Here is the million dollar question. Does Gamespot wait until they see if IGN gives a game a 10 to decide to give the same game a 10? Or Not? Or maybe a third option?

IGN has given 4 "10=Masterful" scores to games since it's inception sometime in the 1990's, before I and most of you were born. For the sake of this conspiracy theory to work, I'm going to ignore the 3 Atari Lynx, 1 Gameboy, 9 Gameboy Color and 2 Neo Geo Pocket Color games that have also scored"10=Masterful" on IGN, so please don't use them to rebute this air tight, well researched and completely unbiased theory of mine.

Now Gamespot has given 10's to the same four games IGN has given 10's to. Coincidence? No! If you take the "Co" in coincidence and add a "nspiracy", you will in fact be on the same page as me, be a mental equal to myself, and will be a scholar and a gentleman. For the sake of of this conspiracy theory to work, we will ignore the fifth and sixth games Gamespot has given 10's to, Chrono Cross and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, because honestly, somebody was just drinking on the job on those two days. The next time they have a going away party or baby shower at the office, I'm sure Kane and Lynch 2 or Bratz World Party Tour will be next in line for a 10.

Now for the crux of the argument. On November 25th 1998, a small internet site called IGN reviewed a game that was quickly forgotten by anyone that has played it, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. They believed it was worthy of the highest score attainable, a 10, and decided to award Nintendo a giant plaque to thank them with. Now two days before, on November 23rd 1998, another site called www.videogames.com, which is now known as Gamespot, released a review with the same score. No wait. Scratch that point. It works against my position. Let's move on.

On September 20th 1999, IGN reviewed the next in their legendary "10=Masterful" gems, this time, a wickedly original "Tekken with weapons" fighting game, which was done a year before in Mortal Kombat 4, called Soul Calibur. All two early adopters of the most likeable console ever, the Sega Dreamcast, agreed this game came to kick ass and chew bubblegum like Roddy Piper, but luckily it still had some gum left.Now on August 9th 1999, which is 41 days earlier, videogames.com, aka the guilty party Gamespot, released a 10 in direct response to IGN's 10 which would become public over a month later. Damnit! Ok ok. Let's ignore that paragraph. It doesn't seem to gel that well with my absolutely correct assertion that Gamespot is robbing IGN of 10's. Alright, next point. 

...8 years, 7 months and 5 days later...

Welcome to the next point. IGN now reviewed the fourth, (or is that ninth?) game in the series your parents love to hate to love, Grand Theft Auto 4. In this game, you used to steal cars, hence the title, but now it's more convenient to hail a taxi and pay your exborerant fee just like in real life, so maybe we can get a name change next time around. IGN, on April 25th 2008, gave this masterpiece of daily urban life lightly toasted with illegal activity if one wishes a "10=Masterful". Three days later, on April 28th 2008, the same identical score was given by the former videogames.com website, now officially known as Gamespot.com. On top of that, a 9.5 was accidently leaked during a tupperware party at the CNet offices, when someone laid their ass on the "enter" key by mistake, showing the entire geeky review following population the true score, which was changed after the conclusion of said tupperware party into a 10 to mirror IGN's score. Typical Gamespot, changing their imperfect reviews to match IGN's always on the spot review scores. How low can you go CNet?

The final point is the fourth and newest of the bunch, the Playstation 3 exclusive interactive movie, Metal Gear Solid 4, starring the Kentucky Fried Colonel as "Left foot in the grave, the other in CQC mode" Old Snake. IGN killed all the geeky whom were in anticipation by waiting until launch day to give their review, but when the dust cleared, a "10=Masterful" stood triumphantly. Gamespot, being the snake they are, waited till one day after launch, an unacceptable amount of time, to grant the same gem a 10. Who reviews a game a day after it's out? Everyone knows anyone who will ever want it will only buy it on day one, no exceptions. Gamespot had to wait though. They were at the mercy of IGN, and whenever IGN decided they would let their turd drop.

Moral of the theory? Open your third eye and do not trust Gamespot! Join me in spreading the message. Gamespot are con artists, illuminati, and helped Bush plan 9-11! Lock your doors, screen your calls and don't let Gamespot employees babysit your children. If you never hear from me again, you will know my fate, but my message cannot die. Gamespot steals 10's from IGN and ate my daughter!

Have a goodnight friends.

 Umm, IGN is only 12 years old, I think most of us are older than that.

To tell you the truth after hearing (rumors) that publisher's pay reviewers money to review their game higher and hearing that some reviewers never actually play the game to the fullest. I just don't care anymore about reviews. I play the games myself and enjoy myself.

Edit: And plus, the 1 to 10 scale is a bit overrated in my opinion. They should just give a final verdict and rather than a score. A score can mean a lot of things and doesn't not resprent the games good and bads.

The actual reading of the review counts. But its hard after hearing what I heard that I posted above.

But I do understand your point :)

Do they? Do they? The world many never know. *in Tootsie pop announcer voice*

it is kinda weird that they reviewed both games a ten like ign and put the review after ign's,i think they thought they would of lost credibility if they reviewed it a ten and not ign

With the 10/10 to GTA4 and MGS4 Gamespot and IGN are just trying to save HD gaming.

It's not unlike review sites to wait for a huge other media site to give a review and them to follow up. Leader sets the tone, which in most cases is IGN. Once more showing how much looks goes into reviews rather than the review itself.

But I ain't complaining about MGS4 getting a 10. Deserves it.

His profile says that he's 23.

WTF? 

Rapid aging!? He's really 12 but has the body of a 23 year old.

Seriously though, I'm going with Zucas on this one. But maybe they just thought the game was genuinely that good. I think their new rating system allows for higher scores to be given. Unless they still rate graphics, sound and so on with numerical values and don't show that to the public.

Thank you all for believing. If we act now we can put an end to these atrocities. DMC 4 petitioners, Ubisoft boycotters, HD DVD owners, lend me your eyes. Re-read this conspiracy until the Times New Roman is embedded into your mind and soul. Do not let Gamespot get away with anything a rational human being wouldn't blink twice about. Fight for your rights as responsible, review worshipping consumers!