On the Internet I found a few text-only pages with brief reviews of old Atari 2600 games, and I found these immensely fun to read. I decided it would be fun to write my own reviews, so I started posting them to my home page in June of 1999. The site was called Dave's Video Game Reviews, and the site was pretty bare - no graphics or screenshots. At first it was only 2600 reviews, but as my collection grew so did my page. The site Tomorrow's Heroes was also very influential on my review format.
My discontent with other review sites and game magazine reviews was also a driving force. Too often I would read a review that would go on for several pages, and it never really told you if the game was any good! I wanted to make my reviews short and decisive, and use a grading system that everyone would understand. I also wanted to maintain a "working man's" perspective to counterbalance all of the "I finished this game in only 60 hours!" nonsense I was seeing. I was also tired of reviewers trashing old games because of their antiquated graphics, unappreciative of their excellent, timeless gameplay.
Sometime in 2000 I adopted the "Video Game Critic" moniker, not because I liked it (the word "critic" seems so negative!) but because nobody else was using it! I picked up the domain thevideogamecritic.com (which I lost somewhere along the line), and my friend Steve redesigned my site with frames and graphics. The basic layout has been pretty much the same ever since.
Over the years I've been gradually refining the older reviews, and in 2004 I branched out to include portable systems. This was partially due to the large number of 2D and old-school games that were becoming available on these systems. In recent years Mark Jewell has helped spruce up the look of the site with a variety of artistic banners and icons. The site's popularity continues to grow at a steady pace.
All of the VGC's reviews are copyrighted and registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. In the past, Dave has granted specific sites (including Retrogaming Times and Sports Fan Magazine) permission to publish selected VGC reviews. Unfortunately, Dave recently had to deal with a rash of imposters copying his reviews and claiming them as their own work (most recently on Ebay). This was a distressful situation which took a great deal of time and effort to resolve. In order to help maintain control of his intellectual property, Dave can no longer grant other sites permission to use his work (except in very special cases). If you spot these reviews elsewhere (especially uncredited) please bring them to the attention of the offending site and the readers of this one. Thanks for your support in this matter.
Here are VGC's answers to some most commonly questions posed to the site:
What makes you such an expert?
I have over 30 years experience of playing video games, having played them since I was a young child. I really think it helps to have an historical perspective when reviewing video games. My software engineering background means that I am familiar with the technology involved and the challenges developers face. I actually wrote a number of my own video games for fun in the 1980s, but never attempted to have them published. One was a Ghostbusters-inspired shooter, and another was a side-scrolling ninja fighter. I wish I still had those, because they were pretty good.
Why do you run this site?
Because I love video games. Big and small, old and new, good and bad, I am fascinated with them all.
Do you own all of the games you review?
I would guess about 99% of them. I do however own several "multi-carts" for classic systems that allow me to review many more obscure titles than would otherwise be impossible to obtain.
Do you receive review copies of games?
Yes I frequently receive review copies and promotional materials from a number of sources including some major publishers.
How do you make money off of the site?
Whenever someone clicks on an Ebay or Amazon link (at the end of each review) and it results in a sale, I'm awarded a commission. Please use these links! Even if the product you bid on is not the original one you clicked on, I still get a referral bonus. I also make a little bit off of my Google ads. I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon, but this money does at least cover the expenses involved with running the site.
Do you write all of these reviews?
Basically, although a friend of mine (Jonathan Hawk) occasionally serves as the site's "guest RPG correspondant". Unfortunately, since I do not have an editor, it's easy for typos and grammatical errors to sneak into my reviews. If you find one, please send me an email, and I will fix it right away!
Why don't you review PC games?
I've never been a big fan of PC games. One of the big advantages of console games is their pick-up-and-play quality. When I was playing PC games, I was spending most of my time installing patches and upgrading.
If you're reviewing Atari computer games (Atari XEGS), why don't you review Commodore 64 games?
Believe me - I'm tempted. That system had a fantastic library. However, most people would agree that I'm already spread fairly thin in terms of the systems I review. Branching into personal computers is just not practical. And while the Atari XEGS does play Atari computer software, it is still technically a console.
Why don't you like RPGs (Role Playing Games)?
Actually, I do enjoy RPGs, but they require more of a time investment than ordinary games, so I don't have the opportunity to often play them.
Do you review emulated games?
No - only the real deal. Emulated games just aren't the same. Maybe it's the controllers, and maybe it's the lack of RF interference, but I insist on the originals. Even so, I've heard that emulators have improved a lot over the years, so I certainly wouldn't discourage others from using them.
What are your grades based on?
Unlike every other review site on this planet, I grade on a curve, judging each game against other games for the same system. In theory, there should be just as many "F" games as "A" games. Here is the grading system:
A: Superior game, one of the best for the system.
B: Very good game, no major flaws
C: An average game for the system
D: Not terrible but below average
F: One of the worst games I've played for this system
My main criteria by far is "fun". Am I having a good time playing this game? Secondary considerations include graphics, sound, and control. Still, it boils down to the opinion of one guy, so take these reviews for what they're worth.
Why are your reviews only one paragraph long?
I personally prefer reading reviews that are short and to-the-point instead of the over-indulgent, multi-page diatribes I've seen on other sites. My paragraphs have grown over the year, but I'm making an effort to be more concise!
What is your favorite system?
I enjoy them all, but the Dreamcast, Genesis, and Atari 2600 rank among my favorites.
Do you subscribe to video game magazines?
Yes, I subscribe to quite a few, and I especially enjoy posting reviews at odds with those in popular publications.
Do you finish all the games you review?
It's simply not possible to complete all of the games I review, especially since I often review a few dozen concurrently. You just have to trust that I've spent enough time with a game to render a fair judgement. Most of my reviews also reflect the views of a number of friends who I play games with on a regular basis.
Do you ever go back and re-review games?
Absolutely. Especially if I haven't played a game for a long time, I like to re-review it to determine whether I still feel the same way about it. I will also go back and give a game another look if readers say I missed the boat the first time around.
How can I support the site?
First, please spread the word about this site to your friends! Add links to the VGC from your own personal sites, and encourage other sites to do likewise. This will increase the VGC's visibility in search engines. Use my links to access Amazon and Ebay when you're planning to use those sites. Finally, if you REALLY want to be nice, you can buy me a game from my VGC's Amazon Wish List!
Thanks for visiting this site! I hope you find it useful and entertaining. Feel free to send your questions and comments to dmrozek@comcast.net. Game on.
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