Remember when Bethesda was like "No review copies anymore, we don't think it's fair that some people get to play early" and then they gave early copies to youtubers?
I take your point. While I agree that the reason for the low scores is unclear, I'm not sure that one can infer anything from.the pattern of reviews. It could equally be consistent click-baiting, or a generally contrarian house style.That doesn't say anything about their intent behind the scores, which is what was brought up. If anything, I would say that the fact that their review scores are consistenly below the average makes it less likely they're doing things just for clicks
2K's approach here is the same thing, though less blatant about it--well, at least before they confirmed that they're doing it to manipulate day 1 review scores.Remember when Bethesda was like "No review copies anymore, we don't think it's fair that some people get to play early" and then they gave early copies to youtubers?
Ah. I see. I think you and I differ re: the importance of a formal look at review code. From what I see, devout Era readers are as informed and fluent in videogames as most professional reviewers, if not more so in some cases. In other words, their opinions aren't worth any more or less than yours or mine. This is especially true when there are sometimes hours upon hours of unedited raw footage that allows one to make up their own mind. In Borderlands 3 case, I believe there was E3 gameplay footage and even a playable pre-release demo. Furthermore, let's say you really do value the opinion of folks at a certain outlet. Most of those will have already discussed the game; even Giantbomb had a half hour preview detailing their impressions.I mean whether or not they put a scored review out, Giantbomb still finds more value in their long-form video impressions and their podcast discussions, both of which are 2K denying their ability to do so around the time those other reviews are hitting. It's obfuscating their ability to have a discussion, either positive or negative, in the window where there would be a lot of people looking for the word on Borderlands 3.
Because it gives some indication about how much faith to put in reviews.
Being older with a mortgage and having to be careful on my expenses means that reviews are more important for me than ever.Listen. I completely agree with you that 2K and/or Gearbox is most likely pulling some smarmy ass shit here. As you say, it's gross. My argument is that if you follow videogames regularly, you probably don't need what amounts to just another gamer's opinion to decide whether you are interested in purchasing a game.
Listen. I completely agree with you that 2K and/or Gearbox is most likely pulling some smarmy ass shit here. As you say, it's gross. My argument is that if you follow videogames regularly, you probably don't need what amounts to just another gamer's opinion to decide whether you are interested in purchasing a game.
I'd recommend finding 2-3 reviewers that have a similar taste to you and are fairly objective in their reviews. Then you can follow their impressions to guide you vs a meta score that muddies the waters.Being older with a mortgage and having to be careful on my expenses means that reviews are more important for me than ever.
I'm not going to buy games on a whim. Now I'll wait for impressions and reviews from people whose tastes are like mine. Only a few games are day one buys.
Yeah, that's what I mean. Karak, Martin Robinson, Maximilian Dood for example.I'd recommend finding 2-3 reviewers that have a similar taste to you and are fairly objective in their reviews. Then you can follow their impressions to guide you vs a meta score that muddies the waters.
Remember when Bethesda was like "No review copies anymore, we don't think it's fair that some people get to play early" and then they gave early copies to youtubers?
I agree entirely with your sentiment. Marketing is almost never the consumer's friend. I would argue in this case we (i.e. Era) are informed enough to not need the marketing to arbritrate our decision to buy or not to buy.True, but there are broader implications too. Giant Bomb is big enough for this not to be a big deal to them, but if you're a budding website or video personality vying for attention on a daily basis, this can be crushing. And it has a chilling effect whether you were affected or not. You know that if you don't kiss ass and put up with it, some publisher might put you on their naughty list. I'm not saying everyone and their mum should be getting review codes, but by rewarding "the right" reviewers thusly, they are manipulating the overall sentiment toward the game. This is not to people's benefit (or that of the media) because it could have and most certainly will now cast into doubt criticism (positive or negative) of the Borderlands series and 2K's games. So these actions have negative effects that far outreach just Giant Bomb, Kotaku, freelancers or video personalities who may have been rejected for the way they spoke or wrote about a game. Someone will tell me I'm overthinking it, but this is how brands influence the message about their product.
I hear you. I am in a similar boat but for me, I watch a Let's Play or extended gameplay segment for even 5 minutes, deep down I already "know" whether or not I am going to buy a game. I suspect this is true for many folks, that marketers know this, and that this is why CGI-only announcement trailers are still a thing. I also suspect that most of us here are fluent enough in gaming to not fall for the oohs and aahs of non-gameplay CGI extravaganzas.Being older with a mortgage and having to be careful on my expenses means that reviews are more important for me than ever.
I'm not going to buy games on a whim. Now I'll wait for impressions and reviews from people whose tastes are like mine. Only a few games are day one buys.
This approach only seemed to bury Dishonored 2 and Prey too since there was barely any talk about either at release with nobody except the YouTubers even able to do so. They didn't have the name recognition of Doom to overcome how much Bethesda really screwed Arkane.
After watching this Unfinished video, I don't really blame 2K for not giving them a code? Abby and Dan just handwave everything as "more of the same lol" going on to say that it's no different from Borderlands 2 and that if someone told them it was an expansion they'd believe it without question. They're being so (willfully?) ignorant and down on it. They made up their minds on it before they even touched it and won't acknowledge any of the improvements, changes, or features. It's wild that they act like this but then Jeff and Abby will eat up just about every Call of Duty game.Going back and watching the Unfinished for this is the clear smoking gun here.
It's funny because in my minds eye i don't remember it being as scathing as it is although i vividly remember them not being big on it. I remembered it as "it's more borderlands" but watching it again they really really don't care for the game and chalk it up as something that's beyond it's time.
Doesn't help that abby taps on how all the drama and everything surrounding the game will potentially impact whether she buys the game or not.
Does Randy Pitchford actually hold an officer or other senior role at 2k games or is this a case of ResetERA confusing developer and publisher again?I really wish we could just remove 2K and Randy from the Borderlands IP, I'd really like to see the game not surrounded by the idiocy of it's creator/ publisher.
I think they're talking in a larger sense about the direction of borderlands, not just this issueDoes Randy Pitchford actually hold an officer or other senior role at 2k games or is this a case of ResetERA confusing developer and publisher again?
Well, no, because other people are pinning the review shenanigans directly on Randy Pitchford and 2k as if they're the same entity.I think they're talking in a larger sense about the direction of borderlands, not just this issue
i'm not speaking to what other people are saying, just the comment you were replying toWell, no, because other people are pinning the review shenanigans directly on Randy Pitchford and 2k as if they're the same entity.
This is correct, because streamers have basically been spawned from being sheep to their viewers and will bend the fuck over for anyone that gives them access. Its amazing because you see streamers with like 20k viewers at a time completely shit on "writers" reviewing games because apparently they dont like games anymore. Their philosphy is why bother with these out of touch writers when you can just watch them ((((((give them a fuck ton of money and bits))))))) and get the real ((((truth))))). Of course all of that is masked in a whole lot of forgiveness and veiled praise but i mean who cares about objectivity anymore. There are bits to be made.Smart companies won't give two shits about journalists and will just give their games to streamers. Way easier to control and has way more reach.
Actually I noticed they are approaching the pre coverage in 2 ways: One is the traditional way of giving it to established media outlets to talk about the main game and the story, characters and whatnot. And the other is giving it to streamers months in advance to grind out the late game content.Smart companies won't give two shits about journalists and will just give their games to streamers. Way easier to control and has way more reach.
TBF this was footage taken from the E3 site so they had to find time to sit down and play through a random section of the game on top of all the other stuff at E3 so maybe they could be forgiven for not being in the right environment to be expected to give a objective take on the game. Not to mention this was a month later before the actual video went up.After watching this Unfinished video, I don't really blame 2K for not giving them a code? Abby and Dan just handwave everything as "more of the same lol" going on to say that it's no different from Borderlands 2 and that if someone told them it was an expansion they'd believe it without question. They're being so (willfully?) ignorant and down on it. They made up their minds on it before they even touched it and won't acknowledge any of the improvements, changes, or features. It's wild that they act like this but then Jeff and Abby will eat up just about every Call of Duty game.
Does Randy Pitchford actually hold an officer or other senior role at 2k games or is this a case of ResetERA confusing developer and publisher again?
The year of 2029 is upon us. The last known person to get a single review copy of a video game is Greg Miller, who will shill for anything you pay him to.
They hardly do actual reviews anymore, but they do cover the games relatively close to release, especially games like this.Apart from being shitty it's dumb, don't GB usually have reviews out like a week or two after release?
Ah ok.They hardly do actual reviews anymore, but they do cover the games relatively close to release, especially games like this.
Regardless of whether or not they do reviews, they still cover these games with Quick Looks and talk on their podcasts.Apart from being shitty it's dumb, don't GB usually have reviews out like a week or two after release?
True, forgot about that. Kinda lapsed GB fan.Regardless of whether or not they do reviews, they still cover these games with Quick Looks and talk on their podcasts.
they continuously fly under the radar tho. i mean there is a thread a bout some shit in nba2k every year but compared to other publishers their negative media presence seems rather mild
Nice