What to expect from this post.
Well first off, it's a bit rough; and quickly done.
In it you may find rants, perspective over reviewing, and a guide to reviewing on Newgrounds.
This may not be a life changing post, but I sure hope it's a Newgrounds changing post.
(If Newgrounds is life for you, this may not apply)

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This rant may make me come off as arrogant or snobby. I don't view myself as an experienced New Grounds member, but far from it.

Lately, I've started to check out NewGrounds much more often. My friend, Sam, is starting to get into flash...so I decided to check out more flashes to try getting ideas. I figure if we were to make a flash, I would like positive, constructive reviews to help us out with future flashes. Seeing it as most of the viewers on here, give useless reviews; just pisses me off.

Before shooting my gun, I decided to look back at my reviews. Now, I'd admit, a lot of my reviews have been biased. Some have been judged too nicely, and few not as harsh as they should have been. Sometimes I gave one of those "useless reviews."

So I decided to change my way of thinking, and make a vow to only post reviews if they're constructive or anywhere near worth while. Now I'll admit, I could deffinitely take a lot more time in critiquing(sp) someone's work. (Such as looking up better words, trying to use better grammar, or bothering to spell check words.) Frankly, I don't have the time to make a 5star review, everytime I come on here; but I can frigging try to get at least a 3-4 star review.

Now I can see the critisism "I don't want to take my time to make a good review." Well that's frigging great, then don't bother reviewing.

The new system:
Now on reviews you can say if it's Helpful, Useless, or Abusive. I rarely see Abusive (maybe a lil too harsh) but I see waay too many useless votes. I dont find all the useless reviews as bad as all the flipping USELESS reviews voted as HELPFUL!

If it's a positive review, it doesn't necc. make it a POSITIVE review. I've seen people on here write "OMG GOOD FLASH! I LOVE YOUR ART!" and get HELPFUL reviews.

So I've mad consumption; the review system on here as no incentive; so people don't take it serious. Now, I'm not gonna sit here and say that I know how to fix the system. (far from it) But, I'm sure that the creative minds of newgrounds can get together and try thinking of ways to make the reviewing on Newgrounds more helpful.

Now, I see many downfalls into my thinking. I don't want to limit people's ideas, reviews, and concepts. (like media in a fascist government) Though, I would enjoy seeing BETTER reviews. Now, everyone is deffinitely free to say as they want. (I don't want to take freedom and liberties away)
I also understand that some may view a review as not that big of a deal. (Perhaps it isn't, partially why this is all just a rant. BUT it's hard to suggest that the general reviewing base of Newgrounds is helpful.)

So possibly there can be incentive for good reviews. Possibly if you give this many good reviews, you get this many experience points; etc. (Honestly, I'm sure there's much better ideas possible)

The old reviewing system; you were able to review on sound, gameplay, etc. I enjoyed those demographics, it allowed for the flash artist to understand down the border where he went well or needs more work.

I do admit, I don't keep well-informed on Newground bussiness. I'm sure there was a good reason why they take away the old reviewing system (possibly clogging the system?) but I think it works a lot better than the current reviewing system.

THINGS I've seen in reviews that I like:
I've seen people review aspects of the game on a 1-10 aspect, add them, devide them up, and create an average. This average is then their score. I like this more than just shooting a # out of the air.

Now it's a better way to review then others; but I still find it rather unfair. Some aspects of the game are far more important than others; and everything comes together for a different outcome.

I've seen flashes on here with god awful graphics, but with great gameplay+humor; so it ended up being a pretty solid game.
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I don't want to tell you how to review; but I want everyone to think of these things as they review:

1. Why did you enjoy, or not enjoy the game?
2. What were things in the game that are plausable to question?
3. How are different aspects of the game? (Sound, Gameplay, Graphics, Concept)
4. How did everything come together well/bad; or how could it of been better?

It's nice to look back on the flash artist's work as well. Now this makes for a more lengthy review. By looking back, you can also add in your comment how he/she could've added aspects from previous games or how he/she can change their artistic style for the plus side.

The grading system in my opinion:

0=Stolen art, complete god awful, abusive, or very offensive. (basically abusive)
1=Practically complete crap. Whoever made this deserves a slap across the head.
2=Still pretty crappy, but may have a laugh in there or something that made you think. Possibly a major glitch ruined the game. (Don't review things terribly just because of glitches, if it doesn't run on your system; but other people's systems...it's your problem; not theirs necc)
3=Has at least one aspect of an okay flash. It may show some promice, but it still needs plenty of work.
4= This game is almost half good. There may be a strongsuit in the flash, but other aspects may be weighing ti down. Either way, the flash has future promices and could be critiqued to score a 6+ in the futre.
5= A decent; okay game. It isn't bad, it isn't good; it just is. Everything down the board may just be "okay," or the flash game just isn't anything new; but not exactly a bad flash. Possibly the graphics are just WOW! but everything else is poop.
6= "You're getting there." The idea is starting to come across well, you could still use work on piecing everything together. All the aspects are half alright or even on the plus side. Either way, it was worthwhile.
7= In my opinion, 7 is probably the MOST COMMON good review. Most good games on Newgrounds, is a 7. Trying to get above a 7 isn't an easy thing to do. Seven has great stuff working for it and a pretty good idea. Or a very well executed game, but the idea is lacking. If you're thinking a flash is above a 7, but you're not sure... then it's probably a 7. If you enjoyed the game, thought it all pieced together, but wasn't anything stunning; it's either a 6 or 7.
8= If you're giving an 8; this means the flash artist is either very tallented; or spasmd up a really dang good flash. This game has a lot of positive stuff working for it. There really isn't anything wrong with the game. There's still little things holding it back. Possibly the game has unecc content, or needed content. Maybe the gameplay is good but not great. There's a lot that can keep a game from being a 9+10; as they're scores that should rarely be given out. 8 is a pretty dang score, it shouldn't be given out very often just because it's not a 9 or 10.
9= A pretty dang flipping good flash. The artist may not be god, but he created a pretty godly piece of work. This flash either freigthtened you out of your skivvies or made you laugh until you cried. Either way you have tears in your eyes. Be thankful that you were able to witness this piece of work; because it doesn't come around too often. You may wish you wanted to give a 9 out more often, but lets just face it... not everyone can give 5 star work out.

What keeps a 9 from being a 10? Well, not much honestly. Between a 9+10 there's just a feeling. A nine means its pretty frigging good, but it's just a hair off. There's just a litte problem holding it back, or it's just missing some spizazz. Just like between 7-8., If you're questioning rather or not it's a 10; then it's a 9.

The holy grail, one of the worlds wonders, a 10!!!!
10= Change your underwear because this may have made you geekspasm in your pants. (Don't feel ashamed!) This game is just perfect, it brought the same big smile across your face as games such as Alien Hominid, and Dad n Me. This game is a work of art, and the artist is a god among men when it comes to flash. You're lucky to give out more than 2-3 10's in a whole year. If you're voting a 10, you're saying that it's one of your favorite flashes, and it deserves to be one of the top games of the entire year.

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Now you have a little bit of a better idea of the 1-10 scale on NewGrounds. I'm not telling you how to vote; but at least you got a little bit of new perspective in your head.

Hopefully after reading this, you won't become one of those useless voters that many are and have ran across on New Grounds. I'm sick and tired of seeing almost every flash having a 10, or people saying "this game sucks" and giving it above a seven.

(From today, it's a new fresh voting from me. Don't bother looking into the past, but the future of voting. Lets hope that Newgrounds can become a new critics corner aswell. Let's all hope that we can help the artists of Newgrounds pave a future to success. Reviewers may not be flash artists, but they can still be viewers of grand perspective and taste.