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Post by Parchandri on Nov 30, 2012 10:01:33 GMT -5
I've been a gamer since the late 80's, and I've read more than my fair share of reviews throughout the last two decades plus. I've been noticing a certain phenomena more and more during this current generation of consoles. A gamer visits a site such as IGN, and then proceeds to look up a review, said gamer reads that the game in question "only" received an 8/10, and then immediately deems it as a sub par game.
Since when did anything in the range of 6-9 become so lackluster? Are our standards really set so high that we can't enjoy anything someone's subjective point of view rated less than an 8 or a 9? The way I've always seen it is a 7/10 mean it's a good game. Hell, even a 6/10 is good. A rating of 5/10 would be an average experience, and anything below that would mean buyer beware.
Has anyone else noticed this?
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Post by Epic Z on Nov 30, 2012 10:11:35 GMT -5
It might have something to do with the cost of video games nowadays.
If i'm spending 60 dollars on a video game I want to get my moneys worth.
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OYDK?
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 22, 2011 13:55:27 GMT -5
Posts: 2,676
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Post by OYDK? on Nov 30, 2012 10:16:28 GMT -5
Unless I'm sure I'm going to buy a game, I tend to skip straight to the user comments on review sites to see what the general consensus is. I'd rather see what the consumer thinks.
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Post by Parchandri on Nov 30, 2012 10:21:07 GMT -5
It might have something to do with the cost of video games nowadays. If i'm spending 60 dollars on a video game I want to get my moneys worth. On that note though, you can always wait until a game is on sale, or a static price drop. Also, a review is entirely subjective. Just because someone gave it a 7/10 doesn't mean you wouldn't rate it higher. I think if companies made an attempt to promote demos of their product, it would help the consumer out quite a bit, more so than reviews. However, that would completely cripple some companies that rely on those blind buys.
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Post by k5 on Nov 30, 2012 10:58:59 GMT -5
i'm fairly anti-trend, so ratings have never dictated my choices. interesting points, though.
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Post by pxkgotosleep on Nov 30, 2012 11:04:17 GMT -5
If it gets a 8/10 (Hitman absolution or 64%) then I'd download it but won't buy it. Sleeping Dogs got a pretty positive score, so I bought it.
Games differ. They need replayability, online.
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Post by Epic Z on Nov 30, 2012 11:15:59 GMT -5
It might have something to do with the cost of video games nowadays. If i'm spending 60 dollars on a video game I want to get my moneys worth. On that note though, you can always wait until a game is on sale, or a static price drop. Also, a review is entirely subjective. Just because someone gave it a 7/10 doesn't mean you wouldn't rate it higher. I think if companies made an attempt to promote demos of their product, it would help the consumer out quite a bit, more so than reviews. However, that would completely cripple some companies that rely on those blind buys. I agree with what your saying about the demos. If a game has a demo out I will almost ALWAYS download it and test it out before I buy a game. It can really make or break a sale for me. I generally wait a few weeks until a game that i'm on the fence with is out so I can look up some user reviews on youtube. I trust a average person's review much more than a business like IGN or Gamespot. On the point of the price drop that is what I usually do for games that I know will have a strong online community for years to come. (COD for example)
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Post by Random Weddle on Nov 30, 2012 11:19:57 GMT -5
I almost never look at the score at the end and use it as my selling point. You're better off reading the review and using that as a basis if it looks good or not. I mean a game could get a 6/10 for a score, but be ripped in the actual text.
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Post by johnmcclane44 on Nov 30, 2012 17:45:54 GMT -5
If i am feeling unsure of a game I watch the first hour or so of a lets play from one of my youtube subscriptions. Then i can see how it plays and get sone thoughts on it from someone not affiliated with a major gaming site.
Sent from my GT-I5500M using proboards
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Post by DZ: WF Legacy on Nov 30, 2012 18:26:09 GMT -5
I review video games on YouTube in my Vicarious Views series, and I use a system of 7 stars for a few reasons - one of which is to relieve the stigma of "8 OUTTA 10" for reviews, and the other is to lean my review system towards the positive, since there are more "alright" games than bad, outside of the cheap Bratz Adventurez types of games.
Everyone and their mother gave GTA IV 10 out of 10, but realistically, it's probably a 7 or 8 (imo, of course). And that's not bad at all, but if you give the most hyped game of the year "the new average" rating of 8, people are going to assume it's kind of a flop, when really, that's entirely unfair. I completely agree there's a perception problem with the ratings system. We get so used to expecting 9s and 10s that all the perfectly reasonable 7s and 8s are all but total failures to some.
An interesting point is that people definitely want to get their money's worth out of a game, so they're going to want the best rated games that give them the most bang for their buck. I get that, and that's a good point. But, I bought the new Twisted Metal earlier this year, and in my review system of 7 I gave that game a 4 - which is basically solid, but nothing great. I had a lot of fun with that game, and I don't regret buying it at all despite its numerous problems. Just because it wasn't the next Mario Galaxy or Portal 2 doesn't mean it wasn't worth playing. That's why it's important to listen or read a review and figure out WHY someone felt the way they did, and not just use the conclusion rating to dictate a purchase. And above all else, reviews are only guidelines for expectations - I've enjoyed many movies and games that got ho-hum reviews, and conversely, I've found myself sharing said sentiments. It's just good to have an idea of what others are thinking, sometimes.
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Post by TurboEddie on Dec 1, 2012 0:05:19 GMT -5
Most reviews are absolute bullcrap anyway. ZombiU got horrible reviews, but I think it's a great game. One of the best gaming experiences I've had in years.
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Post by johnmcclane44 on Dec 1, 2012 14:15:01 GMT -5
Which is a prime example of to each their own. I personally thought zombiu was crap. In fact I think the entire WiiU console and idea is just stupid. Everyones tastes are different
Sent from my GT-I5500M using proboards
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Post by Edge618 on Dec 2, 2012 1:32:42 GMT -5
I read reviews like that and I only usually try the higher rated games, and they are almost always as good as the reviews. Not saying that games rated in the 6-8 aren't good, but reviews do serve a purpose, and with the price of games I'm only going to try the almost guaranteed hits. But I do remember I didn't play infamous 1 until like 4 years after release and it ended up becoming one of my favorite series. I'm sure I've missed out on a few good games due to bad reviews, but in today's market I don't have time or money to waste on games that MIGHT be good.
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Post by Parchandri on Dec 3, 2012 13:51:10 GMT -5
People always talk about the prices of games, but I think they're pretty reasonable. I buy Blu-rays all the time that I watch only two or three times, and with a 20 dollar price tag, it doesn't seem too bad. However, I'll buy a $60 video game, and I'll get 80 hours of it, for the price of three Blu-rays which might have only provided 15-20 hours of entertainment.
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Post by sean™ on Dec 3, 2012 14:18:31 GMT -5
I can't honestly say the last time I bought a game based upon a review of some kind. If I have the chance, I typically try to download the demo first or watch some video of it online.
I still treat games today as I have for many years, which is I don't judge until I actually sit down and play it myself.
For instance, Red Dead Redemption. Never really cared for learning about the game, nor did I play the first on on PS2. Saw it on sale at Gamestop, read the back of the case and was familiar enough with Rockstar. Picked it up, and had an amazing 4 month journey to completing it.
Likewise, I did the same thing a few months later with MOD-Nation Racers. Ended up selling it within a month
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Post by "The Visionary" Eldniw on Dec 3, 2012 15:25:17 GMT -5
Reviews never dictate if I buy a game or pass. I've bought three games this year that have been ripped apart by reviews. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Resident Evil 6, and Call Of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified. And I've enjoyed all three a great deal.
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Post by Epic Z on Dec 3, 2012 15:47:23 GMT -5
People always talk about the prices of games, but I think they're pretty reasonable. I buy Blu-rays all the time that I watch only two or three times, and with a 20 dollar price tag, it doesn't seem too bad. However, I'll buy a $60 video game, and I'll get 80 hours of it, for the price of three Blu-rays which might have only provided 15-20 hours of entertainment. With my budget (being a college student) I can afford a game comfortably maybe once every 3 months. It's a treat for me to pick up a game so when I do go thru with buying a game I sure as hell want to make sure I am going to get every penny's worth. Although the price isn't ridicously high it's still 60 dollars out of my pocket that could be used towards food/gas. Granted, I knew what I was getting into (price wise) before I bought the system so I'm not complaining.
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Post by Parchandri on Dec 4, 2012 8:24:14 GMT -5
That makes sense.
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Joined on: Apr 29, 2024 4:39:13 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 10:37:07 GMT -5
My favorite reviewer (armake 21) kinda touched on this. Its an epic video.
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Post by Joe/Smurf on Dec 12, 2012 23:20:56 GMT -5
That's why a ten-point scale is so pointless. A 5 or 6 is the worst rating a game will ever get, so anything short of a 9 or 10 seems lackluster. If you just turn those 5s or 6s into 2s or 3s out of 5, and the best games into 4s and 5s out of 5, it seems a lot more understandable.
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