gamesradar.com

HailToTheKingBaby! · Veteran Member Joined: 15 Jul 2002 Posts: 2509

I can understand that they reviewed unfinished code in order to get the exclusive, but I would've expected them to have mentioned this fact along with the bugs in the review and the fact that Atari had promised to iron them out in the released version - a small paragraph would have done the job and at least then, people could place the blame with Atari for misleading the magazine rather than with the magazine for misleading its readers as is seemingly the case at the moment.
_________________
http://www.silver-sun.co.uk/ - Best.. band.. ever..!

John Square · Experienced Member Joined: 05 Jan 2004 Posts: 376

I agree with Thanatos there: I dodn't think that Nellis deserved a comment like that after being big enough to justify (which he isn't obliged to do) a review score in his magazine.

I'm certain that he acted aboveboard (in the sense that no blatant bribes were passed) but there is a very cozy (by dint of necessity?) relationship between magazines-esp. official ones- and PR companies and the suchlike.

However, 9/10 for a game that has attracted such damning criticism seems like a major slip of judgement, however, and -whilst I wouldn't phrase my feeelings in the same way as Stephen and KKLEIN- certain magazines have really let their readers down on this score. Your readers do see your magazine as a way of deciding where to spend their hard earned cash, or (for your younger readers) what to ask for for their birthdays.

Little Johnny would have been very very upset if he'd been gifted Medal of Honour: RS instead of something more worthwhile for his big day, based on a review that seems to have been a pile of mouldy dog logs.

How to fix it though, Mr Ellis?

I think Phantom Burn hit the nail on the head- perhaps with a subsequent re-evaluation of the review score. It'd definitely get a bit more of a community going for your publication. I may even buy a copy myself.

But a sincere thanks for giving your side of the stpry. Even if we don't agree with what we hear, it's a nice change.

Pug Fugly · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:25 pm Post subject:

Stephen · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 156 Location: Japan

Sorry, just feeling a little salty. Steve's initial questions are right. It really annoys me when people pay over the odds for a payed-for pamphlet that sells itself as a magazine. Any mag that gives something like MOH RS a nine should be flamed. Sorry.

OctogenarianPussy · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:29 pm Post subject:

Nick,

Thanks for putting across your side of the story.

But just stand back for one moment and consider how it looks. You have an exclusive review, your reputation (and endorsement) on the box and a glowing review inside of your magazine. At best it makes you look foolish for loving a game that is so obviously broken in so many places that your objectivity comes into question. At worst it makes it look like you've colluded with the publisher. Either way the situation isn't good is it?

The questions behind the murky morality of these issues can never really be separated. But when things like this happen you must at least question the process. Is reviewing unfinished code the right thing to do? No it isn't is it? Because now you've been burned. And rightly so. It's a bloody mess.
_________________
I came here to chew ass and kick bubblegum. And I'm all out of ass.

the one and only · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:30 pm Post subject:

Cal · Experienced Member Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1324

Stephen · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 156 Location: Japan

GwiDan · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:41 pm Post subject:

Pug Fugly · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:42 pm Post subject:

KKLEIN · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:42 pm Post subject:

An in-depth preview would of sufficed. Reading your review the reader is lead to believe the game is great, which it's not. The reader is led to believe the game was finished, which it wasn't. The reader was lead to believe the game was near perfect, which it isn't. It's just plain dishonesty.

The same applies to the Medal of Honor review. Again none of the faults were mentioned. Reading that review in OPS2 (which I have) I was lead to believe the game was fantastic, which once again couldn't be further from the truth. It's just not on.

What you just said also clashes with something Tim Clark said on the Playstation Forums a while ago, he said they don’t review, exclusive or not, unfinished code. Abother thing, all gaming magazines under the Future publishing roof seem to slag each other off yet you all work in the same building, & even contribute to each, if not most, of the magazines. Fake rivalry? Bit sad isn’t it…
_________________
That's a disc drive. What's been in them you ask? Well:
PS2 - Smackdown HCTP, PSM2 disc 51.
Xbox - Driv3r

Eighthours · Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

By the way, anyone remember this?