The ten point scale is intrinsically flawed. Not only because Killzone 2 got a 7 from Edge (THOSE MICROSHITTING FAGTARTS SHOULD BE HUNTED DOWN AND KILLED! -CTZ), but because the 5/10 isn't average. If it were average, the scores of every game of a console generation should be added up, and then divided by the total number of games. That is an average. Besides, even on a scale of 1-10, the average is not 5. It's actually 5.5.
(10+1)/2=
11/2=
5.5
This isn't the only problem with the ten point scale. There is no such thing as an objective choice of score. Everyone is biased in some way (and Jim Sterling is biased in every way possible, and then some). This renders reviews COMPLETELY unreliable. On the internet, no one can be trusted not to lie except Fox News and 4chan's /b/ board.
As I said, the ten point scale is a creation of the devil, and should never be used under any circumstances.
As long as the review has tons of facts, it's gravy.
Kotaku's "love/hate" system is ok, but it's not needed if the actual review contains the love/hate system intrinsically. Although I'm on the edge, I still support the 1-10 system because it's just a guideline as to how we felt, as a reviewer, about a certain game.
It's the fanboys who ruin it, when they don't look at a site's review system and see that a "7" means "good".
Hmmm... it's too bad that gamers are so widespread over the internet, otherwise they could do a "Rotten Tomatoes" type thing and have an average critic's score... compared to an average gamer's score.
Eh... I regard "professional reviews" and critic's scores about the same as I regard someone's blog. It's simply an interesting read and one person's opinion.
Sacred 2 got skewered in the ratings... but it's a really great game - but then again, that's only "my" opinion! :)
I just don't use numbers. I mean, I understand it's handy for aggregates and for a quick glance, but you can be dropping anywhere between 99 cents and $60 on a game, and a number...I dunno. We all went to schools where 69% and below was a failing grade, right? I'm sure that's what most people are looking at when numbers are involved.
But I don't use numbers. If you're gonna drop any amount of money on something (or better yet, are going to invest any serious amount of time in a game), at least spend ten minutes reading a review. A score says only so much. Why, does it tell you if the controls suck? If there are many glitches? If the characters are boring? Etc.
I also don't like using numbers because I can't get a feel for what's X/10 or whatever. I can just give you my opinion on it all, but that's it. *shrugs*
The numbers game is all fabricated in order to draw hits/views/comments/etc. A REAL review doesn't use numbers or grades, it basically tells you whether or not you should spend your money on the game or not, based on the price and the overall fun experienced.
While I can't say Jim is biased (I know this is a joke-blog, I'm just sayin') he is a whore for those hits/comments/views/etc, more so in the past few months.
The only concrete ruling I want in my game reviews is a buy/rent/avoid. Even that is tough to take at face value from a professional reviewer since they're mostly playing free review copies.
I don't mind the scores attached to the DToid reviews because there's plenty of meat to them. If I can dig in and get a real sense of why they chose to gave the scores they do, they don't bug me. I don't use scores in my reviews, as I want people to debate or vibe with my opinions and not my "judgement".
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about me
Hi! I'm Ian/4knuckleshuffle. I'm FIDEEN NOW BITCHES and your average stereotypical gamer. I like books, videogames, pen and paper RPGs, Warhammer 40,000, and other such indulgences. If this profile seems like my introductory post, that's because it is!
Avatar Origin: On my friend's forum, I changed my avatar one too many times, which pissed him off enough to set it to this and lock it. I've grown to like the image.
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Looking forward to:
No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle
Diablo 3
Muramasa
Sin and Punishment 2
Resident Evil 5
BonerQuest
Samurai Shodown Anthology
The next Zelda
Favorite games:
Action RPG: Diablo II
JRPG: Earthbound
Western RPG: Neverwinter Nights
Tactical RPG: Shining Force
Action/Adventure: Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Shmup: Starfox 64
Horror: Resident Evil 4
FPS: Doom
2d Fighting: Samurai Shodown 2
2.5d Fighting: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Puzzle: Tetris
Simulation: Blazing Angels
RTS: Pikmin
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2d Platformer: Super Mario Bros. 3
3d Platformer: Super Mario Galaxy
Parser Adventure: Escape from Monkey Island
Point/Click Adventure: Riven
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Wii: No More Heroes
N64: Zelda: Ocarina of Time
PC: Diablo II
SNES: Earthbound
NES: Super Mario Bros. 3
GC: Paper Mario: TTYD
I Like Playing As:
Yoshi in Mario Kart
Toon Link in Brawl
Necromancer in Diablo II
Wizard in NWN
Luigi in any core Mario Game
Galford in Samurai Shodown 1 and 2
Mai in King of Fighters, due to boobs
Currently Playing:
Metal Slug
Samurai Shodown 2
Wii Fit
Phantasy Star 2
Metroid Prime
Shining Force 2
Maybe some other shit, but I can't remember.
Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press living the dream since March 16, 2006
(# 0) on 06/29/2009 21:23
Kotaku's "love/hate" system is ok, but it's not needed if the actual review contains the love/hate system intrinsically. Although I'm on the edge, I still support the 1-10 system because it's just a guideline as to how we felt, as a reviewer, about a certain game.
It's the fanboys who ruin it, when they don't look at a site's review system and see that a "7" means "good".
(# 1) on 06/29/2009 21:24
(# 2) on 06/29/2009 21:26
(# 3) on 06/29/2009 21:27
Haha, I've been around enough to discern that about you, but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents!
(# 4) on 06/29/2009 22:04
I have a friend who scales his scores out of 76
(# 5) on 06/29/2009 22:07
Please, please, please someone do this.
(# 6) on 06/29/2009 22:20
Eh... I regard "professional reviews" and critic's scores about the same as I regard someone's blog. It's simply an interesting read and one person's opinion.
Sacred 2 got skewered in the ratings... but it's a really great game - but then again, that's only "my" opinion! :)
(# 7) on 06/29/2009 22:28
(# 8) on 06/29/2009 23:17
But I don't use numbers. If you're gonna drop any amount of money on something (or better yet, are going to invest any serious amount of time in a game), at least spend ten minutes reading a review. A score says only so much. Why, does it tell you if the controls suck? If there are many glitches? If the characters are boring? Etc.
I also don't like using numbers because I can't get a feel for what's X/10 or whatever. I can just give you my opinion on it all, but that's it. *shrugs*
(# 9) on 06/30/2009 01:54
While I can't say Jim is biased (I know this is a joke-blog, I'm just sayin') he is a whore for those hits/comments/views/etc, more so in the past few months.
(# 10) on 06/30/2009 14:38
I don't mind the scores attached to the DToid reviews because there's plenty of meat to them. If I can dig in and get a real sense of why they chose to gave the scores they do, they don't bug me. I don't use scores in my reviews, as I want people to debate or vibe with my opinions and not my "judgement".
(# 11) on 06/30/2009 15:11