TieGuyTravis
@tieguytravis.bsky.social
Writer for IGN. I always wear a suit and play too many video games. Ma Klounkee!
It’s not that matters surrounding a game’s development don’t matter — go write an editorial about it, post on social — that work matters too.
But reviews are about one specific question: is playing this thing worth your time? It behooves reviewers and benefits readers to keep it so.
But reviews are about one specific question: is playing this thing worth your time? It behooves reviewers and benefits readers to keep it so.
November 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
It’s not that matters surrounding a game’s development don’t matter — go write an editorial about it, post on social — that work matters too.
But reviews are about one specific question: is playing this thing worth your time? It behooves reviewers and benefits readers to keep it so.
But reviews are about one specific question: is playing this thing worth your time? It behooves reviewers and benefits readers to keep it so.
Indeed, the context in which games are released matters, but only insofar as that context impacts the merits of the work itself (e.g. if the game has outdated mechanics compared to its contemporaries, for example). Basing an assessment of a game around entirely unrelated matters is not a review.
November 18, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Indeed, the context in which games are released matters, but only insofar as that context impacts the merits of the work itself (e.g. if the game has outdated mechanics compared to its contemporaries, for example). Basing an assessment of a game around entirely unrelated matters is not a review.
Referencing a thing that happened in the really world as part of a sentence that’s specifically about how the game I played is good meets the standard.
If I the sentence were about how their marketing efforts somehow make the game better or worse, that would be a different story!
If I the sentence were about how their marketing efforts somehow make the game better or worse, that would be a different story!
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Referencing a thing that happened in the really world as part of a sentence that’s specifically about how the game I played is good meets the standard.
If I the sentence were about how their marketing efforts somehow make the game better or worse, that would be a different story!
If I the sentence were about how their marketing efforts somehow make the game better or worse, that would be a different story!
Nope. I have not. These are all things that have nothing to do with the quality of a game and have no place in a review.
The rule isn’t arbitrary. It’s literally a foundational concept about what makes a review a review.
The rule isn’t arbitrary. It’s literally a foundational concept about what makes a review a review.
November 18, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Nope. I have not. These are all things that have nothing to do with the quality of a game and have no place in a review.
The rule isn’t arbitrary. It’s literally a foundational concept about what makes a review a review.
The rule isn’t arbitrary. It’s literally a foundational concept about what makes a review a review.
That makes sense! For the record, I’m all for thinking deeply about media, and think we need more editorials and smart writers covering games from unique perspectives. I simply am precious about the sanctity of a review as having a laser focus on the quality of the work in question. Haha!
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 AM
That makes sense! For the record, I’m all for thinking deeply about media, and think we need more editorials and smart writers covering games from unique perspectives. I simply am precious about the sanctity of a review as having a laser focus on the quality of the work in question. Haha!
No worries! Honestly, I’m extremely appreciative that you’re willing to engage with me on a topic that hits so close to home. Your frustration/passion is very understandable!
I have really enjoyed this back and forth, genuinely. Hearing your perspective has been valuable to me.
I have really enjoyed this back and forth, genuinely. Hearing your perspective has been valuable to me.
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
No worries! Honestly, I’m extremely appreciative that you’re willing to engage with me on a topic that hits so close to home. Your frustration/passion is very understandable!
I have really enjoyed this back and forth, genuinely. Hearing your perspective has been valuable to me.
I have really enjoyed this back and forth, genuinely. Hearing your perspective has been valuable to me.
Doubt away! I know my own mind, if nothing else, and will continue to engage with bullies with all the charity I can muster — it’s my only shot to arrive at understanding.
I will concede that my courage or lack thereof is certainly a subject in which your opinion means nothing to me.
I will concede that my courage or lack thereof is certainly a subject in which your opinion means nothing to me.
November 18, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Doubt away! I know my own mind, if nothing else, and will continue to engage with bullies with all the charity I can muster — it’s my only shot to arrive at understanding.
I will concede that my courage or lack thereof is certainly a subject in which your opinion means nothing to me.
I will concede that my courage or lack thereof is certainly a subject in which your opinion means nothing to me.
(Meaning, specifically, the content in it that players will see)
If we extend where the money goes from a game’s success as part of our critique of the game, then pretty much every review is a 1/10 from now until the revolution, and I truly don’t see how that’s at all helpful to anyone, really.
If we extend where the money goes from a game’s success as part of our critique of the game, then pretty much every review is a 1/10 from now until the revolution, and I truly don’t see how that’s at all helpful to anyone, really.
November 18, 2025 at 6:03 AM
(Meaning, specifically, the content in it that players will see)
If we extend where the money goes from a game’s success as part of our critique of the game, then pretty much every review is a 1/10 from now until the revolution, and I truly don’t see how that’s at all helpful to anyone, really.
If we extend where the money goes from a game’s success as part of our critique of the game, then pretty much every review is a 1/10 from now until the revolution, and I truly don’t see how that’s at all helpful to anyone, really.
I can empathize with this, and you’re right — it’s tough to separate the two. But would someone playing the game be more likely to harbor negative feelings about the trans community based on their experience playing? I can’t see how that could be true.
Hogwarts Legacy is actively not transphobic.
Hogwarts Legacy is actively not transphobic.
November 18, 2025 at 6:03 AM
I can empathize with this, and you’re right — it’s tough to separate the two. But would someone playing the game be more likely to harbor negative feelings about the trans community based on their experience playing? I can’t see how that could be true.
Hogwarts Legacy is actively not transphobic.
Hogwarts Legacy is actively not transphobic.
I certainly think there’s a place for everyone to express their opinions, but I struggle to call critiques that aren’t focused on the game a review. I mean, you’re critiquing something alright, but not the game.
Both can and should exist, but calling both reviews erodes trust. They’re editorials.
Both can and should exist, but calling both reviews erodes trust. They’re editorials.
November 18, 2025 at 5:56 AM
I certainly think there’s a place for everyone to express their opinions, but I struggle to call critiques that aren’t focused on the game a review. I mean, you’re critiquing something alright, but not the game.
Both can and should exist, but calling both reviews erodes trust. They’re editorials.
Both can and should exist, but calling both reviews erodes trust. They’re editorials.
My point, really, is that this stuff is more complicated than those not working in the industry give credit (and even some who do). We can continue to disagree and exchange dialogue to find where that line is, but I am a reviewer because I believe in the work. I’m doing my best and always will.
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
My point, really, is that this stuff is more complicated than those not working in the industry give credit (and even some who do). We can continue to disagree and exchange dialogue to find where that line is, but I am a reviewer because I believe in the work. I’m doing my best and always will.
If we keep it focused on the game itself, even in the subject matter that we’re discussing (harm to the trans community), Hogwarts Legacy itself is a net positive, specifically because it normalizes that movement and the developers clearly went out of their way to keep the creator’s opinions out.
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
If we keep it focused on the game itself, even in the subject matter that we’re discussing (harm to the trans community), Hogwarts Legacy itself is a net positive, specifically because it normalizes that movement and the developers clearly went out of their way to keep the creator’s opinions out.
A review of Hogwarts Legacy that comes down to “don’t support this thing, because the world’s creator is a bad person” does not answer the question the vast majority of readers are trying to answer when seeking out a review. Your readers then become only those who already agree with you.
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
A review of Hogwarts Legacy that comes down to “don’t support this thing, because the world’s creator is a bad person” does not answer the question the vast majority of readers are trying to answer when seeking out a review. Your readers then become only those who already agree with you.
But should I give every game I review a 1/10 because it was made under a financial system that is inherently oppressive, and contributes to greenhouse emissions, and therefore supporting any game is tantamount to complicity in those things?
I mean, I could, but my reviews wouldn’t be very useful.
I mean, I could, but my reviews wouldn’t be very useful.
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
But should I give every game I review a 1/10 because it was made under a financial system that is inherently oppressive, and contributes to greenhouse emissions, and therefore supporting any game is tantamount to complicity in those things?
I mean, I could, but my reviews wouldn’t be very useful.
I mean, I could, but my reviews wouldn’t be very useful.
I agree with the idea that reviews should be more than a technical assessment of a game, but surely you agree there’s a line somewhere where referencing outside factors ceases to be useful to the mission of a review?
If use of AI in game development makes a game worse, of course that’s fair play.
If use of AI in game development makes a game worse, of course that’s fair play.
November 18, 2025 at 5:47 AM
I agree with the idea that reviews should be more than a technical assessment of a game, but surely you agree there’s a line somewhere where referencing outside factors ceases to be useful to the mission of a review?
If use of AI in game development makes a game worse, of course that’s fair play.
If use of AI in game development makes a game worse, of course that’s fair play.
I appreciate your perspective, but I’d encourage you to reflect on how bullying people online with different opinions is at all constructive.
Kindness and humility are far more persuasive, I assure you — both to the recipient and onlookers.
Kindness and humility are far more persuasive, I assure you — both to the recipient and onlookers.
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 AM
I appreciate your perspective, but I’d encourage you to reflect on how bullying people online with different opinions is at all constructive.
Kindness and humility are far more persuasive, I assure you — both to the recipient and onlookers.
Kindness and humility are far more persuasive, I assure you — both to the recipient and onlookers.
Journalist integrity is exactly why I put my feelings of unrelated matters aside when writing a review. My duty is to the reader who trusts me to give them a qualitative assessment to the best of my abilities. That’s the job.
November 18, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Journalist integrity is exactly why I put my feelings of unrelated matters aside when writing a review. My duty is to the reader who trusts me to give them a qualitative assessment to the best of my abilities. That’s the job.
I hope you’ll take this monologue in good faith that I’m intending it.
I realize this is sensitive stuff. I like to believe we’re all doing the best we can.
I realize this is sensitive stuff. I like to believe we’re all doing the best we can.
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I hope you’ll take this monologue in good faith that I’m intending it.
I realize this is sensitive stuff. I like to believe we’re all doing the best we can.
I realize this is sensitive stuff. I like to believe we’re all doing the best we can.
Hogwarts Legacy is actually a great example specifically because it’s not transphobic — in fact, it prominently features a trans character.
If the hateful rhetoric coming from the creator were in the game, that’s a different issue, obviously.
This stuff is genuinely just…complicated!
If the hateful rhetoric coming from the creator were in the game, that’s a different issue, obviously.
This stuff is genuinely just…complicated!
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Hogwarts Legacy is actually a great example specifically because it’s not transphobic — in fact, it prominently features a trans character.
If the hateful rhetoric coming from the creator were in the game, that’s a different issue, obviously.
This stuff is genuinely just…complicated!
If the hateful rhetoric coming from the creator were in the game, that’s a different issue, obviously.
This stuff is genuinely just…complicated!
I understand why people rage against supporting something like Hogwarts Legacy, and reviews certainly aren’t about telling you if playing a game is moral to play or not — that’s for everyone to decide for themselves.
I simply believe reviewers can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I simply believe reviewers can walk and chew gum at the same time.
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I understand why people rage against supporting something like Hogwarts Legacy, and reviews certainly aren’t about telling you if playing a game is moral to play or not — that’s for everyone to decide for themselves.
I simply believe reviewers can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I simply believe reviewers can walk and chew gum at the same time.
But if you’re evaluating based on things that have nothing to do with the content of the game itself, that’s missing the entire point of a review.
The mark of a good critic is knowing where that line is, always keeping their purpose in mind, instead of using their review to make an unrelated point.
The mark of a good critic is knowing where that line is, always keeping their purpose in mind, instead of using their review to make an unrelated point.
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
But if you’re evaluating based on things that have nothing to do with the content of the game itself, that’s missing the entire point of a review.
The mark of a good critic is knowing where that line is, always keeping their purpose in mind, instead of using their review to make an unrelated point.
The mark of a good critic is knowing where that line is, always keeping their purpose in mind, instead of using their review to make an unrelated point.
I agree that games do not exist in a vacuum. The question is: how much do those outside contexts impact the quality of the game?
Example: If your game has outdated design that makes it less fun due to there being better executions out there, that’s a valid critique based on external factors.
Example: If your game has outdated design that makes it less fun due to there being better executions out there, that’s a valid critique based on external factors.
November 18, 2025 at 5:22 AM
I agree that games do not exist in a vacuum. The question is: how much do those outside contexts impact the quality of the game?
Example: If your game has outdated design that makes it less fun due to there being better executions out there, that’s a valid critique based on external factors.
Example: If your game has outdated design that makes it less fun due to there being better executions out there, that’s a valid critique based on external factors.
It really just depends on how useful you want your review to be. Reviews are qualitative evaluations of games, so if you make your review about something that isn't in the game, you aren't being particularly helpful to readers -- you're making the review about how virtuous you are.
November 18, 2025 at 4:37 AM
It really just depends on how useful you want your review to be. Reviews are qualitative evaluations of games, so if you make your review about something that isn't in the game, you aren't being particularly helpful to readers -- you're making the review about how virtuous you are.