Is it time we fixed the review system?

[rocketpig]

Kenryoku_Maxis said:

Kantor said:
A movie costs some $6. A game costs ten times that.

The rating scale is the same for both. It's just that a game has to be a hell of a lot better to warrant a purchase.

But..the rating system isn't the same for both.  That's the point.  The majority of movie rating systems are X out of 4 or X out of 5 stars.  A gaming rating system is some convoluted system out of 10 and can range anywhere from a point system down to a tenth or as broad as 1 out of 10.  With all scores then being averaged in between.

In short, gaming reviews are either too meticulous or too broad.  And no site seems to actually have an 'overall' score that corresponds to the criteria that they present (such as presentation, gameplay, sound, etc).  In other words, the 'overall' score is based entirely on how the reviewer 'felt' while playing the game.  At least with movie critics, you know their bias and everything is based on an opinion.  Video Game reviewers hide beihnd a veil of 'facts' and 'technology' and then give you a score at the end entirely based on their opinion.

Excellent points. Another thing to bring up is that movie reviewers are so entrenched that studios can't do anything to ruffle their feathers after receiving a bad review. Plus, readers don't expect EVERY movie reviewer to love their favorite movie... some bias is accepted within movie critics and their scores show it. Look at even the best movies every year... at least a few reviewers give it a 70 or lower. No one seems to care. On the other hand, Edge gives FFXIII a 60 or whatever and half of this forum blows up for days over it. Nevermind that Edge detailed their complaints about the game, they must BE WRONG BECAUSE I LOVED THAT GAME AND I'M THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE WORLD. Everyone should agree with me.

Aw shit, I don't know why I'm typing this... I already bitched about this extensively in an editorial two years ago after GTA IV blew up review records.