40°

Consensus Does Not Invalidate Personal Experience

EGMR's Bracken Lee-Rudolph discusses polarising attitudes in gaming, and how ostracising people based on uncommon views will not help the industry progress.

Quote: "Last week, an IGN article went up about Bloodborne and how Reviews Editor, Dan Stapleton, struggled to retain interest through the grindingly formulaic gameplay, and brutal difficulty.

IGN’s own review of the game rated it at a 9.1/10; an incredible score by most measurements. Our own review gave it a 90 — from the perspective of a reviewer who has played, and loved, the past Souls games. These are hardly the only positive reviews on the internet for a game which has largely received critical acclaim, but still Dan Stapleton, a journalist in the industry for over a decade now, found little to no enjoyment from Bloodborne‘s unforgiving outlay."

nucky643308d ago (Edited 3308d ago )

bracken,(the guy who wrote the article) put together a well thought out article. however, he never took the time to consider if dan stapleton was wrong in his assessment of the game - and I DO think he was wrong. I think this because stapleton wants to say the game is bad because, basically, he isn't any good at it - and I don't agree with this.
yea, there are some technical issues that I'm sure will be patched; but,I think bloodborne is a fantastic game. I haven't played a non arcade-style game (like resogun or superstardust) that I can't stop playing in quite a while. the last one that came close was farcry4 - and it's not anything near as good as bloodborne.

ArchangelMike3308d ago (Edited 3308d ago )

This is the problem with review scores and why they are a double edged sword.

On the one hand a person who doesn't like a game will score it low... which will not necessarily reflect the overall package of the game, but more likely simply reflect personal dislike.

On the other hand, without such high reviews scores classic games like Bloodborne would not necesarily get so much recognition or nearly as much 'critical reception'. Review scores still speak very loudly.

I think the best way forward is for sites to allow two or more people with different tastes to review a game, and give a balanced view of the game based on their personal prefernces. And this should be made clear - that it is their personal preference.

Take Bloodborne for example, who would be best suitrdd to reviewing the game? A Souls afficionado? Or a Souls newbie? Otherwise how will gamers ever get an informed and balanced approach!?

thorstein3308d ago

I would take your idea a step further. Only allow reviewers of a favored genre review games.

For instance, a person steeped in RPGs should review RPGs and their ilk, whereas FPS shooters are to be reviewed by FPS "experts."

The problem with a review is that the other reviews on the site must match the criteria. This site gives Destiny and The Order 60/100. Watch Dogs a 90/100.

I am not arguing against anyone of the reviews, just pointing out how ludicrously unimportant they are.

The Order has outsold Watch Dogs. Destiny has outsold Watch Dogs.

Players want games and they will buy the ones they want. And no, sales aren't only based on hype etc.

Reviews, I think, have had their day. They are now useless as I can get my hands on a game through rental, Now, or share play and get to know it.

Bigpappy3308d ago

Interesting article. Looks like 'souls and blooborne' fans have put the fear in to these journalist. Fanboys , especially, would say just about anything to anyone who have any negative reaction to what them deem untouchable. This adds even less confidence to already skeptical reviews. Now you have to worry if the reviewer's fear backlash.

I think they should review the game to it's merit, as they see it. The fanboy will have a hissy fit, but they will still come back to see how you rate the next one if your review proved to be factual. Honesty is always the best policy. When you try to appease just to win favor, you end up trapping yourself because you will never be consistent and at many time along the way your true feeling with surface. once you loose credibility, you loose way more fans than the ones you pissed of for telling the TRUTH.

90°

EKWB reportedly plagued with financial disarray many gaming pc's left without parts

EK Cooling allegedly has slipped itself into a hot soup of seemingly endless financial woes, where it has not paid its staff, suppliers, and contractors for many months as the company is facing liquidity problems and a surplus of inventory left unsold, stuck in the warehouse for a more extended period. Gamers Nexus investigated these claims made by former and current personnel, where he found trails of unpaid bills lasting as long as three to four months and unpaid raises that accumulated for almost a year.

EK Water Blocks has two entities—a Slovenian-based headquarters and a US-based subsidiary, EK Cooling Solutions. Steve narrated the series of events in detail, stating that the company was reportedly irresponsible and negligent regarding payment. Consequently, partners and employees are forced to share the burden of alleged mismanagement. It all begins with its extensive range of products, leading to a surplus of goods. EK has over 230 water blocks, 40 liquid cooling kits, 85 reservoirs, 40 pumps, 73 radiators, and 212 miscellaneous accessories.

Read Full Story >>
tomshardware.com
just_looken2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yes this is not about video games directly but indirectly this will impact the pc gaming/workstation space hard.

This company is massive one of two in the water cool space so if it goes poof then thousands out there have no spare parts or half built computers.

SO yeah i know not about a video game but think of it as amd leaving the pc space but this is ekwb that could be leaving water cooling in the pc space

Jayz2cents a supporter of there products also has issues
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

60°

Indie hit Dredge is getting its own movie adaptation

Rob Webb of KnowTechie writes: We're still waiting on the details, but this video game adaptation promises to be seriously creepy.

Read Full Story >>
knowtechie.com
70°

The INDIE Live Expo 2024 event is to feature over 100 game titles

INDIE Live Expo, Japan’s premiere online digital showcase series , will debut never-before-seen games & content updates across more than 100 titles on May 25th.