GameSpot is one of the hottest websites on
console and PC games, with an insider’s look at the newest games, as well as
retrospectives of games gone by. With a large editorial staff, they maintain up
to date information on all the latest developments in the ever-growing video
entertainment field.
GameSpot is divided into ‘hubs’ for
different platforms, for example, XBOX or PC. For the purposes of this
abstract, we will focus on the PC hub, and its features.
The PC hub of GameSpot is managed by a core
staff of seasoned gamers who have, probably, been involved with videogames for
most of their waking life. The latest games are watched carefully, with
previews and media updates for those who are eagerly looking forward to their
next gaming fix. Downloads are available on the site, such as movie clips or
demos of upcoming games, or, interestingly, mod files from the gaming
community.
Once a game is released, a GameSpot
reviewer will play the game to completion, or near completion; thus, the review
of the game is entire and comprehensive. The reviewers are articulate and
well-informed, comparing the newest games to the best games in history.
Reviews
are usually accompanied with links to screenshots, and if necessary, to patches
to fix bugs in the software. Users who register with GameSpot are able to add
their own reviews to the site, and the accumulation of reviews generates a user
rating, which may or may not coincide with the editor’s review.
For information on previous games, GameSpot
offers reviews from its archives, an interesting look at the notions from the
community’s past. As well, where applicable, game guides for particularly
popular games are available on the site, helping gamers get the most of their
experience.
Gamespot is a massive
compendium of information on everything
related to gaming and the gaming industry. For the informed gamer, or
for the casual player, GameSpot offers a one stop portal to information
about the game you want to get, or that game you've already played!