Updated - 03/21/09
Q: This is Wiiviewer.com? Its only a FAQ? Why did you buy this domain to host a FAQ?
Added: (01/08/09)
A: The FAQ will move into its rightful place on the website. I still have to design and make the site itself. I really wasn't expecting to win this domain. I should have the site up and running in a couple of months.
Q: Who are you?
Added: (01/08/09)
A: I am "The Wiiviewer". I do video reviews of Wii Games. I have been doing it for over a year now, and I have over 100 reviews under my belt. So far I have only been doing it on youtube and if you want to see them go to:
www.youtube.com/wiiviewr
This site will not only have my video reviews. It will also have content that you won't see on my normal account on youtube.
Q: Why isn't this FAQ on YouTube?
A: There isn't a place to put a lengthy FAQ on YouTube. The bulletins will only let you post up to 1000 characters so I had to set up this site to post it.
Q: This FAQ isn't the prettiest to look at. You should make it so all we see is the questions, and we click on the ones to see the answers. Can you please fix it?
Added: (01/02/09)
A: I have no experience working with web-pages, so all of this is new to me. If I could figure out how to do it I would. If you want to help me with that feel free to email me.
Q: Why are you doing reviews?
A: This is really a family hobby. My boys are very involved behind the scenes. They often show me what they don't like about a game, or something they found amusing in it. Before I write a review for a game we all get together, to discuss it. Then I take all of there thoughts and my own and mix it into the final review.
Q: Are you married or have a girlfriend that can join in on your reviews?
Added : (08/30/08)
A: Nope. I am not married. It's just me and the boys.
Q: I can't believe you don't have more subscribers?! Your really good reviewer.
Updated: (11/06/08)
A: Thanks. Since this is a family project I tend not to advertise. If you found my videos you probably found it by accident...and if you subscribed I want to thank you. When I first started I had very few subscribers, but day by day it gets larger. I am very proud of the small following I have. :)
100 Subscribers - 06/07/08
1000 Subscribers - 11/01/08
5000 Subscribers - 03/21/09
Q: How would you describe your style of reviewing?
Added: (08/08/08)
A: I do straight reviews of games, but instead of just analyzing the games...I will make it more fun by throwing in smarta$$ comments. I feel its makes the reviews more fun to listen to, and to produce.
Q: Who would you say most influenced you to start reviewing games? AVGN? Irate Gamer? ScrewAttack? GameSpot?GameVideos?
Added: (01/01/09)
A: I don't copy from anyone, I try to be completely orginal. If I had to classify how I review games. It would be a mixture of GameSpot and Storm's reviews. I know most of you don't know who that is. He was a video reviewer for a now dead website Wii.TV. I just found out that he is still making reviews on YouTube, so you should check him out. His videos are very entertaining.
http://www.youtube.com/user/StormDainProductions
I like the way he does it, but I don't like the way he is on camera a lot of the time, I thought a mixture of the two would be better.
As for all the reviewers I listed, the only one I never knew about was "The Irate Gamer". I saw a couple of his shows, and they are okay, but I prefer reviewers who don't curse. I do like the AVGN, but I think he would be funnier without the cursing.
Q: Why are all your videos so short? Most of them are only 3 minutes long!
Added: (08/14/08)
A: I tend to do what I would call quick and dirty reviews. I figure most people don't want to sit though a 8-10 minute video...so I try to keep my reviews under 4 minutes.
Q: If your a "Family Friendly" reviewer...why do some of your earlier videos have some harsh language in it?
Added: (02/07/09)
A: I wasn't always a "Family Friendly" reviewer. When I first started I always planned on keeping my reviews targeted at teens. However, three months in I found out my fan base was young kids (6-12), so I changed the way I reviewed games. It worked so well I just kept doing it that way.
Q: Why don't you use a scoring system like normal reviewers? Did you get that from "Ebert and Roeper?"
Added: (01/01/09)
A: I use a system of Buy/Rent/Skip. Its a simple way to get my message on how good or bad the game is. Is it perfect? No.
No. I didn't get that from E&R. I have no idea when they started doing that. The way it came about was sometimes I didn't have an ending for my videos so I just used a generic "Buy it now." It worked so well, I kept doing it. Now its catchphrase of mine.
Q: Will you do a sub for sub?
Added: (08/14/08)
A: No. I like all my subscribers to be legitimate, and not fake like some channels.
Q: Why don't you call yourself the Wiiviewer? Why did you take out the "e" at the end? It's a bit confusing.
Updated: (10/04/08)
A: When I joined YouTube...Wiiviewer was taken so I took the closest thing. To make it easier I have tagged the search engine to find my reviews with "Wiiviewer" as well as "Wiiviewr".
In May of 2008 I just started using the nickname "Wiiviewer" instead of "Wiiviewr", but my channel is still under the Wiiviewr account.
Q: I have some fan art for your background. Can you use it?
Added: (01/02/09)
A: Sure, I always take fan art. Try to make sure its no bigger then 256K since youtube has a limit.
Just email me the pictures at Wiiviewer@aol.com. I can't promise I am going to use them, but eventually I will put them in a fan art area on this website.
Q: You deleted my comment in your video...what's wrong can't take some criticism?
Updated: (08/08/08)
A: Criticism yes...bad language no. If it was deleted it was by accident (which has only happened twice but I always apologize for doing it), or due to inappropriate comments. I do want to remind you that my kids see what your writing, so please watch your language.
I only have two rules in my videos comments:
1. Do NOT use curse words. (1st Warning, Then Ban)
2. Do NOT attack my children. (Instant Ban)
Q: Why don't you respond me in your video comments area?
Added: (10/04/08)
A: While I do READ every comment...I can't respond to all of them. Even if you ask me to. I just don't have the time, but I respond more often then you would think.
Q: What program do you use to edit?
Updated: (08/08/08)
A: Windows Movie Maker. I have tried a couple others, but right now it does everything I need it to do. I just wish it didn't crash all the time. :)
I have been playing around with Adobe Premiere Elements, and you might see more complex footage that was made with that program.
Q: The quality of your videos is fantastic. What do you use to capture video?
Added: (07/19/08)
A: I use a dazzle platinum video capture device, set to the best quality. Here is a link to buy it.
http://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-230100037-Dazzle-Creator-Platinum/dp/B000FC4DTW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1216525625&sr=8-2
Q: Could you tell us your exact setup on how you record videos?
Added: (08/08/08)
A:I have a 1.6 Duel Core Toshiba Laptop, with a Dazzle video capture device attached to it. I also have a distribution amplifier that keeps the signal from degrading (but this isn't necessary). Below is the link for that:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103065&cp=2032057.2032187.2032188.2032195&parentPage=family
It's as simple as going into the program that comes with the Dazzle, and pushing capture (if you have XP). If you have Vista it's not so simple. You have to go onto Dazzle's website and download the USB drivers for it.
Q: What do you use to record your voice?
Added: (08/14/08)
A: In my first 25 videos I was using a USB headset microphone made by Microsoft. I never liked the way it sounded so I invested in a better microphone. I found a podcasting kit at best buy and it works perfectly. It's XLR Microphone, with an adaptor to plug it in to a USB slot. It's fantastic! The link below is the one I use, but if you type in podcasting kit into amazon's searches you can find a few to choose from.
http://www.amazon.com/Soundtech-STUSBPOD300-LightSnake-Podcasting-Kit/dp/B000H7O9ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1218742837&sr=1-1
I also do MOST of my recording in my closet, it helps in keeping the bass in my voice (what little there is). The only time I don't record in my closet is when the LilWiiviewer and I do a review together. When we record together we just sit at a table and pass the microphone back and forth.
Q: Why don't you use an apple computer? They are so much better for doing video editing!
A: I wasn't sure I was going to commit to do this...so I bought a cheap Walmart laptop to edit on. At this point I can't see myself not doing this. I will probably get one next year.
Q: How on earth do you do 2-3 videos a week? Do you not have any life?
A: I try to only do two videos a week or it will just exhaust me. I do from time to time do three of them, but that's really a grind to do that. When I do two videos a week I can take off two days for myself.
Q: When do you normally release videos?
Added: (11/06/08)
A: I TRY to be consistant on when I release videos. Normally, I release videos on Wednesday/Thursday and Saturday/Sunday.
Q: How long does it take to make a video from start to finish?
A: It depends. The "Cosmic Family" review took over a month, due to all the editing. However, I have gotten one done in less then five hours...from playing, writing, and editing. My kids were away for the night and I wanted to surprise them with a review when they got back. In case your wondering it was the "Internet Channel" review. Normally, it's about a 3-4 days.
Q: How do you choose the games your going to review?
A: Suggestions, Personal Tastes, Random Chance.
Q: So you take Suggestions?
Updated: (12/29/08)
A: Absolutely! Before you email me your suggestion check these list of games that I won't do or are already going to be done.
http://wiiviewertest.weebly.com/
Q: Why won't you do my Suggestion?
Added: (10/04/08)
A: Please understand, I sometimes get 20-30 suggestions a day. I can't possibly do all of them. I just don't have the time.
Q: Do you own all the games you review?
A: No. I would be broke if I did. I do own every VC game I review. I own about 25 Wii Games, and I have ended up buying games I rented due to there greatness (Endless Ocean for one).
Q: Where do you rent your games?
Added (01/01/09)
A: Gamefly. I spend over $30 a month on a subcription there. It lets me keep three games out at a time. You can find it by going to Gamefly.com.
Q: Your tending to review games that most people won't buy. Why don't you review game like Zelda?
Updated: (01/01/09)
A: I don't like to review games that EVERYONE is going to buy, and EVERYONE has already reviewed. I like to review games that you may have not heard of and want to know if its a good game.
If you look at my top watched videos you will see most of them are games that most people don't know about or there are no reviews for them. I try to fill a nitch.
Q: I loved your Cosmic Family review? Why aren't you on camera more often?
A: Like I said before, it took a long time to do that review. I have gotten faster at editing live action footage...so I intend to do it more often. The next one I have scheduled to have me in it is Wii Fit, I didn't see anyway around it.
Q: What is your problem? Why do you hate Startropics so much?
Updated: (08/08/08)
A: This is most asked question I get. I don't hate Startropics, I just don't like it. It was okay for the time, but it hasn't aged well. I have taken a second look at the game if you want to watch it. I address all the complaints I have got about my previous review. Below is the link to that video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szw4fNAkrNo
Q: Your top 10 best list is crazy. You put "The Price is Right" and "African Safari" above Mario Galaxy! You also totally left out Mario Kart Wii!
Added: (12/29/08)
A: I want to remind you that its MY personal opinion on which games were the most fun for ME to play this year. I played Mario Galaxy a lot last year, and when it came time for me to review it I didn't enjoy it as much. I did enjoy AS and PiR more then Mario Galaxy, but if you would have asked me last year then it would have been a different story.
As for Mario Kart Wii. It was #11 on my list, as I am not a racing fan. I did enjoy the game though, just not enough to put it in the top 10. If you watch my two top 10 best/worst videos in the beginning when I am introducing the videos there are clips in the background. Those are my 15-11 picks in order, I just don't tell anyone that. Its more of a hidden suprise.
Q: In your Petz: Crazy Monkeyz review you kind of lose it at the end, and start laughing hysterically. Was that real? Also, why do you emphases the Z's go much in the Petz reviews?
Added: (01/01/09)
A: Yes, it was real. I was recording my Sonic and the Secret Rings review when the LilWiiviewer asked me what I thought of Petz: Crazy Monkeys. I told him then I said, "I wonder how much it costs?". The orginal rant was about three times longer but I edited it for time.
I always emphases Z's in any game that puts them in since its so redicuous that they do that. I am just mocking them when try to sound hip, fresh, and whack. :)
Q: Your an idiot. You can't pronounce anything. You are constantly struggling with Japanese names, when all you have to do is search YouTube for a clip of the correct way to say it.
Added: (01/01/09)
A: I am a huge anime fan, so I KNOW how to say a lot of the Japanese names I struggle with. Its just a running joke I do, and the way I usually do it, you can normally tell I'm joking.
Q: The way you rip on game devolopers sometimes have they ever contacted you about it?
A: No. I have had contact with two devolopers. TaleTale (Strong Bad), and Wayforward Technologies
*** If you have any questions, or if you have a comments just email me ***