My problem with review scores

[ReimTime]

Burek said:

ReimTime said:

I promise I'll go to bed after this post (I love debating :p). I got a few things wrong that I'll clear up. You can pretty much disregard my previous comment.

Basically the pass/fail grade is determined after the test is written and dependent entirely on the rest of the class. The way you mention is what I went through in High School (and what I prefer BTW) and some of my Uni classes. The rest of the classes use the bell curve, which is designed to yield a pre-determined distribution of grades among a class (which I do not like in school but would like for rating a product). Off topic but I envy you if you didn't get bell-curve graded :p.

Most Professors using the curve wants to target a grade of C, which equals a 2.0 GPA, as his/her class average. A is reserved for the top 10%, B for the next 10%, C for the next 60%, and D or F for the remaining 20%. The number you get on your test is most likely inconsequential to the grade you will get (Ex: you get a 90, which usually means an A, but 81% of the class has a 92 or above, you get a D on the test; meaning you were below average).

I guess what I'm saying is so many high numbers are thrown around in VG reviews that the high numbers don't necessarily mean what they used to. 7 means above average yet it has become the average score given out. People rate games too high, and they should be bell-curved or distributed to truly fit the scale of 1-10

*edit* goddamnit my grammar is terrible I'm done lol

I never did understand that North American grading curve system, in which the reward goes to the student who is the lesser dumbass of all. So you don't get graded on what you know, but on what others don't know.

Back to reviews --- that is where your theory is wrong, because each game should be scored on its own merit, not compared to other games. And Metacritic established a 75 average as a point which divides good games from average games, and below 50 denotes poor games. 

Basically, 75+ ---- buy the game

50 - 74 --- carefully consider a game, read the reviews and then decide

0 - 49 ---- avoid the game altogether

 

 

The bell curve has bitten my ass a few times (got a 90 but it got me a C), but also saved it (got a 30 but it got me a C). It's weird and I don't like it.

To reviews: I see it both ways. When I rate my music, if it sounds average to me, I'll give it a 2.5/5; but I see its individual merits and use them to distinguish it as well. I guess I got off topic with the bell curve stuff; all I really want is 5 to be the average instead of 7. I dislike IGN giving almsot everything an 8/10 or above; but that's just me. I agree with what you said about Metacritic; really their method is just a few shifted numbers away from what I want to see. I just have a problem with high review scores and see 5 as the wanted average. That would make: ~75+ buy the game, ~40-74 consider it (number spread is subject to preference) and ~0-39 avoid.