Sony France blacklists Gamekult

Sony France blacklists the french webzine Gamekult after the zine released Heavy Rain test.

The redactor Poischich who gave a 6/10 to Heavy Rain commented the news on twitter : "Sony is taking distance with the webzine".

We also learn that Sony France asked to a redactor from JeuVideo.Com to modify his review for Heavy rain.

[N4PS3G]

"We also learn that Sony France asked to a redactor from JeuVideo.Com to modify his review for Heavy rain."

They expect to change every Heavy Rain review they don't like? Nobody objected when they gave Mass Effect 2 a 7

[xaviertooth]

i think you are not getting the point.

it's not about xbox 360 games vs. ps3 games. its the review itself. for games like ME2 gatting a 7 and Heavy Rain getting a 6, you will have to suspect are these people real gamers?

[N4PS3G]

eehhhh..i get my point. Don't liking a game as much as others and rating it lower than everyone else doesn't change if you're a real gamer o not.

They didn't like those 2 games as much as everyone else ..soo now they're "BLACKLISTED" and asked to change their opinions?

Uncharted 2 got a 9 from Gamekult and sony didn't complain about it

[SL1M DADDY]

As is Mass Effect not a 7. ME2 should have gotten no less than a 9 IMHO and to give Heavy Rain a 6 is just a pathetic attempt at gaining hits. Sorry, but Sony should blacklist them for using a heavy hitting review for hit generation. the ME review is BS too so don't get me wrong, it's bad both ways.

[gears22]

after seing the Mass Effect 2 review i was so pissed,and I swear,before clicking on their Heavy Rain review I was like " they're gunna give it a perfect 10 since it's made by french developers" but then I saw a 6 and was surprised.

So I started reading other reviews and found out that Uncharted 2 was one of the very few games that got a 9,I don't mean that U2 doesn't deserve a 9,but if U2 got a 9 then ME2 deserves a 9 too and maybe Heavy Rain.

[gaffyh]

I'm pretty sure those guys broke the embargo, and that's why Sony is pissed with them. I bet Gamekult are regretting that 6/10 cry for hits now.

All I can say is LOL, do a fair review next time!

[nycredude]

Who said noone objected. Check their comments section for their review on N4g. i and many other objected. Any reviewer who gives Mass Effect 2 a 7 or under is fvcking retarded and never be taken seriously. you trolls and haters are really getting annoying on N4g. Ruining everything IMO.

[hoops]

If this is true and Sony has done this, this just looks bad on Sony as its the same as bribing for scores.
This is why i don't listen to reviews because they are one persons opinion and some sites can be pressured to give good scores just to satisfy the company. Or in the other case, a small website will give a great game a piss poor score just to get web hits and nortiriety.
In otherwords people. Review scores are subjective and BS. Play the game YOURSELF and then decide and don't listen to hype or how "bad" a game is.

[Arkham]

Summary:

ME2:
-3pts "Il n'ya pas de Jerry Lewis."

Heavy Rain:
-4pts "Il n'ya pas de Jerry Lewis."

[raztad]

SCEA should BLACKLIST EDGE. Those pricks deserve no less. Their reviews are worthless for the PS3 community.

[kwyjibo]

That's because the PS3 "community" aren't worth taking seriously - look around you.

Sony continue to advertise in Edge and they continue to give them exclusive stories.

Maybe Sony actually appreciate an independent voice, whereas the PS3 "community" would rather reviewers try to second guess Metacritic averages instead of actually voice an opinion.

[TapiocaMilkTea]

So are people actually siding with Sony on this? Wow....that's a first.....

[weazel]

Yeah, and one mans perception of Edge as an independent review source must be countered against anthers view, whereby he might see edge as a conceited hotbed of furious ego-wan*ing and faux intellectualism.
I've loathed their holier (and significantly more educated, and informed)than thou approach for years, and seeing the chaos that their frankly baffling and narcissistic reviews provoke only drives me to dislike them that little bit more.
Summing up, you're welcome to your opinion, but in mine, they're just cun*s.

[bacon13]

Well done. Gamekult has no credibility or ability to display objective reviews. Im sorry but there is something very wrong when you take a game like ME2 which has been highly praised by a multitude of sources and downplay it without coherent reasons.

[ActionBastard]

Sony has as much right to "blacklist" whomever they like, just as JeuVideo.Com and GameKult have their right to their opinions.

[Godmars290]

Think it has to do with site likely basing a review on an early build, then leaking that footage. If someone did that, I could see a publisher not only blacklisting the site, but "asking" them to reevaluate their review in order to get back into good graces.

Neither side is publicly seen in a good light, but still more fault falls on the site than the game publisher.

[Christopher]

So, one person's twitter post is all the proof we need now?

I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I'm not going to comment further on this until there's more proof than just this.

[UltimateIdiot911]

You're missing the point. No opinion is equal. A well thought out opinion is more respectable then simply say it sucks because i hate it.

Reviewers are suppose to be objective as possible and be professionals about it.

What would you think of a review who gave Avatar a 5/10 because the aliens are blue instead of green? You're not really going to think much of this person's opinion and probably think the reviewer shouldn't be paid to say that.

[Fox01]

Wow Sony blacklisted Gamekult (#2 french gaming mag) then called JV.com (#1 french gaming mag) and asked them to change their score. So from a 15/20, the score went to 17/20.
Wow Sony, just wow, this is pathetic.

Is it true they did something similar with Lair? wow

[raztad]

It's been shown EDGE reviews are useless for a PS3 owner. They are full of bias, double standards and are not informative. EDGE is in my personal NO GO list, I rather read a Destructoid review from Jim Sterling that from EDGE.

[Pennywise]

Is it more pathetic to ask(NO PROOF), or to change the score? (Again, no proof. Where's the integrity?

[kwyjibo]

Yeah, I'm cool with that. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to critical review, some may prefer the "holier than thou" approach, others may prefer the "man of the people" approach.

I was just appalled at the cries to censor opinion just because people don't like it. Crying that the PS3 community abhors said publication - is the same as saying that the Transformers 2 community abhors every critic in the land.

Their voice is irrelevant, critics aren't there for fan service.

[DelbertGrady]

Funny how people constantly accuse "M$" of manipulating reviewers, without any proof at all of course, and then it turns out Sony are the ones guilty. I remember when they blackballed Kotaku as well. Dirty tactics from a dirty company.

[Christopher]

I just find it funny that people think only one of the companies are dirty.

[weazel]

Agreed...Mass Censorship across any medium is an unacceptable event, but citing an individuals right to display an opinion as immutable proof of their validity as a source of information is taking it too far. e.g:
Lunatics all agree that eating turds is a socially acceptable pastime, and although these opinions may be voiced in a public forum (Screaming around the local supermarket with their pants around their ankles),it doesn't make it a truth that the general public should consider.
Irrespective of marking system, both Mass Effect 2 and Heavy Rain seem to have been sold a short one by the web site, and if that's the case, Sony, and indeed Microsoft more than have the justification to question the reviews. Free speech indeed.

*:Critics have an obligation to inform prospective consumers of both the pros and cons of any focus area. Ill informed or slanted reviews are tantamount to false advertising, or on occasion, slander.

**: Soda - Grow-up. You know better than that. All multi-national companies indulge in 'questionable' tactics, so tarring Sony as the main offender is either just fuc*ing ignorant, or a pointless attempt at trolling. You can do better than that on both counts.

[DaTruth]

To me it just looks like they are rating on a more reasonable scale! The amount of 9's and 10's thrown around are ridiculous. In 95% of the world a 5 is average. It is only the USA where 70% is average and it's like everyone else in the world is forced to follow suit!

Average is generally defined as the median spot between the lowest and the highest level, ergo 5/10 being average. 6-better than average; 7-good; 8-Great; 9-Really good; 10-Perfect f'ing game!

This is the way it should be!

[BeaArthur]

DaTruth...maybe it's just me but where I come from "great" is better than "really good".

[JokesOnYou]

First off we dont have definitive proof this is true, but just reading over some comments it looks like even if it was most sony extremists thinks its OK, they've even already fabricated some weak excuses to justify sony's actions. lol everytime I think sony extremists might surprise me and show a little backbone, they do just what I was expecting and instantly flip flop on any issue, first comment is exactly right yet over 30 disagrees. lol just a slight implication from a fanboy blog of micro pressuring a review site and all hell breaks loose, sony
does it and "oh wait this is because they broke the embargo", meanwhile sony isnt saying anything about other French sites who've already reviewed the game more favorably.

I haven't ever really read anything from this site, but they seem to just be a harsh review site although they did like UC2 alot, they gave the best game I've played in a long time, ME2 a 7, I disagree but so what? "OMG could it be possible he just doesn't think the game is so great?" I know experts/friends who swear Emmitt Smith is the greatest RB ever(Cowboys fans) and certainly going ny stats alone they could make a solid case, but for me Barry Sanders was so much better, the guy was amazing and if he had a O-line half as good as Emmitt enjoyed he would have broke every record that mattered(still I hate the Detroit Lions).

The bottom line is a independent site should be allowed to review and score a game however they like, if they suck their readers/fans will stop supporting the site, either way at the most sony should just claim that they dont think it is a fair review for whatever reasons they have and leave it at that, going further to blacklist sites is a dangerous policy.

[DatNJDom81]

How in the fukc do you give Mass Effect 2 a 7? That game is clearly a great game. Definitely deserves a lot better than a 7. Heavy Rain I cant comment about since I havent played it. To me it looks very interesting. If you did read gamekults pros and cons however, they are conflicting. Every other site gave Heavy Rain 9s, couple of 8s, and I think I saw a 7.5 somewhere. Its clear that its not gonna be a game for everyone. Especially the young (and some older ones) gamers that enjoy chucky cheese shooters.

Well we can be sure about one thing however, there is now 1 more website that will definitely join the "trash sony" mafia. lol

[mastiffchild]

@Soda-as a trained, qualified and time served reporter and feature writer in both national and local press I'd say Sony were TOTALLY right over Kotaku as I could NOT believe what the fools did over there. Kotaku felt they should reveal the tiny bit of Home info they had and Sony asked they withhold it for the time being. Had Kotaku used any journalistic sense they'd have understood that you get great sources by being trustworthy in this game and biting off the hand that would(certainly) have fed them reveal after reveal a result was both dim and straight out of the Cowboy Reporters Notebook.

As for the French sites over HR: Isn't Sony's gripe that they both based reviews on earlier code than the final released product? IIRC, it IS and one or the other of these sites also leaked early footage to other sites-why wouldn't Sony be annoyed? MS would be too, and rightly so.

I used to, as a fun part of one job I had at a local paper(a big one in the NE of England), review a lot of the new music releases and I'd have been rightly hung , drawn and quartered had I based an album review on it's demo versions, wouldn't I? It's the same exact thing and Sony are entitled to ask for fairer treatment given what I've been informed is all correct. They are also being pretty correct in blacklisting them too-it isn't what I'd have done but I understand why they have.

Whatever, IDK if I ever heard any LAIR rumours and, if so, surely Sony would be broke by now given the number of poor reviews that game got!However, if said review was, again, based not on the final code why wouldn't' Sony, or anyone for that matter, complain and ask for a fairer review OF THE RIGHT code?

Seriously, if Sony were offering anything for a better review I'd get why you're being so holy about this but they haven't and, as far as I can see were the wronged party in all the cases you brought up. BTW, I've also never seen anything that makes me think MS bribe or cajole better reviews from mags and sites either. Certain publishers, yes, but never Sony or MS-their pressure is brought to bear in other ways, without being explained or demanded as editors always worry if a big advertiser gets a bad review for one of their products and the rest of editorial know about it from then on in too. The tighter budget your site/mag works on the more important your advertisers are so I COULD see that having an effect on review scores but never in a conscious way at either end.

[DaTruth]

Please find the "complain about fanboys" website and go there. Some of us are getting really annoyed with your constant griping and whining about fanboys!

When you're ready to talk games, News 4 Gamers will still be here!

@Bea Arthur: Whatever. 8-Great; 9-Amazing. FIXED

@Below: Which embargo did HHG break? Just wondering because I thought all his talk about GOW3 was an embargo breach and N'Gai looked really uncomfortable with it!

[JD_Shadow]

You won't be able to get through to some people here. "Blackballing for breaking embargos and giving a score based on incorrect information given about a game" equates to "blackballing them for giving a lower score than they wanted them to give." They just want to have another reason to hate Sony because they are getting major momentum against their favorite system. You're never going to win an argument because they always have an answer for everything (including bubble gang rapes as if that's their only answer).

Let's review this: Gamekult releases a contradicting review ( http://www.n4g.com/ps3/News... ), and also gave Mass Effect 2 a 7 (which these people are forgetting about). They also release footage they were NOT authorized to release (probably spoiled some of the game's story). Sony decides to take action.

And if Sony were trying to get a better score out of this site, would they be doing this to all the other sites that ever gave a Sony game a bad score? Think about that.

And Soda, nice for you to NOT point out WHY Sony blackballed Kotaku. Let me mention why: Kotaku discovered Home, Sony asked nicely for them to not reveal it until they were ready for it to be revealed, Kotaku said they would reveal it anyway, Sony asked again (a little more forceful this time), Kotaku STILL said they would anyway (as if they were going to reveal that Sony were secretly hiding Bin Ladin by embargoing Home). Kotaku revealed it, thereby blatantly breaking embargo. Then Sony blackballed Kotaku, and people blamed SONY for doing something while not even considering that Kotaku could be in the wrong for breaking the embargo.

Analoghype got all over HHG for walking all over an embargo, but we're going to praise Kotaku for doing the exact same thing?

[JokesOnYou]

Nah, I'll continue to do my complaining right here on n4g, if it bothers you so much theres a ignore button to help you sleep, or you could always go join a "da truth" hurts my feelings website, aka the sdf. lol, but you're most likely already a long time member.

JOY

[GreenRingOfLife]

Hmm, Sony is sounding like a dictator, trying 2 change review scores that they don't agree with. bad move sony

[jack_burt0n]

@weazel
"Yeah, and one mans perception of Edge as an independent review source must be countered against anthers view, whereby he might see edge as a conceited hotbed of furious ego-wan*ing and faux intellectualism.
I've loathed their holier (and significantly more educated, and informed)than thou approach for years, and seeing the chaos that their frankly baffling and narcissistic reviews provoke only drives me to dislike them that little bit more.
Summing up, you're welcome to your opinion, but in mine, they're just cun*s."

that is just about the best thing i have ever read on N4G. :)

[onanie]

There most likely is a reason for the blacklisting other than dissastifaction with the score, since, as someone else has pointed out, EDGE would have been blacklisted a million years ago for the same reasoning.

And most likely there is a reason that Gamekult would not care to divulge, perhaps one which would put themselves in bad light. They did not even bother to make up a reason, it seems.

Sometimes, a little reading between the lines help, to those who are more than eager to cast bad light on Sony. That applies to you too, little joy.

[SaberEdge]

So Sony just bullies sites into giving their games a good score. That's just dirty.

I don't always agree with certain reviewers' scores, like that reviewer that just gave Mass Effect 2 a 7.5 or whatever it was, but I think it would be wrong if Micorosft or EA were to try to bully that site into giving it a more favorable review.

If this turns out to be true, in my opinion it is a dirty tactic.

[pixelsword]

I musta missed the SCEF on the back of a LOT of games.

[blackmagic]

This isn't about the review at all. If a reviewer consistently gives reviews that do not represent the quality of the product, they will become irrelevent all on their own. People will stop reading them and advertisers will avoid them.

Sony's actions here essentially blackmails the entire gaming community. What they are broadcasting to the rest of the journalists of the world is 'give one of our exclusives a bad review and we have the power to hurt you. We will stop advertising on your site. We will ban you from access to review materials. We will stop sending you promotional materials, screens, videos, etc. All of which will put you at a competetive disadvantage relative to other reporting outlets.' This is especially effective against smaller publications where such an outcome would undoubtably shut them down.

This is deplorable and it's not the first time either. What's the most shocking is that people here, a lot of people here, are siding with a corporate entity that is trying to strong arm the industry and are actively speaking against the rights for free speech. Welcome to 1984.

[kingdavid]

Far out mastiff just write your own blogs already.

You wasted 4 genuine paragraphs of essay on predominately trolls.

[snp]

Ugly if true.

Course, if it is a case of breaking embargo's, and using early code to diss something, and other cowboy behaviour etc. etc. - well, that's a different story.

Disappointing that some people are so eager to believe a twitter post if it's a chance to have a go at Sony, seemingly without needing any more evidence. But, also equally disappointing that other people are making excuses for Sony even in the case that it does turn out as clear cut as them 'blacklisting' on the basis of unfavourable review scores.

Wrong's wrong. Right's right. Professional's professional. These aren't negotiables, that you can ethically flip flop on depending whether the guys in question happen on 'your side' or not.

[maniacmayhem]

I find it hilarious that the Sony fans claim up and down that MS pays for their good reviews but the minute Sony is under suspicion.

Sony Fans: "THERE'S NO PROOF!! SONY WOULD NEVER DO THAT!"

[RememberThe357]

Some of you guys are freakin morons.

Your seriously just trying to find reasons to hate on Sony and that is pretty pathetic.

If a website/magazine leaked footage, broke embargo, and reviewed a demo code, I'd blacklist (or call out) their lying asses too and so would you.

But in the end no one here actually knows what went down. This is not about them not liking the game, it's about them not following the rules of edict.

[kingdavid]

err but if gamekult gave it 10/10 you could predict that they would not have been blacklisted. Thats the problem.

[snp]

err but if gamekult gave it 10/10 you could predict that they would not have been blacklisted. Thats the problem.
----

Well, that's just human nature. Of course if people - or a site - compliments you (and has a sum positive effect), you'll be (at least somewhat) more prone to overlooking their misbehaviour (if the embargo/unfinished code stuff is true).

Don't think i've ever met a human - and companies , after all, are filled with humans - who can't be flattered to 'some' degree (they're worse than individuals, actually, since at the end of the day the 'bottom line' is the absolute focus in amongst all the ego stuff).

I agree there's inconsistency there, but it doesn't really mean wrong behaviour - in terms of breaking embargo's and reviewing half finished code - is right, or can't be acted on where it affects a company negatively.. (which after all, in a monetary sense is where/when it's more likely to be acted on).

[NinjaAssassin]

so if this site is being blacklisted for breaking an embargo like some people are claiming then why weren't all those other french sites blacklisted?
sony might have the convenient excuse that they did it because the site broke the embargo but they don't seem to mind when the reviews are positive.

[bioshock1221]

lol wow if its true I did read an article a while ago about how one of the Hardware makers forces reviwers to give their games great scores or they get blacklisted I guess it was Sony. That's a b*tch move by sony its people's opinions and consumers need to hear the truth. Wow Sony has definitely lost my respect.

[snp]

Curious, for those two 'disagree's' in my previous post, what exactly are you 'disagreeing' with?

Not a shot, btw, it's a genuine question.

[WIIIS1]

As consistently demonstrated on this forum, PS3 fans seem not to value maturity and the importance of free speech and opinion. Kinda like Sony France in this instance if true.

[baum]

Look at how many self-righteous morons complaining about Sony and Sony fanboys. Wow, as if Microsoft or its fanboys weren't a despicable bunch. Wow, just wow. Hell, just check the comment above me.

[snp]

Look at how many self-righteous morons complaining about Sony and Sony fanboys. Wow, as if Microsoft or its fanboys weren't a despicable bunch. Wow, just wow. Hell, just check the comment above me.
-----

It is perplexing. I'm not about to make a case 'for' Sony 'fanboys', but this constant self-pitying and lack of self-awareness by anti Sony folks/trolls - even while they troll almost squad like through Ps3-only threads - it's odd.

I don't think i've opened a ps3 thread lately that hasn't had, as it's very first post, an anti-ps3 member (and thereby setting the tone for the rest of the thread from there). Majority of the time it's 'Bungie', on this occasion twas 'N4PS3G' (an ironic name?) got there first.

Hey, if it's a free-for-all. Fair enough. But enough with the nonsense self-pity then, for gods sake; at the very least don't do it while you yourself are in the very act of trolling. It's absurd.

Sony trolls, MS trolls.. other trolls. There's no special 'worst' bunch; they're all as bad as each other - anyone who says otherwise is frankly probably up to no good themselves (the likely reason they're so one eyed) in my experience.

[Consoldtobots]

I've been wanting Sony to do this for the last 2 years, not to "gamekult" but to every other fanboy site run by bought off ms douches.

Sony's problem is a cultural one, Japanese people are EXTREMELY polite and meek. They lack the cojones to dish it right back to MS and their fanboys. If I was in charge of SCEAs PR department it would make the current state of the console war look like a sunday scrimmage at the schoolyard.

[testerg35]

Hmmm... I guess you can't have an opinion.

[WLPowell]

and trying to proclaim Heavy Rain is a D grade game. You can have that opinion, but it's a bad choice on someone's part to allow that opinion to be spoken publically (call me a non-american, but some stupid people just shouldn't have the right to speak their minds and be paid for it. You don't hear respected sports columnist trying to say "Michael Jordan sucks, cause he didn't play for the Celtics and he didn't shoot his shots exactly like Dr. J" Yet this behaviour is totally kosher with video games.) First and foremost the reviewers job is to have a good taste in games and be able to critique a game based on said games merits (which I hate this new "have your cake and eat it too" mentality that game reviewers have. One day they try to preach that they are "professionals" the next they do the exact oppositte of their job and judge a game harshly cause of some retarded reason or bias, and try to hide behind the "hey it's just my opinion" excuse. Cool then you shouldn't be doing work as a journalist, fair enough?), he fails at his job, and rightfully so he should not be successful at it, maybe more boycots should be in order until professionalism has come to the gaming media. The consensus is the game is not a D-grade game (You may not like it, but it's not your job to mark it down just cause it's not your favorite genre/or game, your supposed to know why it is or is not of quality and speak on that (which if there are real issues with the game then speak on it) which that right there has almost completely dissapeared from gaming journalism... and what happened to simply not reviewing it, if you feel you're too stupid to see the quality of a great game? There are plenty of movie critics who don't review every big movie that comes out, noone has a problem with it), so trying that just brings more attention/questions to what your agenda may be. But I hope so many boycotss happen that we do away with the self-important, petty video game "journalist" altogether.

Edit: The disagreer is free to voice his opinion. ;)

[BeaArthur]

I kind of feel the same way. I don't think they should get a blacklist for just one game, that is a little ridiculous. Based on other reviews it appears that Heavy Rain is definitely better than a 6 but that is going a little far because you don't agree with their evaluation of the game. I have seen plenty of reviews for plenty of games where someone gives it way below what it deserves but I have never heard of anything like this.

At the same time though maybe Gamerkult should have had someone else review this because a score of 6 (and of what I saw of Gamerkult's synopsis) almost feels like this person didn't understand what the game was about. The gist of the review makes it sound like the person was bored from the start (probably more of a shooter fan) and was going to give it a low score no matter what. Gamerkult should have been more aware of their writer's preferences and given the game to someone else.

I can understand both stances on this argument (for or against) but in my opinion Sony took this a little far.

[redsquad]

There's quite a difference between "opinion" and "informed opinion".

I hate 'romantic comedy' movies - Absolutely loathe them - but I'm still quite capable of distinguishing between 'well made' ones and 'badly made' ones. If I was a movie critic, it would be my responsibility to set aside my personal dislike of them and assess each one objectively.

Game reviewers should do the same, yet you only have to see how many reviews these days insist on mentioning other titles as some kind of yardstick to measure a new release against rather than judge it on it's own merits.

[BeaArthur]

redsquad...well that's just it, every review has some sort of personal input. You may like the way game X plays and I may think the controls aren't tight enough or too sluggish. Opinions (informed or otherwise) are totally subjective.

For instance, everyone seemed to love MGS4 but I thought the CQC was pretty crappy and felt unresponsive and that the last 3 Acts were severely lacking what made the first 2 Acts great. Therefore, my review reflected that. You may have thought MGS4 was an epic experience from beginning to end. That doesn't make either one of our reviews/opinions wrong or right, we just see the game differently.

There is no universal formula for reviewing games because they are all different (some more than others). Some reviewers think graphics are crucial where others may put an emphasis on gameplay and still others think that story is key. The fact is that there is always going to be some personality that leaks into a review, that's just the way it is.

[WLPowell]

But would you say MGS4 is D-Grade? Plus they broke the embargo, so Sony has everyright to blacklist them from getting review copys of their games.

[BeaArthur]

WLPowell...no I would not say it's a "D-grade" game but that doesn't mean someone else doesn't think it is. Look I'm not saying he's right or wrong, I'm just trying to say that everyone's getting a little worked up over one reviewers opinion. This site game ME2 a 7; which now that I am about half way through (or so I figure) I can say that I think that is incredible low but at the same time I don't know what that particular reviewer was looking for in a game. If Sony blacklisted them for breaking the embargo, fine, they broke the agreement/contract (or whatever arrangement they have with Sony) and they deserve their punishment. If Sony is black listing them because they don't like how they reviewed their game; well that is just weak.

[onanie]

Opinions: just like aholes, everyone's got one. That doesn't mean that every single one is presentable, LOL.

With opinions the way they are, some will be respectable, and some are not. It shouldn't take one random opinion to override the sensibility of looking at the bigger picture.

In this specific case, gamekult may very well have broken the embargo or based the review on beta code, and Sony is well within their right to slap them on the wrist, regardless of how self-important their opinion is.

[xaviertooth]

these id!0ts from gamekult are not gamers.

me2 a 7?
heavy rain a 6?

only stvpid people are running that site.

[nycredude]

And they gave Dragons Age: origin on consoles a 6. Bunch of whiners.

[4point7BillionLoss]

nobody gave a crap when they gave Me2 a 7/10

Sony is clearly trying to influence reviewers ... what a bunch of yellow teeth baby's ....

Confirmed - ME2 > UC2

[PLAYSTATIONGENRATION]

Uc2 greater thans mass effect 2... Simple Fact...

[Trebius]

On topic: They broke embargo and slandered a perfectly good game. I'd be pissed too if i were SONY. They had no right to release footage from the older build, and on top of that write a review that's just a cry for hits.

This has nothing to do about them liking their opinion or not, it has everything to do with bad etiquette.

[ChrisW]

This totally sounds like an attempt to push reviewers to release higher reviews.

Now, in reality... I wonder if M$ is paying off Gamekult? DUH! Of course they are! To us fanboys, there's absolutely no other possibility!

[iMad]

Dear Sony, please stop brainwash us.
We all know your gaming division needs more money to leave red numbers but c'mon!

[gears22]

Gamekult and JeuVideo didnt play the full game.
I HEARD that 2012 is the end of days.

[Sangria]

For people not being much conscious of the situation, I'll sum up (I used to work for French biggest professional website).

Usually, publishers like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, THQ, etc... send review copies (or codes for downloadable games) of their games to professional websites so they can write their reviews upon it. For smallest publishers and games, websites must buy the games themselves if they want to review it.

But review copies are usually sent for free, so publishers expect websites to soften their opinion, which explains why games like Fallout 3, Ass' Creed or GTA IV have been critically acclaimed disregard their flaws. Gamekult is the second biggest French professional website and they are known to be hard with their reviews but totally unbiased (if you understand French, you should listen to their podcasts, they're awesome).

And Heavy Rain received a 6/10 mostly because it's boring, there are too much QTEs and some animations are too much rigid. Sony reacted like they did with Kotaku, blacklisting Gamekult, which means they potentially will no longer receive games published by Sony for free, unless both parts find an agreement (re-reviewing the game or changing its score for example).

In USA, a similar case happened with Kane & Lynch, where Gamestop editor Jeff Gerstmann have been fired for having given a low score to the game. I doubt Poischich (the Gamekult editor who wrote the Heavy Rain review) will be fired as well as being hard but fair is a real motto at Gamekult. Yet, partnerships with Sony may be in trouble in a near future for GK, as much for review copies of games as advertising revenues.

[nycredude]

So what is their excuse for Mass Effect 2 getting a 7? Seems to me like they just don't like games.

[N4PS3G]

Their excuse is called...their opinion

[Sangria]

According to their review, it's mostly because the game has been truncated compared to the first Mass Effect, being more a shooter than a RPG.

[TOO PAWNED]

NP360g

So if i say Sun is GREEN, i am not incorrect, because you know it's my opinion? Just because you have an opinion it doesn't mean it's correct or not.... I guess Sony Europe has issue with something else other then score, or otherwise EDGE would have been black listed LONG time ago.

[MicroSony]

@Sangria

True, in my book, the first one was the best. But ME 2 its nowhere near 7. Much like a 8.5, it feel more like "Mass of Gears 2"

[Sangria]

Gamekult gave Mass Effect a 8/10, and as they consider Mass Effect 2 is not as good as Mass Effect, they couldn't give it a 8 neither a 8.5. So the only way for them to show this is to give it a lower score, in this case a 7 (they couldn't give it a 7.5 or 7.9 as they only score in integers).

[nycredude]

You people have to stop with this opinion BS, hiding behind that BS to say whatever they want. Reviews are NOT opinions. If they were they would be called "opinions"! Why are they called reviews?

[DaTruth]

Reviews are not opinions, they are reviews. Articles are for reviews; Opinions are for comment sections.

Why would you be paid to do something everybody does for free! Professional reviews are done by people who can put their feelings aside and give a review of what's in the subject and of what quality it is! Most people are unable to put their personal biases and opinions aside and give an honest review.

[NinjaAssassin]

"So if i say Sun is GREEN, i am not incorrect, because you know it's my opinion?"

no, because some things are a matter of opinion and some things are a matter of fact. the color of the sun is in the realm of objective facts that can be measured empirically.

a person's opinion of a game, on the other hand, is completely subjective.

[Socomer 1979]

Thats what im talking about. Hooo Yah!
Welcome to the blacklist, suckaz!

[OGharryjoysticks]

More so than Dragon Age?

EDIT- Sangria, I haven't seen it so I don't know and that's why I'm asking. I played Dragon Age and thought the way they would stand was real robot and totally lifeless, so I thought I would ask if somebody here might know what this stiff animation is for HR. Everybody seems to be an authority on Heavy Rain already.

[Sangria]

Gamekult gave Dragon Age Origins a 6/10 on consoles and pointed out many technical issues.

[gears22]

Read the full review?

I just read the final paragraph.

I'm sure it's because of spoilers or something else.If Sony really cared about scores,they would've already banned the sites that gave MAG a low score.

Specially the sites that just played for 3 or 4 hours.Just saying.

[Sangria]

btw, a translation of the Tweet:
"Sony France are in pretty good shape: they blacklisted Gamekult and made modify a score from JeuxVideo.com (that gave a 15/20) for Heavy Rain. But the video game [industry] is mature, right? (via @poischich)"

And Poischich's (the editor who wrote the Heavy Rain review) Tweet:
"Sony will 'stand back' with Gamekult following the Heavy Rain review. Such a surprise..."

If you need any French translation, just ask for it. I can do so.
Edit: I wonder why I get disagrees. Do you pretend you talk better French that someone that was born and lives in France?

[Redempteur]

je pense franchement que ce sont des idiots ..
le jeu est trop simple mais trop compliqué ? il faut savoir
Les animations sont "rigides" quand l'emsemble du jeu est montion capturé ?
Soyons sérieux..on ne fais pas un test de heavy rain en 3 heures de gameplay.

//TRANSLATION

I really think these guys are morons
They say that the game is too simple yet to complex ? They need to choose what to say
ANimation are rigid in a full motion captured game ?
Let's be serious ..You don't make a heavy rain test in 3 hours of gameplay ....

ps : i'm born in france , speaking french ..

[Sangria]

J'ai pas testé le jeu moi-même donc je ne saurai dire s'ils ont tort ou raison, mais d'un autre côté j'ai plus confiance en Gamekult que JV.com (bien qu'au fond moi-même je proteste contre une note aussi basse compte tenu des efforts fait par Quantic Dream).

Tr:
I haven't played the game by myself so I wont be able to say if they are right or wrong, but on another hand I trust more Gamekult than JeuxVideo (even though I tend to protest against such low score considering Quantic Dream's efforts).

[ActionBastard]

I can't speak a lick of French and appreciate the translations!

[Redempteur]

you just need to read their test to realise that it doesn't make sense.. at least to me ...

Heavy rain is NOT the generic game some people want to believe ...even if it doesn't feel complex thanks the story the game is based on to live ..

If you just treat it like any other ..you already fails... and even then the game doesn't need to have a free pass .. the game just need a fair review ...

[dead_eye]

Redempteur has it spot on. they did contradict themselves in the pro's and con's list.

for me this looks like the reviewer doesn't really know what he's on about and is trying to fill in blanks.

just my opinion..

[DaTruth]

The rest of us probably thought it didn't make sense because Google translator almost never makes any sense! I got more from your French then from the Google translated article!

[gauntletpython]

I'm sure it's more because they broke the embargo. Idiots.

[commodore64]

the score of 6/10 is OBVIOUSLY too low.

SO what do gamers do?
They run to other reviews to get a better, more rounded idea of review scores in general.
Soon, savvy gamers work out that the game is MUCH better than 6/10.

All in all, such a score will create infamy surrounding Heavy rain, and, get this, INCREASE its notoriety.

More notoriety equals more exposure.
More exposure equals more sales.

What do you guys think?

[Karooo]

sony must be doing everything to promote it lol.

[Pennywise]

I think your agree to disagree ratio speaks for itself.

[commodore64]

I am glad that people disagree with me.

It shows that I have the intelligence and insight to think for myself and not be a mindless sheep, which is all too common here on n4g.

Ironically, on the day that all PS3 fanboys agree with me, THEN I know I have a problem.

;)

[baum]

Actually, the disagree ratio doesn't only say that you're not a sheep, but that you're one of the sheep that has top be sacrificed a little bit too early because he has severe damages in the core of his nervous system. You know, there are sheep, which is bad enough, but you sir, no you take the cake for stupidest comment of the day.

I don't say this solely for the disagree ration though, or for the sake of insulting you or because you support a particular company or hate another one, no, I say it because the logic (using the word "logic" loosely here) of "A GAME GAINS MORE NOTORIETY BECAUSE IT IS POORLY REVIEWED AND THEREFORE IT SELLS MORE BECAUSE IT MOTIVATES GAMERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES AND THEREFORE BUY IT", is the most retarded piece of garbage I've ever read. Seriously, I would encourage everyone to read this as many times as they could just for the sake of hilarity, but I'm afraid your comment might actually make a few people dumber just for reading this.

Wow, just... wow. Please tell me how you came up with this, I'm honestly impressed with your weak reasoning ability. No, I'm serious, I actually wanna know how your brain operates (I say operate because to say it works or functions would be a compliment).

[commodore64]

sheesh, baum, did i touch raw nerve or are you off the meds again?

chill out my dear gaming friend.
;)

[Madeline12]

LOLs Blacklist !

[Dance]

Lets blacklist every reviewing site that has a different opinion

[DelbertGrady]

I would like it best if Sony did all the reviews themselves. That way we would know for sure they gave the games fair scores that we could all agree with.

[rob6021]

Sad thing is every publisher does this now days, it's not just Sony. They probably blacklisted them cause their deal probably said the review had to be 9/10 to come out early.

[DelbertGrady]

Though, one could say that Gamekult in fact blacklisted Sony by not giving Heavy Rain a higher score... o_O

[hoops]

When a console or game company blacklists a site because they did not review their game favourably even if that site is wrong in giving a bad score, It just looks bad and cry baby whining by the game or console company for lowering themselves to the standards of that site.
Its obvious that this game site is just giving bad scores to get hits because HR does not deserve a 6. However Sony should not care and move on. There are many more reputable sites beyond this one.

[Convas]

... is not what I'm looking at right now (However, I do find that atrocious.) I'm looking at Sony blacklisting a good site because of a fair review. I want to hear the Sony Whores now, their always saying that Microsoft is always sending $600 Swag bags for favorable reviews, but look at what your beloved institution does when it's met with challenges and FAIR critisism. This officially declares that Both MS and Sony are corrupt. Allegiance to either is foolish.

[hoops]

The irony is SOny has done this type of thing before. Not so much blacklisting but making "calls"and then having reviews changed or altered.
AC1 and Fallout 3 at IGN and Gamespot come to mind.
Sony also is known to do this for its movies. They made up false positive reviews for movies and hired its own staff to make the review.
It seems ALL companies do this.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

hoops don't forget about the "guide to reviewing Lair" that Sony sent to reviewers... They do have a history..

But I have to agree that I'm sure Sony isn't the only one doing it.

[artsaber]

Hell, even Gamepro admitted to it. Major sites get free copies of games, and multiple goodies, some extras are even given away in online contests, etc.

But it is not these goodie bags that is the main bother, it makes sense at times to give complimentary review copies out. Some newspapers with Game Editors get them also... but it is the fact that many of the REVIEWERS have lost touch with the VALUE behind what me and you should get for $60. Why, because they NEVER have to pay it!

Maybe Mom & Pop independent review sites probably have more truth weight to their reviews than some of the majors because they are not on the "send" list, and may have to purchase most of the games they review.

But a 7 for ME2, I say bull because I am playing it now on PC. Heavy Rain a 6? I don't know, haven't played it, but I am biased because it seems like my cup of tea and a refreshing mixup to the usual lot of of games. I will be trying Heavy Rain out regardless.

Gamekult broke the embargo date, which was a condition of receiving the review content... they deserve the Ban regardless of what anyone says. Blacklisted for breaking rules =/= Censorship. The Embargo was an arrangement agreed upon by both parties. Sony held up their end by sending the review material, Gamekult did not.

[NotSoSilentBob]

And this is why reviews are an opinion and should matter to no one.

[Dorwrath]

Looks like Sony doesn't like opinion, unless it's their opinion that is.

[Amiroo]

Now Sony Send Warning to more reviewers ! and maybe sony buy some reviewers for 10/10 score maybe . acting like a kid dosen't change the facts . just see the screenshots on Gamekult

[Darkinco]

Hi , I'm french and actually , GK has not been blacklisted , they use this argument for publicity.
They speak about Jv.com and Logan ( who has tested Heavy Rain) , he has just receive a call from Sony France and this call is just to explain that heavy rain have really 9 differents ending.

Sony france has never obliged Logan to change the mark : ( it say's by him on jv.com).

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Wow, this stinks of censorship and trying to manipulate the reviews.

Sony for some reason expected they had a guaranteed high score but didn't get it so now they want to "blacklist" them.

My question is why did Sony expect this game to score so high from this magazine? Like it was predetermined..

Very fishy and I wonder how much pressure Sony is putting on other reviewers that we just don't hear about because they fear a blacklist so they play Sony's review game.. This isn't the first time Sony has interfered with reviewers and it's lame.

This is going to turn out like the Kotaku ban and just makes Sony look bad.

[WLPowell]

Try paying attention instead of using this to propel you and Hoopz's Sony hate agenda.

[trane07]

whatever news no matter how small or irrelevant it is to put sony in a bad light, fools like these will capitalize and pounce on it without a full consideration of facts or explanations as to why.

Its just ignorance mostly. Fools like giantenemycrab, and others do it occasionally. Just waiting for the right moment to jump into their anti-sony tirade mode.

[Pennywise]

Kotaku are a bunch of over-critical, unprfessional DipS**ts.

[Elven6]

WLPowell: When is the embargo lifted?

[DaTruth]

Now we have to hear about that time Sony blacklisted that game site for a 6/10 score in every comment section for now on!

[PandemicPrawn0]

But it does beg the question. How many other review sites have they strong armed into giving good scores for this title.

[Hakimy]

this is a bad step from sony.you can't expect everyone to like your game.gamekult are the same people who gave uncharted 2 a rare 9 and not one exclusive xbox360 game has been able to reach that rate.most of them got 7 (halo,gears of war,mass effect) so now we are banning sites cus they are giving a bad review to one of our games? what if all publishers did the same? I hope someone at sony do something and change this cus this is really bad to sony's image.

[sarshelyam]

...it's about the rules attached to it. If a company extends a courtesy to provide early code (key words here), then you follow whatever rules they send with it. The fact of the matter is that there are TWO codes running in the industry. We have the Preview Code which, for all intents and purposes, is a demo. It features a Chapter of the game and 8 Scenarios...but it's unfinished code filled with a number of issues. Then there's the finished code, or Retail Build. I'm uncertain how big GameKult is but it's entirely likely they received the Preview Code for this.

Regardless of which version they received, if Sony stated the reviews could not be published until a specific date, and GameKult broke that date...good for Sony! The media need to respect why they have a job in the first place. GameKult now has one huge platform leader's lack of support thanks to an intentional oversight. Serves them right!

[dragonelite]

I have respect for sites like this i mean look at gt,ign and other big sites they give 9.x as if 9-10 is the new 1-10.

[WLPowell]

These jackasses broke the embargo. Sony didn't blacklist all the reviewers who have crapped on MAG and WKC. But read into it however you want.

[dragonelite]

Yeah right they have given ME 2 a 7 right i dont even follow them.
Heavy rain is a niche game you like it or you dont its not like a cod where the casual fratboy is hyping about and stuff.

[testerg35]

So all of you PS3 guys defending Heavy Rain have played it to have an opinion about it? Just curious... where's Pennywise when you actually need him??

[WLPowell]

and gave it a low score cause he was too stupid. So yeah, I guess this should be a completely valid area of criteria for games from here on out, right? "Does it speak to the lowest common denominator?" Oh man these guys are gonna have a field day with The Last Guardian.

[Pennywise]

LOL! I AM HERE!!!!!!

I am reserving my opinion on this game. I respect what they are trying to do. I am sure all us adults will appreciate this game if it is done right.

I don't defend a game until I play it. Anything you see me talk about is first hand, buddy.

[Sir_Ken_Kutaragi_]

;-D

(I was going to spell it out but i'm sure a ModBot is watching me!!!) ;-D

[ChrisW]

Wow... you're... um... creative...

OH! I know, [REPORT --> OFFENSIVE]

Though I seriously doubt they'll delete it because it's so "creative" that it would be a crime to censor!!!

Just kidding, I wouldn't report such asininity.

[CharlesDCI]

I don't think Sony blacklisted them because of the review itself, but because I believe the embargo for Heavy Rain is lifted Feb 10. They put out a review to early.

[JTX]

these idiots keep talking about the game flopping when its averaging 9/10 score. Doesn't sound like it's flopping to me.

[trane07]

Its basically grasping at straws. Despite the 9's and perfect 10's they would rather divert their attention to the lowest denominator, and base a complete and utterly ignorant-laced flop tirade off of it.

And then to jump to this websites defense and say that the score was justified knowing full well that half of them nearly blew their damn lids off when this same website gave mass effect 2 a 7 out of 10. Completely contradictory. Had MS blacklisted them, you wouldn't have heard a damn peep out of these fools who are trying to make a big "anti-sony" deal out of this.

Its something that can't be helped.

[user1337]

Seriously...some random guy posting this up on twitter. Who is to say they aren't doing this just to get more hits?

[trane07]

The poster above (Darkinco) just commented saying

"Hi , I'm french and actually , GK has not been blacklisted , they use this argument for publicity.
They speak about Jv.com and Logan ( who has tested Heavy Rain) , he has just receive a call from Sony France and this call is just to explain that heavy rain have really 9 differents ending.

Sony france has never obliged Logan to change the mark : ( it say's by him on jv.com)."

[kewlkat007]

......Big corps that sensitive?

Talk about Fanboys

[bjornbear]

i think sony doesn't believe the review is a good representation of an experience with the game.

anyone can build up a site, and start reviewing games, getting them early (legaly or not - possibly the case here) and review it without any repercussions, it would be borderline defamation

why? because you are unofficially and unjustifyingly (if you have a badly edited and written review - gamekult ) and it can even get to the point that they could have even "insulted" the product, which can give sony the right to call it defamation

in marketing, if a small official website reviews a bad product
thats fine

but if they go over board and judge it in a way its reception by the public can be affected, unless the text is very well written, they can get smacked for smack talking =P

[bjornbear]

but Sony also has every right to blacklist someone if they want, its their choice and they have their reasons

so as long as they aren't getting anyone fired, this isn't a big deal.

is it noble? no, but i thought MS fans were saying thats how business is

well, thats how business is =) but in this case, no one got hurt

[xg-ei8ht]

Thats the difference between alot of people.

Looks good in pics or vid, i'll pre-order that. I never do.

I have to play a demo to buy a game.

The only games that don't roll that way are Uncharted's and Lego's.

Because they are always well done.

GOW3 Will buy
GT5P - so will buy GT5
BFBC2 - Beta, will buy full game.

Etc.

Heavy rain does look good, and i know people love ME2, but those are not fully my type of games, so it would be pointless in me reviewing them. I think that happens alot, wrong reviwers for type game.

[stuntman_mike]

if you look hard enough on twitter you will see that bob marley and princess diana are still tweeting and how long have they been dead.

[ArchangelMike]

Well Most game journo's who review a game, do Not present the information in a wal that suggests it's just an opinion. If this is the case game journo's should not then attach a score to the review. A score makes an Absolute stattement on the game, and removes the subjectivity of the reviewer. If I were to review an opera, it would not matter that Pavarotti (God rest his soul), was performing, it would probaly never get a 9/10. I don't 'get' opera, and I would much prefer cirque de soleil!!!

Reviewers have an over-inflated view of their opinions. Opinions can be flawed and wrong (it might be your opinion that women should not be allowed to vote. But this does not make the opinion correct!) Opinions can also be based on a flawed premise (the earth was once thought to be flat), or on false expectations. It is this over-inflated view of 'my' opinion, from both fanboys and game journalists that is corrupting the games industry, and causing publishers to resort to questionable behaviour.

Sony is right to Blacklist GK for breaking the review embargo. Sony (and publishers or gamers) are also right to call 'Foul' when a website flamebaits a review in order to get hits and attract attention to itself.

[SSCOOLCHEA]

They want to be so different in giving low scores to every game . What a fkn joke ????

[JokesOnYou]

[kemiru]

Where is proof?

[sak500]

That's right sony should blacklist them for low ratings afterall teh servers were not up till 2am last night so they could only play with 2.6 people instead of 400 people game... /sarc

yes the whole world is against sony and yet they were the champs last gen with the whole world was at their feet.. Something to do with blatant lies about the hardware, software, fake videos etc.???

[TehCell]

"bawwww, ma ps3 gaem didnt get teh 9"
Get over it. You havent even played it, so dont complain what it should get. Congrats, you are now lower than the Gamecube fanboys.

[yog-sothot]

Gamekult is the second biggest french website about videogames... I can't believe Sony France will blacklist it !

I've read their review oh HR, they make valid points, even if I'm as excited as ever about the game. Same for ME2 by the way, I kinda agree with the reviewer who did not like the vanishing of many RPG elements. But to blacklist them for this is ridiculous...

[jackdoe]

More for breaking the review embargo than anything else. 2/10/2010. I thought it was odd that I was reading Heavy Rain reviews last week that weren't print reviews.

[jackdoe]

Sigh. Sony has every right to blacklist whoever the hell they want to. Especially a webzine that broke an embargo. Online reviews are NOT to be released until Feb. 10 and all major US websites are adhearing to that. Why didn't the second largest French website do the same? What right do they have to not get punished for breaking said embargo?

[MostJadedGamer]

xaviertooth the fact is very few games deserve more then a 6 or 7. Almost every single game is overrated now days. Gaming sites just and out 8, and 9's like candy. I seriously doubt either Heavy Rain or Mass Effect 2 deserve more then a 6 or 7.

[EvilBlackCat]

BURN BABY BURN!

[Mr Lahey]

Huge corporations, TONS of money involved, markets to conquer.

Need i say more? Off course reviews will be both bought and blacklisted etc. It goes both ways.. Especially nowadays when reviews actually make people decide if they gonna buy a game or not depending on if it got universal acclaim or just a good score. which apparently is a bad score nowadays.

Reviews are politics..

[HINDERIZATION]

they're giving low scores to most sony games and exclusives and to games that are "exclusive" to 360. To think that the gaming industry has gotten this stupid and biased in some areas... What a shame...

[spektical]

these same professional reviewers gave ME2 a 7... i mean i expected more from this game, but in my book its a solid 9 at the least..

some reviewers should not be allowed to do that: review.

[spiky1228]

I think there are some sites that just gives out low score for hits. Professional should leave his own personal opinions and preference behind and review the game on its quality.

When reviewers doesn't review the game correctly, the victims are gamers who may miss out on a great experience. So Sony did gamers a favor by pulling the plug on gamekult. They can still review the game by buying a retail copy like any one of us, but the review will be like any user review from amazon.com where it truly belongs.

[SaberEdge]

But quality is subjective. Some people think MGS4 is one of the greatest games of the generation and for me it was more like an 8 in quality and gameplay.

Everything from story and graphics to gameplay and sound is always going to be judged subjectively.

[spiky1228]

I have no problem for MGS4 getting a 8/10. I mean the game is not perfect. I would give it a 9.5/10 because it was an awsome experience from the story telling and the immersion of understanding what SNAKE was going throught. You can also skip the cut scene but you will missed out. Thats doesn't mean you should lower the scroe becasue the cut scene was too long....

Quality is not subjective but user reviews are. There is a difference. HALO 3 was so boring. I played for like 10 mintues and I just can;t beleive how this game deserves a 9/10. The graphics were las gen and the gameplay was plasma shooting everywhere. Its true, the graphics were very poor. I would have given a 5/10 becasue I was bored. If I was doing it professionally, I would give it a 8/10 becasue it was "SOLID"...maybe graphics were a drawback and i didn't liek the whole galaxy theme but it was atleast solid interms of gameplay and no framerate issue. Its a solid game.

[N4g_null]

Only sheep care about a review score. Buy the game because you want it.

[truewittness]

they're acting like the obama campaign.

[Johandevries]

YES we Can

[Master J]

Hi all,
I worked for jeuxvideo.com for several years and just wanted to clarify a point.
Sony did call the website to point out that the editor made a mistake in his review. Instead of 2 endings, as previously written, Heavy Rain has 20 endings. Knowing that fact, the editor modified the review, but did not change the final score which is, and always was 15 out of 20.
In fact, I talked with the editor the day before the review was posted online and he already told me which score he was going to give.
The only modification can be found in the "Durée de vie" section, which basically concerns the length of the game. The editor first gave 14 out of 20, then changed to 16 out of 20 when he learned about the 20 endings.

That's all.

[MRMagoo123]

360 fanturds havent actually bothered reading the article, it would seem they all bought there "i hate sony" band wagon tickets before hand and where already half way down the road.Its not about the review score you silly silly fanturds its about the embargo now get ur feet out of your mouths and read then maybe read again till it sinks in.I think sony has the right to blacklist them and if it was MS doing this about ME2 the fanturds would all agree too.

[danielle007]

So what does it mean to be blacklisted by Sony? They just don't get review copies ahead of time anymore, and hafta wait until the game is actually out?

I'm probably not going to agree with Gamekult on Heavy Rain, but it seems kind of silly to blacklist someone just because you don't like their review scores, if that is actually the case, since that just makes you seem like a pansy that can't take criticism. Not everyone will treat your games like they are gold. They gave their opinion, and Sony should just man up and take it. It's not like they're going to be the only ones that give Heavy Rain a bad score, it's a different type of game.

[ironmonkey]

WOW KIDS RELAX I DONT THINK ITS A BIG DEAL U MS KIDDIES COMPLAIN TO MUCH GO PLAY SOME GAMES NOW GO RUN ALONG!

[spiky1228]

Gamekult seems to be trying to play the victim here and I hope no one is buying into it. Just becasue their smaller when comapre to SONY doesn't mean they are the victim here. They are just giving out low scores and getting free publicity. Any publicity (even at the cost of others) is good publicity.

Pros:
* Well done intrigue
* A real influence on events
* Quite good-looking
* Neat direction
* Easy to handle

Cons:
* We're often bored
* QTEs for really everything and anything
* Clumsy gameplay
* Serious rhythm problems
* Some inconsistencies in the scenario

I am BORED ??? QTE is really everything ??? I am not sure if they played the game. I was at 2010 CES SONY booth playing the demo of the fat guy meeting the prostitue and it is not just QTE. You have to move the character and choose the dialouge and control your action. If you're bored, then this type of game is not for you then why are you reviewing it. Maybe they shoudl have someone that is more suitable for the job.

[Anubis Vlad Tepas]

Well Sangria (2nd page) calmly explained a lot of important things for those who really want to understand what's really going on.

Allow me to clarify some the points here. Seems like they've been misunderstood.

Cons:
* We're often bored
* QTEs for really everything and anything
* Clumsy gameplay
* Serious rhythm problems
* Some inconsistencies in the scenario

- On s'ennuie souvent / "We're often bored" : Poischich pointed out the fact that the first third of the game was slow and the story took a lot of time to start. Seems like the "dramatic node" arrives a bit too late (unlike Fahrenheit), and thus players could be disappointed with that. From this point of view, it already seems a bit less subjective and thus, more acceptable.
- Des QTE pour vraiment tout et n'importe quoi / "QTEs for really everything and anything" : Poischich never stated that the game is only made of QTEs. He was talking about the fact that you're asked to go through QTEs for every single action in the game. Brushing your teeth, making up, raising your glass then drink (two different actions, careful !), etc. Poischich thought it's making the game slowier and more boring. Trunks, another member of the Gamekult's team, answered that he thought it was rather a good thing since it made all the actions more "usual", and then it leaves you unprepared to the most significant actions (thus the player is constantly doubting about what's really going to matter, and that helps with the ambiance). See : they've even have several opinions within the same redaction.
The other cons seem to be pretty obvious to understand, though some might not agree with them.
Now, after going through the whole review, I was more than willing to buy the game. So yes, the score is average, but the review succeeded in explaining what are the good and the bad points, and helping readers to make up their minds about the game.

About the embargo thing… well as a french reader (you must have spotted mistakes in my post, and that's why…) I simply didn't figure there was anything like an embargo around Heavy Rain. Sure it was quite a surprise to see so many reviews three weeks before the game's release (not necessarily a good idea since the hype will likely go down), *but* all the french magazines released their reviews. If Gamekult has been blacklisted because of that, then all the french websites should be as well.
Plus, Gamekult already faced several situations where they weren't allowed to publish their reviews before a game's release unless they give it a good score. They simply waited for the game to be released and gave their own, unbiased opinion. It's unlikely they would consciously have broken any embargo. Neither does Gamekult need any advertising since they're already the third (so i've been told) most visited french video games website. No, it's more likely that Sony (just like any other large corporation) spotted a bad and potentially dangerous score for a precious game, and decided to teach Gamekult a lesson by "blackmailing" (the term is a bit harsch) them.
No need to talk a lot about that. It's dirty, it's common.

[devilhunterx]

Great move. Now how about banning more xbots losers sites as well, e.g. Edge, Craptaku

[TVippy]

The freedom of speech. Sony's way. Boycott them!

[Obama]

I don't think Gamekult is anti-sony; they just have a bad taste in games. The only website that Sony should blacklist is Edge. These guys have shown their true color ages ago, and I can't believe Sony still let these jokers run wild.

[awesomeperson]

Who's up for making an xbot excessive delusional fanboy black list?

I'll start us off:

-Ricco
-Thetruth2009

Now you guys add some more :)

[truewittness]

awesomeperson

[DigitalAnalog]

I can only think that these guys will no longer be able to review PS3 exclusives early -- meaning, they will have to BUY the game before reviewing. IN other words, we don't get to hear "their" bullsh*t AFTER the game is released. If such is the case, I fully support this "blacklist".

-Go Figure!

[arny]

Thier review is biased if they gave Heavy rain a 6 heavy is the best game ive played

[Hidden Star]

Everyone has a different notion on what they believe a 6 to be. In my opinion 6 is for good games. 7 is very good. 8 is excellent. 9 is exceptional and 10 well well.. what do we have here.

[arny]

strip for me

[divideby0]

GOOD....this site also needs to step up and stop allowing obvious articles with sensationalized titles, just looking for clicks and wanna start fanwars.
that stupid IGN article UC2 and ME2 is just an example of a decent web site in desparation for hits