Let's play predict the bias media

The media has become more and more predictable this generation and it's easily becoming the one outlet we can all ignore when it comes to reviews. The Vgtilt goes all in against the media and predicts ahead of time what they're going to give Resistance 2.

[Pennywise]

This game will get more 10's than you think. Loving the beta and I was not a huge R1 fan

[marinelife9]

Isn't Gears 5 vs 5 multiplayer?

You should do another prediction thread on Gears of War 2 scores.

[UltimateIdiot911]

I don't think Resistance 2 is 10 but at least 8.7 in my opinion. I didn't like the first one at all. The multiplayer was terrible. After trying Resistance 2 beta, a lot has improve. 60 multiplayer is just awesome and pretty fun. The 8 player co-op is cool too.

[prunchess]

I think it's still a great game. One that I've kept in my games collection. My copy of GTA 4 is sitting in some shops used games bin with the other 60 copies (360 and PS3). I wouldn't trade in RFOM.

It has a great single player game and the multi-player just about bang on. It had next gen graphics, though they look a bit dated now. I tend to play COD 4 a lot more now but one thing I can say for certain is that RFOM beats COD 4 for online stability. Anyone that plays COD 4 online a lot knows what I mean. Host Ended Game can be a real pain at times. Just one of its online flaws.

RFOM is a classic game with a great background story and an addictive multi-player without a doubt a 9/10 IMO.

[Silogon]

I'm i the beta aswell, but let's be honest to a fault here... this game isn't going to be well recived past "GOOD". Resistance 2 is good, in fact... I hate to say it, but it's great. It's great and I've only played the MP portion of it and a beta at that.

We've seen what Gears 2 offers.

6 hours of gameplay on the 1st time through, confirmed.
Weak as hell ending boss battle, confirmed.
Weak as hell ending, confirmed.
No tweaks to the animation system, confirmed.
No changes to character maps, confirmed.
16 player online, confirmed

This gets a 10 out of 10.

Resistance kicks its ass in features and gameplay and it'll get 8's... the meta for the game will end with 86% I predict. Wait and see.

[TheHater]

that the reason why I am not buying Gears of War yet. I will wait until it cheaper before purchasing it. Why? Because is basically an add-on to Gears of War, and I don't think it worth my Hard earn money. As for reviews, I don't care for them.

[ionize]

You are completely correct...M$ seems to be in with all the major media outlets and they are all about playing the Slander/Defamation game...which is what M$ does...if they can't win fair...they cheat...which actually says a lot about the Sony brand as in spite of this, they are not only still here, but they have managed to embarass the HD DVD format by killing it in about 2 years...VHS took over a decade to defeat BeataMax...So as things may look gloom for Sony, imagine what will happen when M$ runs out of facets.

[SuperM]

Well, while i agree to a certain degree i do believe resistance 2 will get higher reviews than that. simply because i think the game is going to be to awesome to end up below 90% even with media bias. But you might be correct though, only time will tell

[thor]

I say well done Silogon. You usually are true to your slogan that you are unbiased, although it's not possible to be fully unbiased. By writing this now, we can be sure that you won't be criticised for saying these sites aren't credible AFTER they gave R2 a bad score.

I have noticed that PS3 games are marked down for their flaws whilst with 360 games if it's fun then that's all that matters - they gloss over the faults. Look at LBP - many sites gave it a 9 for pretty trivial reasons yet give Fable 2 a pass on its few flaws.

[prunchess]

that MS have been using its contacts within the gaming community to run a viral campaign against the PS3. How many times have we seen Game Trailers running badly set up Video comparisons and use this to slate the PS3 version?

Has anyone ever asked why a machine with so many manufacturing defects is so successful in ENGLISH speaking countries? (USA, UK, Australia)The 360 should have been recalled yet MS managed to wriggle out of that one, how? The Dutch were poised to pressure MS into a recall and then it was dropped, Why?

Sligon, you could very well expand on your article and back it up with allot of online evidence.

[pain777pas]

The truth is that a western console maker has never been in the lead before and the western sites want this trend to stay. Not to mention that for the capabilities of the Xbox and live the system is quite good. Sony has great first party games that tempt many to purchase the system so many even editors do not want to shell out the cash to get a PS3. I cannot emphasize enough that price more than anything else has held Sony back even more than an early lack of compeling software. What I'll say is that the problem for M$ in the future will be how willing people who were early adopters and got RRoDs, no HDMI and stuff like that will be as gungho about purchasing another console. For me never again. I remember stopping playing a game because I was scared that my system would die never had this with the PS3 and that bodes well. Plus all the hidden costs with the 360. Had I known the expenses in live, battery packs, batteries, and wifi adapter I would have never bought it and after that RROD. Then I bought a PS3 because its such a wide spread problem and now I know that M$ knew about this before launch. All PS3s have Hdmi now and wifi. No need for battery packs plus its a blueray player and has a web browser. It has a better interface in my opinion for their PSN store. The system is better IMO. I don't understand why people are still complaining it has to be that the 360 is western developed.

[thor]

You're missing the point. I was saying generally - maybe I didn't choose the best example but Halo 3 didn't get marked down for its graphics, Gears of War 2 won't be marked down for lack of features compared with many shooters on the market, yet uncharted, heavenly sword and r&c were all marked down for having no MP. Oh and another thing that sums up perfectly the media bias (3 words):
"Too much variety"

[Nineball2112]

Why are you getting so bent out of shape? Why do you even care?

This is just conjecture and hypothesis, nothing more.

It's perfectly alright to discuss perceived media bias and based on prior history, there definitely seems to be a pattern with lower scores for PS3 games compared to similar X360 games.

If you don't use reviews to get information, then cool! But others do, and for you and others on here to mock them because of that is pretty silly.

[m23]

Man, could you please shut up already, I see all your comments in so many stories saying the same thing in every single one "gears is 6 hours long, the last boss is crap, the ending is garbage." Keep it to yourself. Just because you aren't going to buy the game doesn't mean you have to spoil the ending for us. I normally don't say stuff like that to anyone but it is really annoying.

[Time_Is_On_My_Side]

Have you actually read the reviews?

"They say variety is the spice of life, but there's such a thing as too much spice."

- Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, GameSpot, Aaron Thomas

There is such a thing than Grand Theft Auto should get a low score because spice is everywhere.

“Yes, this is another GTA game in which you'll likely spend the bulk of your time stealing cars and gunning down cops and criminals, but it's also much more than that. GTAIV is a game with a compelling and nonlinear storyline, a game with a great protagonist who you can't help but like, and a game that boasts a ‘plethora’ of online multiplayer features in addition to its lengthy story mode.”

- Grand Theft Auto IV, Game Spot, Justin Calvert (10/10)

Sound
"Dialogue is hokey and repetitive regardless of what side you're on. Sound effects are good, but that's not enough to make you turn the volume up once you've hit mute."

- Haze, Jeff Haynes, IGN

I'm not saying Haze is an amazing game but articulate yourself properly, to be an articulate critic is to express one's thoughts with precision, clarity, and grace. Simply saying "I hate this" or "I love this" is just expressing ones opinion. Criticism should be a pleasant read and not suffocating readers with prejudices or egotistical showing of the critic. What's really interesting Halo is known for dialogue throughout the game, is that criticized ?

Robert Cohen says, "Articulation means the careful building of ideas through a presentation of evidence, logic argument, the use of helpful analogy and example, and a style of expression neither pedantically turgid nor idiosyncratically anarchic."

N4g Blog HTML: http://www.n4g.com/up/19070...

"Bad level design, crappy driving segments, decidedly average action, stupid plot"

- Haze, X-Play (G4), Adam Sessler

Now this is a better review than IGN's since they're backing up their points with logic arguement. X-Play isn't perfect but they're one of the popular critics that usually tries to be honest at least.

Sound
“This is the reason God created Surround Sound. Halo's theme is a futuristic anthem that inspires the troops. The chatter during combat is fantastic.”

Graphics
“Despite a few moments of slowdown, this is a gorgeous game, especially considering the demands of the replay function. And it's to die for in 1080p.”

- Halo 3, IGN, Hilary Goldstein

I have Halo 3 and the graphics aren’t gorgeous and it isn’t to die for in 1080p.

Halo Comparison HD HTML: http://www.gametrailers.com...

[Time_Is_On_My_Side]

True, reviews ultimately come down to some sort of opinion, but you would have to make sure your opinion doesn't over power. The reason why I used those reviews because I think some sites are picking the wrong people to represent them. If you're someone who hates RTSs (Real Time Strategies) why choose a journalist to represent the site's critical review if you don't even like the genre?

What's even worse they sometimes don't even articulate themselves properly. Reviews on the Run Victor Lucas is another journalist who tries to be subjective as much as possible. He is also not perfect and will state from time to time his opinion when it doesn't even affect the games' coding what so ever, lol. Example I'm more use to the XBOX 360 controller so I give it the edge. It doesn't affect the game but is just simply stating preference. I think part of the problem journalist just simply prefer the XBOX 360 over the PlayStation 3 and sometimes shows through the reviews.

The funny thing is I don't use reviews to decide whether I should buy the game or not. I just use collective reviews to get a real grasp of the games or use what they said bad/good about the games to see if it makes sense.

[kenjix]

He's absolutely right, and his guesses will more than likely be spot on. It's interesting because when you read a review like fable, mass effect or even too human most of the reviews are trying to forgive whatever faults they can and find the pros in a game. When I read PS3 or PSP reviews it's always focusing on the small issues. I don't think it matters to me much I no longer have a 360 and I don't purchase games based on reviews. So although it's a sad state of affairs that the gaming press has created, I could care less.

[TheHater]

People that follow reviews to decide whether to buy a game or not shouldn't call themselves gamers. They are more like followers.

[pansenbaer]

@arrrgh

The thing that gets me is that Microsoft actually uses the fact that 'their games are rated higher' to smear Sony. I saw a commercial last night for the 360 that just went on about how they have to most games, the highest rated games, etc. Looking on Metacritic, I noticed that there are several multi-platform games that have been recently released that scored higher on the 360 than on the PS3. One that stands out to me is Dead Space. Why is it the PS3 version is at an 88 and the 360 is at an 89 when there is no difference and when the PS3 was the lead platform? Well I would say its because the PS3 version has 38 reviews, whereas the 360 version has 52 reviews! That is what I would call a media bias. The PS3 version has 1 100 review where the 360 has 4. Granted 1 is from a 360 magazine, but 1 is actually from GamePro! Why is it that they didn't review the PS3 version? So the only reason Microsoft and 360 fanboys can make their bullsh!t claims about how games are higher rated on the 360 is because of the media and their lack of respect for the PS3. If GamePro and 'GiantBomb' reviewed Dead Space for PS3, wouldn't they give it a 100, raising the score?

[Sez]

well if gamespot is microspot.
then gamepro is sonypro. is that about right. because we all know gamepro suck sony b@llz hard.

[BlackTar187]

I love gears to. But I was reading the glitch article and everyone was like ohhj the glitches no problem as long as they fix them in the first couple of weeks. Go over to socom and its ohh they wernt fixed in the retail version burn it : :) now I know there is a small differnce in my comparsion but should gears 2 lose points for glitches? I would love a answer. Becasue the post on the section reflected noone saying it should suffer lower scores Ill I read were 10 10 10 etc. Sorry. Im not anything but a socom fanboy I guess and was a little pissed and chose here to write about it becasue it is true certain games get free passes as some do not.

[iHEARTboobs]

I would have to say that GEARS would HAVE to be graded as is when released. It would definitely suck if they were overlooked while SOCOM's weren't.

[PimpHandStrong]

R2

GameSpot=8.5
IGN=9.2
1up=A
Gameinformer=10
Eurogamer=8

anyhoo i know you can list about 80 review sites but really i only use 3 or 4 if im not sure i want to buy or rent

and i know im buying R2 day one! So i dont need a review to help my feet move out to the store to buy it! The last game i used reviews to make up my mind was Dead Space and i can say i am VERY happy i bought this game! It is a stunner and it really does spook u out

[RadientFlux]

amusing how it's always fanboys themselves that scream the loudest about sites being bias

[Sez]

they only scream a site is bias when their game or console doesn't get the praise they feel it should.

[kevnb]

they are just terrible reviewers period, not so much biased. Unless you think biased reviewers give MGS4 10/10.

[prunchess]

What were they going to do give it less than a 10 and show themselves up?

I've played it through twice now and have to say that in 22 years of gaming (GOD I'M OLD) it is unique! I lent my PS3 to a mate, when I brought the family on holiday this year and when I took the PS3 back He went out and bought a 40 gig model on the basis of MGS4. I can't say I'm a big fan of MSG online but He loves it.

[pain777pas]

I have to say that the reviewer for that game has had consistent unbiased opinions on all games he reviews and I think that he is the only truly unbiased reviewer on that site him and Torres who could careless about what system the game is on if its great its great. Look at the reviews he does you'll see what I mean the new Kasavin and Gertsman.

[Agent VX]

Let the PS3 fanboys rally around this article!!!

Even though he has no evidence, and just seems like a poor pathetic fanboy who feels cheated that games on the PS3 aren't what Sony promised when the console was released. Lair or Killzone 2 anyone!!! Mix in the fact of the poor PS3 sales, and this is what we will expect form loyal Playstation authors.

Of course the media is biased, but making claims that the media is unified on some global conspiracy against Sony is just ridiculous. It is actually, very laughable!!!

It is sad that such a poorly written article like this gets approved, but I guess conspiracy articles are now the norm on this site. Desperate measures for desperate times.

[PimpHandStrong]

poor PS3 sales?

is 225,000 not good? I mean really? When did the 360 top 225,000 in one month? Oh i know when...when Halo launched and when they made the system cheaper then the Wii!

B4 that they where well under 200,000 almost every month in 2008

[Agent VX]

When did I ever say the 360 was selling great??? Why does this always come up when I mention poor PS3 sales, and I never once mentioned the 360???

The 360 is selling better than it did last generation, which means that MS has increased its sales from last generation. Though, I don't think it is selling great by any stretch of the imagination.

The PS3 is selling worse than last generation, which means that Sony has lost sales from last generation.

I don't think the 360 is selling great, but it is doing decent from someone who didn't have a fan base like Sony did last gen. Sony is selling very poor from someone who killed the competition last gen, meaning that their fan base isn't buying the PS3 this gen, and their poor sales show this.

So again, where did I ever mention the 360 in my post above???

Then there was silence!!!!

Again, conspiracy articles like this just Reek of Fanboyism.

[PimpHandStrong]

Sony has earned a fanbase!

and thats the truth

and the PS3 is selling just fine! Its selling at a faster rate then the PS2 did!

The PS2 didnt take off in sales till a couple years into the life cycle! Its like you think the PS2 sold 130 million units in 4 years!

[MK24ever]

Finally someone can see the truth besides me!

My bad English wouldn't allow me to put that as good, but I'm glad someone managed to put how I feel about that so perfectly.

Microsoft, american sites and lack of professionalism will make of X360 the winner because of sensationalism hype toward it, and HATE towards Sony and PS3

[dachiefsman]

right because American websites said nothing of LBP or MGS4 when it was coming out or Resistance 2. Are you really serious with that comment?

LBP is still going to be reviewed AAA and if Resistance 2 delivers on what people were told it showed be AAA as well.

By the way American sites did trash on Too Human, if they were truly biased that turd should have ended up with 8/10 reviews and up.

[MK24ever]

@ dachiefsman

I agree with you, but the problem is deeper than reviews, the system (PS3) is hated by many many journalists I know, there seems to be a weird negative attitude towards it, it's like jounalists talk about it as it's already dead or something, maybe that's just a cultural difference from continents, but I still think that bashing PS3 become a "must do" between most gaming sites.

[dachiefsman]

Please post/link where journalist say they "HATE" the PS3. Do you understand how stupid that sounds? Its like rednecks in my home town who hate/love a truck because of its emblem. For the love of god its a piece of hardware or chunk of metal.

[MK24ever]

A simple example, just listen to InvisibleWalls on gametrailers, the host is a nice example, and we are talking about a "big Dog" on gametrailers. The problem is that bashing PS3 become a trend in US, and so it's now at that point that most ppl and many journalists have that pre-conceived idea that they need to bash it because everyone does, and it would be stupid not to bash it because they make look stupid by supporting it.

[dachiefsman]

I don't understand what you are talking about?

It is beyond hard for me to believe that their is a little invisible troll that hops from site to site, magazine to magazine, or blog to blog whispering PS3 hate into each of these media outlet ears.

Sony put themselves on the pedestal with the PS2 and people expect the same with the PS3. In all honestly the PS3 has struggled to get the ball rolling, and until it does people are going to be disenchanted.

[Killjoy3000]

Love the story picture.

[ReBurn]

What's the rant of the day?

[dachiefsman]

Who cares what gaming sites say? Do you listen for them to tell you when to piss and crap?

Most reviews sites never get the full scoop on the game anyways and I seriously doubt most even play through the whole game.

Brother in Arms for example: Most reviewed this game 8 and up, but the online was complete garbage <assessed by most purchasers of the game>

Fable 2 another example: game should have gotten 8s and lower. the game is riddled with bugs and co-op is garbage <assessed by most purchasers of the game>

Dead Space another example: this game should not have received anything lower than a 9 this game is great although it has little to no replay value.

BOTTOM LINE: Play the games for yourself, don't take the word of some other idiot sitting behind a keyboard getting paid to do just what I did. After all I did give examples <pretty much fact>, but it still is an opinion.

Gamefly is the way to go if you want an alternative to buying and renting IMO.

[gamerdude11]

Media bias is a difficult thing to prove, but everyone seems to notice it. The problem isn't that R2 will review out in the 8's, the problem is games like LBP and GeoW2 will receive multiple 10's due to hype and marketing support.

I am having a blast in the R2 beta, and that's the only review I give a crap about.

[JD_Shadow]

Then why are you taking the time to comment to tell us this?

[oohWii]

You guys have stooped to a new low. It's like listening in on the loosing teams locker room. "Man the refs cheated us." "We couldn't catch a break, all the calls went their way."

PLEASE! How old are you? "OMG there's a HUGE conspiracy to screw over the PS3. All of the game reviewers are being paid by Microsoft not only to mark 360 games up, but to also mark PS3 games down."

Now how pathetic does that sound. You guys are a circus and Silogon you are the ring leader.

6 hours of gameplay on the 1st time through, opinion you can't confirm something like this, people like different things. (BIASED)
Weak as hell ending boss battle, see above. (BIASED)
Weak as hell ending, See above. (BIASED)
No tweaks to the animation system, (BIASED).
No changes to character maps, (BIASED).
16 player online, 5 on 5 online, which allows more people to get in the action of killing and getting killed and still actually get to walk the map for more than 10 seconds. (BIASED)

And the rest of you whiners, flock to this negative sh!t like a moth to a flame. Ever thought that the rest of the world isn't up sony's arse like you are? But let me guess, if you don't think the PS3 is the GOD given console, then you're bias.

SHUT UP GIRLY MEN!

[KingME]

Thanks! Good points. But, you're wasting your time. Pitiful people like woddling in their self pity.

[Socomer 1979]

the games have just recently been pumping out.
The games with the most attractive fanbase get advertising.
websites & shows cater to the masses.

Who cares?!?

The media is predictable. Xbox great - ps3 bad.
Its the Japanese system. They don't know what
they are doing. Finnally a game that might save
the ps3. Nobody pays attention to that. Not even
the real ps3 install base.

Socom is getting better with each day that passes.
MGO is a very deep, intelligent niche game.
wipeout is terrific.
psn has converted many former xboxlive players
who care more about games then in game cross
chat.
Ps3 is a media player.
I don't think after this year is over that xbox360 will be as
relevant anymore. It may sound scary but those that are true
supporters of the xbox360 really want a ps3 but unfortunatly
ps3 gamers don't really care if the xbox went belly up.
so the media needs to defend & hype xbox360 so that they
still have jobs.

IMO , ps3 is very much better than xbox360 & ive waited
Nearly 2 years for all the genre defining, history making,
jaw dropping ps3 games that involve skill, determination
with very difficult challenges & the very best graphics.

It aint all talking & achievement points then trade.
xbox360 is just halo & gears. If your not a fan then
you're screwed.

[dachiefsman]

@SOCOMER

So what did you think of that Confrontation release? Personally I am pretty pissed off since the game is virtually unplayable, but hey at least I got a sweet Blutooth headset.

I could counter point most of your points but I really don't care to do that. You should really pick up a xbox 360 cause its just not Halo and Gears. That statement in itself makes your post pretty ignorant.

[Socomer 1979]

everybody acording to websites:
hates the nintendo wii. Did that work against it?
xbox360 eventually will cost a gamer more money
& stress. Does it stop people from having a gold membership
for years?
ps3 doesnt have games worth the intial price of the console.
tell that to the millions who are gaming ps3 & use thier console
for much more than gaming. Does any of this affect the market?

I don't think so. I think its just for web hits & advertising.
Only a idiot would actually believe a company who gets paid
to review video games. Who is your favorite critic?

[AnthonyPerez]

Actually, I am the co-publisher and founder of another gaming site (Gamer 2.0: www.gamer20.com). I've written what some people would call anti-Sony articles, but it isn't because I dislike the PS3.

In fact, I will admit that in my pre-press years I was a Sony fanboy and Xbox hater. I thought the Xbox was big and clunky (much like Microsoft's still terrible OS and productivity programs), focused too much on graphics, and thought they had no real business being in the videogame industry.

Over time, I matured and grew much more objective. I finally bought an Xbox when I fell in love with a friend's copy of Max Payne, and gave the console an honest opportunity at impressing me. In all, I certainly had more PlayStation 2 games and memories, but I actually grew to like the Xbox quite a bit.

This generation, I think Microsoft has done a phenomenal job. They're biggest hiccup has obviously been the RROD issue, which actually choked out my launch unit after it had been going strong for about 2 years. Otherwise, they've put out some great software while the PS3 is still trying to find its place.

I think the PS3 will get there though. While the 360 can still do some impressive things, it's starting to become obvious that the PS3 does indeed have more muscle and in the final years of this generation we will definitely see a gap in the visual output of both. I could be wrong, and it may just be because the 360 is loud as hell, but it does seem like it struggles harder than the PS3 does.

Actually, it's totally plausible that the PS3's best years will be the last ones before the PS4. It'll probably be pushing better visuals at a more reasonable price. The problem will be with their exclusives. They dominated the last gen because they had so many games that just wouldn't appear on the Xbox. Now we're seeing WAY too many simultaneous release. The PS3 no longer dominates the global games market, and - while still down big time - the 360 has been making strides in Japan with sales up 157% so far this year. Though being up 157% from practically nothing isn't all that much.

I talked a lot about these issues back in August:

http://www.gamer20.com/feat...

[PimpHandStrong]

you say this:
Otherwise, they've put out some great software while the PS3 is still trying to find its place.

Now i know you said you are not anti-PS3 and that you write for gamer 2.0....well there is my problem with the SO CALLED gaming media press.

for one thing MS has not put out any software! Unless you are considering NXE and games that come from that game makers club they have, 100 bucks a year, as software. Whats it called? NGA or something....anyway

I also consider Halo "bungie software" they pushed with the MS hardware
ok now
we can agree that games started on PC's right? We can agree we use the PC for many things other then gaming thanks to software.

I will not list out what software the PS3 hardware has been used to push but i know i cant find much of my list on the PC!

im rambling a bit

my point is the PS3 has made a spot with its software and for you too think they havent is indeed in part due to all the viral marketing and fonboy bullet point arguements that you have seemed to help fuel!

[ReBurn]

Nice comments. Have a bubble!

[AnthonyPerez]

PimpHandStrong-

When discussing the game industry, the term software is synonymous with "games." It's just a different word for games. I'm not talking software in the traditional sense, which would be computer programs like MS Word or iTunes.

Also, your assertion that I am in anyway a fanboy is misguided. Anyone that knows me can back up my objectivity.

The problem with "media bias" is that people tend to take disagreements as bias. There was a great line in a movie called "Good Night and Good Luck" in which Edward R. Murrow, one of the most respected newsmen ever, says something along the lines of "I have searched my conscious and I find it illogical that there are two and equally correct sides to every issue."

Sometimes you just have to call something what it is, and that will rile the emotions of supporters of that opposing position.

What's funny is that fanboyism isn't exclusive to games. Hell, politics has some of the biggest fanboys imaginable: blind republicans and blind democrats.

[PimpHandStrong]

right on dude

and your right

Fanboyism isnt just for games and systems! Fanboyism can be used in a broad term for anyone that cant see both sides without thinking of the bad b4 they see the good. I do think fanboyism was a word created by gamers! I could be wrong

Just when you say the PS3 hasnt made a spot in the market with its software i think your wrong..thats all

Im not all that great writing/spelling out what i think and sometimes i might be a bit aggressive when i really dont mean to be.

anyway take care
best of luck with your site