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d21lewis on 29 November 2013
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Akvod said:
d21lewis said:


No, the guys that pay for the game are likely to be more biased because, as stated, who buys a game that they don't intend to like?  So, every "unbiased review" has a little bit of bias already. But, for a review of a game I intend to buy, the opinion of somebody that sacrificed their hard earned money is definitely appreciated.  Aside from that little quibble, I think we're in agreement except for the bolded.  It's just a name.

So you're saying that the people who buy the games already have positive feelings about the game before they buy it???

Again, that can lead to many things.

An inflation of scores by "unbiased" reviewers since they all bought the game and thus had positive feelings beforehand.

The positive expectations could have also put a lens on how they experienced the game (they might be more willing to overlook the flaws for example).

Also, the positive expectations and the financial investment could make any backlash against a game even bigger than a person who came in netural and with no financial investment.


I think we're going to end up walking into philosophical territory.  Can a review be truly unbiased?  For me, I sometimes thing reviewers are a little too harsh on games because they didn't have to pay for them or a little to lenient because they don't have any investment.  I can readily admit that there's no such thing as an unbiased review.  My thing is that the reviewers report from our point of view--the consumer.  The person that has to pay money for the game.  I've bought games that didn't live up to expectations and I bashed them accordingly.  I didn't get my $60 worth.  I've had games that blew away expectations and praised them as well. 

I just think that the "Unbiased" reviewers try their best to leave their fanboy goggles at the door and try their best to review games on their own merit.  Perhaps its impossible but nobody that participates is a professional.  Their just reviews from our peers.  I see no harm in it.