i know this might sound weird, but i think there are people out there, who
download and play chess variants, but have no interest in reading or
posting in these forums, but sometimes, they may rate a game. i think this
could explain the non-member rating with no comment. i mean, if you don't
become a member, you must have no interest in posting in the forums.
if they rate it 'excellent', then i don't think it is entirely fair to
say that it is worthless, just because of no comment.
to rate it excellent, one should assume they thought the game was really
good :)
you know if someone rated 'grand chess' excellent, then you would
probably think they liked the 'knight-bishop' piece, the 'rook-knight'
piece, these pieces playing with normal chess pieces, the 10x10 board, the
game-play, etc etc
if an obviously good game is rated 'poor' it could be just a matter of
taste, i mean, there is no game out there, which someone does not like lol
:)
i think because of our love for fairy pieces and chess variants, someone
rating without comment may ... be upsetting :) ... but you know, i think
it is a little tough to say you must comment, as someone said, there would
be people who don't know how to say why they like, not knowing the words
to describe, like 'game-play' and 'piece density' or whatever. If you
get them to 'have' to say, they may not vote, or just post something
that is no help anyway really (i thought it was really great)
still, i am not so sure non-members should be able to rate, it does leave
the door open to shifty ratings, and seeing most 'rated/no comment'
comes from non-members, you could wipe out the problem if seen as a
problem.
non-members could still 'write' there rating without it being offical
:)
anyway, just thought i would throw some ideas out.