Could we ever get a fair Gamespot poll?

DISCLAIMER: Before you start with the "Oh, you're just a [Insert console] fan boy, and you hate [Opposition console's game]. Go DIAF." I'm stating now that I have no affiliation with any system. I have most consoles, and I play games because of the game, not the console, so you can save your comments. Thanks.

So every time I log into Gamespot I see their poll. I read it over, and never actually submit anything. I realize that they are commerciall plugging certian games, and that's why you see enormous ads on both sides of the screen, but I thought the idea of a poll was to be non-bias; to get a feeling for the people's general decision. All they have become is yet another commercial plug tool that you can't respond to unless you want to sound like a fanboy extremist.

Take today's poll for instance. The "Halo Bug." Your poll choices are "I like it.", "I love it.", or "I'm a crazy fanboy." To me that's not a very accurate description of a poll. Where is it "Eh, I might play it sometime." or the "I'm not interested in Halo 3." options? One could make the argument that "Well this poll is only for people who like Halo 3, to gauge their response so far." but why make a poll so stupidly centralized and try and call it "results"? And atop that, why put it on the front page? This isn't just a knock on Halo, as every day it seems the new big game is thrown into the poll, with similar responses.

Granted this isn't the most important gripe, but seriously.If it's a poll, make it a poll. If Gamespot's marketing department is influencing polls, that's just a cheap plug and shouldn't be a "Poll of the Day" question. Unless of course they add "P.S. - We sold out."

So peoples' opinion doesn't count if they didn't like the game?

That's not biased at all... :roll:

Um, maybe the polls aren't meant to be taken seriously, given the tone of the responses, and given how other polls have had equally not-so-serious sorts of responses about them?

Um, maybe the polls aren't meant to be taken seriously, given the tone of the responses, and given how other polls have had equally not-so-serious sorts of responses about them?

Skylock00

Our polls have always skewed toward being more jokey than anything else. They're not meant to be taken as serious opinion polls. Not in the slightest.AlexN

What's the point of having a poll if you aren't looking for actual results of everyones opinion? I mean, yeah I don't really mind it being a joke, and could care less for the poll and I am a huge fan of Halo and it's counterparts, but I still didn't vote. I mean, if it is just on the joke side, what is the point of putting it on the front page? Just so it's easy for the little kids to find so they can put they are a huge fanboy of Halo 3 and it only set their parents back $600 so they could play it, and get owned by people on Live :P

I mean, if it is just on the joke side, what is the point of putting it on the front page? Just so it's easy for the little kids to find so they can put they are a huge fanboy of Halo 3 and it only set their parents back $600 so they could play it, and get owned by people on Live :Pcos_vanquish

That's sorta the way I was leaning. Maybe if this poll were located on the Halo 3 gamepage, where people who saw the poll obviously were looking up Halo 3, but to place it in the front page makes it seem just disingenuous. Even if the poll is satirical, why not add a satirical negative response? From an outside perspective it seems just lame and that you have money in your pocket from the game that gets plugged.

Edit: Fixed a typo.

Our polls have always skewed toward being more jokey than anything else. They're not meant to be taken as serious opinion polls. Not in the slightest.AlexN

But I really have the Halo flu! :P

To the people complaining: Chill out, guys. Videogames are, after all, a way to have fun, y'know?

That's sorta the way I was leaning. Maybe if this poll were located on the Halo 3 gamepage, where people who saw the poll obviously were looking up Halo 3, but to place it in the front page makes it seem just disingenuous. Even if the poll is satirical, why not add a satirical negative response? From an outside perspective it seems just lame and that you have money in your pocket from the game that gets plugged. xiixiix

~-~Does anyone know how to look up old polls? I remember one when Nin announced the web browser and TV tuner for the DS they had a poll and every response was one that made you look like a dumb Nin fanboy. The question was what thing were you more excited about the DS getting and they had answers from "web browser, now I can post my fanboy post anywhere" and "TV tuner so I can watch my reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond anywhere." (I don't even know what that's supposed to mean.) But luckily they still had a option if you didn't like the DS, it was, "you can coat it in diamonds and I wouldn't care, it's still a DS." I can see how forcing everyone to seam like a huge fan of Halo would be humorous, but making anyone who liked the DS look like an idiot is too far. If someone can tell me where I can look at old polls then I'll find it.~-~The_PirateKing

I honestly just don't take those things too seriously, because they're not /meant/ to be taken seriously, at all.

I simply think you're taking the poll a bit too seriously, as is the OP. The poll you refer to seemsno worse than this one, where the only way you can't like Halo 3 is to be a 'crazy fanboy.'

I honestly just don't take those things too seriously, because they're not /meant/ to be taken seriously, at all.

Skylock00

Our polls have always skewed toward being more jokey than anything else. They're not meant to be taken as serious opinion polls. Not in the slightest.AlexN

Um, maybe the polls aren't meant to be taken seriously, given the tone of the responses, and given how other polls have had equally not-so-serious sorts of responses about them?

Skylock00

Like your reviews oooohhhhh:lol:. Please don't ban me:(.

But in all seriousness, I have never seen a poll on the front page:? Where is it at?

~-~Why is it I have to take it seriously to find it annoying? I don't take SW seriously but I still find the fanboys annoying at times. I don't take Halo 3's 9.5 seriously but I still find it annoying.~-~The_PirateKing

Also, regarding Halo, what's your point in bringing up the review, out of curiosity?

Hrm. Again I think my point was missed by most.

I know the polls are meant jokingly. I know the responses are full of satire and comedic value. But what is missing is the other side of the spectrum. They are all funny POSITIVE responses. I'm not saying the negative response can't be funny. Speaking of the Halo 3 Flu, why not a choice of "I won't be suffering from it at all, I had my flu shots." It's funny, it goes along the same lines as the other responses, but it also helps a better picture to be painted, as those people who aren't interested can participate. How the polls are set up now are so pigeon-holed that you really can'thave a response unless you agree with the premise. It's along the same lines as this:

How good is out President doing?
A: Good
B: Great
C: Incredible!

Does that paint a fair picture of the public opinion? Hardly. If you custom make poll responses, you don't get results that describe how people really feel. All options should be given. Make them humorous, I don't care. I'm just saying they shouldn't be made so fan-boy extremest that a lot of people won't even take them.

Edit: PS: I used the President as an example. Lets not go all nutty with politics here. I'm sure none of us came here for that.