Video Game Critics Turning Into Attention Whores
See Full ImageOnline journalism is relatively new, and as we all know, it doesn't play by the same rules as print journalism. It should, of course, but realistically speaking, it almost can't. And now, the latest negative trend is clearly beginning to affect game reviewers across the 'Net.
Anybody can discover the trend for themselves, if they're even the slightest bit observant. Here's the only example you need- Game X scores a 9.5 from one source, a 9.0 from another, and after maybe a dozen total reviews, it's averaging a 9.2 or something like that. Then, one source gives it a 7.0. ...now, regardless of the source's size, reliability or affiliation, that source can expect a ton of attention for delivering a review score that's in such stark contrast to the standard average. And what does attention translate to on the Internet? Traffic. Visibility. Growth. Money. Typically, this might not be an issue if the savvy reader and consumer would be smart enough to gauge the situation and then respond appropriately. But lately, many gamers are - for whatever reason - treating the lone dissenting critical voice as the lone voice of reason. Their logic operates in reverse. They actually believe that the one reviewer is probably "telling it like it is," and everyone else is just a "fanboy" or "paid off."
The "paid off" thing is rarely an issue - we dealt with that during the GameSpot/Gerstmann/Eidos fiasco - but this ordeal where reviewers who issue greatly differing scores from the norm...well, it's starting to become irritating. Just look at the headlines for the day whenever this happens. Nobody is going to even notice the site that gave GTAIV a 9.5, but everyone will notice the site that gave it a 8. The same goes for just about any major blockbuster release, and as far as we can see, this trend is only going to get worse. With so many "critics" realizing that there's a tried-and-true method of garnering major attention/traffic, the controversial reviews will continue to assault the Internet. We're not about to squash differing opinions and we're not about to say that a big difference of opinion is automatically manufactured or artificial. Sure, it could be legitimate. The critic really might believe Killzone 2 is only worth an 8, or something. And he'll try to prove it.
But that's not what's happening. Instead, we're getting poorly written and completely ignorant reviews that are specifically designed to attract attention. This is going to cause some serious problems, because lest we forget, critics have a responsibility. They have a responsibility to the gamer. Most gamers do their research and aren't willing to drop their hard-earned cash unless they get some professional feedback first, and succumbing to the "gotta get traffic!" trend is only going to hurt the consumer. So all this being said, we leave you with this: be very wary of reviews that give a high-profile game a significantly different overall score than most sources. Critics in other entertainment industries are guilty of this same trend, too, but the vast majority of game reviews are online. And online, we have immense website competition...just be careful, people.
1/21/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (46 posts)
Shadow_Ninja
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 10:52:41 PM
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ive been here for a couple of months now but bearly subscribed. i like the way this site manages the videogame industrial news and is not a fanboy site (IMO). you got my support ben.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 12:51:53 AM
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GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 10:53:19 PM
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I especially disliked Gamespots review of rachet and clank future: tools of destruction. Never have I seen someone say that the game is very good then give it a 7.5. Never, that is, until that terrible review.
Last edited by GuernicaReborn on 1/21/2009 10:53:51 PM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 12:52:31 AM
He's not at GS anymore, btw...
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Arvis
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 10:24:36 AM
Btw, X-play did something similar in their review of Wii Music. It went something like this: "This game is pointless! It's not really even a video game! The music quality is bad and there is nothing competitive about it! If you want to play a video game, DON'T play this! Final Score: 3/5."
I was like, wth?
-Arvis
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N a S a H
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 2:56:37 PM
I think, MAYBE he might have just told you who Aaron is. No?
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Itdoesntmatter
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 11:07:24 PM
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chicko1983
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 11:16:32 PM
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My advice is to experience the game for yourself, either by borrowing from a friend, a demo, or hiring the game before reading reviews so that you can form your own opinion of the game.
I wouldnt buy a game soley based on review scores and only look at reviews after I have played the game for myself.
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Sir Shak
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 11:16:32 PM
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Last edited by Sir Shak on 1/21/2009 11:17:37 PM
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GuernicaReborn
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 11:28:48 PM
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KevinCairo
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 12:04:14 AM
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Arvis
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 10:28:56 AM
"Peter Jackson's send off is a bore-fest? Yeah, 11 Academy Awards say you're an idiot..."
-Arvis
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somethingrandom
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 1:06:28 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 1:23:08 AM
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Sir Shak
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 1:57:20 AM
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Qubex
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 2:12:01 AM
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If the game genre doesn't appeal to you, or you know already that that style of game play mechanic will not suite you, don't bother wasting your time... If you are sorely dissappointed in it, simply because you knew already you probably won't like it; it is very easy then to take that dissappointed aggressively online onto forums and blogs and spread the poison on that particular title... which should not have occurred to begin with...
For example, the problems with the Orange Box... a lot of people moaned about that, especially here... but it was justified in that technically, for what you were paying for, it failed to deliver; unacceptable when the IP in general is so good on other platforms, but on the PS3 it did not live up to what it should have... so by moaning about it, are we then guilty of spreading the poison, hurting sales etc; or are we being realistic, objective and right in what was said? I guess it requires a fine balance to get true judgment and criticism right...
Q!
"i aM hOMe"
Last edited by Qubex on 1/22/2009 2:20:03 AM
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www
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 6:19:01 AM
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Recently,it's Eurogamer,given Prince of Persia 6/10,when most sites including PSX,IGN etc,giving it above 9/10.
Though i sometimes feel Eurogamer's 6/10 for PoP might be right,i think it shoulda been 7 or 8,cause am finding PoP kinda repetitive and boring,honestly.
i don't know if PoP devs were copycattin' OKAMI,one of the most brilliant water-colour painted games on ps2.Okami had content,you would come across ppl in a town,help them out with their troubles,take part in fishing,heal lands etc,but with PoP it's just basically healing lands,i don't see any residents/animals after healing the lands just butterflies.
I still find okami's art a masterpiece,PoP's art is like a simple drawing and colour,Okami was kinda like a real free-sketch painting.
Okami was a classic no wonder it was repeated on the Wii just like Resident Evil 4.It's sad most didn't pay Okami much attention.
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mastiffchild
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 6:28:58 AM
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I commented virtually the same thing a coupla times now and, honestly, wouldf trust a 360 specific site reviewing Killzones2 over Variety, GR, GD, Kotaku etc, etc-even IGN who I usually trust implicitly went down slightly in my estimation for giving out a ten to GTA4.
AAAH GS try more these days to be fair but the will to see Sony exclusives tank(esp KZ2) IS palpable and , no, it doesn't happen with 360 exclusives.
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Arcane Altair
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 7:33:09 AM
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It's pretty sad to see it happening, but hopefully most gamers are smart enough to see it as a pathetic chance to try and get attention.
What sucks is that most fanboys will just use them to start more controversy.
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Buckeyestar
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 7:51:15 AM
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PS3_Wizard
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 8:41:48 AM
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Buckeyestar
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 8:47:34 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 10:31:55 AM
There are most certainly quantifiable aspects of a video game, regardless of opinion. I don't care who you are or what you like; the graphics in MGS4 or superior to the graphics in Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire. Using those two games, the control is also a whole lot better in one than in the other. One can also quantify sound quality, depth, and sometimes, even pacing, character development, etc.
The idea that everything is just "opinion" in a review of any kind is just liberal propaganda. "Oh, HE likes it so it's good to HIM." Bull crap. Just because someone prefers a Big Mac to a fine cut of filet mignon doesn't make the Big Mac a superior piece of meat.
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JofaMang
Friday, January 23, 2009 @ 10:15:03 AM
If by Maxim, we are referring to the mens magazine, then there has to be an exaggerated super-machismo filter all their articles get put through. A review from them might be an honest critical review... from their hyperbolic point of view. Not all sites are allowed to be so narrow in their focus, especially if they espouse a general "Gamer" point of view, as opposed to "FanBoi", of course.
A Playstation3 specific site (or a 360/Wii site, for that matter) would have a perspective indicative of the culture or preferences guiding the console's community. If that community is based upon super ego and blind support for their choice, and broad disdain for the competitors, then there is to be expected certain biases.
Just like anything on the internet, content is not to be trusted or believed without risk. The risk is lessened or alleviated through due diligence. To take anything on the internet at face value is to invite the repercussions of naivety. Any disappointment surely to follow is well earned~
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Fenrir
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 8:43:37 AM
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Dustinwp
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 8:43:44 AM
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ThePoetRazel
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 8:57:16 AM
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On a side note, i've noticed that since a few PSXE articles defending PS3 against "haters" got into the PS Blog's "What we read" section, PSXE has tended to produce more of these such articles. Or might it have something to do with the face that those articles usually get far more comments?
I guess everyone in the media bends to public demand in 1 way or another. And it's easy to slip that one extra degree off course.
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Qubex
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 9:07:45 AM
Q
"i Am Home"
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Scarecrow
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 9:03:09 AM
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Buuuuuuuuuuuut if I were to review it I wouldn't give it less than a 9. See that's the thing I can put my opinion aside and understand that overall it's a great game.
Guys you still remember some sites giving MGS4 8s and sh*t? Seriously moronic bastards :D
Anyway all I care 'bout is psxextreme's review.
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Orvisman
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 9:08:58 AM
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I'll trust OPMs 5/5 reviews for both games before I trust Maxim, especially with all the universal love coming down for both games from game sites and mags.
Either the reviewer isn't a real gamer or he didn't even play the games.
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kidgrid
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 9:37:36 AM
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Naga
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 9:55:49 AM
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But really giving a horrible mediocre game a higher score than Killzone 2 is ultimately pathetic. 50 Cent the talentless moron from popular Music channels must be proud as the review was based on 18 horrible tracks not gameplay now that's bull"***.
And Finally!! If this Sonata Arctica game Winterheart's Guild (PC only D: ) is finally released will this huge fan of the greatest band ever write Screw Elder Scrolls V this game owns all.
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Sir Shak
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 10:16:46 AM
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coverton341
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 11:09:11 AM
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Final Score: 2/10
LOOK AT MEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to be the next big thing.
Last edited by coverton341 on 1/22/2009 11:09:42 AM
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King James
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 12:42:43 PM
Last edited by King James on 1/22/2009 12:43:00 PM
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coverton341
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 1:11:38 PM
(thanks M$ for the new car)
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King James
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 1:36:41 PM
(At gamestop)
Yeah, I wanna pre-order Halo Wars. Yeah, I wanna cancel my Killzone 2 reserve and transfer it to Halo Wars. And can I purchase advance tickets to the Gears of Wars Movie here?
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Gogaku
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 12:16:04 PM
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If I were to review GTAIV (based on the earlier installations, I haven't actually tried the 4th one) I would probably recognize some good parts, but I don't find the game style that appealing and I just don't have fun while playing it. Meaning that my review would probably be scored lower than most other reviews of the game. Is that wrong then?
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Deleted User
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 2:37:04 PM
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I'm angered more by certain major gaming/gadget websites who employ "journalists" who are nothing more than glorified bloggers who have a huge amount of bias against the PS3. I don't need to mention the names; you know who I'm talking about. I like all three consoles and while in a blog I would say the PS3 is my favorite, as a journalist I shouldn't say or imply it because I have a sense of responsibility to the reader to not take sides.
Surprised to hear that Aaron Thomas is gone. I guess even CBS Entertainment knew he was too controversial.
Last edited by n/a on 1/22/2009 2:37:34 PM
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Deadman
Thursday, January 22, 2009 @ 7:01:17 PM
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Gabriel013
Friday, January 23, 2009 @ 1:10:18 AM
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If the reviewer is saying the pop up scenery is unforgivable and another says the pop up is bad but bearably why shouldn't this lead to two widely different scores? I've seen average review scores for some games which I absolutely DO NOT agree with and would have scored differently and franchise loyalty could very well have tainted general opinion.
Look at it this way, if you are reviewing a game and general internet opinion is that it's a 9 should you taint your own review so as not to look like attention whores? I'd rather give it the score I think it deserves and ignore scores given by all other reviewers.
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rell
Friday, January 23, 2009 @ 2:33:29 PM
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rell
Friday, January 23, 2009 @ 2:33:30 PM
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bamf
Saturday, January 24, 2009 @ 8:37:30 AM
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I do think a review is mostly opinion based. OK so you can get a game like MGS and say its visually better than anything else, but is that fact or opinion based. There is no special tools that are used to measure graphical quality in games, only a reviewers eyes. So this is why you'll see different score ratings for gfx for the same game because those reviewers in their own opinions are giving the score to how good they think the gfx are.
Some will say that Gears 2 has the best visuals over MGS, so this becomes argumuntative between both games to which looks better. So is it opinion or fact?
MGS is game of the year to many people and to me but I can understand those gamers who played MGS and didn't like it.
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ps92117
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Wednesday, January 21, 2009 @ 10:49:33 PM