Edge 126 scores

[nips]

If you put text in a spoiler tag or pop-up, people will still open then and click on them, and spread the scores.

If you ask me, a simple way to get less people interested in schores, but still use them in the review is to lower them.

The current system is /10. Ony 4 games have had a 10 with your site. This puts a lot of weight behind the actual mark like with EDGE. If you write 1000 words of praise and give a 9 then people will think: "That's a very good game. I think I may get it." But if you put 1000 words of praise and give it a 10 it's a step further. That's when the heated discussions arise - Halo - becuase it's so important.

If you lower the system to /5, then you'll give all top games that would have scored a 9 or 10 - 5/5, all that would have scored 7 or 8 a - 4/5... and so on...

Then people can make refences back at the scores. They can tell a good game from a bad game quickly so they can experience the game for themselves from the beginning without someone picking it apart before you play it. And you'll probably get less people focusing on the scores on messageboards, or neglecting to read the review.

Maybe something like that.

And instead of placing a word to describe what each number means, Just say our ratings are on a scale of 1-5 from poor to great. It simply shows that the game is 'great' not so you won't give too much away.

Let's face it, if 5 was to mean: "100%, the best of the best, a Halo beater, we love this game so much we're going to kiss it in bed for months - I dream of Kanji!" then people are going to put a lot of weight behind the score - more than the actual text of the review!

[Oh! My Car!]

Tomb Raider: 4

one word......

WAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah hhhhhhh!!!!
hahhahahahahhaha, who wasn't going to predict that! and who else is betting Tomb Raider will get at least 85% in Gamesmaster? heh heh
8)

[hongkong_uk]

ALL the Tomb Raiders have been utter crap IMHO.

I cannot understand why people buy them at all.

I got bored during the first.

I actually fell asleep during the second.

I didnt buy any of the others, cos the footage I saw just said to me that no improvements had been made to warrant a purchase.

Perhaps a Tomb Raider fan can explain why they buy them?

[dataDave]

At last! I've finally found someone else who has hated EVERY Tomb Raider! I played the first game for around 6/7 hours back in '96 and just didn't understand what was so good about it, I thought it was terrible.

Anyway, as for reviews - I can't believe there are so many people here wasting their time discussing reviews. I've never read them, and never will - Especially not now in this era of of generally ****e games. What's the point on reading someone elses opinion on a game? If I want to find out if a game is good enough I'll go and play it for myself.

Perhaps if people stopped going off magazine reviews we wouldn't have so many absolute cack titles selling so well and turning into over-hyped franchises (ie. Tomb Raider)

Thank you.

[Shez]

To be quite frank, reviews are a load of bollocks. I find previews a lot more interesting, and I generally base my purchase's on previews.

I know what genre's interest me, and using that as a foundation, its not hard to ascertain what titles will or wont give me gaming enjoyment.

The only thing I like with reviews is when I also own the game, and seeing if my own opinion ties in with that of the reviewer. Being able to relate to a review is a lot more interesting than reading it with no knowledge of the game.

[Wools]

[quote="SS004"]To be quite frank, reviews are a load of bollocks. I find previews a lot more interesting, and I generally base my purchase's on previews.

I know what genre's interest me, and using that as a foundation, its not hard to ascertain what titles will or wont give me gaming enjoyment.quote]

I find that hard to understand.

Previews are usually full of hype, which is okay as no-one has had chance to propley play it and it gets you excited for the game. I doubt many people werent getting excited for enter the matrix, metal gear solid 2 and the wind waker. They all looked great.

But the review is the end of the hype, excitment and bull. There's the game spread out on 2 pages.

Not sure about you, but I wait for the review before ordering anything or buying as im not wasting ?40 on a game.

[Shez]

Its each to their own really.

Putting the hype aside, If I read a preview of a game. I know that I have learnt enough about my gaming needs to know straight away whether that game is going to interest me or not.

My opinion is, that a review is only a guide, and what is written in that review is only the opinion of one person. Unless you are at one with the writers opinion, then the review isn't going to be wholy relevant to you.

These days I rarely buy a game because it has scored heavily. In the past I have done, and have done so on a regular basis, but I can assure you. I wasted more money then, than I do now

[Toast]

Oh I thought the first Tomb Raider was excellent, great atmosphere and I like the freedom. Problem is as the series continued it was less about actual tomb'sand more about running around with big guns. Developers just lost the plot and their target audience.

[iloveannie]

To be quite frank, reviews are a load of bollocks. I find previews a lot more interesting, and I generally base my purchase's on previews.

I apply this way of thinking to movies. **** me have I watched some bloody crap **** lately! As per usual the trailers held the only decent parts of the pissin' movies. Sorry for the cussin' but movie trailers (esp on vid) really piss me off ... but I fall for them every single bloody time!

alan m