Do Gamespot ratings really matter to you?

I've always wondered this. Here on the forums it seems like everyone and their dog flings around the ratings, "My game got a 9.5 while your game got a 9.3. HAHAHAHAHA" and things like that. But when it really comes down to it, do you honestly care?

For example, let's say you're playing a game with one of your RL friends and he mentions a game that he's interested in buying, would you cut him off in mid sentence and scream the low rating that Gamespot gave that particular game? Or do the ratings only matter to you when you are in the forums?

As for me, I don't really care either way. I just thought it would be interesting to see how you guys feel about the ratings.

No.

I'm a big supporter of a broad look at reviews. Gamerankings is where I go when I look for titles that anyone can like.

Now, for cult hits, I usually go to IGN because they seem to be a lot more supportive of them in their coverage and reviews.

Not at all.

I use my own judgement.

it would have to depend on just how low of a rating the game got. if my friend is talking about getting a game that got an 6.0 on here im going to feel the need to tell him about it and also tell him that he should do some more research on the game's he plans on spending his hard earned money on.

but as for you're "9.5>9.3" question...i dont really care that much about it,but it sure is fun watching people go crazy about it on these boards.

They matter to me...to a certain extent...

I want to get game ratings before I go drop my hard earned money on a game.

The scores are mainly the decisive factor here in system wars, but otherwise, I tend to read the review for the technical flaws, story/plot, gameplay etc to get a rough idea of I will get a game or not. Anything above a seven is an okay game in my opinion. It's just here in system wars where the scores that don't score 8 and above are considered horrible for fanboy competition purposes.

Ratings to me are just a number.

If a game looks interesting, I'm going to buy it regardless of the rating. they may sway me towards not buying that game if say, the game got a 5 or something. But apart from those rare cases, a 7.0 may be just as good as a 9.0 to me.

I don't use reviews at all. I know what games I'm going to enjoy, and which I'm not.II-FBIsniper-II

This.

One dude opinion from some sue means F-all to me.

I've always wondered this. Here on the forums it seems like everyone and their dog flings around the ratings, "My game got a 9.5 while your game got a 9.3. HAHAHAHAHA" and things like that. But when it really comes down to it, do you honestly care?

For example, let's say you're playing a game with one of your RL friends and he mentions a game that he's interested in buying, would you cut him off in mid sentence and scream the low rating that Gamespot gave that particular game? Or do the ratings only matter to you when you are in the forums?

As for me, I don't really care either way. I just thought it would be interesting to see how you guys feel about the ratings.

LittleHands134

No I will just tell him what a horrible game it is, since I play most new games and judge them for myself

I use Game Informer for reviews but I do check other site's reviews as well . yeah Gamespot's reviews matter to me but its not the one review that decides if I am buying the game or not

Of course. I don't restrict myself to GS scores, but unless Aaron Thomas' name is in print at the bottom, I take each review as a recommendation.

No and after each review they appear to matter less and less.

Crackdown is one of the biggest under-rated games in history. Some miss only by .5 (like NG2) but GS errors way to often on under rating awesome games. And they over rate from time to time (GTAiv I'm looking at you).

They used to be somewhat relevant.
Then it was 8.8.

And then... Jeff and Alex left.

Yep.

http://www.metacritic.com/

Best place to go for an overall perspective on games reviews.

I like to look at the industry average - I don't base an opinion on one person's judgement. If judging video games were a science the reviews would be pretty close in score to each other.

Did you see the new Spiderman game's reviews? IGN gave it what? A 5.8? Gamespot gave it an 8.0? Who do you believe?

I like to look at the industry average - I don't base an opinion on one person's judgement. If judging video games were a science the reviews would be pretty close in score to each other.

Did you see the new Spiderman game's reviews? IGN gave it what? A 5.8? Gamespot gave it an 8.0? Who do you believe?

tm0054

Yep that's why I love http://www.metacritic.com/ , using one source is not reliable at all.

No they said army of two was basically crap IMO i think it's a revolutionary co-op experience but whatever little peoples voices are never heard.DivinitySkate

I agree. I hope developers build on it and make it even better although it wouldn't matter. Everyone is so caught up in numbers so a 2v2 multiplayer game would not sell. They would say "ZOMG RESISTANCE HAS 60 AND THIS GAME HAS 120 AND MAG HAS 256 STEP IT UP" no matter how good it is.

No - I think this website is one of the worst when it comes to rating games so I use other sources. But I do enjoy the forums and videos available on this site.zeldafan00013

*cough* Gametrailers is better for videos.

Yes GS does have good forums, but then GS has the most traffic for a video games site, by a long way. (according to alexa)

Not at all...

I enjoyed more 6.5-9 games than the 10's this place has gave out...

When I'm not relying on vids, I prefer using GR and Metacritic to help decide which games I'd like (and yes I actually read the reviews). However, when debating here, I go by SW rules and use GS.

Not really if I wanted to play a game. I'll play it regardless. It does sometimes make me wanna play games that I would have never even considered. For example, I didn't care a hoot about Bioshock, but after he good ratings. I played it, and never looked back.

So yes only for good ratings. No, bad ratings don't effect me, cause I make my own decisions.

They really don't anymore.

Trust me I just bought Dynasty Warriors 5 Empires for the Xbox 360...

Yes.

Because I don't have unlimited money and time. A rating for me may decide an "unsure" to a "buy", especially for genres i'm not particularly fond of.