kotaku.com— There are some of you out there who love the way writers and publishers handle video game reviews. This article is not for you.
Oct 31, 2007View in Crawl 4
I remember when X-Play (save your boos) talked about this. They basically said exactly what he said about the number system, obviously this isn't a direct quote, but they said something along the lines of:5 means practically perfect, 4 means almost perfect but had a problem or two, 3 is good but not great, 2 is mediocre and 1 is terrible don't waste your time.We only go out of 5 and don't use half points. Why do we use this? Because the point of these reviews is to give you overview of if we think a game is good or bad, why bother with a 2.45 vs a 2.75 out of 10? Both games obivously suck with scores like that, why does it matter if one sucks slightly less?
Computer Gaming World (now Games for Windows) tried removing scores and got such a large amount of criticism for it that they returned to the number grading system within the same year.
As a writer and a video game reviewer on a popular website's payroll, I've gotta say that I really connect with this article. I particularly loved the bit about a score. For the longest time, I refrained from even giving a game a score. Why? Because you know that 99% of people out there are just going to look at the score, make a ttwo-second decision as to whether or not the game is any good, and then leave. I'd rather people reading my reviews get my full opinion, because a number is just a rational personificiation of a very abstract, complex idea. Even if that means a decrease in actual readers, I'd prefer for my readers to get an accurate view of what I really thought of the game. Even once I did start scoring, I used only a final score -- none of this "breakdown" that so many people use. And, while this may seem a minute difference to some, I chose to label my ten score "Flawless" -- not "Perfect". It's focusing on what the game doesn't have (flaws), rather than saying that EVERY ASPECT of the entire game is perfect. In addition, I hand out a perfect 10 rather liberally -- not to every half-ass game that comes out, but I don't hesitate to give a 10 to a game that deserves it.
It's like saying "I got this really awesome George Foreman grill for as a gift, but all i have to cook on it is the nasty salsbury steak we were served as kids in high school."
cyber_akumaOct 31, 2007
I remember when X-Play (save your boos) talked about this. They basically said exactly what he said about the number system, obviously this isn't a direct quote, but they said something along the lines of:5 means practically perfect, 4 means almost perfect but had a problem or two, 3 is good but not great, 2 is mediocre and 1 is terrible don't waste your time.We only go out of 5 and don't use half points. Why do we use this? Because the point of these reviews is to give you overview of if we think a game is good or bad, why bother with a 2.45 vs a 2.75 out of 10? Both games obivously suck with scores like that, why does it matter if one sucks slightly less?
xnaquadaNov 1, 2007
The sun is bright... and hot.
medheadNov 1, 2007
Computer Gaming World (now Games for Windows) tried removing scores and got such a large amount of criticism for it that they returned to the number grading system within the same year.
bluej33Nov 8, 2007
As a writer and a video game reviewer on a popular website's payroll, I've gotta say that I really connect with this article. I particularly loved the bit about a score. For the longest time, I refrained from even giving a game a score. Why? Because you know that 99% of people out there are just going to look at the score, make a ttwo-second decision as to whether or not the game is any good, and then leave. I'd rather people reading my reviews get my full opinion, because a number is just a rational personificiation of a very abstract, complex idea. Even if that means a decrease in actual readers, I'd prefer for my readers to get an accurate view of what I really thought of the game. Even once I did start scoring, I used only a final score -- none of this "breakdown" that so many people use. And, while this may seem a minute difference to some, I chose to label my ten score "Flawless" -- not "Perfect". It's focusing on what the game doesn't have (flaws), rather than saying that EVERY ASPECT of the entire game is perfect. In addition, I hand out a perfect 10 rather liberally -- not to every half-ass game that comes out, but I don't hesitate to give a 10 to a game that deserves it.
darthgohan1Nov 8, 2007
I've heard people say this before, and I believe in it as well... but at least the idea got some major publicity now.
t00lb0xJan 2, 2008
It's like saying "I got this really awesome George Foreman grill for as a gift, but all i have to cook on it is the nasty salsbury steak we were served as kids in high school."
t00lb0xJan 2, 2008
oops i posted the above in the wrong story pls bury it