Critics Suffering From "Look At Me" Syndrome
View Large ImageThis pic is a visual example of what too many video game critics have been doing as of late: using a gimmick to get more people to read their article.
In this particular case, I'm talking about issuing a review that clearly contrasts sharply with the norm, thereby causing a big ruckus and generating plenty of traffic for the author's website. We are in a unique position in this industry, in that the vast majority of journalism happens in the virtual realm and further, most all sites depend on traffic for revenue. In other words, the more people that read our stuff, the better chance we have at getting more money in our wallets. That's just how the game - pun intended - is played. But with so many new and smaller gaming sites out there desperate for attention; desperate to draw a few of the millions away from GameSpot and IGN, I've noticed that some so-called "critics" are using review scores as THE gimmick.
Thing is, in the virtual world, gamers talk a lot about the industry in thousands of forums around the Internet and if you think this doesn't have an impact on traffic, you're out of your mind. Therefore, the winning formula appears to be simple: take a game that everyone seems to love and either give it a much lower-than-normal overall score or simply write an article denouncing it entirely. This serves two purposes: 1. it brings in the aforementioned traffic simply due to the controversy it creates, and 2. the elitist principle that too many critics already suffer from comes to light. We gaming vets are quite familiar with this principle. It's the rule that says "I know more than you, so I'm going to tell you why everyone else is wrong about this." Unfortunately, they're forgetting they're not serving the gaming public correctly by doing this.
I hate to do this, but for the time being, I almost have to recommend that gamers toss out the statistical outliers when it comes to review scores if they come from a lesser known source. The gigantic sites almost have no need for such gimmicks anymore, but those are really the only ones who are immune. When we gave Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 a 8.9, the Comments section exploded. And while the score was hardly given for that purpose, we knew it was going to happen and I'm positive reviewers from sites you've never heard of are writing their reviews for the express purpose of getting attention. Now, maybe you clicked through to this article because of the hot chick and if so, well...you get where I'm going. Just be careful about the scores and make sure you read the actual text.
You may find that while most all critics gave the game a 9 or above, this one gave it a 7, but the complaints as to why it got a 7 are either amazingly thin or just plain fabricated. Scores have a huge impact in this industry, and traffic has a huge impact on websites. If you put two and two together, you get a problem that I think you should be aware of. Just thought I'd throw this out there.
11/20/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (79 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:37:51 PM
6 up, 0 down
phudge_supreemz
Wednesday, November 25, 2009 @ 11:44:37 AM
0 up, 0 down
iGraves1
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 9:52:34 PM
Reply
Last edited by iGraves1 on 11/20/2009 9:59:01 PM
2 up, 0 down
LegendaryWolfeh
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:25:59 PM
2 up, 0 down
mexgeo86
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:00:37 PM
3 up, 0 down
Naztycuts
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 9:58:51 PM
Reply
4 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:40:20 PM
1 up, 0 down
Naztycuts
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 12:59:04 AM
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:30:38 AM
Nice image with this article, did I notice a slightly higher pixels count...?
;)
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:57:45 PM
1 up, 2 down
Charger7302
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 9:59:54 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
ed_winchester
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 6:17:06 AM
1 up, 0 down
Alienange
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:13:27 PM
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2 up, 0 down
Gone
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:33:07 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
TGG
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:21:15 PM
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:42:41 PM
0 up, 0 down
coverton341
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:38:55 PM
Reply
By the way stop by our website for our super early exclusive reviews of some hotly anticipated games like Gran Turismo 5 which gets a 4.7 for being unoriginal. I mean come on you drove around tracks in the first one. INNOVATE PEOPLE! Also, look for our 3.4 review of God Of War 3. More like God of lame 3 if you ask me.
GO TO OUR SITE! WE NEED MONEY!
21 up, 0 down
Banky A
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 2:44:23 AM
3 up, 0 down
www
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 4:49:46 AM
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 10:44:31 PM
Reply
And reviewers often use cliches like "it doesn't innovate" to hammer solid games like Uncharted 2 or "it's just a movie" to attack MGS4 while they never again use these while reviewing things that they "ought" to like. Such as Halo ODST. Not to mention the times where they will give a good game a good score but smash it to bits in the text of the review because it insn't on both consoles or their fave console. Fanboyism runs deep.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 11/20/2009 10:45:30 PM
11 up, 0 down
Poor_boy
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:27:30 PM
3 up, 0 down
Solid Fantasy
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:39:57 PM
0 up, 0 down
Poor_boy
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:00:14 PM
Reply
Also, I think that critics need to maybe change their formulas in how they grade a game 'cuz it traps them in a sort of cacoon (metaphorically). How will they go about grading a game like Heavy Rain? The formula that is used for a conventional game won't obviously work and I bet a lot of critics who thinks traditionally will not get the game.
Ultimately though, if you're a real gamer, you shouldn't be basing you purchasing decision off of numbers alone. Rent or borrow it, nobody's stopping ya.
1 up, 0 down
therabbitkinge
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:38:21 PM
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I think I can safely speak for most of us who frequently hit psxextreme and say I've never really seen a review score that seemed biased or just made to attract our attention and both Ben and Arnold never fail to respond to those of us that get pissed at any review so yeah...
I don't think the issue lies with you guys here and I hope something like it never happens here given the fact that psx has been the primary influence for all my recent purchases in the gaming universe (and soon the automobile universe thanks to Arnold) ^_^
6 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:41:39 PM
So that explains all of THAT. Heh. ;)
5 up, 0 down
___________
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:39:16 PM
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im still yet to read a review that puts AC2 higher than MW2 even though AC2 is 10 times the better game, it TROUNCES! MW2 in almost every aspect.
the only things MW2 has on AC2 is it has online MP and the graphics maybe slightly better that ones debatable.
most sites just follow the trend and hop onto the hype train, how games like halo ODST and MW2 can get a average score of 9 but than games that are much,much,much better get the same average score.
if MW2 deserves a 9/10 than R&C deserves a 10/10.
but hey i seriously wish the industry would shut up and stop with this hype train BS.
they run there mouths off about a game like its the second coming of christ of course im going to be disappointed by it.
KZ2 prime example, not saying its bad, but jesus fu***ng christ! that game was getting 2 articles a day on almost every site 2 weeks before release there was so much hype it was impossible for the game to meet it.
you know its funny the games the industry does not really talk about are the ones i enjoy most.
bayonetta, R&C ACIT, inFAMOUS, batman AA.
there all the games i enjoyed the most, because there was no expectations to go up against.
50 bucks says if i heard nothing about KZ2, if i did not know the game existed i just happened to walk in and buy it i would of shat my pants.
but thanks to the industry it ended up being a massive disappointment.
game journalists are not helping the industry there job is to preview games and give us and the developers feedback.
not hype them up like their the second coming of christ.
2 up, 6 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:40:46 PM
12 up, 0 down
aaronisbla
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 3:36:15 AM
Don't like the articles that some big name releases are getting on a daily basis? Then stop reading said articles, its simple really
1 up, 0 down
___________
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 7:43:21 AM
out of how many reviews?
and the thing i dont understand is scores are subjective what someone deducts half a point for, another may deduct 1 point.
but what i dont understand is 99% of reviews i read do not state whats wrong with the game, they go through praising it stating what they liked and mentioning no faults.
like good game, they gave R&C ACIT a 8 and the reason it lost 2 points?
because it had to much crate bashing.
they took off 2 points for that.
1 up, 4 down
TGG
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 11:58:14 PM
Reply
Scores in the Olympics are important. Scores in the games industry aren't. I see review scores as completely arbitrary anyways so I really don't care if someone gives MGS4 a 6. There certainly are bad things about MGS4.
0 up, 0 down
Detroyer 1250
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 12:12:25 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
aaronisbla
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 3:38:30 AM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 2:02:54 PM
Have you ever played Zelda?
Ever loved dark themes? zombies? knights? ninjas? Samurais?
This game's got it all!
0 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 2:03:21 PM
2 up, 0 down
Detroyer 1250
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 12:16:20 AM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Kangasfwa
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 12:41:53 AM
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Highlander
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:49:28 AM
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Last edited by Highlander on 11/21/2009 1:50:58 AM
1 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 4:18:07 AM
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Gamespot gave it a 8.0 which really got a WTF from me.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 11/21/2009 4:20:48 AM
1 up, 0 down
www
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 4:53:10 AM
1 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 5:28:07 AM
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Regardless of what score it actually deserve.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 11/21/2009 5:28:40 AM
1 up, 0 down
ed_winchester
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 6:08:58 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 6:18:33 AM
But he still get bashed even though he explained himself.
1 up, 0 down
ArnoldK PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 11:54:48 AM
I had my flame suit on and everything, but almost everyone, except for 3 or 4, agreed. I was shocked.
2 up, 0 down
Ves
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 6:11:31 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Abidan13
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 7:50:30 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Abidan13
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 7:52:53 AM
::applauds::
0 up, 1 down
DemonNeno
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 8:04:25 AM
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To be honest, I don't care what the ratings are, personally, I'm more inclined to jump into a review looking for bugs/glitches/crashes/screen tearing on multiple sites, in the comments and on the forums. As a avid PC gamer who spent Sub-$50 for games, it's hard to swallow a $60+ price tag for glitchy games.
I do enjoy your site Ben. I think what you do here is very clean and unbiased. I'm glad your audience are mostly adult-ish with their comments and not total "xbox360 suxxxx1"-type spammers. I guess with great work comes great followers!
3 up, 0 down
JackC8
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 8:04:31 AM
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I think a far bigger problem is reviewers giving games high scores because A) they're a fanboy of the franchise B) if they give it a bad review, they'll anger millions of their fanboy readers who may go to another site, taking money out of their pockets, and C) all the hype preceding a game's release inflates the score - "Oh my god, I'm playing the game I've dreamed of playing for the last three months, I'm really doing this!!!"
In the end, what really matters is that you find a reviewer that you tend to agree with. When I go to a new site, I read a few reviews of games I liked, and a few of games I didn't like. If I find I disagree with the reviewer, then what use are his opinions to me? It would be like asking my 17 year old daughter what CD I should buy.
1 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 2:01:50 PM
You're also overplaying the "fanboy" element. That may be the only thing people talk about in forums but most reviewers (PROFESSIONAL reviewers) don't fall prey to this. It's just their job. This is ANOTHER reason I don't think you should automatically trust questionable reviews from smaller sites.
3 up, 0 down
Slimcere
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 8:50:57 AM
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As you know by now they gave it a 9.5 but that's not the point here, they gave the graphics a 10 as in the same 10 they gave to UC2. I don't know about you guys but to me that's incredible misleading.
Then the same site (although admittedly not the same reviewer) gave the graphics for the GOW collection an 8.0 stating that the graphics had nothing on Uncharted 2.
Which makes me question the validity of the site to compare a PS2 ports(although upscaled) to the BEST looking game this generation but not keep up this practice to the most hyped game this generation seems a little unfair and inconsistent don't you think?
By the way this isn't a swipe at COD as regardless of graphics it's a fun and VERY addictive game and currently the only game I'm playing.( sorry for the rant)
4 up, 0 down
www
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 10:38:23 AM
1 up, 0 down
pavlovic
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 9:07:19 AM
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Terrible short single player campaign
Somewhat fun Special ops
Good and fun multiplayer.
Average graphics (a lot of reviewers gave 10 on this particular category, seems like they didn't play KZ2 or U2:AT, both games easily tops MW2 graphics)
As much fun as I have with MW2, it's a 8.5 for me.
2 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 9:30:08 AM
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Strangely enough these "biased" reviews peaked when Uncharted 2, Halo: ODST and Modern Warfare II hit this year. I think it's due to the severe contrasting issues that reviewers try to make out without realizing they can't find "middle-ground"
Halo: ODST:
Same graphics, different storyline no vast improvement.
The positive - Although there's no originality but 2 year old graphics are "nostalgic"
The negative - Too short
Final Tally: 9.0
Uncharted 2:
Re-done the whole game from graphics/gameplay/cinematics/length/sound
The positive - Updated engine, mass improvement.
Negative - No originality.
Final Tally: 9.5
Modern Warfare 2:
Few improvements, poor storyline, just another sequel, no originality...
The positive - 5 + million sales on the first day.
The negative - Did not meet 10 billion on the first day.
Final Tally: GOTY.
Last edited by Ricochet on 11/21/2009 9:30:41 AM
9 up, 0 down
Buckeyestar
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 9:50:17 AM
Reply
1 up, 2 down
FlyingKickPunch
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 11:59:17 AM
4 up, 1 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:59:13 PM
People are just going to have to accept this. It's easy to say "oh, it's just opinion," because firstly, it means anybody can write a review and analyze a game (WRONG) and secondly, it essentially renders all reviews meaningless.
Bullsh**.
4 up, 0 down
leatherface
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 4:04:55 PM
2 up, 0 down
Thinker
Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 5:07:15 AM
I disagree. A professional review SHOULD NOT BE just an opinion. It should be a carefully reasoned out judgement of a game based on the game's apparent merits and demerits. The reviewer is not writing for just himself/herself (or for a particular fanbase), he/she is giving a professional assessment of the game as a whole for the entire gaming community.
An opinion of a game would be valid only on a personal blog.
Last edited by Thinker on 11/22/2009 5:09:05 AM
1 up, 0 down
BTNwarrior
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 11:19:04 AM
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2 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 1:17:02 PM
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0 up, 0 down
KevinCairo
Saturday, November 21, 2009 @ 11:59:51 PM
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1 up, 2 down
KevinCairo
Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 10:11:32 AM
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps1-news/597.html
http://www.psxextreme.com/feature/378.html
0 up, 0 down
PeteBloodyOnion
Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 12:37:58 AM
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Why ppl whine about MW2 lack of originality?
Seriously? Did you expect a RPG?
Heck! What do you expect from GT5? or the famous GOW3?
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 5:37:03 AM
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0 up, 0 down
just2skillf00l
Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 3:43:15 PM
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Did you not read or even notice Ben's honest review of Assassin's Creed before flaunting around your fragile opinion?
First of all, COD MW2 got so much hype because it has been around for a while now. It only takes a grain a thought to realize that a franchise with hyped predecessors will have hyped future generation titles!
Second point, all those games you listed as your most enjoyed were all in a sense "experimental titles". Batman AA, Bayonetta, and Infamous are all the start of something new. Meaning they have no prequels for anyone to recognize them or be familiar with. Rationally, the safe choice when deciding which games to purchase is to go with a title that is already successful. Although a narrow-minded decision, people will always get what they want, and usually not much more in terms of the experience obtained.
Lastly, who says these three titles (aren't)/(didn't) (getting)/(get) that much attention or hype. I knew about the release of Batman AA and I'm sure many others did too before its giant release date back in August. Infamous was a great title as well and was very successful and renown before its release if I'm not mistaken. Bayonetta is a game I have heard a great deal about as well. If you frequent this site you'll see that it gets a lot of attention.
The issue you are facing is trying to compare your most enjoyed titles with a legendary beast like the COD franchise. COD, the title alone accumulates its own hype. You can't compare a new exclusive that no one has ever heard of before and two relatively new multiplatform titles with no predecessor/s to a world renown beast like COD. You just can't do that. Not to say that these titles hold no comparison gameplay-wise (because they surely do). But they haven't made a mark on the gaming community to really earn the hype COD itself has obtained over the years.
Please "NO-NAME" think next time BEFORE you jot down some non-sense.
P.S-If you actually read Ben's and Arnold's reviews (not just look at the scores) you might understand how it earned that score.)
Last edited by just2skillf00l on 11/22/2009 3:47:36 PM
2 up, 0 down
JPBooch
Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 10:15:00 AM
Yes, anyone can write a review. It's a free country. I'm sure you don't have a license to write game reviews.
But, a journalism background, knowledge and experience of the field, and artistic flair will get your reviews recognized and accepted. Thus creating a following and web hits, notariety and what not.
I happened to like your reviews by the way.
0 up, 0 down
JPBooch
Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 9:47:42 AM
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I've taken exception to a few things written on this site and I've spoken up about it.
As far as posting a low score just for web hits, well I briefly toiled on a gaming site as a contributor and there is definetely a fine line there. Create interest and comments, but not to the point where you aren't taken seriously anymore.
The industry is very fast paced and I give credit to Ben and Arnold on staying on top of stories as they develop and actually publishing something worth reading.
Last edited by JPBooch on 11/23/2009 10:05:41 AM
1 up, 0 down
Sir Shak
Reply
Friday, November 20, 2009 @ 9:41:25 PM