Don't you guys get review copies for games? If so that's not very independent now is it?

Or am I getting the meaning of that word in the context of reviewing websites wrong?

All reviewing networks are provided games to review. That's how things are.

Actually I am pretty sure that these fellas pay for most of their games, at least for the wiiware and vc and stuff...

Sometimes we get review copies, but more often we buy them from our own pockets. It doesn't matter either way - we give a game the score it deserves. Being independent in this sense means we're not owned by any larger site or outside interest.

Yep, as @prosody put things, being independent means we're not part of a bigger umbrella of media companies with other interests like perhaps IGN or Gamespot - part of multi-million dollar publishing companies.

In the words of Cartman, we can do whatever the heck we want with the site

Isn't nintendolife basically an umbrella of smaller review sites like the old vc-reviews.com(can't really remember the name)? In which case Nintendolife would be the larger and outside interest!

But I see your point..

Well, it's not really much of an umbrella when the separate sites were run by a bare handful of people, now is it?

I also fail to see how getting review copies would make us less independent -- it's not like there's a contractural arrangement behind the provision of the copies -- they just come in the post!

Well, if you depend on review copies to keep most Nintendo games reviewed then.. well you get the point.
But since it seems you buy most games yourselves if i'm to believe what's said in this thread(which I do ofc) then matter is closed.

I'm pretty sure this is how it is with all review sites.

This wasn't meant as anything but a question, I was just curious. No need to get defensive.

Getting a review unit of a game does not invalidate the reviewer's job, nor compromise the site he/ she works for - independent or otherwise.

Ethically, a critic (not just games, but films, books, whatever) will review based on quality, whether that critic is part of a multinational corporation or independent publication. Those critics that are not ethical don't last long in the line of work, because if it's done properly, a free game is not worth the work a typical review takes.

I don't review anything I buy myself, because there's a perfectly valid argument that handing over your own money for a game compromises your judgement of it, while receiving a game in the mail means you can take a more clinical and critical approach towards it - you haven't had to make an investment into it.

Either way, for the most part, even if you don't agree with the website (IGN, for instance), you'll find the people working there are making a genuine attempt to be unbiased. People tend to conjure up all kinds of conspiracy theories when they don't read what they like in the media, and it's incorrect 99% of the time.

I can see your point, but really, if nobody buys it and we don't get a review copy, it just doesn't get reviewed (hence my reviewing de Blob almost two years after release!). Now that the site profile is growing we are getting more review copies of games, which is cool because it means we can provide more reviews for our readership. The packaged media space is our weak spot because it's just too expensive to go buy everything and play it. I think we end up doing a decent job of covering the major releases though.

And I wasn't being defensive, just trying to figure out where you're coming from! Geez!

I call 'em like I see 'em. I don't give a rats ass whether it's a review copy or one I bought. End of story.

Oh I definitely didn't mean you were biased, i was asking about a whole other thing. Your reviews are great

Ah, then carry on.

I don't see the harm in reviewing a game you bought yourself , i have reviewed a couple myself. Personally i would only review games in certain genres.

Most of the time, If I buy a game, after playing for 5 minutes I forget that I used my own money on it

Well, my reviews are mostly original back at DSiHub but I do take some reference on how others do theirs.

Like here at N-Life. Reviews are pretty darn awesome here.
(Like Corbie's Dark Void Zero review )

I compare my reviews at DSihub to others after I write them, to see how mine pair up. Sometimes I might even completely forget something like multiplayer that I need to edit in.

Will you be reviewing fatal frame 4.

I've often wondered where you guys came up with the money for all these games! I base many of my purchases on these reviews, so I'm really glad someone is shelling out the money before I do!

But isn't everything better when it's free?