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Topic: Should Media Outlets Wait Until After A Game Releases To Rate It?

Posts 1 to 19 of 19

Tyranexx

I ran across an interesting article on Forbes that brought up an interesting point: Should media outlets wait until after a game releases to post a review? Some outlets (like NL) do this for games with online components, and I agree with that; how do you properly rate a game with major online components (Street Fighter V is cited as an example) before it's released, and before you can judge how it will handle things like server traffic? It seems to be leading to disjointed results between review publishers and consumers.

In any case, I thought this would be an interesting discussion to have. Just beware, Forbes doesn't like adblockers.

Edit: I also wasn't sure whether to put this here, or in General Discussion; the mods can feel free to move this if needed.

Edited on by Tyranexx

Currently playing: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

DefHalan

I don't mind games being rated before release but I don't like review parties or whatever they are called. When the publisher holds big events and that is the only time reviewers get time with the game before it is released causing rushed and sloppy reviews. Let reviewers experience a game in a more natural setting and let them not feel rushed or given special treatment to boost their possible score.

People keep saying the Xbox One doesn't have Backwards Compatibility.
I don't think they know what Backwards Compatibility means...

3DS Friend Code: 2621-2786-9784 | Nintendo Network ID: DefHalan

gcunit

Online is quite tough to judge fairly though. Servers can easily be updated to overcome early teething problems, but the game could be stuck with poor reviews. Similarly, a game with a great score for its online features is sometimes meaningless 12 months down the line when most people have ditched it and moved on to something else.

Online is a social feature. Let the people judge it, not the critics. Don't ever rely on a review to assess online functions, do your research in the relevant forums.

You guys had me at blood and semen.

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Octane

@Trinexx: If you want a proper in-depth review you have to wait a couple of months anyway. Reviews posted by media are a quick way to gauge if the game's in your interest or not. I don't think they should be called reviews, as they're more previews than anything else.

Octane

Rumorlife

I don't mind prerelease ratings but if I only look to see if they're giving it a "this game works/doesn't work. Is or isn't fun. Is too easy/hard" and check the number score for reference more than anything. If I read too into them, they're usually wrong or outdated soon after because of first impressions or their personal feelings or expectations, which haven't changed much since the full community's opinions aren't out there to mix with the reviewers.
If I stayed away from all the "lame or mediocre" games that people review I would have missed out on several interesting titles that may just not be for the mainstream that appealed to me.

Rumorlife

Whydoievenbother

Game Journalists should absolutely do pre-release reviews, because by not doing pre-release reviews, companies like EA, Konami, and Ubisoft could get away with shipping buggy, broken games (Assassin's Creed: Unity anyone?) with the consumer not knowing better.

"I'll take a potato chip... AND EAT IT!"
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"Ah, the Breakfast Club soundtrack! I can't wait 'til I'm old enough to feel ways about stuff!"
Phillip J. Fry, Futurama

DefHalan

@MrMario02: Pre-release reviews haven't stopped them, in fact it seems like they help them because the reviewers are too hyped about the games and ignore some big faults

People keep saying the Xbox One doesn't have Backwards Compatibility.
I don't think they know what Backwards Compatibility means...

3DS Friend Code: 2621-2786-9784 | Nintendo Network ID: DefHalan

skywake

@DefHalan:
Except that from memory in the case of AC:Unity the reviews were not allowed to come out until after launch. Presumably because poor reviews before launch would have made people not get it on day 1 and/or cancel their pre-order. When the game has issues these companies would rather the reviews not exist at all.

For example there's a show here in Aus that reviewed Batman Arkham Knight in time for launch. They were naturally given the PS4 version of the game. It got a perfect 10 and the review didn't even mention the issues on PC because how could they? If they had known about the issues on the PC version I reckon the score would have been different. If they had been given the PC version the review would have certainly been different.

Later reviews won't help anything. I think the issue of not being able to rate online modes early on is far less of an issue than not getting a review out at all. Or getting reviews out for only the non-broken versions of the game. The more reviews ready for launch the better IMO.

Edited on by skywake

Some playlists: Top All Time Songs, Top Last Year
"Don't stir the pot" is a nice way of saying "they're too dumb to reason with"

DefHalan

skywake wrote:

Except that from memory in the case of AC:Unity the reviews were not allowed to come out until after launch. Presumably because poor reviews before launch would have made people not get it on day 1 and/or cancel their pre-order. When the game has issues these companies would rather the reviews not exist at all.

For example there's a show here in Aus that reviewed Batman Arkham Knight in time for launch. They were naturally given the PS4 version of the game. It got a perfect 10 and the review didn't even mention the issues on PC because how could they? If they had known about the issues on the PC version I reckon the score would have been different. If they had been given the PC version the review would have certainly been different.

Later reviews won't help anything. I think the issue of not being able to rate online modes early on is far less of an issue than not getting a review out at all. Or getting reviews out for only the non-broken versions of the game. The more reviews ready for launch the better IMO.

Seems like a double sword. I try not to pay attention to reviews too much. When There is a game I am interested in, I will buy it. If I am not interested in it but users are really excited about the game after release, then I will look into it. Reviews don't bother me but I know others count on reviews. I know others aren't willing to risk their game time/money as much as myself. I don't really know the answer to this question I guess, since I am not the audience that reviews target. I would always prefer reviews to have as much information as possible and to be played in "real world" settings but that doesn't seem likely.

People keep saying the Xbox One doesn't have Backwards Compatibility.
I don't think they know what Backwards Compatibility means...

3DS Friend Code: 2621-2786-9784 | Nintendo Network ID: DefHalan

Peek-a-boo

Single player games? Review them - and post the score or a summarised recommendation - as soon as the reviewer is happily (or unhappily!) finished with the game.

Online and multi-player games? Review them at least week later due to the numerous bugs/glitches as well as potential issues that usually arises during the first week.

It is like Halo 5: Guardians in that some places reviewed the game separately (campaign and multi-player) whereby the single player was often rated much lower than the really good multi-player side of things.

I think that split system works best to be honest.

Peek-a-boo

jump

As long it doesn't have spoilers sure but I wouldn't count a game being rubbish or good as a spoiler.

Nicolai wrote:

Alright, I gotta stop getting into arguments with jump. Someone remind me next time.

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Dave24

@MrMario02: how generic of you naming the top trendy companies to hate on.
Unless Bugthesda and CDPR can get away with it, because you're too afraid to mention them.

Dave24

Shinion

Well the scumbag companies like EA, Konami, Capcom, Ubisoft, Square-Enix, Warner Bros, Activision and the like have all released games that were in no way finished or working properly that got positive reviews, regardless of whether they were done before launch, post launch or at one of those shady review boot camps. The whole 'AAA' market is in such a mess that this issue is just a dust bunny stuffed in a corner as far as pubslishers are concerned, people buy their overhyped tat regardless of the reviews it gets. Worryingly most of all is that these publishers have people eating out of the palm of their hands so much that even now people are willing to accept yet another 'AAA' launch failure and are happy to pre-order the next one. People should look at themselves before expecting better from others.

Edited on by Shinion

Shinion

skywake

@DefHalan:
I don't pay much attention to reviews unless they really go against what I thought. If there's a game I'm really interested in and it gets poor reviews? I won't bite. If it wasn't on my radar and it gets a great review? I'll give it a look. Though if a game is on sale I'll take a gamble. If it's a Nintendo game I trust them enough that I'd buy the game without reading reviews.

Some playlists: Top All Time Songs, Top Last Year
"Don't stir the pot" is a nice way of saying "they're too dumb to reason with"

Peek-a-boo

skywake wrote:

@DefHalan:
If it's a Nintendo game I trust them enough that I'd buy the game without reading reviews.

You happily - and blindly - purchased the mediocre Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, Devil's Third and the barebones Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, all of which are published by Nintendo?

I like Nintendo as much as anybody, but even I am wary of some of their games.

It shall also be quite interesting to see how Star Fox Zero is received both critically and commercially when it is eventually released, given its rather troubled development.

Peek-a-boo

skywake

Peek-a-boo wrote:

skywake wrote:

@DefHalan:
If it's a Nintendo game I trust them enough that I'd buy the game without reading reviews.

You happily - and blindly - purchased the mediocre Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, Devil's Third and the barebones Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, all of which are published by Nintendo?

I should clarify what I meant. What I was trying to say was that Nintendo is the only developer I trust enough to still buy some games without reading the reviews. I trust Nintendo enough to judge the games largely based on the trailers and promotional material. Other developers I don't care how good it sounds I'm going to wait until after the reviews have come out.

And no, I didn't buy any of those games. The only one that I was even remotely interested in was Chibi-Robo.

Edited on by skywake

Some playlists: Top All Time Songs, Top Last Year
"Don't stir the pot" is a nice way of saying "they're too dumb to reason with"

Peek-a-boo

@skywake: Fair enough!

It wasn't a swipe at the things you may or may not buy, merely an observation of how some folks may well go out and buy a game from their favourite developer(s) without worrying about whether it is worth their time and money.

Apart from the Mario Party and Pokémon games, I actually bought every single Nintendo developed game back in the GameCube days (that was available in Great Britain) and there were a handful - such as Star Fox: Assault, Odama, Kirby Air Ride and Geist - that I didn't particularly enjoy, at all.

You live and learn!

Peek-a-boo

DefHalan

@Peek-a-boo: I bought amiibo Featival and enjoy it. It is not a bad game as long as you know what you are getting yourself into. I knew what I was getting into because I paid attention to what Nintendo showed of it. I didn't care about the reviews because I saw what the game was like and was still interested.

People keep saying the Xbox One doesn't have Backwards Compatibility.
I don't think they know what Backwards Compatibility means...

3DS Friend Code: 2621-2786-9784 | Nintendo Network ID: DefHalan

Tyranexx

Peek-a-boo wrote:

Single player games? Review them - and post the score or a summarised recommendation - as soon as the reviewer is happily (or unhappily!) finished with the game.

Online and multi-player games? Review them at least week later due to the numerous bugs/glitches as well as potential issues that usually arises during the first week.

It is like Halo 5: Guardians in that some places reviewed the game separately (campaign and multi-player) whereby the single player was often rated much lower than the really good multi-player side of things.

I think that split system works best to be honest.

I agree with you, though in some cases, I think it may be better to wait longer than a week with online or multiplayer-heavy games.

Currently playing: Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr's Journey, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)

"Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

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