Shawn Elliott’s Review Symposium Begins

About a week ago, Shawn Elliott announced his intention to start a review symposium to answer some of the big questions surrounding modern game reviews. Well, it looks like things are now underway.

As well as running over the form the symposium will take, Elliott has also posted a list of some of the participants.

Leigh Alexander http://sexyvideogameland.blogspot.com/
Robert Ashley http://www.myspace.com/icometoshanghai
Tom Chick http://www.quartertothree.com/fp/
N’Gai Croal http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/
John Davison http://www.whattheyplay.com/
Jeff Gerstmann http://www.giantbomb.com/
Kieron Gillen http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/
Dan Hsu http://sorethumbsblog.com/
Francesca Reyes http://www.oxmonline.com/
Stephen Totilo http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/

Quite the impressive short-list, even though it does need more EEGRA. Also, why I wasn’t asked is beyond me.

I can see this symposium going one of two ways. It will either be a series of editorials that will define the future of the videogame review. With such a wide range of personalities and a vast amount of skill and influence, this really could change things. Combined with Elliot linking to other site’s editorial replies, and we have a true multi-blog discussion going on.

Or it’ll turn into a self-obsessed literature fart. A competition of who can say the most obvious thing in the most convoluted manner.

Either way, we here at NG will be watching it very closely. Hopefully also adding something to the discussion in our own editorials, forums and comment sections. This is actually rather exciting to me. A real discussion of important things in videogames, done by real important (or at least influential) people.