FAQs

In anticipation of questions readers here may have, I’ve tried to answer some of those questions here:

Who the heck are you?

Hi, my name is Jake McNeill. I am the sole owner, editor, and writer of eShopperReviews. All of the content you see here was created by me, although some content was created with the assistance of Jennifer Ip.

How did this Website get started?

Oh wow, what an odd journey it was to get here.

Years ago, back in ye olden days, I worked for multiple professional game websites where I reviewed games, and wrote content. However, that time in my life passed, and I moved on to other things (for most people, writing game reviews doesn’t pay the bills). However, I still had strong opinions and an insight into the industry, so in 2019 (I think? It’s hard to track down an exact date) I started eShopperReviews as a subreddit on Reddit.com so I would have a place to share my reviews and opinions with anyone who might have an interest in them. As far as I was concerned, it was a fun hobby, nothing more.

Over time, that “hobby” grew. I would receive requests to review various games, and at the urging of Jenn Ip, I created a Patreon page so those who wished could support eShopperReviews and have a direct way to request specific reviews. A YouTube page and a Discord channel soon followed. To be clear, none of this was done out of some desire to become an influencer or make money, but to give readers and especially Patreon contributors something in thanks for everything they’ve done to help eShopperReviews.

However, things changed in June 2023. The leadership at Reddit.com changed the terms of the website in a way that was clearly a deliberate attempt to drive third-party viewer applications out of business, a decision that I found to not only be deliberately anti-competitive, but that would negatively impact countless Reddit users. I joined what was originally intended to be a short protest to try to convince Reddit’s ownership to reconsider this terrible decision.

However, not only did Reddit’s leadership show no indication that they took its users’ demands seriously, comments by its leadership seemed to indicate an open contempt for those readers, dismissing the protests as temporary.

While I initially joined this protest with every intention that this would be a temporary situation, it now became clear to me that I could no longer in good conscience support Reddit.com with my content. I decided to take the content off of Reddit until they changed course.

However, over time, this course change seemed increasingly unlikely, and I took to trying to find a more permanent place for these reviews outside of Reddit.com. While I briefly entertained the notion of posting everything to the Patreon page, but eventually found my way to this website, here.

So now, this hobby, that I never intended to be anything more than a way of sharing my opinions, has become a website in its own right. Go figure, right?

Who do you work for?

I have a day job that has nothing to do with the videogame industry. So as it pertains to this, I work for no one. And to be clear, I am not affiliated with Nintendo, or Reddit.

Is anyone paying you for this?

I get some assistance through kind donations of some of my readers on my Patreon page. However, this doesn’t even come close to paying for the games I purchase to review here. I’m largely doing all of this out of pocket.

Do you take any money from the companies whose games you review?

No, game companies do not pay me for content. Occasionally, game companies will seek me out to ask me to review their game, and give me a review code for this purpose, but I make it clear to them that I will only be honest in my appraisal of their game, good or bad. I also make it clear to my readers in the review itself that the review code was provided by the developer/publisher.

If you’re not making money, then why are you doing this?

There are so many games on the eShop that it’s hard to find reviews for all of them. Some games I’ve been curious about didn’t have any reviews. I hate wasting money on a game only to find out it’s terrible, but I hate even more the thought of missing out on something really great, and I imagine I’m not the only one who feels this way, so I decided to try to do something about it.

So you’re just some guy, then? Why should your opinion on these games matter?

Well first, I think everyone’s opinions matter to some extent. But in regards to my “official videogame expertise” (if that’s even a thing), I spent years as a staff writer, and then Editor-in-Chief, of a small professional game website (that sadly went kaput after I left it), and was a contracted writer for one of the biggest game websites of the day (also now sadly kaput). I’ve reviewed countless videogames and films, written many editorial articles about videogames, researched and published extensive lists of upcoming titles, and attended multiple E3 and CES events as press. So I do have some experience with this sort of thing.

Why don’t you still work as a game journalist?

As noted above, the pay wasn’t great, and I didn’t have benefits. Videogames are a passion of mine, but I gotta’ make a living.

Why do you focus on Nintendo platforms? Are you biased?

Everyone is biased. We’re not machines, we’re humans with emotions and opinions and stuff. I do have a particular fondness for Nintendo platforms, but I have thoroughly enjoyed Sony, Microsoft, Sega, and Atari platforms as well over the years as well. You can like more than one thing, you know.

However, there is another reason that I specifically decided to focus on Nintendo platforms, starting with the Nintendo Switch (and later working my way backwards to the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U). That is because unlike virtually every other modern gaming platform with a digital storefront, the Nintendo Switch eShop does not allow user reviews. PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Google Play… virtually every other major digital game storefront allows users to rate games and give their opinions for others to see, and even the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS had this feature, but for some reason this was stripped out of the Nintendo Switch eShop.

Due to this, as well as the huge success of the Nintendo Switch, the Nintendo Switch’s eShop is filled with literally thousands of games, and many of these games have not been reviewed by any professional game publications. The eShop gained a reputation for being overloaded with “shovelware”, and I think that’s a shame because while there are indeed many bad games on the eShop, there are some truly great ones that sadly go overlooked.

It is these smaller games, not major releases like Mario and Zelda games, that are the real reason I started eShopperReviews – to point out the hidden gems hidden among the trash of the Nintendo Switch eShop… as well as to warn people away from the trash that is actually, in fact, trash.

Why all the old games being reviewed? Why don’t you just post reviews for current games?

Because I’m paying for this out-of-pocket, I make it a point to watch for good deals and sales on games, which often means that I miss out on a lot of the new stuff because it’s still priced high. I try to get newer stuff as much as I can, but those reviews are always going to be mixed in with older games, games that readers here might have missed. That’s kinda’ the point.

Can you review ___?

Maybe, maybe not. Some games, I know I wouldn’t be the best reviewer for (such as most professional sports games). Some games, I’m holding off on reviewing until I have added context (such as playing earlier games in the series, or other major games in the same genre). And some games, I’m simply not interested in. And if you really want to request that I review a specific game, there’s a payment tier on my Patreon page specifically for that purpose.

Why do you use A-F grades instead of a numerical score?

Because when you use numerical scores, I think most people see them as letter grades anyway. They don’t see “5.0 means the game is half-good”, they see “5.0… that’s an F grade”, which means anything 5 or under often equates to pretty much the same thing in their minds. Just skipping all that stuff and going straight to a letter grade system seems to be all-around better in my opinion.

What do each of the grades mean?

These are rough, and with each game it depends on the situation, but here’s a general idea:

A++ – This is a must-have game on the Switch. It’s a game that is either definitively the best game of its kind, or it pushes videogames into new territory. It’s fairly accessible, has a good amount of variety, and is consistently enjoyable throughout the game. That’s not to say it’s perfect (because there’s nothing that can’t be improved), but it’s still one of the best games ever made for any platform, ever.

A+ – This is a must-have game on the Switch. It’s a shining example of what this sort of game can and should be, is fairly accessible, has a good amount of variety, and is consistently enjoyable throughout the game.

A – This is a fantastic game, one of the best on the Switch. It may have one or two issues keeping it from being truly spectacular, but it’s still tons of fun to play, and has a good amount of variety.

A- – This is a fantastic game, one of the best on the Switch, although it does have one or two issues that are frustrating and make it less enjoyable than it could be. Still, it’s tons of fun to play and has a good amount of variety.

B+ – This is a solid game with a lot of good stuff going for it. While it may not shine as a truly exceptional game, it’s overall pretty good, and even does a few things above and beyond that set it apart.

B – This is a solid game with a lot of good stuff going for it. While it may not shine as a truly exceptional game, it’s overall pretty good.

B- – This is a solid game with a lot of good stuff going for it. While it may not shine as a truly exceptional game, it’s overall pretty good, although it does have some bothersome flaws.

C+ – This is an average game. It’s not bad, it’s not great, it’s just okay. However, it does at least do some stuff that’s interesting and may make it worth a look.

C – This is an average game. It’s not bad, it’s not great, it’s just okay.

C- – This is an average game. It’s not bad, it’s not great, it’s just okay, although some issues with the game drag it down a bit.

D+ – This is a bad game. To its credit, it does a few things that had potential or make it a bit interesting, but that doesn’t stop it from being a bad game.

D – This is a bad game.

D- – This is a terrible game, extremely flawed and highly unenjoyable.

F – This game is broken in some way that makes it unplayable. It doesn’t work right, or it causes problems that go beyond being simply bad, but arguably unfinished upon release or ill-conceived from the very start. Or in some way the game’s mere existence is insulting or some sort of scam or rip-off. You should absolutely not get this game.

Why do you alphabetize games that start with “The” in T?

Because that’s how Nintendo sorts them. Yeah, I don’t like it either, but I want to at least be consistent.

Do you play these games to completion before reviewing them?

Usually not. I play them for as long as it takes for me to get a good feel for the game, so I feel like I have a good idea what the game as a whole is like.

Why don’t you play these games all the way through first?

Because ain’t no one got time for that.

How can you review a game without playing all of it?

It’s easy. I write the words, and then post them here.

Joking aside, suffice it to say that there are very, very few games that play a certain way for a while, and then suddenly change.

What about games that get better after a while?

They should have gotten better sooner.

No, seriously. Why should any player have to suffer through crappy gameplay before getting to the good stuff? I’m not talking about the tutorial (although some tutorials are terrible), I’m talking about the actual beginning of the game proper – if it can’t “get better” in a reasonable amount of time, I don’t think it’s wrong to judge the game for that.

How long do you play a game before reviewing it?

Depends on the game. Some $1 two-button indie games make it clear within the first few minutes of playing exactly what they’re about, while some RPGs can take a dozen hours to introduce you to their gameplay systems, premise, and characters. I just try to use my best judgment when making this sort of call.

Isn’t it possible that you could get something wrong in a review? Possibly even something that would affect your score?

Absolutely. I’m only human. I’d say the same holds true for any reviewer. If you see me say something about a game that’s factually incorrect, feel free to point it out. I may change it or even write a Re-Review. Heck, I may even change the game’s score… or I may not.

Are you an expert gamer? Do you only review games you’re good at?

I’d like to think I’m pretty good, but I’ve never won a professional tournament, and I freely admit that I suck at some games. However, that doesn’t keep me from enjoying it and getting a feel for a game’s quality. For example, I really suck at Dance Dance Revolution, but that doesn’t keep me from having an absolute blast while playing it.

A game review should be played by someone experienced with the game genre who has played the entire game!

There’s nothing stopping you from looking up the countless other review websites available online. That is, if anyone has actually reviewed the game in question.

If you’re mainly interested in more obscure games getting reviews, why have you reviewed popular games and even AAA games too?

Because I’m an opinionated bastard and like sharing my opinions. Also, if you know what I think of popular games, you can get a better feel for my own personal tastes and preferences and use that as a way to gauge my own personal tastes and how well they match your own.

What’s your favorite game of all time?

Oof, this is hard to say. For the longest time it was Chrono Trigger. However, Skyrim, The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are all contenders for that title, and I could possibly name any one of those if you asked me to name a favorite in the moment.

What’s your favorite 2-Stick Shooter/Shmup?

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 1 and 2 (each brings something different to the table) and NeuroVoider.

What’s your favorite FPS?

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

What’s your favorite Party game?

For game to bring out at a party, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. For favorite “party” game… maybe Fibbage.

What’s your favorite Platformer?

That’s a toughie, but I’m probably gonna’ say Super Mario Galaxy.

What’s your favorite Metroidvania?

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

What’s your favorite Puzzle game?

Tetris Attack

What’s your favorite Graphic Adventure game?

The Ace Attorney series and Return of the Obra Dinn are both contenders for this.

What’s your favorite Horror game?

The Last of Us or Silent Hill 2

What’s your favorite Open-World game?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Skyrim, or Minecraft, with Grand Theft Auto V following close behind.

What’s your favorite Action-RPG?

Either The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

What’s your favorite Roguelike?

Either Moonlighter or Hades

What’s your favorite RPG?

Chrono Trigger

What’s your favorite Strategy-RPG?

The Disgaea series, though the Valkyria Chronicles games and Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope are close.

What’s your favorite Strategy game?

Starcraft, with the Advance Wars series a close second.

What’s your favorite Racing game?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, although the Gran Turismo series is also pretty good.

What’s your favorite Fighting game?

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. If you’re looking for a more traditional Fighting game, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD. If you want a 3D Fighting game, Dead or Alive 2.

What’s your favorite Sports game?

If we include extreme sports in that, it would be Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3/4 or SSX Tricky. Otherwise, maybe the original Virtua Tennis.

What’s your favorite Music-Rhythm game?

So hard to choose… the Rock Band series, Frequency/Amplitude (the original one, not the newer game), and Elite Beat Agents/Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan are all high on my list.

What’s your favorite Card or Board game?

Slay the Spire

What’s your favorite “Misc./Hard to fit in a box” game?

We Love Katamari

What’s your favorite game for couch co-op?

Borderlands 2, with Diablo III coming in close behind.

What’s your favorite game to play online?

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. In fact, I decided to swear off ever playing this game again because I got too addicted to it.

Why did you just tell us all of your favorite games?

So you know the sort of standards I hold other games to when I review them.

Why do you think we care about any of this?

I dunno. Maybe you don’t. But if that’s the case, why did you read through all of this?

I have more questions than what you’ve posted here!

Then ask them in the comments.

You can now support this content on Patreon! Please click the link to learn more!

Comments

2 responses to “FAQs”

Jared

December 16, 2023

My question with an answer that isn’t listed here is this: does commenting on your reviews or “liking” the posts actually do anything meaningful for you? I suppose it’s not like the website has some sort of algorithm that boosts or hides content the way Reddit did, but at the same time, I do want you to feel like your hard work is being appropriately appreciated.

LikeLike

Reply
1. eShopperReviews
  
  December 16, 2023
  
  Great question!
  
  First, WordPress gives me some really nice tools to track traffic. I can see not only how many users/ pageviews I get on a daily basis, but also which articles were most viewed. This is a far cry from the tools Reddit gave me which are… um, pretty much nothing other than the upvote/downvote.
  
  As far as I’m aware, I can’t track individual users, but I can see which countries users are from, which isn’t helpful so much as it is fascinating to see how many viewers I have in places like Japan, India, and Australia. Given that I write this content primarily for a North American audience, it’s an honor to see it being enjoyed by those abroad.
  
  When it comes to commenting on reviews, I really appreciate it! Not only would I be delighted to foster a sense of community here, but it’s also nice to be able to get feedback and answer questions from users (as best I can, anyway).
  
  When it comes to “liking” posts, I can see the number of likes my posts have gotten, but I’m not sure how to find the ones that have been likes, which is a bit frustrating. It lists likes on the post overview page, but since I have over three thousand reviews (as of this writing), finding it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I still appreciate you doing it, I just wish I had a better way to pinpoint what was liked.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply