Yes, more regulation is needed. That's always the answer. If you think a reviewer or publication may be on the take, don't read their reviews. It's that simple and most of the time, it's not hard to determine the guys who give honest reviews from the guys who pad the scores and reviews. Welcome to the world of advertising, this shit has always happened and will always happen. There's no way to stop it because it's a free market. These publishers could literally be giving the magazines piles of cash for perfect scores and it wouldn't be illegal. There's an implied honesty and fairness in the review industry but that isn't backed by law, nor should it be.
With that said, Malstrom has a point but, as usual, he comes across as a whiny bitch about it. Comparing game reviewers to soldiers is just stupid... and it wasn't out of line for a reviewer to mention that he doesn't like these events. It's probably true, he doesn't. Traveling far away from your family to sit in a dark room and play a video game doesn't sound like much fun to me, either. Let's go to Paris, everyone! Of course, you'll be alone and locked in a small room the entire time but we'll be sure to hand you a postcard of the Eiffel Tower on your way out!
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