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GameSpot defends it's decision for giving 7.5 to Ratchet & Clank

GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann writes

"To use the Review of the Moment as an example, when we give Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction a 7.5, we're not saying it's "average" or something. This isn't school, and a 7.5 doesn't translate to a C+. We're effectively saying that fans of these sorts of action platformers, and to an even greater extent, fans of the Ratchet series, will probably have a blast. But we're also saying that its appeal might not extend so far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

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uk.gamespot.com

Time Lord - contributor
Published: 782 days 9 hours ago | News | PlayStation 3

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MK_Red - 782 days 9 hours ago

1 -

Damage Control:
It's good old Jeff defending Aaron Thomas' terrible review of Ratchet & Clank.

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HeartlesskizZ - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.1 -

he is not defending the review score or the guy =) he is defending the website from collapsing straight to Doom.

he knows the game has potential and that score is not fair for the game.
If the game really sucked....he would never replay or tried to defend it.

Besides GS is not really a good site.

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Kleptic - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.2 -

100% agreed...

no one was complaining about "what a 7.5 rating means"...it was the fact that Aaron Thomas completely slaughtered the game and named it the worst game in the franchise...which is 100% the most idiotic review this year...

stuff like that continues...and that site is pretty much done...the forums where on fire with a list of several hundred people that had already terminated their premium accounts (why someone would pay for a site like that is beyond me)...

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Kleptic - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.3 -

100% agreed...

no one was complaining about "what a 7.5 rating means"...it was the fact that Aaron Thomas completely slaughtered the game and named it the worst game in the franchise...which is 100% the most idiotic review this year...

stuff like that continues...and that site is pretty much done...the forums where on fire with a list of several hundred people that had already terminated their premium accounts (why someone would pay for a site like that is beyond me)...

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ruibing - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.4 -

"But we're also saying that its appeal might not extend so far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

That is quite an insult saying that only fans of the series would enjoy this game. I've read a lot of reviews and some never really got into these games, but were able to enjoy it perfectly well. The review complains about too much variety, and now this guy is saying the varieties are not enough to attract gamers. These guys are really grasping at straws. Gamespot has gone downhill ever since Greg Kasavin left for EA.

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Violater - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.5 - -

"fans of the Ratchet series, will probably have a blast. But we're also saying that its appeal might not extend so far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

So basically they are saying since they are not fans of the series its not good?
You mean out of all the people at gamespot they chose they guy that reviews only sports games and now are trying to spin sh!t to save their lives in order to make up for the crap they have done.
Seriously they should just QFT and STFU

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Charlie2688 - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.6 -

Its actually EXTREMELY Ironic since EVERYONE knows Jeff is the biggest R&C fanboy out there

I guess he was forced or some crazy S-IT

Its also pretty funny how he ruined his own damaged control with all the talking about numbers don't matter or rating games too high is bad...which in an ironic turn of events is what he does best...if someone is a GS regular you will understand >.>

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MK_Red - 782 days 9 hours ago

1.7 -

"he is defending the website from collapsing straight to Doom. "
Superb line :)

"no one was complaining about "what a 7.5 rating means"...it was the fact that Aaron Thomas completely slaughtered the game and named it the worst game in the franchise...which is 100% the most idiotic review this year... "
Agreed. That's the worst review of the year.

As all of you said, this defence is more of an insult to fans, gamers and their intelligence.

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JsonHenry - 782 days 8 hours ago

1.8 -

Since when did a company have to defend its review? F**K YOU if you don't like it and think the game deserves better.

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Gamespot-equals-EGM - 782 days 8 hours ago

1.9 - Jeff Gerstmann is a big, fat idiot

^^^^^^

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1.10 dantesparda | 782 days 7 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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pswi60 - 782 days 5 hours ago

1.11 - Gamespot: The game just can't decide what it wants to be.....

Here's the breakdown out of 36 reviews so far:

Between 90 and 100: 28 Reviews
Between 80 and 89: 5 Reviews
Less than 80: 3 Reviews

I think everyone else figured out what the game wants to be....
What I don't think is if Gamespot has decided what is wants to be now that they can't fix this situation because they pissed off alot of people (myself included, who has never played R&C but bought TOD and its a great game, and didnt deserve that poor number)

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gamesR4fun - 782 days 5 hours ago

1.12 - bs

if it looks like poo smells like poo taste like poo theres a good chance it just might be poo.
F@ck Gamespot they've sucked for a long time now and its not gonna change obviously.

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DeadIIIRed - 782 days 3 hours ago

1.13 - What?

What issues? They pretty much took points off after praising the game.

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the worst - 782 days 9 hours ago

2 -

fu#k this guy
the game is great

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IdontTakeSides - 782 days 9 hours ago

3 -

what a Turd....did there monthly subscription took a plumet...??

Why couldn't there site just stay down permanently...

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MK_Red - 782 days 9 hours ago

3.1 -

I beleive the short shotdown was work of angry fans of Ratchet PS3 and PES and after that, they posted this for damage control.

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IdontTakeSides - 782 days 9 hours ago

3.2 -

well maybe it was....I say they should hack the site again..they deserve nothing better..!!

that would make for another recording breaking post as we had yesterday..!!

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DrWan - 782 days 9 hours ago

4 - Here guys

But we're also saying that its appeal might not extendso far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text.

Read that line again, and then go read Gears of Wars and God of Wars and their scores.

I am sure these freaking bloody games do not appeal to EVERYONE either. A game's greatness and it's review scores should NOT be based on what he said, why? Because if it does, every single game will get a 7.5, because there are plenty of people out there that DO NOT LIKE RPGS and WE DONT SEE FF7 FF10 FF12 Getting Crappy Scores.

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MK_Red - 782 days 9 hours ago

4.1 -

Superb comment, bubbles for you.

If that's really the case then they should give the lowest possible score to games in niche genres like turn based card battle games and flight simulators. If that's what GameSpot thinks then they also give low score to Madden, Fifa and all sports games because I don't enjoy them. That game is not for me so let's blame the game (In GameSpot's opinion)!

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Genki - 782 days 9 hours ago

4.2 - I second that notion MK_Red,

that is a superb comment.

Games should be reviewed based on their own merit, whether or not they can stand on their own legs.

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PLAYWATCH - 782 days 5 hours ago

4.3 - Superb Comment

You read my mind, brother. I was just about to post something very similar to what you wrote. Right on, man. Your comments are dead on.

I cannot believe these Gamespot IDIOTS! came up with this as their excuse. I CANNOT!!

This is ridiculous. They have only made the situation worse with their logic which everyone can see it's flawed. SINCE WHEN! did they apply this logic, and if so, why have niche games received 9s from them?? STUPID IDIOTS!@! I will never go to their site again, EVER!

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Thursday - 781 days 23 hours ago

4.4 - Indeed

Bubbles for you and your whit, kind sir!

I haven't really been a fan of GameSpot even before this, but man, I hope this hurts them big time. Not because I'm a hardcore R&C fan, cause I'm really not, but because of the fact that people who write this trash don't belong in the gaming industry, period.

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ngg12345 - 782 days 9 hours ago

5 - "But we're also saying that its appeal might not extendso far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

Then why is it appealing to the majority of the game reviewers, and the majority of the mainstream news places (reuters, new york times, bbc news, etc).

This is major damage control.

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socomnick - 782 days 9 hours ago

6 -

The review is this guys opinion jeez . He didn't like the game so be it I didn't care for the game after playing the demo either. If you liked the game fine buy it why do reviews matter so much to some of you guys.

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IdontTakeSides - 782 days 9 hours ago

6.1 -

well reviews matter bcuz it can make or break a game and a game like R&C...is important to the PS3..so he should be professional about his job..and not be biased based on preference of game genre's or system...

BTW do you even happen to own a PS3..or you played the demo at Gamestop..!!

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Omegasyde - 782 days 4 hours ago

6.2 - Soconick

You don't get it do you? The reviewer didn't like the game because it wasn't his type of game i.e. a sports game reviewer reviewing a genre of games he doesn't like i.e. puzzle games or a first person shooter.

This reviewer gave a review to which he thought would be cleverly written since he thought, NO ONE COULD READ BETWEEN THE LINES.

The reviewer gave it a shi**y review because 1)he didn't like platformers and 2) the PS3 wasn't his system of choice. Granted you are right that it was his opinion but clearlly you can't just say Mario Galaxies sucks because it is on the Nintendo Wii!

If you did that you would be branded a Fan boy and this reviewer obviously did that by writing this review. If you don't believe me, re-read the review of ratchet and clank and keep in mind what I have stated to you.

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That_Whore - 782 days 9 hours ago

7 - Lets just.........

Move on.

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mighty_douche - 782 days 9 hours ago

8 -

gamespot can suck my balls...

its not even a nice website.

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9 remix | 782 days 9 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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ngg12345 - 782 days 9 hours ago

10 - Actually this defense

Is worse then the review.

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MK_Red - 782 days 9 hours ago

10.1 -

I agree but after yesterday's mysterious shotdown of GameSpot, some Damage Control is more than neccessary for their survival.

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Genki - 782 days 9 hours ago

11 - They're really milking this publicity for all it's worth.

Why should he need to explain himself? Once again, yet another way to get hits. How many times has this been addressed already? I rest my case.

Give a controversial review to a high profile title and your ratings will skyrocket. Simple formula, works EVERY time.

Just don't dignify the crap, it's as simple as that. Whether we love them or hate them, the attention is all they want.

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mighty_douche - 782 days 9 hours ago

11.1 - true...

sites like GS are fighting for as many hits as they can get. this is just a simple, unoriginal way of doing it. problem is, it works :(

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Genki - 782 days 9 hours ago

11.2 - Indeed they are,

and we always flock to it, but why?

Much of the gaming journalism as of late reminds me of Hollywood journalism. It's all about X vs Y, who's better than who, superlatives abound, Can ABC save XYZ this gen, top ten this, comparisons that, etc.

Someone please tell me how any of that trash constitutes good journalism. This isn't the Hard Rock Cafe or the Sunset Strip...we're playing games here. Give us information. Give us honest opinions. Give us synopses, previews, interviews without the inflammatory questions. Give us reviews without the constant backpedaling and excuses. Stick by your guns or shut your mouth, otherwise it's obvious that you're full of crap.

It doesn't take too keen an eye to see BS when it's right in front of you, and all they've been doing is smearing it in people's faces. Shoddy journalism FTL.

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gtgcoolkid - 782 days 9 hours ago

12 - F*ck that site

Microsoft C*nt lickers.

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Husso - 782 days 9 hours ago

13 -

LOl juts man up and say a moron wrote the review casue your gayspot site sucks ass.

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mighty_douche - 782 days 9 hours ago

13.1 -

^^whaaaa???

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bestgamer94 - 782 days 9 hours ago

14 - NOOOOOOOOOO

THEY LIE
THEY LIE THEY LIE
THEY LIE THEY LIE THEY LIE
LIARS

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kingxtreme81 - 782 days 9 hours ago

15 - Well, that's their opinion.

I think the game is much, much better then their overall score indicates.

What's funny is that when you read the review, it's very positive, though the score does not reflect their supposed enjoyment of the game. It's not like the score was "bad", it's just not a score that is typically given to a game that is spoken highly about during the majority of the review, much like Ratchet and Clank was.

What's even more strange is the things the reviewer picks to complain about. Too much variety. Since when is "too much" a bad thing? To me, it's not...but hey, to each his own. It's just time to move on from this and enjoy the game.

I'm having a blast with the game, and I'll freely admit that I've never once played a Ratchet and Clank game through, but this one has me hooked and I'm very happy that I picked it up.

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jackdoe - 782 days 9 hours ago

16 -

Ugh. Reading that reasoning puts a bad taste in my mouth. They don't follow that reasoning for other reviews, so I don't see why Ratchet applies either.

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Ri0tSquad - 782 days 9 hours ago

17 - lol do what you guys want

at the end of the day your opinion on the game has lost credibility from the site.

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CaliGamer - 782 days 9 hours ago

18 - Who is this again?...

The fat guy that gave R&C a low score? He sounds angry, confused and rambled a whole lot. He should lay off the junk food, hit the cardio machines and stick to games that have no variety.
This guy is a fool, what a rant.

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Kururo - 782 days 9 hours ago

19 - very stupid

if they so strongly back aaron's review then they should not have to publicly announce it. Unless he is admitting that the review may confuse people on the quality of this title.

And I don't care what he says, a 75 is widely considered around the world to be average.

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SRuN4 - 782 days 9 hours ago

20 - So..

It took them over a week to come up with that lame excuse?

For as much heat as they took they should of had a response up ASAP, but I dont think they could come up with a reason why it scored so low.

"But we're also saying that its appeal might not extend so far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

So the fact that many have said it looks like a Pixar movie, and the issues of it having no identity (really now?) and it being too easy wont appeal to players outside the core group of fans? If anything that's what will bring in more people, and it being easy will allow people to become attached to the franchise, sorta has the vibe of a casual/hardcore game in my eyes.

Like I said to start it off, if you're gonna keep dark for over a week you better have a better excuse than that.

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Marceles - 782 days 9 hours ago

21 -

"But we're also saying that its appeal might not extend so far beyond that group due to issues mentioned in the review text."

They can't defend this...the review sucked. So their reviews are now based on a universal appeal for people who don't usually play these kind of games and looking at reasons why someone wouldn't like the game and calling them "issues"...I'll keep that in mind on their next 9.0 game which most likely will be a FPS with "too much variety", or with Mass Effect. People who play Mass Effect are going to be hardcore gamers who played KOTOR, so if there's issues with the appeal of the game that an average gamer would have, would they put those in account? Never mind, I reiterate...they cant defend their review. Next.

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fopums - 782 days 9 hours ago

22 -

"we wanted to rain on Insomniacs parade" thats all their is too it.

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23 Vojkan | 782 days 9 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Covenant - 782 days 9 hours ago

24 -

Well, at least we finally get to hear the other side of the story

And after reading it, I say:

The reviewer is still wrong.

He's entitled to his opinion, but he did not back it up very well.

Damage control...and a loss of respect.

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resistance100 - 782 days 9 hours ago

25 -

Ouch, Gamespots traffic took a hit i take it.

I've got no problem with reviewers giving games low scores providing they back it up with VALID opinions. Which in this case the reviewer didn't and thats where its all started from. Its not the score which is the problem is the overall mentality to the game the reviewer showed and really performed the task he was given in an Unprofesional (sp) mannor in my opinion

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