Perfect Game Scores - Where to next?
So yeah, I have been noticing for a long time now, rating scores for many games are creeping higher and higher. It has finally gotten to a point that I wonder: Where to from the perfect score?
Will reviewers start rating games over their rating systems? 120%!! -- 12/10!!! Will they make new rating system?
Did you read: The Perfect Score Myth
I have often wondered the same thing.
I think the only solution to the perfect scoring system thing is that games are reviewed and dated, ie 9/10 Q2 2010
At least that way you know that in Q2 it was reviewed and performed well, but it might not be as great when rated a year later in Q2 2010
I think that quarters may be a bit extreme, but it does pose an interesting question, are games getting better over time? Do SUPER HD GAMES TM deserve better scores than older games?Originally Posted by Xerowing
With all these crazy scores popping out all over the place I am rapidly losing trust in reviewing.
These days I find myself having to trudge through forums, trying to get a better idea of a game. That however is not without its issues... shudder... But I am working out a system:
Skip short posts, skip posts with horrendous spelling / grammar/ punctuation / numerous LOL's, smiley faces and exclamation marks, and then any fanboy / hating posts - these examples constitutes the vast majority sadly.
Also I do not think the technical aspects of a product (game) should be too relative. While there are certainly elements within gaming that are, I think there are watermarks to judge things by. These standards will shift over time, but they are there. Once reviewer X and Y think more and more games are 9/10 worthy for whatever reasons, then where does that leave the consumer? Sure the reviewers may feel that way, but it is a flawed system. The system needs a reboot!
I agree with you Tarryn people seem to moan no matter what, but most of it is lacking in critical thought and are very base reactions. They will moan for 6/10 just as for 10/10, but the industry needs to try and listen to the segment (usually informed minority) that has put some real thinking into it and are not just simple consumers. But perhaps that is a contradiction to their business model hmm...
I am just getting worried maybe that gaming has gotten too big. I know there are certainly benefits, but the downsides are getting me down something wicked recently. It's like the industry is heading towards a collapse and reset.
Once we get to a point where we see high scores all the time then what? I know I am seeing tons of them more often, and I am find it hard to decide on the worth of a game based off them.
Last edited by tehNihilist; 24-05-2010 at 09:29 PM.
After reading that I am 100% (hah!) in agreement.
Lately seeing all these insanely high scores is just freaking me out some! I am just wondering where do they go to from here? Will they suddenly give a large portion of games 100% (which will quickly mean nothing)? Or will they suddenly go higher in jest, then it becomes the norm?
To me it seem that high production values and hype are driving those numbers ever higher. Not to mention perhaps some 'nudging' from certain publishers to look favourably on titles.
Last edited by tehNihilist; 24-05-2010 at 04:19 PM.
I will also say this, that even though a game doesn't deserve a 100% reward, it can still be perfect to an individual despite it's flaws.
I am enjoying what people are saying on this topic immensely so far. I like the idea maybe of time-stamping Xero, but most reviews have a date next to them so I am not sure what the point would be.
I mentioned, and I see no one has given a solid answer to this - We are seeing more scores rise and rise, so what will happen? Will we start seeing game scores over 100% sooner than later ? Do they then lose their impact? "Pfft 100% again!? Wateva..." or "Gawd, not another 10/10. Sigh"
Yup I was thinking the same thing. Maybe games need a technical score which encompasses it as a product, and then a personal score. These should be kept very separate I think.
Yes, see the thing is obviously publishers want their games to be rated well, games that are reviewd and get mediocre scores simply do not do as well.
What confuses users though is the fact that there are literally 100 titles taht each scores 98% or higher.
I think the Timestamp mechanism is the only real way to still be able to rate games as highly and still remain informative enough for buyers to use as a guideline for purchasing games.
Otherwise, and this has happened before, buyers simply buy a game that rated 100% two years ago, whcih while in essence stil lmight be a very good game, can't really be compared to the latest titles
Personally, I think it's just bad journalism really. I mean granted everyone's taste differs and that's what make life so interesting. And yes, some games are truly epic and deserve high marks, but when reviewers/journo's start giving everything high marks, it is either bad journalism or something shady going on... I wouldn't put it past developers/publishers etc to be involved in giving handouts for favorable reviews in order to generate more sales.
I refuse to believe though that every game coming out these days is deservant of the high scores, even the titles expected to be so. Just because it is a film written by say George Lucas, directed by Steven Speilberg and has A-list Hollywood actors etc etc, doesn't automatically make it great. This has happened in many movies before and also in gaming, but people get swept up in the emotion etc and gush.
I also think a game when just released should be reviewed and then reviewed a month later so the reviewer has calmed down and can get a realistic look at the game. To notice all the small irritations that were overlooked in the hype and excitement in the new game.
I also think the rating systems of games should be reviewed. Yes graphics, sound, playability, controls are all important, but what about things like long loading times, or patches 23 seconds after release or glitchy menu systems etc? I think too many reviewers skip over these things in the haste to be the first out with a review.
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