Review scores aren't that important?

[Slaughter]

Take a look at the latest news at Gamasutra. What do you think?

[FullAuto]

It's like anything else, mate. It gets enough hype, it sells a ton. Good review scores contribute, but they're not a major factor, just like with films and music. Millions of people go out and buy the Madden games every year like clockwork, but games like Silent Storm, Beyond Good & Evil and Grim Fandango sell ten copies each.

[Crazy Gringo]

Good marketing/PR combined with a couple of biased/bribed reviewers to give the game good reviews is all you need to sell tons of games.

Scores just what they are....scores.

It is what the game is about and what features that there is in it that makes me buy a game. Sure I read the reviews (lots of them to more precise) but I never take much notice to the scores. If there is a demo I try it out for myself and make my own decision to buy or not to buy.

But even I fall victim to the hype sometimes. But mostly when I fall for the hype my purchase has been a good one.

So the buttom line is: You, the buyer, must make your own decision. That is what I do. Just know something about the game before making up your mind, instead of storming down to your local gamepusher for your regular fix.

[Pete]

If we ever do review scores for review here I think we should do two overall scores - a "hyped" score based on the average of other review scores on places like Gamespot and Gamespy and a more serious StrategyCore one.

 

We can even poke a bit of fun at them at the same time by calling it a Hype-O-Meter if we're feeling really brave

[Crazy Gringo]

Good idea, Pete.

[Slaughter]

In case you haven't noticed, we do review scores for our reviews...

[Gimli]

Hmm, I wonder how a system with only +/- would work? For example:

 

+: Good story, interesting dialogue, unusual characters, atmospheric music

-: Technical problems (bugs).

 

This is a shortened example, each of the good and bad sides would have to be explained with at least one sentence. Haven't given it much thought yet.

[Pete]

In case you haven't noticed, we do review scores for our reviews...

 

Oh yeah... :)

[Crazy Gringo]

In case you haven't noticed, we do review scores for our reviews...

I was thinking about the Hype-O-meter....

[Matri]

Hmm, I wonder how a system with only +/- would work? For example:

 

+: Good story, interesting dialogue, unusual characters, atmospheric music

-: Technical problems (bugs).

 

This is a shortened example, each of the good and bad sides would have to be explained with at least one sentence. Haven't given it much thought yet.

Most game magazines usually have this in addition to the numerical scores.

[Gimli]

Yes, now that I look at it, they do. I've checked IGN, Gamespy and Gamespot, and out of those, only IGN goes closer to what I was thinking, but after giving it more thought, it isn't exactly enough. So probably a few sentences about of the things that are mentioned. Though I'm wondering if it would turn out to be too long and a mini review in size. Although that would be better in my opinion.

I am not a fan of scores though, when you read the review and the +/- you should be able to have a good idea if you will like the game or not, and in addition to a demo and skimming through forums (to see how buggy the game is etc.) you should be able to make a much more informed choice.

[Space Voyager]

Kinda late reply, but what I find most usefull is

 

https://www.gamerankings.com/itemrankings/default_PC/5

 

If you don't want to only browse PC games just go to the main site. Anyway, Gamerankings is the review "storage" site. You get the average and you have links to every individual reviews.

 

Just a reminder; the idea I wrote about - creating a joint portal for several smaller gaming sites (like our precious SC) came from the inability to link our reviews to Gamerankings. As a joint force I think we would make our presence known.

[Slaughter]

Reviews loosing importance.

[FullAuto]

I think it's definitely the case with franchises like EA's, and other licensed properties (games made from films, etc). Regardless of what review scores they get, millions of people will buy them. For smaller games, though, I don't think that's true. They don't have a big name that can guarantee sales, so when a consumer sees a Katamari Damacy, a Silent Storm or a Beyond Good & Evil they go away and check reviews and ask around.

 

For me, there's only one authority on reviews, and that's Edge, a very well-respected magazine here in the UK. Aside from that, it's usually friends and metacritic. I picked up Silent Storm purely on the strength of a recommendation from members of this forum, and I was pleased to say the least. Most places tend to consistently overrate games.