Topware Blacklisting Pubs That Didn't Like Two Worlds II?
Two Worlds IIWe didn't think Two Worlds II was a bad game. In fact, we found it to be a huge improvement over the original.
But evidently, we may have been in for a reprimand had we not enjoyed it, and we once again find ourselves contemplating the seedier side of video game reviewing. According to one of Beefjack's "trusted sources," the PR team of TopWare is "blacklisting publications who have awarded the game a middling or low score." It seems an e-mail to one British journalist said the company was "disappointed" and called the publication's bad score "insulting." In fact, they warned that if the score wasn't upped to at least a 7, the publication would be removed from TopWare's press list. What's worse is that TopWare hasn't yet publicly responded publicly, and CVG contacted Beefjack with similar evidence: TopWare has apparently threatened to pull out of a big advertising deal with a certain website due to a low score for Two Worlds II.
The PR person in question allegedly said the review was "mean-spirited" and asked for it to be rewritten. Now, you may have seen our full-page Two Worlds II ad but I will clarify for everyone right now that if we had given the game a lower score, and we had received similar "pull-out" threats...well, we'd probably rewrite the review with a lower score. We won't be bullied. Just sayin'.
Related Game(s): Two Worlds II
Tags: two worlds ii, topware, two worlds iii, two worlds sequel
2/21/2011 8:46:46 PM Ben Dutka
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Comments (28 posts)
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 2:19:14 AM
Other small companies make great downloadable games, but they've given us an rpg that is an open world bigger than any other game I've played. It has more options than any other rpg that has come out this gen, and it does a lot of things well.
The thing that bugs me is that when a game like GTA4 has graphical glitches I hear, "Well it's a big sandbox game, you can't not have those." However when a lesser name game has an issue, people act like it's the worst thing ever.
Granted the screen tearing and graphical issues are much worse in Two Worlds 2 than GTA, but I'd take Two worlds 2 over GTA4 any day. It may not be top dollar polished, but it's hard core rpg and its a lot of fun.
5 up, 0 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 8:20:41 AM
You nailed it.
Last edited by maxpontiac on 2/22/2011 8:20:53 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 9:37:04 PM
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Still, a small part of me sympathizes and wouldn't blame Guerrilla Games for blacklisting a couple sites for their KZ3 reviews. 'Just sayin' ;)
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 2/21/2011 9:37:27 PM
1 up, 0 down
bigrailer19
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 12:02:40 AM
Of the worst I've seen for a game that has potential, theirs obviously been much worse out their.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 2/22/2011 12:03:35 AM
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 2:22:33 AM
I'm just waiting for the ultimate edition, paying $60 for a game is hard for me, paying $60 for one that will release dlc that will cost more than the game is just not something I can do.
1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 3:20:37 AM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 7:39:46 AM
I dunno if I could handle a second World, much like the Highlander "There can be only one" :)
1 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 12:34:47 PM
0 up, 0 down
CrusaderForever
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 9:40:41 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
sticklife
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 10:14:36 PM
Reply
Last edited by sticklife on 2/21/2011 10:14:55 PM
1 up, 0 down
556pineapple
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 10:16:47 PM
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...and to be honest, I wasn't too fond of that full page ad. I was very nervous to miss a hotlink. Ads are necessary though, and I know you guys won't be bullied by such tactics. That's why I enjoy reading this site.
1 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 10:21:02 PM
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If it was my game I'd feel the same way. We're only human and we don't take insults well.
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 7:40:17 AM
1 up, 0 down
Dreno
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 10:33:37 PM
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Whoa, I persoanally think tw2 is an amazing game for as much as ice played but c'mon... blacklisting a sight cause they didn't give it the score you wanted it to get? Boo hoo. Instead of being a bully and demanding a better score, perhaps you should take it as constructive critisism. Maybe improve on what they said hd problems. Hmm...
Perhaps that's just my opinion, but I doubt it.
1 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 1:49:53 AM
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I have been playing this game for over 25 hours now and I'm loving it. As much as I love it, I'd say it deserves about a 7.5 because it does have issues. The issues don't break the game or anything, but it's not UC2 polished either by any means.
Game has a lot to offer. I'm blown away by the sheer size of it. I'm still on chapter 1 after 25 hours, there is so much stuff to do it's mind boggling.
I'd say both sides are wrong though, reviewers giving it a super low score must be out for some personal agenda of some kind, but topware's attitude isn't right either. Not sure what I would do in topware's position.
Ben, if say you had scored the game below a 7 and they had done this, I know you wouldn't back down, but would you have honestly given the game an even lower score just to spite them?
0 up, 0 down
SirLoin of Beef
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 8:38:41 AM
Maybe the reviewers just hated the game for one reason or another. Or perhaps some thought that the company had a lot prove given how terrible their first game was and their expectations were not met when the new one came out? Not every low score can be attributed to personal agenda.
0 up, 1 down
xenris
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 10:45:46 AM
I think it might not be the reviewers agenda but some reviews the reviewer clearly hates the genre they are reviewing. So why do these publications get someone who hates everything except shooters to review an RPG? So its not the reviewers agenda but more likely the publication they work for if there is and agenda which at times it really seems like there is. IGN has done this for a couple of games it seems. It would be like me reviewing Star Craft 2, I don't hate strategy games but I would probably give it a lower score because I wouldn't be enjoying it even if it was the pinnacle of RTS perfection.
Anyway I stopped listening to reviews a long time ago, I go to sites like these now for the news and if I'm interested I rent.
Sorry for the rant but I'm just tired of sketchy journalism.
Last edited by xenris on 2/22/2011 10:48:49 AM
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 12:39:40 PM
The thing is a review isn't supposed to be I like this game or I don't like this game, it supposed to be based on the quality of the game.
The game has more good qualities than bad, it may not necessarily an "agenda" but something is not quite right.
0 up, 1 down
Excelsior1
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 2:38:29 AM
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1 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 3:25:14 AM
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All this does, in my eyes, is harm the professional reputation of Topware. If you stuff up, accept the consequences and do better next time. There's no point in whinging and whining about it.
Peace.
0 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 6:49:59 AM
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these selfish pricks should be banned from making video games!
0 up, 5 down
maxpontiac
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 8:04:49 AM
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Secondly, I was never worried about PSX. I may not agree with this site's review scores at times, but at least I don't have to worry about integrity or worthless hit type articles. This is a website run by professionals.
Finally, I see these occurances as a symptom of a flu when it comes to reviewing games. Certain games will always get free rides in the mainstream media (COD, HALO) while others are scrutinized beyond fairness (GT5). Why is that? Is it wrong for Topware to be blacklisting entities? Yes. The real question though is why are they feeling forced to do so? In my opinion, it's because a non professional has control over a professional.
I really believe that some form of criteria needs to be established when it comes to becoming a professional reviewer. I, as a professional designer didn't just pick up a pencil or grab a mouse and start claiming I was an architectural genius. I went to school, found employment with construction companies and met the criteria set forth by the IBC and AIA. It's all about being a professional, and that's something that the video game review industry lacks direction in.
3 up, 0 down
NoSmokingBandit
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 12:01:55 PM
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0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 12:44:46 PM
0 up, 0 down
Nynja
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 @ 3:00:39 PM
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Unless of course it comes from PSXE.
****UPDATE:
Beefjack has an update and received a reply from Topware directly. Topware claims they never requested a re-write or change in the review score and also denied any claims that they intend to pull ads from the publication. Shortly after Beefjack received the reply from Topware, the 'questionable' publication that received threats have since then received an apology from Topware PR.
Yeah, Topware PR screwed up big. Dude should be fired.
Last edited by Nynja on 2/22/2011 3:09:32 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Reply
Monday, February 21, 2011 @ 9:32:24 PM