Tap, tap, tap. My fingers fly across the keyboard, the rest of the world floating past, almost in bullet time, as I type. But then, that's how it should be � no critic ever made a living out of being nice, or so I've been told. Every word must be a bullet. Every paragraph a full clip of ammo, ready to shoot holes through the work of those who have gone before and tear myself a place in the world of videogames journalism. Don't follow the template; anybody can follow the template. Hell, most games journalists under the sun have become 'successes' (though I would hardly call them that) by following that template. However, my stubborn aspirations and ambitions to stand out from the crowd will hopefully be fulfilled one day. I still have a long way to go. All I know is that I will never truly succeed by blindly following those who have entered the field before me.

If videogames journalism is to be accepted as having any creative worth whatsoever, then all of those games journalists who don't believe in following the formula, those with the same ethos to videogames journalism that Nintendo have to videogames, will have to make their mark. If videogames journalists proved their creativity (if they hold any) to the world, there would not be a need for this 'New Games Journalism' that is currently doing the rounds � nor would there ever be a need. After all, New Games Journalism is nothing more than a desperate (if well written) cry for originality � not in videogames, but in their coverage. How can we complain of lack of originality in videogames if we are guilty of the very same thing when we review them? I'm trying to make a difference. I'm trying. But it isn't easy.

Recently, I began work on a new online publication; after having written for many different ones over the two measly years I have been working in this field. I'd like to think of my new publication as a videogames website with a difference � young writers like myself (though with both more experience and more talent) working together to try and stand out from the poor quality, average-Joe videogames coverage that, like a rising tide, is washing over the majority of games websites (none of which I would ever consider writing for). Though ironically, the average Joe is often more talented than some professional online � and even print � games journalists. Funny how that works. Anyhow, the focus of the new publication (of which I am in charge of the content) is to force news to take a back seat to quality reviews, reports and editorials. No regular news posts. And nobody had better even think about asking me why we don't have previews on the website. Thanks to some lucky breaks, the website is fully operational and (somewhat) successful, so far. The audience is cheering, but I am sweating in the wings. I continue to write freelance, for this website and others. I am balancing a column which recycles tired points with a multitude of average reviews crashing like a tidal wave across multiple websites. With each site, I have strong ties that I do not wish to cut, and therefore I strive to deliver the best content I can deliver on all of them. Which, given the fact I am only sixteen and have plenty of little insignificant exams (GCSE's I think they're called) to worry about, makes things somewhat stressful.

So, understandably, I need some time to relax, as the burden of exams and the increasingly demanding world of games journalism weighs down on me. What can I do to mellow out and pass the time? Play videogames? Hah. My mind has become far too analytical to enjoy games fully. Sure, I love playing them, but in the back of my mind I always notice the little faults that most other people don't, and that inhibits my freedom to enjoy a game. The reason being, I have to review almost every game I play. My other love in life? Writing � English essays or videogames journalism. Music is too elaborate and film too uninteresting to write about in detail, so I cannot escape through that either. Videogames it has to be.

I want to be able to enjoy them without a deadline. I want to go back to basics and enjoy videogames for what they are. Screw the sloppy frame-rate or low polygon count � if it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the game, why should I mark it down? Maybe this means that I'll score games higher in future, but at least they'll have the marks they deserve. Being so bloody analytical all the time is a handy skill for reviewing, but not when you're just looking to kill some time with your Xbox. With videogames, I'm returning back to where I started. I'm going to play games for enjoyment, with reviews being my second priority.

If you've made it this far, I owe you congratulations, as you've just read over a thousand words of selfish tedium that explains more about the mindset of a sixteen year old writer than the videogames you came here to read about. The point is, I'm going to take some time to relax and actually enjoy videogames for what they are rather that dissect every individual aspect of the game � because by the time I'm finished, it isn't a game for me anymore.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath came through my letterbox this morning. I have yet to play it. Is it a technical masterpiece? Undoubtedly. It got a 9/10 in Edge? Great! Am I going to enjoy it? Well, there's only one way to find out.

Catch you later.

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