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74 Comments
- Rioracer916, on 06/02/2008, -2/+31I think the fact that GTA IV was given perfect game status by many of the big review sites underscores how messed up they are.
Before you digg me down, it's not at all a bad game, but to be deamed perfect, when there is so much to be desired, is pushing it.
Anyone trying to use auto-target, the cover system, avoid pop-up cops, or the horrible clothing selection system will agree with me. - inactive, on 06/02/2008, -1/+17The bit about exclusive reviews extends even further when you're talking about Ubisoft. You can't trust any review of an Ubisoft game until the game is actually on store shelves. Any review that isn't overwhelmingly positive is kept embargoed until the launch of the game. Listen to the 1/14/08 EGM Live podcast if you're interested in hearing more - starting at the 27 minute mark. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3149975
- zinnternet, on 06/03/2008, -0/+11Totally.
I notice that IGN's review scores roughly correspond to hype. Great games that don't get hype don't get as good scores, whereas imperfect games, like GTA4, Zelda TP, Super Smash Bros Brawl and Crysis get 10 / 10s. (Don't get me wrong, they're good games, but none are nearly as good as what IGN scores them at)
One wonders if they've found that giving games high scores leads to more people reading the review and thus higher ad impressions (money). That's not even mentioning the types of kickbacks they could be getting from publishers to post these "5 star" reviews... the "Exclusivity" of the GTA 4 review comes to mind.
I think Gamespot and IGN are very crooked sites. You can't trust anyone these days. Not even your boss!
Jeffrey - FooAtari, on 06/02/2008, -5/+14It's a pretty dirty business, I find it hard to trust reviews from any of the big sites, especially IGN and Gamespot. I think it's funny when people refer to those sites when talking about games, who actually takes anything these reviews say seriously?
- ruded0g, on 06/02/2008, -1/+8You can never trust a site who generates revenue from the publishers of the games they review. They are in it to keep their relationship with the devs/publishers. They do not want to cause any trouble or upset the people they need for content for their respected sites.
I run a site and attend previews from big game companies. I've burnt my bridges with one company because I told it like it was and did not take "oh that, it will be fixed in the shipping version". Now I'm blacklisted from said companies previews and events... oh well my community members come first. funny thing was my preview was dead on and it was not fixed in the shipping version - go figure. It's called standing up for the real people who keep you in business, your community members. - bweltondav, on 06/02/2008, -2/+8I remember how wary of IGN's 10/10 I was when they released their GTA review waaay ahead of anyone else. Reviewers just shouldn't be able to pull stuff like that.
- SpectreFire, on 06/03/2008, -2/+7Not to mention the complete lack of all the extra little minigames GTA's famous for. There's this big giant ***** golf range on Algonqiun, but I can't ***** play on it.
- GregLoire, on 06/03/2008, -0/+5I was the video game reviewer for my college newspaper. I didn't make much money, and I didn't have much space. But I could say whatever I wanted without being edited. A few of my reviews were picked up by wire services and got more attention than I thought they really deserved, across other papers and the web. The whole time I was obsessed with using my position to try to get a "real" reviewing job when I got out of college. I kept thinking about all the extra space I would have, and how much better my reviews could be if I just got a chance to talk about everything I wanted to talk about. Never mind how heavily edited or influenced the content might actually be.
It wasn't until after I graduated, got another job entirely, and learned more about the industry that I started to look back and realize that my dumb little college newspaper reviews that paid $20 each were actually the pinnacle of exactly what I wanted to do, and I would've been horribly disillusioned if I had "made it" and gotten a real reviewing job.
More people need to get over this idea they have that "playing video games for a living" is some kind of dream job. - antdude, on 06/03/2008, -0/+4Unfortunately, not all games have demos. :(
- SubjectiveC, on 06/03/2008, -0/+4And the linearity when compared to the other GTA games, where you could approach a mission in more ways than "Follow the car and wait for the guy to run on foot. Then shoot him."
- nakp88d, on 06/03/2008, -0/+4Some Sites?
The real reviews are the user reviews. - staticneuron, on 06/02/2008, -2/+6I have read these sites for years. And IGN reviewers have matched my opinions on games (or at least I could see where they are coming from) for almost every title I have ever played. And I have played a boatload of games.
When it comes to reviewers and trust what you have to abandon is the score. The scores are normally a quick stop for those who don't know/like to read. I respect IGN because their reviews (much like ars reviews) for the most part just review the game and clearly expresses the authors opinions. Where as alot of gamespot review seem to just explain the score they decided to give. The difference between the two is that gamespot seems full of contradiction when reviewing games ( even if by same reviewer). So certain game elements get admonished in one review while given a pass in another.
Don't get me wrong.... it seems to happen in reviews(low amount) from every company I have read but the greatest amount seem to come from gamestop. - Murrabbit, on 06/02/2008, -0/+4Game reviews intentionally censoring their content to leave their readers in the dark while touting their integrity and relevance of their reviews = dirty business.
- SpectreFire, on 06/03/2008, -0/+4That's stupid. Consumers can't survive without reviewers, especially now when games cost $60 a pop. I'm not gonna blow $60 on a game I may or may not like. That's where reviews come in, they give me an idea of what the game's about and what people think about it, and from that, I can formulate my own opinion. People who just go out and randomly buy any game based only on company released info like screenshots, trailers, etc, are idiots. People who buy games solely based on reviews, are also idiots. You need to find a midpoint in between, use everything you can to get the best idea of what you're paying for, because when you're throwing down $60-$70 for a game, you might as well make sure you're getting your money's worth.
- SubjectiveC, on 06/03/2008, -0/+4I think the problem comes from gaming sites and magazines covering games. I know that sounds awkward, but in the case of movies, for example, most reviewers write for newspapers and, on the whole, the newspaper business is not entirely dependent on selling movie tickets.
- Aensland, on 06/03/2008, -0/+3I read user reviews. Sure, the great majority of them are poorly written rants/fan fests, but after reading like say 50 of them you get an idea of what people liked and disliked. There's also people who go on to explain what exactly worked about a particular mechanic, even if their review consists solely of that I'd at least have gotten that detail covered.
And why do you have to buy a game when it just came out? Whatever happened to "wait and see", especially if you couldn't try a demo, watch gameplay vids, rent, or watch friends play? SpectreFire is right in saying games are so ***** expensive nowadays. So what's wrong with a little caution? Not buying game X on the exact ***** release day isn't going to kill you. And you'll be laughing at your friends who did if it turns out to be another turd. Waiting a couple days or weeks isn't a problem unless you're like the rest of the "I finished it on release day!!11!" sheep. - inactive, on 06/03/2008, -0/+3You thought GTA IV sucked? How so?
- widgetmaker, on 06/02/2008, -2/+5There is nothing wrong with professional reviews, however like everything it should be taken with a pinch of salt. if the vast majority of reviews disagree and say it is far worse then it may have been paid off. At the end of the day it is best to compare a series of reviews and scores from professional and player reviews and then use your own judgement.
- Zephadias, on 06/02/2008, -0/+3I only read reviews for information, whether it is true or false, its entertaining in itself. Reviews do not make buy or not buy a game. The developers behind it make a good deal for me if the title is a big one. If its an original IP, you're just going to have to buy it and find out for yourself. Player comments about the game are always more useful than reviews by IGN, Gamespot, etc...Gotta take everything with a grain of salt.
- vinnyvenus, on 06/02/2008, -4/+7Why don't people just download the demo and see if they like the gameplay instead of relying on reviewers?
- Aensland, on 06/03/2008, -0/+3If not for player comments / user reviews I'd have ditched those sites years ago. Sure, they might be poorly articulated and biased as all hell, but if 100 players are saying there's a problem, then there is a cause to be concerned. Official reviews, no matter how well written, are one person's point of view.
- centran, on 06/03/2008, -0/+3You are right about one thing. It is hard finding demo's these days.
As too the company only giving you bits and chunks... They are lazy! Almost every demo will be the opening level. That gives you a pretty good idea of how the game will go. It is true that some games turn to ***** towards the end but that is mostly story.
I have never played a demo to then have the game be different then what I expected. - Fhwqhgads, on 06/02/2008, -1/+3In other news, the sky is still blue.
- IEatHamburgers, on 06/02/2008, -2/+4That's even worse. Instead of a reviewer's opinion on a game which may or may not have been swayed by the company, you get to see bits and chunks of the game that the company wants you to see, and that's assuming that the game even has a demo (which isn't usually the case anymore).
- bweltondav, on 06/02/2008, -0/+2"I only read reviews for information"
Some of the really early game reviews that were secured at the cost of a lower score will almost always omit any negative aspects of the game from presentation in the review. Keep that in mind. - Murrabbit, on 06/02/2008, -4/+6On a somewhat related note, this is a fine example of how a completely unregulated free market does not always work in the best interest of the consumer. With lead covered toys pouring in from china, I figured that'd be pretty obvious, but then some people are kind of dense when it comes to the idea that economic incentives can naturally fall in such a way that it's profitable to screw you over.
- sgtpppr, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2Making a weak connection between Chinese lead-based paint toys, game reviews, and the free market...check. Knew it'd show up eventually here.
- spiritditch, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2Rent + buy = add 10% to the price of the game.
If I KNOW I will like a game that's about to come out, I'll read a few reviews to make sure I wasn't totally off the mark, then buy it blind. - ruded0g, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2I should also add, that you hear a lot of sites and print publishers state their ad revenue is handled by a separate part of the company/site. However I will tell you that the editors/reviews don't want to loose that special relationship they have with the pub/dev and those closed invites they get. Give a bad review you don't get that sneak peak next time.
That is why with any game you should always wait and see what the community is saying before buying or like the game I mentioned (ok didn't actually mention the name) above, wait for the 3rd or 4th patch before purchasing. This way you get a game that is fixed (the way it should have been released) for 1/2 the price. - SpectreFire, on 06/03/2008, -2/+4Because you can't torrent games for consoles? Or at least, without modding your console. Not to mention the fact that it's illegal.
Pirating video games is bad, because unlike music, developers have no avenues of income. They can't go on tour, or sell loads of merchandise to make up the lost revenue. A really good game, that sells bad because everyone torrents it, can literally wreck the developer, and prevent them from making any more games. - ChileanGoD, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2drugs, prostitution, forced labor = dirty buisness
Child trafficking = A ***** crime against humanity.... you heartless scumbag. - maxsunset, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2You are so naive and full of ***** it's amazing.
- silverbulletky, on 06/03/2008, -1/+3Ahh.. it wasn't that bad.. I just had my expectations so high that I was a little disappointed
- int10h, on 06/03/2008, -0/+2That's because they are not dependent on getting exclusive reviews. However when it comes to gaming magazines these days, I can't see many reasons to buy one except reading an exclusive review/interview that you can't find on the net.
- YellowSnowDemon, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Only one of those games got a 10. :3
- Kwipper, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Play a demo of the game, if there is no demo, pirate it. If you like it, buy it and spread the word. If it's crap, don't buy it and tell everyone! Simple.
- morninglorii, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Pool (which is awesome and fairly in-depth, especially for a mini game), QUB3D (which I actually love and have played for a long time), darts (simple but fun), and bowling (the worst of the four, but still not bad)... four minigames within one big game is hardly a "complete lack".
- Aensland, on 06/03/2008, -1/+2The market "correcting itself" doesn't always work, especially in a high entry barrier industry, if it's dominated by a monopoly / consortium which is in their own interests to keep screwing people over. Like say, Big Oil.
- Rikkochet, on 06/03/2008, -1/+2They don't have to silence your voice of truth and reason.
Every idiot screaming about a fictitious injustice gets bored and goes away when they realize no one is listening to them. - inactive, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1The entire game industry is really a dirty business. Few gamers see what really goes on behind closed doors. The constant corporate espionage, the attempt to steal game designers from one company to another (to take ideas), tons of other muck.
Most gamers think it's probably a wonderful thing working "in the biz", but it's no longer the 1980's, now it's all ran by money grubbing sharks who, some, could give 2 ***** and a ***** about the "fun" of the game. - smashingmonkey, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Yeah, never any deranged fanboy slant on those...
- inactive, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Thats why i get my reviews from 3 three greats ! Me , Myself and I !!!!
But seriously when i'm in doubt i tune into X Paly with Adam and Morgan ! - smashingmonkey, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1In fact, most big console games don't get downloadable demos.
- Modestexcuse, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1I agree, I buy the ones that I know I'll like. Halo 3, Rainbow 6 Vegas 2, GTA IV, usually sequels. When it comes to new games, like for the PS3 I bought, I'm not going to spend $50 on Haze, not knowing how good it is. All of the game reviewers give it a poor rating. I will spend the $5 to rent it, which will be worth saving $45 in the long run.
- mgalvin, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Reviews are often planted too (get friends and famliy to write good reviews on Amazon to inflate your ratings). The idea is to find people/reviewers who will give it a good review and let them write the reviews. It's not about if it is good or not. It is about getting evey sucker to buy it regardless of its quality. ITs all about the bottom line.... money. Some are good and some are not. The publisher will do eveything they can to distort and bend the truth/law to get a good review including paying (often non-trival amounts of money) for a positive review. Competitors will also try to plant negative reviews. You can't believe anything you hear/read anymore. Try it out via demo/rent and only pay/buy it if *YOU* like it.
- keviniskool, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1Of course you can. Get a car and a rocket launcher. Best golf ever.
- seobro, on 06/05/2008, -0/+1I actually created video games and finding people to review the game was hard work. Most publishers want to sell you ad space, but even if you are spending $200,000/mo for ad space they still claim that they are too busy to review your gane. Actually, sending them a chopped down game, with only a few levels would be easy.
A friend of mine who created several top selling video games got one of his games blasted by reviewers.. This is such a dirty biz. Don't get me started on not getting royalty checks. - tehjabba, on 06/04/2008, -0/+1I'd sooner trust a review by the publisher, than reviews by fanboys, haters and wannabe reviewers.
- Spoomeister, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1"Game reviews, and the process of writing them, is a scramble to get the first review out —an exclusive if possible—in order to get the most readers to sell the most ads"
In related news, water is wet. - Wargasmic, on 06/03/2008, -0/+1OVER 9000 HOURS.
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