Three Developers Shun Magazine Over Bad Reviews

Craig · #1 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:10 PM

Looks like a few big name game developers are no longer submitting titles for review to Electronic Gaming Monthly due to a few poorly received reviews in the past.

Quote:

In his editorial column in the latest issue of EGM, editor Dan Hsu has named three companies that, thanks to negative reviews coverage, have stopped submitting products to the magazine. Those he names are Ubisoft, Sony's sports game division and Midway's Mortal Kombat team. While there's always been a healthy dose of scepticism surrounding advertiser and publisher pressure on gaming press (particularly in light of recent events), I can't remember the last time a major commercial publication came out and publicly named names like this.

This stinks of the whole CNet/GameSpot debacle a few months back. I mean what do game developers expect, to get good reviews of something just because they let a magazine or online periodical get their hands on a beta build for an exclusive preview? Oh ya, that's right...they do.

I mean I'd almost expect this from Sony. At least in a time-limited fashion. I mean they have a short memory and after a burning review would probably rekindle relationships for the better good of all things. But UbiSoft?? That's really lame of them.

CoffeeShark · #2 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:14 PM

Lame

UI · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:36 PM

(f)Lame

Gargs · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:44 PM

Who would've thought that a crappy game could net a crappy review? I seriously don't understand this world we're living in anymore.:rolleyes:

I wish more reviewers would write their real thoughts and not what the accounting dept. tells them to. It's good eye opener into the business practices of those that are supposed to be impartial and those that are supposed to produce quality products. I'm glad EGM named names.

/me looks for their "Add rep" button

VincentVega · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:54 PM

what are Duke's thoughts on this?

DominiKing · #6 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 12:44 AM

i dont know what his thoughts are but I think they're mad lame for doing this. If you didn't make a great game like you expected it to be then that means you just gotta step it up a bit. Don't get mad and run away crying like a little school girl, that's just dumb...

SonicSpeed · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

what are Duke's thoughts on this?

Well since Sony is god, therefore EGM must be the ones at fault here.

I think this might actually be a good thing for the industry. We will start to see which magazine reviews are paid for, and which are legit. Heck, even Maximum PC's EIC came out in this months issue and said clearly that the editors and advertiser's are completely separate.