I'm not commenting about the issue of Metacritic as it relates to the gaming industry.
However, IGN just did this same piece just a few days ago. So either 1up.com can't think of their own material, or someone has an agenda against Metacritic.
BTW, I never use Metacritic. I know which reviewers I trust and I stick with them.
Tinfoil hats all around, because I immediately thought the same thing. That Metacritic ticked some people off.
Metacritic was like "NO, Microsoft!! I've been found out!! People are noticing me screwing with review averages; leaving out positive reviews and stuff. They're gonna pin all of this on ME!! But I ain't going down alone! I want MORE swag. And a bag of money every damn week now; not monthly! Or I'll spill the beans on what you, ign, 1up, and the rest of our little cabal have been up to! I'll tell the WORLD!! Mwahahah!!11!!"
MS was like "Screw that. Leave Sony alone for the time being, and divert all resources to Metacritic. Show them what it means to cross us."
Disagree all you want, but don't say you didn't think it :)
VGchartz better keep going on with the program before we start seeing why VGchartz is ruining the industry articles.
There are no reviews I can trust after Dragon Age 2 which had 9.5 from reviewers, and was awful! Not even gametrailers.com which I trusted most.
Users need a place where they can warn other gamers that product is bad and reviewers are just payed by publisher. You can always read what users have to say and make a decision.
You know what else is a real problem for the industry? low quality biased reviews from websites like ign/kotaku/1up and so many more. Some make an article about that too :P I mean they are the ones adding to metacritic..
Metacritic is an issue because so many people trust these things and use them like fact. Truth is they are and average of a bunch of unstructured opinions so it really is has the validity of a fortune teller.
The real issue is that reviews themselve are unstructured and to opinion based. A system like that is too easily corrupted. I think.
I have gotten to a point where the only reviews I trust are from consumers on retail websites.
Wow, I can't believe 1up think it's ok to be subjective in a review.
I understand there's always going to be some bias in reviews, but the reviewers job is to be objective as possible.
If you disagree, how about we just get all our reviews from pregnant women from now on since you want to know how the reviewer 'feels' about a game instead of critiquing it against set standards.
Gaming journalism wouldn't be such a joke if more outlets adopted a non-bias mindset.
I go to Metacritic to compare my experience and opinion with others. For a game like MW2, complete opposites. For a game like Terminator Salvation, quite alike. I find that stuff interesting. =|
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However, IGN just did this same piece just a few days ago. So either 1up.com can't think of their own material, or someone has an agenda against Metacritic.
BTW, I never use Metacritic. I know which reviewers I trust and I stick with them.
Metacritic was like "NO, Microsoft!! I've been found out!! People are noticing me screwing with review averages; leaving out positive reviews and stuff. They're gonna pin all of this on ME!! But I ain't going down alone! I want MORE swag. And a bag of money every damn week now; not monthly! Or I'll spill the beans on what you, ign, 1up, and the rest of our little cabal have been up to! I'll tell the WORLD!! Mwahahah!!11!!"
MS was like "Screw that. Leave Sony alone for the time being, and divert all resources to Metacritic. Show them what it means to cross us."
Disagree all you want, but don't say you didn't think it :)
VGchartz better keep going on with the program before we start seeing why VGchartz is ruining the industry articles.
Users need a place where they can warn other gamers that product is bad and reviewers are just payed by publisher. You can always read what users have to say and make a decision.
Same with COD, Diablo3, and few others..
The real issue is that reviews themselve are unstructured and to opinion based. A system like that is too easily corrupted. I think.
I have gotten to a point where the only reviews I trust are from consumers on retail websites.
My only low scores there are Dragon Age 2 with 5.
I understand there's always going to be some bias in reviews, but the reviewers job is to be objective as possible.
If you disagree, how about we just get all our reviews from pregnant women from now on since you want to know how the reviewer 'feels' about a game instead of critiquing it against set standards.
Gaming journalism wouldn't be such a joke if more outlets adopted a non-bias mindset.