity, Style, Violence, Humor, and then Overall score.

I think two of the biggest categories that go unacknowledged are the Story/Writing and the Editing. With talent on the rise within the Newgrounds community, I think elaborate reviews that include these categories are necessary. Not only does a cartoon have some form of writing, but games usually have stories to them too. If someone has an amazing ability to animate, but has a crappy story that is overplayed or just has no substance to it, we can FINALLY vote low on it. Hopefully this will push a new standard to the way we tell stories, or just get more people to tell stories better.

An Editing option might be very useful for people who recognize the way a story is told. Editing sets the rhythm in which the story is told. There are clever ways to tell a story through editing, and I think people should be rewarded higher in this category for doing so. A lot of people understand the general use of editing to convey an emotion, quick cuts for intense moments and slow cuts to drag something out. But this should still be acknowledged. An Edit review option will increase the awareness of Editing with the reviewer and hopefully the flash artist.

The Sound category is a bit vague when considering voice acting, musical score, and sound effects, but I guess that's what the reviewer's notes are left for. Maybe consider changing "Sound" to Sound/Music or Sound/Voice Acting. For all of those voice actors that get overlooked, for the audio portal that is continuing to grow, and for those who go out and record their own sound effects, they will have a better chance to get acknowledged.

We might be able to merge Graphics and Style into Visual Style, unless this takes something away from the review options that I cannot see.

So we could end up with this:

Visual Style, Sound/Music, Story/Writing, Editing, Interactivity, Violence, Humor, and then Overall score.

Anyone care to comment?

[Umsutfeersme]

At 3/24/05 02:38 AM, JeremyLokken wrote: Visual Style, Sound/Music, Story/Writing, Editing, Interactivity, Violence, Humor, and then
Overall score.
Anyone care to comment?

I'm with you %100, man. Good choices for categories. :)

[Alon-005]

Well I think that with the categories we have now is fine. The Sound category cover's vioce and music so no need to add there, and I still dont get why would you want an Editin option. Can you explain that abit better?

[Rosenrot-I]

this has been done before many times and nothing changed so i dont think anything will now, all of those somehow fall under the currently existing options

[comedytrek]

I agree with the story rating. Many times a flash can be animated really well but have no depth to it. That's the one thing I would change.... editing could fall under the category of style.

[Wolfguy]

I personally think the options we have for reviewing are really all we need to make accurate judgement on a flash. I take that back: we should also have a Plot rating, but's that's about it. Besides, I don't really think that authors nowadays really care about who individualy gave them what in this and that, but if thier flash gets a good rating and survives.

[f0d]

I disagree with an editing option. Editing comes into play with movies where you have to take footage, cut it down and put it all together. Animation is entirely different. In animation, you never make any more then you need and you put it all together in a way that's entirely planned from the get go. I always make the parts of my animations in order as well. There is zero editing involved.
If you want the illusion of editing to be a factor I still disagree. It's too vague a category.

I fully agree with story though, however I do know some flashes with no story that are still wonderful.
I also have one category to add, and I've mentioned this before: originality
Some say it fits in the style category, but to me, the style category means how your flash looks and feels artistically, not the type of flash it is.
Half of the flashes that pass judgement would get a 0 in originality. Making an originality category would encourage people to come up with their own ideas and artwork instead of using sprites and making stick fights.

[JeremyLokken]

Let's say someone tells a story in such a way that was never told before, BUT you've heard the story. And the way they tell the story is through editing. This is primarily how Tarantino became known for, or remember Memento? EDITING, IT DOES EXIST! We can vote high or low depending if it's mundane or clever!

[UberBarista]

I'm happy the way it is right now..... though I do like your idea though.

Though I am eager to see the new Review ban system in place.

drools

[Captain-HumpYourFace]

I think an editing score for a 1-5 minute cartoon is a waste of time. I'm with you for the Story/Writing score though.

[jake3rings]

ummmmm ok... i like it how it is... but for some strange reason my experience was already deposited for tonite... i think the mods are tinkering with my account... shhhh dont tell them... they can hear us

[JeremyLokken]

At 3/24/05 02:51 AM, food1 wrote: I disagree with an editing option. Editing comes into play with movies where you have to take footage, cut it down and put it all together. Animation is entirely different. In animation, you never make any more then you need and you put it all together in a way that's entirely planned from the get go. I always make the parts of my animations in order as well. There is zero editing involved.

You just proved my point. "and you put it all together in a way that's entirely planned from the get go" If editing is something that is planned out, I think we should have the ability to rate it. I refuse to believe that everyone throws down visuals with no thought process of what the next shot is going to be. Editing is very much apparent in virtually every cartoon on Newgrounds!

[f0d]

At 3/24/05 02:52 AM, JeremyLokken wrote: Let's say someone tells a story in such a way that was never told before, BUT you've heard the story. And the way they tell the story is through editing. This is primarily how Tarantino became known for, or remember Memento? EDITING, IT DOES EXIST! We can vote high or low depending if it's mundane or clever!

Well then let in factor in to the story category. Editing just seems too obscure a word for it...

[FDA]

I will make a note of this and pass along to Tom.

I like the idea!

[iscrulz]

At 3/24/05 02:53 AM, Uberbarista wrote: I'm happy the way it is right now..... though I do like your idea though.

Though I am eager to see the new Review ban system in place.

Make an alt and write lots of abusive reviews. But most of those people deserve that long of a review ban.

drools

*hands napkin*

Ok I think there should be a N/A for ratings. This topic would do fine In NG evolution

[Miikro]

I agree. There's a lot of flashes I've been in on merely the plot for and it's something I'd like to see recognized a little more.

[13-Joker-13]

well, I think interactivity should be takin out because its either a game, or not a game, and that I dont really get pissed about not being able to have more buttons, but I agree.

[MessiaH]

Graphics
Sound
Interactivity
Style
Originality
Violence
Effort
Humour

Overall

[AnzRage]

it's fine the way it is, i hate changes.

[UberBarista]

At 3/24/05 03:03 AM, Iscrulz wrote: Make an alt and write lots of abusive reviews. But most of those people deserve that long of a review ban.

Don't have to, to see them. :D

*hands napkin*

Thanks.

Ok I think there should be a N/A for ratings. This topic would do fine In NG evolution

Yes, that would defiantly help, since some movies just aren't ratable in areas.

[LaqeurHed]

At 3/24/05 03:09 AM, _MessiaH_ wrote: Graphics
Sound
Interactivity
Style
Originality
Violence
Effort
Humour

Overall

Oh look, j00 forgot clarity in your effort to rip off all the catgories in the audio portal. Hahaha
j00 fail at humor!!!!

[Josherific]

A story category would be pretty pretty ace. And would defineltey give budding artists more of an insight to what people liked/disliked.

100% with you.

[jonthomson]

I think it's fine like it is. If someone wants to go into detail in the categories you suggest, that's what the main body of the review is for. It isn't broken so it doesn't need fixing IMO.

[CodeRedClock]

i like these ideas from Jeremy. i think they would be very useful, and i hope wade takes this seriously.

[LaqeurHed]

How about like an "other" category where you can just give a rating of whatever you want and go into detail in your actual review.

[Samuels]

I agree story should be added

[JeremyLokken]

At 3/25/05 05:53 PM, LaqeurHed wrote: How about like an "other" category where you can just give a rating of whatever you want and go into detail in your actual review.

That would probably be abused for a "Shit" rating or a "Chance of me raping you after watching your terrible cartoon" rating. Well...it's likely.

[RupeeClock]

You know, if these catagories were added, there would be the issue of the old reviews that didn't review these catagories, what if you were forced to re-review everything? That could take ages! Especially for people like Marcus! Or maybe even every review were to be deleted? That wouldn't go down well.

[JeremyLokken]

At 3/26/05 07:26 PM, FrOzEn_FoX wrote: You know, if these catagories were added, there would be the issue of the old reviews that didn't review these catagories, what if you were forced to re-review everything? That could take ages! Especially for people like Marcus! Or maybe even every review were to be deleted? That wouldn't go down well.

Newgrounds has made modifications before. When the automated portal went up, the score explanation was added. Few people would want to review something all over again, so adding these new topics would start from the added date and go forward.

I think some people don't understand how to rate Editing, so an explanation would be helpful to guide them. But, again, a rating with that topic on there would increase their awareness and getting people to think more when they create a flash cartoon, or when someone reviews.

[GreenLanturn]

I can kinda understand story/writing. The plot and script do deserve some credit.

As far as editing, the way someone goes about telling the story, I always thought that was style. To me style is the way you do things, animation wise, editing wise, and kinda script. So I think editing is style.

Now you do have a good point about the sound. Sound does break down into many different categories. But, I know if I was the one who had to do whatever to break them up into different categories, I would feel like doing it. Not saying it isn't worth it. It just seems a little too much. But you do have a good point about it.