BioWare Employee Reviews Witcher II

It seems that employees for various companies are still using Metacrtic to either boost their own game ratings or just turn down other games in the process.

[Hitman0769]

Wow that is really cool of them, not.

[Quagmire]

Is it the same guy who reviewed his own game to boost the score?

[TheBeast]

Haha yep.

[Rage_S90]

thats pathetic how about you make a better game

[Substance101]

Lol Sad, they dumbed their own game down for the masses which is why it didnt sell. Now they attempt to lower the metacritc of another pathetic.

Sorry bioware but you should learn the hard way, never ignore the core base for the masses.

[Active Reload]

Man, people will fall for anything.

[Heartnet]

Yeh but dunno why people are saying it on Bioware :L he is one guy who happens to work at bioware haha

Maybe he just though it was a bad game yeh? and thought his own game was good :D small possibility ;)

[Istanbull]

Why is this news, fanboys do it all the time, why cant developpers do it. They're human with emotions too.

[teething]

good for this guy for giving DA2 a 10/10. I see it as taking a stand against all the butt-hurt PC fanboys who were giving the game 0/10 before they even gave it a chance, or even played it for that matter.

p.s. how do we know he is a Bioware employee??? I can create fake usernames too. Think about it.

Is this a Bioware employee acting like a troll, or a troll acting as a bioware employee?

Nevermind... forget logic. BIOWARE SUX! Crap since BGSOA. ME3 is dumist evah!!! LOLZ.

[Bereaver]

That's the only thing I was wondering about. If it really was a fake username. That would solve a lot of problems.

But too bad there's no way to tell.

[HolyOrangeCows]

"A user by the name of M_Stannard"

Ummmm....let's not jump to conclusions. I could name myself G_Newell and troll Metacritic pretty easily.

Unless there is confirmation that this site doesn't mention, I wouldn't assume that this is a guy from Bioware.

[captain-obvious]

bioware is slowly turning in to a really stinky pile of shit
its not the first time they do it

but it may not be true

edit
i think you guys should look at those too
http://www.metacritic.com/u...
http://www.metacritic.com/u...

yah i think its a set up

[jrbeerman11]

Don't think its real, people can assume any name they want on these things, if a name "walt disney" posted on forums you wouldn't think it was an undead anti-Semite posting on forums.

Also user reviews for RPGs or long games in general shouldn't be factored this early. its almost proof in itself that its trolling good or bad. (if they got early copy i don't care)

[RedDead]

Guys come on, no need to lash out at the whole of Bioware for this, it was one employee and a troll like one at that. I would like for this guy to get his ass handed to him, but he can do what he wants, that includes trolling, Bioware should see this guy is giving them a bad name though.

Edit
:D GameZenith is right though
Bioware RIP 1998-2007

[Kalowest]

Bioware is mad, because The Witcher 2 is awesome.
The story and graphics are on par or beyond anything Bioware can make.

P.S I really like Bioware, but their games lately have been :(

[Perjoss]

at the rate at which they dumb games down it looks like mass effect 3 will be a puzzle game :(

[FrankenLife]

@Perjoss Naw, a puzzle game wouldn't be dumb enough for them. They trying to turn ME3 into a Gears of War clone. That is why the game was delayed. Bioware is busy taking out options for players, and palette swapping the 3 areas of the game so that they feel different.

On a side note: the reason Star Wars is taking so long is because they are preemptively removing content and options. Since you can't release a bunch of sequels with less features of an MMO, they are doing it a head of time.

I kid, but I miss the Bioware of old. They made really good games once.

[Beahmscream]

Kalo is spot on.

[theonlylolking]

Only Dragon Age 2 has been =(

[REALgamer]

I'd treat this as simply an overly loyal employee of Bioware, rather than the entire studio's opinion.

There are assholes who work in every company.

[Christopher]

I would take this with a grain of salt. It's so easy for anyone to create an account with this name and publish these reviews.

I could go, create a JackTretton login, and then rate all of the 360 exclusives low, for example.

The things people have done on the Internet in the last decade have desensitized me a bit towards this sort of stuff and made me less likely to believe that an employee of any company would be this idiotic.

[Treezy504]

I was thinking the same thing, but then again you never know.

[Tony P]

Only last week, Facebook was found to have hired a leading PR firm to influence news outlets and blog writers to smear Google.

I agree. You really never know these days.

[Heartnet]

Hehe tis funny :) Maybe its actualyl true and its HIS own opinion of it haha

[Tony P]

Well, I normally don't do this but...

@BioWare: u mad bro?

[TVippy]

Haha, this can't be happening, it must be a joke.

[djreplay]

Bioware trolling, priceless

[Jamegohanssj5]

But ME3 does/will suck. ME1 and 2 were garbage. Same for dragon age and those star wars games they did for Xbox and PC.

TGSI

[Shepherd 214]

Yea because the knights of the old republic series sucked so hard.

Not.

[Jamegohanssj5]

Considering that no one purchased it, it did suck. Hell I didn't purchase it or find out aboot it until 2 years ago. And I saw how horrible the graphics and gameplay was I knew it sucked. Mass Effect is the same way. And so is Dragon Age. They all have horrible gameplay, horrible graphics, overrated, I can created better things in my asshole. It's okay that you want to suck off Bioware but at the end of the day we all know that I am right.

You can continue to argue while I finished beating Haze for the 4th time.

TGSI

[wollie]

lols, you trollin.

[jrbeerman11]

just told us he was successfully trolling with that haze comment

[TheGameFoxJTV]

@teething, but...DA2 did suck. Horribly. DA1 was a far superior game, with a better story, and damn similar graphics. lol, DA2 was a major downgrade, so complaint against that game were 100% valid. And I don't think anyone has bashed ME3.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Lol this is pathetic. Hell this is way worse than fanboys. I guess their mad because DAO & DA2 story is very similar to The Witcher 1.

[il-mouzer]

actually the the stories of DA:O and Witcher 1 are as relevant as apples are to oranges.

I won't comment on DA2 because I didn't really see a story in that game.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Grey Warden gets his power almost the exact same way as the Witcher in DAO. DA2 they try so hard to force you to join the war between humans vs non-humans very similar in The Witcher except you can play neutral.

[Perjoss]

fanboys are worse as they have no reason really to trash an 'opposing' console or game. An employee of a games company actually stands to benefit from his games ranking highly.

[ps3bestever]

shame on you bioware

[Saryk]

Stereotype much? One douchbag doesn't not constitute a company.

[nskrishna2]

When he's working for BioWare he represents the entire company when he's trolling somewhere

There is this old saying that even if one person in a company of friends is a bad man, the entire group is seen as bad people

[Saryk]

So if a black man kills a white man or visa versa, the whole color is at fault?
(I hate saying race, since we all are one race, human)

If a rich man rapes a poor woman or visa versa, the whole class is at fault?

When a man builds one home he is not a home builder, when a man builds one bridge, he is not a bridge builder, but if he screws one goat!

[awiseman]

Since when do you talk anything non-troll related?

Also you should attack EGay not Bioware for gimping DA2.

[lpfisher]

I'll ignore the ethical issue of this, because between this and the Dragon Age stuff, they're obviously "above all of that."
I just feel bad for the guys. They're capable of making good games. Dragon Age 2 shouldn't have needed the Meta boost (but it did) and bashing the Witcher isn't going to make it any better for them. Eh... pathetic little cry babies.

[GameZenith]

Bioware R.I.P.
1998-2007

[Shepherd 214]

although the RPG elements were toned down some in Mass Effect 2, it was still very, very good in many other ways.

[jrbeerman11]

they make one bad game (thats playable just pales in comparison to first game) and you say they are dead. I should get you a jump to conclusions mat.

[GameZenith]

I'm not saying 1998-2007 RIP because DA2 as a review score failure and ME2 had toned down RPG elements, I'm saying that because they are no longer that indie development studio creating new IPs.

Look at it this way:

From 1998-2005, Bioware created 6 new IPs

1. Baulder's Gate
2. Neverwinter Knights
3. KOTOR
4. Jade Empire
5. Dragon Age
6. Mass Effect

Dragon Age: Origins might have been released in 2009, but it was in development since 2004. Same with Mass Effect, it might released in 2007, but was in development since 2005 or earlier.

Now commpare that to how many new IPs they've created since then.....ZERO. Yes there is TOR, but that is just an extention of KOTOR.

So since 2005, the only games they've been creating were sequels to already existing IPs like KOTOR (TOR), Mass Effect (ME2/ME3), and Dragon Age (DA2).

Why? Well because that is what Electronic Arts demands. EA has a reputation of making developers ONLY do certain games like DICE only being able to do Battlefield. Yes there was Mirror's Edge but EA allowed them to do that but primarily they're a BF studio.

5 Years from now, I bet you the only games/brands being focued on by Bioware would be TOR, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. That Indie Developer that was always eager to explore new IPs and ideas died in 2007 when EA bought them out. Now they're just "another" finger on EA's fist.

Bioware like EVERY other company in the world wanted profit, but at the same time they still held their obligation to those fans who brought them to where they are. They knew who their fans were (RPG players) and they made games for RPG players. It wasn't until EA and Mass Effect 2 when Bioware suddenly turned into this studio that wants a "larger audience". From 98-2005 they were happy with their audience and they were making loads of money for them. So this move to lessen the RPG and amp up the combat/action is an EA influence to make games that can compare with the Uncharted's and Gears of Wars.....the ones that appeal to a "larger audience" and not just the RPG field.

5 Years from now Bioware won't even be making RPGs anything. Just all out FPS/3rd Person Shooters that just happen to contain some in-depth RPG elements.

So again,
Bioware RIP
1998-2007

[jrbeerman11]

wow, rare on this board that people back up their claims with facts.

While I am not giving up yet on them (since Mass Effect 2 is one of my favorite games) I do understand your arguments.

bubbles for you.

[pr0digyZA]

lol way to make it obvious that its a troll review. i mean a 0/10 thats just hilarious.

[SuperLupe]

Hum have a feeling this is fake. Who would be that stupid to do such a thing ?

[soundslike]

At the same time, is it illegal?

If not, a business, from the classical psychopathic 'must-have-moar-success!&# 39; standpoint, would be stupid not to at least try.

[Ashriel]

Wow, you guys are really dumb if you fall for this one :/

turns out, the actual bioware employee was using the "Avanost" nickname (not "M_Stannard") so you're basically falling for a troll account.

never change, N4G :)

[TheBeast]

If you have been in the news for this one, this person is a confirmed BioWare employee who reviewed DAO2 and gave it a perfect score...

[humbleopinion]

He's as "confirmed BioWare employee" as you are confirmed to actually be Beast from Xmen.
The fact If some anonymous idiot is using a nickname on an internet website does not imply it's the actual person with the same nickname. Is that so hard to comprehend?

[pr0digyZA]

Either way it is a fanboy of Bioware whether it is an employee or not, game does not deserve that score.

[Ashriel]

No, the confirmed bioware employee was "Avanost" go google it.

[PandaJenkins]

I can't tell if he did it this time purely as a joke after the reaction of him being caught last time or not....

Edit: Or it may be a troll account. Doesn't seem as sneaky and serious as last time if anything.

[jrbeerman11]

best troll i have seen, when a troll makes the news i think they succeeded.

its fake, as much as some want it to be real, this is fake and ridiculous.

You would think we would be more immune to this, this was just a smarter troll.

[godsinhisheaven]

Cheap.

[news4geeks]

I don't believe this. It's just too easy to fake.

[The_Nameless_One]

OK. Obvious troll article for the sake of hits. No research done and everything is pure speculation. Show me some proof then I'll stand by you.

WHat a pathetic attempt at hits.

[BIXOMAU]

Not defending anyone, but the article says it is a "confirmed BioWare employee" while stating no sources at all.

Seriously, does anyone have any kind of evidence this guy is from bioware? My guess is it is just a troll/fanboy and the headline of the 'article' is just bait for hits.

[Saryk]

Thank you! Even if it was just one douchbag, it isn't the whole company. Besides it is human nature to pull for the home team and crap on the away team...........

[BIXOMAU]

What a joke.

For those wondering, the quote "confirmed BioWare employee" was the inital version of the article.

When i commented on the site asking for a source on that, the author of the article, Dardin Kay, deleted my comment with no explanation whatsoever. He changed the previous sentence to "un-confirmed BioWare employee" while keeping the same title. Good Journalism prevails.

[humbleopinion]

What a sad story: the only thing more amazing then how this kind of cheap crap passes moderating in N4G time and time again, is how people actually comment on this story as if it was straight facts.

This report is as pointless as reporting comments from imaginary accounts here in N4G as actual quotes of real people. How come nobody is marking down this submission?

[diehardgamer1000]

LOL doesnt this guy hv mass effect3 to work on? witcher meta scores shld be the list of his worries

[kevnb]

lmao, jealous much?

[mobijoker]

Bioware is turning really nasty...I respected them,but that's not the case anymore.Despite being a small developer,CD projekt is delivering a better game at lower price point with no dlc milking,no reuse of same environment,better graphics and better content.Bioware is just disturbed because they are trumped despite being the leading horse in EA's stable.
Witcher 2 is not only a great game,but its also a testament of how the bigger brands are absorbing our hard earned money by delivering below
par products.

[Darkfiber]

How does this guy still have a job at Bioware?

Oh right, it's Ray Muzyka.

[hassi94]

Don't all blame all of Bioware. It's one employee and I doubt Bioware like it - it just makes them look bad.

He isn't representative of the whole development team.

[yamzilla]

This is regardless of one shlubs review, whether it portrays the companies feelings or not;

hey bioware.....fuck you

you have not made a decent game since mass effect 1, and that game was decent at best, your a bunch of fucking canadian hacks now, fuck your dlc and your new game every year, your shit is weak, mass effect 2 was a giant PIECE OF SHIT!!!

Mass Effect 1- 8.5
Mass Effect 2- 6

Dragon age 1 - 7.5
Dragon age 2- 6

The witcher 2 just shit on every game you ever made, yes i mean it, i love baldurs gate 2, guess what, it just got fucking owned!!!

Bioware are Hasbeens, your EA's lapdogs, get back to your masters and stay away from real games, there are not many left!

By the way bioware, when your 150 million dollar mmo flops, and it will, i hope you embezzled some of that money cause ea will shut ur ass down if that terrible looking, wannabe space wow game flops./....

side note to all devs while im ranting, do not spend a 150 million on an mmo, it still won't do shit to wow, the only game that will ever beat wow is blizzards next mmo

[The BS Police]

Mass Effect: 91 of 100

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Mass Effect 2: 96 of 100

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

Just a nice little fact checker there.

[pr0digyZA]

I think that was his personal scores for the games.

[The BS Police]

Then my point still stands, Mass Effect 2 is not a bad game.

[omi25p]

where is the proof. I doubt he is stupid enough to use his real name...

[buckley]

If you're going to claim that this is a BioWare employee, you should probably post a source. Just sayin.

[Bimkoblerutso]

Word to that, brother.

[Anti-Fanboyer]

It's just a troll still in College.

His real name Micahel Stannard

Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/M_Sta...

Similar to his Metacritic post.
http://www.thegx.co/userfil...

Bioware taking shit cause some douchebag decided to pose as an employee.

[BeastlyRig]

If this is true then
Butt + Hurt = Bioware..

[BeastlyRig]

lol damn! look at dragon age 2 user score on pc!

http://www.metacritic.com/g...

[MoveTheGlow]

The article sounded sketchy, as the only evidence he has is that the guy liked Dragon Age 2. I know there are at least a few people out there who liked that game. Just because I didn't doesn't mean I don't believe the entire globe doesn't.

[Statix]

What I find most pathetic is that so many gamers out there actually care about Metacritic ratings.

[Trroy]

How do we even know this is a BioWare employee, and not just some guy who claims he is one?

I call poser. Dude would get a serious talking to if he actually worked at a game dev, and he wouldn't do it again.

[NMAFallout]

This is ridiculous. This is not one of the two users involved in the Dragon Age II review controversy, which were Avanost and LupoTheeButcher. There is no proof at all offered by the article that this is a BioWare employee. This is a phony, made-up story.

[bjh089]

DA 2 is def not a 10/10 game it barely hits 8/10 for me. As for the witcher 2 i just bought it and i hear its pretty amazing so def better than what this guy said bout it.

[Inzo]

People will believe anything on N4G give me solid proof first. Though I never really care for RPG's I have played a few including DA2 and imho this guy needs make sure he is not confusing DA2 with Demon's soul because DA2 sucked.

[pansenbaer]

Wait...do we know if this was actually a BioWare employee?? A "First initial, underscore, Last name"? That makes it 100% a Bioware employee? Is there a way to confirm this?

[Shuklar]

You people are dipshits. If you're using metaCRITIC for USER reviews...you're doing it wrong.

How did you ALL meet? Like is there a troll website other than N4G? Did you all come from 4chan or something?

[Tigerfist]

How come one can know for sure that this guy is indeed a bioware employee? And even so, a man speaks for himself and not for the enterprise he works with.

[PickAShoe]

hahaha jealousy

[Eiffel]

Bioware u mad?

[CJQNSNYC]

S.O.U.R.G.R.A.P.E.S!!! Pathetic! Hey Bioware, next time make a REAL sequel instead of that "game" you called DA2!

[Krakn3Dfx]

Unless The Witcher 2 has the same 8 dungeons re-textured over and over like another '2' RPG recently released...

[DiffusionE]

LOL! That was one of the many things that annoyed me to no end about that game. Makes the devs look lazy.

[DiffusionE]

That seems to be a very weak "proof". I'm not sure Bioware would blatantly let one of their employees openly "review" rival games like that. If this is true, however, the guy's probably already fired by now.

Anyway, Dragon Age 2 was a let-down for me, considering I enjoyed Origins. Probably 6/10. From what I've been hearing about The Witcher 2, it's a potential 9/10.

[tregreigns]

They are probably friends and doing it for lol's. Calm down everyone.

[codename13]

no matter what, Witcher 2 is definitely win for sure .. :D

[Apollyn]

What a cock.

That is all

[koehler83]

Why are game devs, as individuals, somehow exempt from being able to participate in metacritic?

I haven't read the review, I don't read anything on metacritic, but good or bad, it's not gospel. It's not an EA or Bioware company policy. It's a dude's opinion. He's allowed to have one. He's allowed to share it. That's the point of the site.