Poll – Help Improve My Reviews!
If you look over to the right column of the site you’ll see a new poll with two choices: “Photos.” “Text.” I’m trying to figure out which is most important to you when it comes to toy reviews so that I know where to focus the majority of my efforts when preparing a new review. Please vote!
I personally enjoy both the photos and the text, but of the two the photos take the most effort because I want to share nice shots of the toys. If I had the time I would include even more photos in each review. And the text is often a lot of fun for me to write; if I wasn’t having fun with the site I would just close it all down.
Anyway, please vote. And please leave a comment to let me know how you voted and what, if anything, you like about the toy reviews I’ve been posting to the site since late 2008.
I voted photos, because I can usually decide whether or not I want to own something with some good shots at different angles.
Of course, I love the text too; but I find text most useful when you share a particularly cool or surprising aspect, or to convey something that can’t been “seen,” like a toy feels cheap.
Hmmm…this is a tough decision as I like having both of them there. I picked text as I’d rather have a well-thought out review as opposed to one that was just a ton of pictures, but some things just can’t be explained as well in text. Take Rager, for example. The arm transformation can be a bit cumbersome when written out, but just having the one picture where one are was transformed and the other was mid-transformation really clarified things.
Bottom line, my preference is to err on the side of text, but with pictures to highlight the special parts.
I voted photos too, but I definately think you’re getting the right amount of both in your reviews Philip. Rather than pics vs. word though, a better way to look at it might the actual criteria you focus on. Of course you have to cover the basics (sculpt, paint apps, articulation) but I find I appreciate your personal reasons for why you liked a certain figure or toy.
Also, I’d be interested in stuff that you didn’t like! Probably doesn’t happen much since people tend to buy stuff they know they’ll like, but as a collector myself, there have been times where I was disappointed (Movie Bumblebee, I’m looking squarely in your direction.)
I’d be as happy with more text, your current level of content is fine though, I find it to be quite good as is. I just like to hear a person’s thoughts and impressions for an item as much as I do enjoy looking at pictures from which I can draw my own conclusions. I like being able to sit down with a review and a mug of tea and enjoy a decent read. Ultimately I imagine it comes down to finding a decent balance which I believe you already have.
Man, that’s tough. I voted text cause in this specific case I want to know your thoughts, cause I respect your view point. Plus, all reviews have a pic or 2 and if I want to see more I can always look online for other pics..
I voted for text, as 1) I, too, enjoy reading (& living vicariously through) someone’s thoughts on a product (especially for toys that I’ll most likely never get myself) & 2) I usually read reviews at work, & the fewer pix, the fewer strange looks I get from people passing my office 🙂
@clark – I try to make sure the writing in my reviews gets across my own opinions and whenever a toy has that “cheap” feel I think I always point that out. At least, I try to.
@Paul – Transforming robot toys is one of the places where I think a great video review can really help. I’ve had several toys where I’ve resorted to searching video reviews for a clear look at how everything transforms.
@Jay – I have posted some reviews of things I ended up not liking, but negative reviews just aren’t a lot of fun to write and I would usually rather spend my time on something I enjoy.
I voted text but it was a hard choice. I enjoy your reviews as you do them and it’s really a mixed bad. If you are reviewing a repaint of a figure you have already reviewed then pictures are probably more important. Overall though I like reading your actual opinions on a toy and just simple stuff like when the Jumbo Hammerhead’s weapon was a little loose in his hand and you mentioned using the hair dryer to tighten it a tiny bit.
@Philip – Yeah, you definitely get your opinion across in your reviews. Instead of saying what I find most useful in reviews, I should have said “that is my favorite part of your reviews.” I really like to know what your impressions are.
I should probably change my vote to text, because when I voted I was thinking about what I find most useful in general (for all reviews online), but when thinking specifically about your reviews, I enjoy your thoughts.