What is it?

Negative World will be running a competition for review writers. Basically... write and submit a review for Negative World, and you're in! However, there are going to be two minor stipulations:

1. It must be a game that has not been reviewed on Negative World yet.
2. Whoever calls a game first, gets dibs on that game. You can only have "dibs" on one game at a time though, and I will keep an updated list in this thread.

NOTE: This contest is for Negative World members only. However, it is free and only takes about a minute to join us, so why not go for it?

What is the deadline?

All reviews submitted between right now and midnight (Pacific) January 7th, 2013 (new deadline!), that follow the above stipulations, will be eligible. Of course, they must be for a game on a Nintendo console. From the classics to the virtual console to the Wii U... anything goes!

Who can enter?

All members of Negative World! Members at level -2 and down can already write reviews. If you are -1 and would like to enter, let me know, and I will hook it up.

...except Zero. We hate that guy, so his reviews will not be eligible.

Don't get overly concerned about whether you are a "good enough" writer. If you're interested, get involved! Try your best! That's all we're asking!

How many entries can I make?

Hmm... let's say... 5? This is a soft limit though, if you really want to do more, just ask. Please make sure to keep the length and quality level at your best though, these are public reviews for our site. If we notice anyone just knocking out reviews left and right without much effort put into them, we may have to... say something. Besides, you probably won't win anything with a sloppy review.

However, as stated above, don't worry too much about your own skill level as a writer. Just try your best!

How will winners be determined?

1 winner for "best review" will be selected by you, the people of Negative World. We will work out exactly how based on how many entries there are. But it will involve a voting process using the polls. This will happen regardless of the number of entries, so if you are the only entry... you win!

IF we get at least 10 entries, 1 winner for "Zero's choice" will be selected by Zero because he has the power and it is his money being used for the prizes. He may include the other moderators in this decision. May.

More prizes may be announced in the future depending on the popularity of this contest.

What are the prizes?

Each winner will receive one WiiWare / eShop game of their choice, $15 or less. Considering that eShop doesn't allow gifting on 3DS, if one of those games is selected, we will probably just use a download code or Paypal or whatever works for everyone involved.

Anyone who wants can throw some N into the mix or whatever.

How do I write a review?

If you are level -2 or below, it's easy! Just go to the game database and search for the game that you would like to review. If it is in the database, click on it, and on the top right side of the page for that game (above the game's image) you should see "add a review". If the game is not in the database, you can add it using the "submit a game" form at the top right of the main database page. Anyone level -1 will have to let me know you are interested, as stated above.

You can also use the new file upload page to upload any images related to the review you will be writing.

SUGGESTION: I strongly suggest to write your review outside of Negative World (I use Google Drive, but you can just use Microsoft Word or something if you want), SAVE FREQUENTLY, and then copy and paste it in when you are ready to submit it. Otherwise, if the server hiccups when you submit, you may lose everything. That would suck, no?

What format should the review be?

Here at Negative World we like to let our reviewers have their own sense of style. Whether you want to structure your review with sections, write freeform, etc. is up to you. We do prefer that some images / videos / etc. be placed within the review (use the file upload page to upload your images), but this is not a requirement. Just go with what makes the most sense to you!

How do I know if a game has been reviewed yet?

Just go to the game database and search for the game that you would like to review. If it is in the database, click on it, and if there are any reviews for it they will be listed at the bottom of the game page (example here.) If the game is not in the database, it has obviously not been reviewed yet, and you can add it using the directions above.

Can I review a game that I have already played?

Sure! We are hoping to get some more "modern" reviews, but anything is fine. Just make sure to refresh yourself on it if you have not played it in awhile.

How do I call "dibs" on a game?

Just post your intention to review a game in this thread. First come, first serve. Make sure to mention the platform as well as the game name. You can change your dibs at any time, but if so, you lose dibs on the old game. Obviously, when you submit a review for a game that you had dibs on, you are now free to call dibs on another.

Do I have to call "dibs" on a game?

No, you don't have to call dibs, you can just submit what you want when you want if you like. However, if you don't call dibs and someone else gets to it first (either by calling dibs or releasing a review) then you're plain out of luck. For all of those involved, it is probably best to take advantage of the dibs system.

More to come

If I think of anything.

"Dibs" list
Chrono Trigger DS (DS) - sirmastersephiroth
Fractured Soul (3DS eShop) - anon_mastermind
ZombiU (Wii U) - gamewizard65

Finished list
Crosswords Plus (3DS) - ludist210
No More Heroes - GelatinousEncore
Kirby's Pinball Land - roykoopa64
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle - GelatinousEncore
Nano Assault Neo - roykoopa64
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - sirmastersephiroth
Nintendo Land - TriforceBun
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward - Ploot
Assassin's Creed III (Wii U) - roykoopa64
Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS) - VickiL
Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion (3DS) - deathly_hallows
NightSky (3DS eShop) - ludist210
New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U) - DrFinkelstein
Batman Arkham City Armored Edition (Wii U) - Mr_Mustache
Adventure Time: HIKWYSOG (3DS) - vinniebrock
Crimson Shroud (3DS eShop) - VickiL
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA) - eccentricplayer

Zero (not officially in the competition)
The Denpa Men: They Came by Wave - Zero
Monster World IV - Zero
Starship Defense - Zero
Little Inferno - Zero
Art Style: Orbient - Zero
Chasing Aurora - Zero
Monster Tale - Zero
Trine 2: Director's Cut - Zero
Gunman Clive - Zero

URL to share (right click and copy)

You should have a third prize for the most viewed review (you track that now, don't you?). That will encourage people to try to get their review on things like GoNintendo and help promote the site overall.

I'm in! Do I have to call dibs right now on a game? I'd like to keep it a secret or maybe I havent decided yet

@Jargon I thought about this, but it is way too easy to exploit. Then again, we're all honest here... right? Still, "Zero's choice" will, admittedly, probably involve factors like Google Analytics data and views and such... among other things.

@GelatinousEncore I was just about to answer that, but no, you don't have to call dibs, you can just submit what you want when you want if you like. However, if you don't call dibs and someone else gets to it first (either calling dibs or releasing a review) then you're out of luck!

Would I be able to do Assassin's Creed 3 if I am not playing the Wii U version?

@Zero

You can also exploit polls by registering multiple accounts, etc. Doesn't mean I think people would do it.

@Stephen Um... I don't think that is a good idea. Officially you would be reviewing the "Wii U" version for the site, because that is how our functionality works, and I think it is dishonest to review the "Wii U" version without playing it.

Also the guy from Gamerankings straight up told me in an email that they are cracking down on those kind of reviews.

@Jargon True but that takes a lot more effort that just clicking "refresh", especially since I track all IPs that anyone logs in under. It'd be easy to notice a bunch of recent accounts with no posts/etc. voting for the same entry...

If we end up with a ton of reviews maybe I will expand the prizes even more.

Hmmm I will see if I can think of something else.

Fractured Soul (3DS eShop)

Negative World said:

sirmastersephiroth - Chrono Trigger DS

poop do it soon SMS!

So what games are we talking for prizes... retail?

Oh geez no I don't make that much from advertising, sorry! I mean to include the price limit from the start. $15. It's really more meant for WiiWare / eShop (non-retail) / Virtual console / etc.

I call NintendoLand!

Oh, and please share this contest with anyone you know that might be interested. If someone wants to sign up to take a shot at it... awesome!

Well, I just wrote one review without even seeing this thread.

I've got a NightSky review on tap for next week, so sign me up.

EDIT: Also, have we done a Theatrhythm review yet? I've played enough of that to get a review up for the site, but that wouldn't be part of this competition. Unless someone else wants to do it...

I have already begun my VLR review so I'll stick with that.

Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (3DS)

@ludist210 Why wouldn't it be part of the competition? I state in the rules above that you can do multiple entries throughout the 2 months, you just can't call "dibs" on multiple entries in advance. I wanted to avoid a situation where someone calls dibs on like 5 of the biggest games at once, and then never gets around to reviewing any of them.

Wow. Alterior motives much?

--I'll do Batman U, and I was planning on Monster Party so I guess I'll do that "now."

"Yesss" for retro-dibs on Batman. I dig it. If I can get through my Radiant Dawn stuff for the week tonight, I might pick up another NES game and try to trounce that in one sitting. (btw, I arranged them in order last night... counted 'em all up officially... 297. WOW. And I have two Shingen the Rulers. Anyone interested?)

Does it count if I copy paste reviews I've written elsewhere? I'd considered doing so before but figured there wouldn't be much interest in them. But I'm willing to find out if free stuff is possibly on the line.

I'll just make sure to keep my Bit.trip Runner review out of sight...

@Mr_Mustache I don't think it really counts as "alterior" ulterior motives for the owner of a site to come up with ways to get people using the site functionality and (hopefully) create some more traffic for the site.

The flipside is that, if we ever do get any bigger, then you guys are all in on the ground floor, so to speak. And you can use stuff you do here to move up to bigger things, like Guillaume with NWR.

Also you might win free games. Everyone wins!

@nate38 Hmm... I think for the sake of this competition they should be newly written reviews, otherwise it is a bit unfair, right? If one person works hard to create a new review and another just uses something they already had sitting around?

BUT... outside of this competition, I think in general, it's not bad to use stuff that you wrote in the past, provided that it's not stuff you wrote as official staff for another site or anything.

@Zero fair enough. I'd call Fluidity Spin Cycle, but the December 27 release date would be cutting the deadline too close for me. Unless you can push it back a week or so for little old me ;D