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Forums - Gaming - DEAR VIDEO GAME JOURNALISTS......

curl-6 on 18 November 2012
forevercloud3000 said:

The myth of biased journalism

Throughout the ages professional reviewers have been accused of bias. Worse yet, often the conspiracy theorists claim you get paid by manufacturers and advertisers to write favourable reviews for their products. While I’m sure things like that have happened I have always defended your motives against the accusers. However, while we were all waiting for the Call of Duty:Declassified reviews something strange happened…

IGN tweeted: “For those interested: No sign of COD: Black Ops Declassified in the @IGN office. Review will be late; proceed with caution.”

Pocketgamer opened their review with “We didn’t get a review copy of the game in before launch, or even on launch day. We had to go out and buy our own copy”

Apparently Activision didn’t bother to send out review copies of the game to your popular media outlets. You retaliated by roasting the game, giving it one of the lowest Metacritic scores in the history of video gaming.

While CoD:BOD is by no means a stellar title and is in fact a rather mediocre game, it didn’t deserve the 20%-30% ratings that it received by the big review sites. Benchmarked against the scores of truly awful Vita games, Declassified should have easily made it into the 50%-60% range. This makes one wonder what else happened behind the scenes that we as readers did not get a glimpse of…

Anyway, can we now assume that when publishers don’t give you guys free perks you punish them? I was going to compare this to diva behaviour, but there’s an even better analogy: protection rackets; a tried and tested mafia tactic. Manufacturers and publishers have to ‘please you’ so nothing ‘bad’ will happen to them. Classy.

What a joke.
Keep wearing that tinfoil hat and drinking rainwater cos the gaming press puts anti-Sony mind control serum in the water supply, fanboy.



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Veknoid_Outcast on 18 November 2012
forevercloud3000 said:

 

It would be great if you’d keep that in mind when handing out your rates and scores. For example, make sure the same criteria apply when reviewing 3DS games as when reviewing Vita games. Even if you excuse last-gen mediocrity and visual lacklustery for one system because you have such fond memories of playing virtually the same games a decade ago, surely you can still appreciate the advanced and forward looking approach in the other system?

Well, I was liking this article until I came to this nugget.

The author manages to indict game journalists for bias, dismiss the 3DS as mediocre and backwards, and heap unmitigated praise on the Vita in a single sentence.

This is a polemic, plain and simple.



JWeinCom on 18 November 2012
forevercloud3000 said:
Soooo just like in every other thread, the "Vita is Doomed" brigade comes in just for the shits and giggles and stir up trouble. All you have is your jokes and riducule but no decisive argument that can't be shot down in seconds. Looking @ you JWeinCom and Naninho

Obviously you didn't really even read the article. He does not seriously blame scores on not sending out review copies, rather he was being cheeky about it. Grow up.


I read the article and it clearly and in no uncertain terms blames Declassified's scores on not sending out review copies.

"Apparently Activision didn’t bother to send out review copies of the game to your popular media outlets. You retaliated by roasting the game, giving it one of the lowest Metacritic scores in the history of video gaming."

"While CoD:BOD is by no means a stellar title and is in fact a rather mediocre game, it didn’t deserve the 20%-30% ratings that it received by the big review sites. Benchmarked against the scores of truly awful Vita games, Declassified should have easily made it into the 50%-60% range. This makes one wonder what else happened behind the scenes that we as readers did not get a glimpse of…"

"Anyway, can we now assume that when publishers don’t give you guys free perks you punish them? I was going to compare this to diva behaviour, but there’s an even better analogy: protection rackets; a tried and tested mafia tactic. Manufacturers and publishers have to ‘please you’ so nothing ‘bad’ will happen to them. Classy."

If the writer was trying to be sarcastic or funny he did a **** job.  Sounds to me like he was 100% serious. 

And how exactly am I supposed to give a decisive argument about something that is inherently subjective like review scores?  There is no proof of any sort of bias presented.  The writer arbitrarily decided "Oh I think Black Ops Declassified is a 6/10 game.  The reviewers disagreed, so it must be a systematic bias!"

I'm joking about the article, because the article is a joke.  They're complaining about comparing Vita games to their PS3 counterparts?  Seriously, WTF?  HOW DARE THEY COMPARE VITA GAMES TO THEIR NEARLY IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS TO HELP GAMERS MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION?!  BIAS! BIAS I SAY!!!

And he's complaining that reviewers are holding Sony to the standards that Sony set?  Newsflash:  If you tell people that your system provides console quality gaming on the go, they expect console quality gaming on the go.

This article is the work of a fanboy getting worked up and having a hissyfit.  Personally, I think NSMB2 deserved higher than a 77% average.  I didn't start screaming about bias.  I just realized that reviewers had different opinions than me and I moved on.

But tell you what, present an article with some actual merit to it, and I'll give you a serious response.  Present a joke article and you'll get a joke response.



forevercloud3000 on 18 November 2012
RolStoppable said:
forevercloud3000 said:

If you don't like the game, that is your opinion. But back to what we spoke of before, that reviewer stated he DID think SS was a better game than mario........yet rated it lower. Doesn't make sense. Its value has nothing to do with the score because prices change constantly.

We were talking about the general stance that reviewers have in regards to Vita games, because that's the subject of this thread: An article about how the gaming media is supposedly more lenient on 3DS games, leading to unfair treatment of Vita games. That's certainly not the case when gaming journalists write editorials like the one I linked to, asking how a problem like Mario can be solved and using a $15 indie game as an example of a better game. There is no preferential treatment to speak of for 3DS games. If anything, the gaming media actually prefers the Vita.

Besides, it doesn't even matter much what the gaming media thinks of the handhelds, because their influence on the market is minimal at best. The article you posted was the whiny rant of a Sony enthusiast who couldn't handle to see that the market's tastes don't mimic his own and was looking for a scapegoat to blame. His opinion of the 3DS is disgusting.

The link in question was brought up in relation to our discussion about who 3DS and Vita should/are being compared to. The article shows an obvious comparison between the two, with one being the better, yet the scores of both do not reflect that. By reading the review we see they did exactly what Baramu speaks of in the OP.

"His opinion of the 3DS is disgusting"

What opinion? I fail to see where he directly mentions 3DS for anything other than for contrast sake of what is being done to VIta. Never in a bad light does he bring it up. Did I miss some sort of subliminal message that screams "I HATE NINTENDORKS" or something or is my dislexia acting up again?

 

And Media and Critics are very important to the survival of merchandise. There is a few well known tricks in advertising and market warfare. Its the same tactic politicians and the government use on the regular to sway opinion. If you say something enough people start to believe it. Once they do, its hard to get it out of their heads.Its a tactic that has been used time and time again and proves quite effective.  If it isn't stomped out immediately it stands a chance of becoming a self fullfilling prophecy. AKA...

  • Developers have to go multiplatform in order to make any money
  • Japanese Developers are inferior to American Developers
  • PS3 is too expensive.
  • PS3 has no games.
  • 3DS is Doomed
  • Mobile Phones are taking over Handheld Market
  • 3DS has no Games
  • Vita is Doomed
  • Vita has no Games
It is how the great depression got started(look it up:Select Rich started a rumor the banks were out of money due to the war and started withdrawing all of their cash from the bank. Everyone paniced and followed suite causing the bank system to crash and those select reaped millions).


      

      

      

Greatness Awaits

PSN:Forevercloud (looking for Soul Sacrifice Partners!!!)

forevercloud3000 on 18 November 2012
JWeinCom said:
forevercloud3000 said:
Soooo just like in every other thread, the "Vita is Doomed" brigade comes in just for the shits and giggles and stir up trouble. All you have is your jokes and riducule but no decisive argument that can't be shot down in seconds. Looking @ you JWeinCom and Naninho

Obviously you didn't really even read the article. He does not seriously blame scores on not sending out review copies, rather he was being cheeky about it. Grow up.


I read the article and it clearly and in no uncertain terms blames Declassified's scores on not sending out review copies.

"Apparently Activision didn’t bother to send out review copies of the game to your popular media outlets. You retaliated by roasting the game, giving it one of the lowest Metacritic scores in the history of video gaming."

"While CoD:BOD is by no means a stellar title and is in fact a rather mediocre game, it didn’t deserve the 20%-30% ratings that it received by the big review sites. Benchmarked against the scores of truly awful Vita games, Declassified should have easily made it into the 50%-60% range. This makes one wonder what else happened behind the scenes that we as readers did not get a glimpse of…"

"Anyway, can we now assume that when publishers don’t give you guys free perks you punish them? I was going to compare this to diva behaviour, but there’s an even better analogy: protection rackets; a tried and tested mafia tactic. Manufacturers and publishers have to ‘please you’ so nothing ‘bad’ will happen to them. Classy."

If the writer was trying to be sarcastic or funny he did a **** job.  Sounds to me like he was 100% serious. 

And how exactly am I supposed to give a decisive argument about something that is inherently subjective like review scores?  There is no proof of any sort of bias presented.  The writer arbitrarily decided "Oh I think Black Ops Declassified is a 6/10 game.  The reviewers disagreed, so it must be a systematic bias!"

I'm joking about the article, because the article is a joke.  They're complaining about comparing Vita games to their PS3 counterparts?  Seriously, WTF?  HOW DARE THEY COMPARE VITA GAMES TO THEIR NEARLY IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS TO HELP GAMERS MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION?!  BIAS! BIAS I SAY!!!

And he's complaining that reviewers are holding Sony to the standards that Sony set?  Newsflash:  If you tell people that your system provides console quality gaming on the go, they expect console quality gaming on the go.

This article is the work of a fanboy getting worked up and having a hissyfit.  Personally, I think NSMB2 deserved higher than a 77% average.  I didn't start screaming about bias.  I just realized that reviewers had different opinions than me and I moved on.

But tell you what, present an article with some actual merit to it, and I'll give you a serious response.  Present a joke article and you'll get a joke response.

like I said earlier, it is presented as a cheeky statement. He doesn't truely think that, essentuated by the very hokey image next to it. In other words he was being facesious.



      

      

      

Greatness Awaits

PSN:Forevercloud (looking for Soul Sacrifice Partners!!!)

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Naninho on 18 November 2012

RolStoppable said:

Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Indie = Low quality] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Bigger developer = High quality] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Indie = Overrated] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Sound Shapes? Never played it] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla  bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Games I played > Sound Shapes (in terms of everything)] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla 

Man, your conclusions are staggering.

Now, seriously. Shut the fuck up and play some Indie games! Braid, Cave Story, Fez, Flower, Journey, Limbo, Sound Shapes, Super Meat Boy, World of Goo. You're missing a lot...



JWeinCom on 18 November 2012
forevercloud3000 said:

like I said earlier, it is presented as a cheeky statement. He doesn't truely think that, essentuated by the very hokey image next to it. In other words he was being facesious.


And like I said earlier, there is nothing to suggest he is not being serious.  When writing articles, you could put an exaggerated image in.  It's an exaggerated representation of your argument meant to quickly and emphatically sum up your position.  As far as I can tell he is being totally serious. 

If he's not being serious, then I have to assume he's not serious about anything written in the article, as making a facetious joke that takes up nearly 1/2 of your article would be an incredibly strange design choice.  This isn't a passing thing, it's HALF OF THE FREAKING ARTICLE.  Are you trying to tell me that this is 1/2 a joke article and half serious?  If you're telling me that, then you're also telling me that this guy is a shit writer and I shouldn't take anything he says seriously.

So take your pick.  Either he's being serious and he's making up conspiracies where there are none, or he's not being serious and he's a terrible writer. 



F0X on 18 November 2012
Naninho said:

RolStoppable said:

Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Indie = Low quality] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Bigger developer = High quality] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Indie = Overrated] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Sound Shapes? Never played it] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla  bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla [Games I played > Sound Shapes (in terms of everything)] bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla bla 

Man, your conclusions are staggering.

Now, seriously. Shut the fuck up and play some Indie games! Braid, Cave Story, Fez, Flower, Journey, Limbo, Sound Shapes, Super Meat Boy, World of Goo. You're missing a lot...


I'm going to suppress any arguments (a.k.a. attempts at deep stealth trolling) of mine against this post mainly because I really like Cave Story. So I will reluctantly agree with you that all those games are at least worth a look except Fez, for reasons I will not explain because they, like the rest of this post, are off-topic.



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Jumpin on 18 November 2012

The 3DS is a system filled with games built from the ground up for the system. The Vita is full of junior versions of home console games that just aren't that good. This is why people are not satisfied with it.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

Naninho on 18 November 2012

forevercloud3000 said:

the "Vita is Doomed" brigade   Looking @ you JWeinCom and Naninho

What's that? For the record, I have a Vita and love it. I just happen to dislike fanboys, like the one who wrote that shit you just posted.

forevercloud3000 said:

Obviously you didn't really even read the article.

Sadly, I read the whole article. I wish I didn't...

forevercloud3000 said:

He does not seriously blame scores on not sending out review copies.

Yes he does.

forevercloud3000 said:

Grow up.

Goo Goo Gah Gah!