Why the obsession with review scores these days?

Seriously, why? And why is it that every game getting below a 9 gets called a flop? You do realize it's still a 10-point scale. So anything above a 5 should be absolutely playable. But it seems like when a game gets something like a 6 or 7 it's treated like absolute trash. Last I checked a 7 meant 'good' or have I missed something?metalgear-solid

I won't drop $60 on a game that got a 6 for a review. That doesn't mean that I won't rent it or wait for it to come down in price to purchase it.firstfist

Not quite sure. I have been playing a good bit of Rise of the Argonauts and it's a very solid action RPG. Definitely better than what Gamespot gave it, imo. I found out I tend to like games like this over games that have been overhyped and all the details have been spoiled. It's nice to be surprised by something every once in a while.BioShockOwnz

Let me just make it clear that I didn't create this thread to see why exactly people care about scores. Sure, I understand people want to see he games they love get good scores but that's not the point I'm trying to make. Games shouldn't be treated like crap when they score below a 9. Quite frankly, I think the reviewing system should be much harsher. Lower scores should be given out and that doesn't even make those games bad, just that so many games shouldn't be getting a 9 or above.metalgear-solid

personally, being aware of the game's reviews before purchasing the game, makes me more inclined(if positive) or feel hesistant(i barely feel hesistant when i decide to buy a game though, based on reviews)to buy the game...

your right that people shouldn't care so much about scores. the problem is the desire to prove your own console as better than the others. the most valid argument someone can make to those ends is by showing how the exclusives for their system are better than other systems. the best way to do that is with review scores.

its really the foundation of system wars. to argue which console is better. i've even seen mods state that we aren't supposed to have general game discussion in here at all (which i disagree with).

i like watching the reviews just to try and get an idea of storyline and gameplay. but my all time fav games werent the highest ratings r6v2 and original killzoneace-of-spades93

[QUOTE="ace-of-spades93"]i like watching the reviews just to try and get an idea of storyline and gameplay. but my all time fav games werent the highest ratings r6v2 and original killzonemetalgear-solid

Why the obsession? Because that's all the fanboys can say to back up their statement.

[QUOTE="ace-of-spades93"]i like watching the reviews just to try and get an idea of storyline and gameplay. but my all time fav games werent the highest ratings r6v2 and original killzonemetalgear-solid

Reviews are reviews. Car reviews for example, say the car you were researching had a horrible review for crashes. Knowing that it had bad reviews might change your mind about the car. Video game reviews and other reviews are no different. You do your research and these reviews will save you time and money.

Used for what? I believe it doesn't matter what the game scored, 1 or 10, if the game have something worth discussing it will be discussed.

Yeah, but the reviewing system is flawed. It's almost as if 6-10 are the only ones used, like 1-5 didn't even exist.metalgear-solid

You're wrong. That isn't true at all.

Because this is SW, where review scores and sales matter.LosDaddie

^This. In SW, we play sales and spin scores.

i just buy whatever games catch my interest.... dont care much about review scores since in the end they are just opinions of other people and we all know those vary depending on each individual's taste in gaming...

In SW scores count so that fanboys can use them to back up their opinion that the 1 console they own is the best....

Seriously, why? And why is it that every game getting below a 9 gets called a flop? You do realize it's still a 10-point scale. So anything above a 5 should be absolutely playable. But it seems like when a game gets something like a 6 or 7 it's treated like absolute trash. Last I checked a 7 meant 'good' or have I missed something?metalgear-solid

So i can shove it it the PS3 fans.8)foreverflame890

Kind of like this...

MGS4 > Everything else

:D

[QUOTE="foreverflame890"]So i can shove it it the PS3 fans.8)W1NGMAN-

Kind of like this...

MGS4 > Everything else

:D

GTAIV>MGS4. grand theft auto gets the upper hand due to short cutscenes.

[QUOTE="W1NGMAN-"]

[QUOTE="foreverflame890"]So i can shove it it the PS3 fans.8)foreverflame890

Kind of like this...

MGS4 > Everything else

:D

GTAIV>MGS4. grand theft auto gets the upper hand due to short cutscenes.

Nope 10 = 10

So MGS4 > Any Exclusive out there

:D

Greater score = higher quality game

Any game below 90% = fail and unfun

~

Review scores are meaningless. They do absolutely nothing to inform you the consumer about the inherent quality of a game, they are just a quantitative evaluation of the reviewers preferences as compared to the games they are given to review.

Just look at the 2.0 that soccer game got on IGN. They gave the game to someone who doesn't enjoy the title, and despite being a well-made game, it gets knocked as if it is a broken mess. Scores should not even be considered when determining the quality of a game.
foxhound_fox

^Yeah! i agree fox, i enjoyed killzone on the PS2 despite the glitches and horrible online and GS flopped it. i stopped listening to reviewers along time ago.

[QUOTE="foreverflame890"][QUOTE="W1NGMAN-"]

Kind of like this...

MGS4 > Everything else

:D

W1NGMAN-

GTAIV>MGS4. grand theft auto gets the upper hand due to short cutscenes.

Nope 10 = 10

So MGS4 > Any Exclusive out there

:D

MGS4 isn't the only exclusive to get a ten on Gamespot :shock:

Whats the obsession? A great deal of gamers can not think for themselves OR form a logical opinion. So they would rather wait for some source to TELL them what to think about the games and what is good and whats not.

Sometimes reviews can be useful tool, infact probably most of the time people will look to others for advice on a product if they have no idea what to expect. Users telling me Far Cry 2 sucks and that they only managed 6 hours with it is utterly useless. When someone goes to review a game, they have to test it fairly comprehensively before they can actually state anything about the product in writing, and they have to present their review with acceptable punctuation. Alot of the time critics don't really follow these rules, and the end result is a crap review that isn't worth anything. If all you do is look at a score and say, "yup, that's fine", then that's going to lead to problems. You may not even agree with what the critic is saying in the first place. I advise anyone who uses reviews regularly to actually read them if they are intrested before making any final descisions.

However, this is the world of SW. It's just a big game in its self really, so things like scores, and any other fairly objective information, can be used to great effect here, hence the obssesion.

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]Greater score = higher quality game

Any game below 90% = fail and unfun

~

Review scores are meaningless. They do absolutely nothing to inform you the consumer about the inherent quality of a game, they are just a quantitative evaluation of the reviewers preferences as compared to the games they are given to review.

Just look at the 2.0 that soccer game got on IGN. They gave the game to someone who doesn't enjoy the title, and despite being a well-made game, it gets knocked as if it is a broken mess. Scores should not even be considered when determining the quality of a game.
foreverflame890

^Yeah! i agree fox, i enjoyed killzone on the PS2 despite the glitches and horrible online and GS flopped it. i stopped listening to reviewers along time ago.