The Bitmob Wiritng Challenge is on a mission to improve the writing skills of our community and have some fun along the way. Last month, I asked people to write about the act of playing video games in First Person Writer. As the the Challenge trudges through April this prompt will give Bitmobbers a chance to compare their favorite and not-so-favorite games.

THE PROBLEM

At some point in you probably bought a game that garnered critical acclaim that you just didn’t like. You might even hate it. But that game isn’t a random title you bought on a whim – it was something in your favorite genre or series. You probably were anxious to play it, only to be let down.

Games can get high scores even though some elements can drive people mad, and a review can't address every issue someone may have. Final Fantasy 13 was a recent case, where the fun of the combat system was set against the 20 hours of play time it took to get to that.  Those who dislike FF13 may point to other Final Fantasies as an example to how the series should play, but each title has its own nuances and its own fanbase. 

Competitive games also face this situation: Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 is a button-mashing dream match, an exciting showcase of execution, or an unbalanced mess depending on who you ask.

THE PROMPT

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on.

Stephen Sondheim

Take two games of same genre and write a 500-800 word article on why you favor one game over the other.  It could be competing titles or games within the same series.  Both games could have gotten great reviews, or it may be an underrated title going against a perennial Game-of-the-Month candidate.

The reasoning can be anything. You don’t like how a game favors one play style over another. Your friends all play the other game, so you want to be where the action is. The game has a plot element that you just can't stand. Just make sure to back up your reasons and make it understandable for a wide audience.

Wait a second – didn’t Andrew Hiscock do a prompt like this on Mob Rule a few months ago?  Yes, but the second game shakes things up: If you don’t like one game, then there must be something about the other that you feel is superior. You don’t have to despise one title and worship the other, but you should be able to justify your choice.

To recap:

Write a 500-800 word article comparing two games of the same genre. Back up your choice with reasons, making sure that anyone can understand where you’re coming from. 

Approach the topic from any angle you want. It can be a basic article, a breakdown by subject, a first-person account, or even a screenplay. Go nuts. 

Post your article as “This or That – (Game 1) Vs. (Game 2).” Include “This or That” in the title and tags so that I can find it in a search.

The deadline is April 30th, 2010 at midnight PST.

Debate is part of the fun of video games.  My advice is to be careful about focusing too much on the negatives of one game, since you’re intended piece of journalism could devolve into a rant.

Look for my example soon. Enjoy the challenge.