Is it me or has all video game media went away from giving info about games that are actually available, or quality stories, and went to about 90% previews? Magazines 5 years ago had Previews, Reviews, Tips & Trick sections, and actual quality stories. The big example is Game Informer magazine which almost everyone gets. I would say it's no coincidence that since Gamestop bought the magazine it has went from a decent book to a monthy sales advertisement. Another one is X-Play. They dumped off the daily news part of the show (which imo was the best part and actually informative) to put in a 10 minute "hands on preview". Now, if you read Game Informer previews or watch X-Play, you know that is it VERY rare that they say something like "this game doesn't look very sturdy". No, the preview always states how unique the game is, and how good it looks, with very little to none of the bad aspects. The average game review score has to be around a 7.0 out of 10. So my question is this... If these companies are getting early demos, and advanced full copies of games, how can they not know that the game sucks? How about Bionic Commando? Game Informer and X-Play did nothing but hype this game for MONTHS. It was in every possible preview section, and they kept saying how great it was from the early stages to hands on time. Then it comes out, and AFTER release they do a review on it and say it's not that good?! So it's like "Looking good, looking better, looking GREAT, oh you bought that? Lol sorry we didn't tell you earlier but it sucks. Hey at least you can go trade it in for $20 right?" I can see a lot of previews around a holiday season, but this has become a year round ordeal with these people and it's already gotten very tiring. No more news, no more quality articles, very little info about games that have been released already. I am seriously calling BS and conspiracy on the overload of previews.
dont judge everything on previews then.Gunnerman007
I actually don't judge anything on previews anymore. Like I said, the previewers tell you 100% good stuff about the game and 0% negatives. I'm just saying I would like to be able to read or watch some stuff that doesn't start like "OMG LOOK AT THIS GAME THAT ISN'T OUT YET THAT YOU WILL NEED! KANE AND LYNCH WILL BE THE SMASH HIT OF THE SUMMER" Mercenaries was a famous one too. I wouldn't say Bionic Commando, Kane and Lynch, or Mercs 2 are BAD games, but from every preview you would have thought perfect 10 for all 3, butall 3 were mediocre to be generous.
For those who are disbelievers of this, I dug out the preview of Wanted: Weapons of fate from Game Informer March 09. I won't type it out word for word, but basically they say they have a build of the game that has snapshots of every level, but has no story elements. "Intriguing cover system allows players to stick to mast any flat surface, peek out for pop shots, and easily zip to the next cover point with the flick of an analog stick and press of a button" "The whole process feels really smooth and allows you to take out foes firmly entrenched behind cover with ease and style" "We also enjoyed turret and sniper sequences" "This quick taste of Weapons of Fate has us hungry for more, so hopefully we'll review the game in our next issue" (convenient the game was released before that) So, what negative things did they notice about Weapons of Fate? None, or at least none that they felt the need to print. So, if this is what "professionals" thought of a nearly full build of the game, pulling out $63.59 for it on release day has to be a no brainer right? Wrong, here is what they had to say after the release... "The game never rises above the curving bullets mechanic. The action flatlines early on, and runs into a repetitive cycle. The other abilities, such as the advanced quick movement, fall flat in functionality and lack excitement." Wait, I thought it had an intriging cover system??? Something about zipping from cover to cover??? "The remainder of the game stands on weak legs, such as a sluggish targeting system, wobbly movement for both characters, and sequences that give turret and sniper shooting a bad name" ARE THESE THE SAME TURRET AND SNIPER SEQUENCES THAT LAST MONTH WERE ENJOYABLE?!?!?! "Did I mention that you only wield two firearms for most of the game?" Guess no one noticed that in the 3/4 build either... "The good news is that the game, as dull as it gets, doesn't last for more than five hours. It's quick and dirty." Too bad for you if you already bought it.
This goes for me with any medium: The more hype - The more weary. The more convenient and accessable that some things comes to me are usually things I don't need or want. The things that I seek out and explore and find (whether it be a band, game, book or a movie etc) are the things that I want to invest my time in and simply value more.
If they are not nice to a game in development, then the developers will not give them any information on the game and will take them out of the loop. Why to you think elitst bloggers who live in their moms basement don't get any preview info on a game. How would you feel if you were developing a title, and a media person game in, played the demo and said "Wow, this game is utterly terrible. I'll be sure to include just how poorly this game is coming along. By the way, could you give me any details on the plot?" The only thing he would get is a swift kick in the *** out the door.
It's polotics man, just relax. Don't buy a game on previews alone.
If they are not nice to a game in development, then the developers will not give them any information on the game and will take them out of the loop. Why to you think elitst bloggers who live in their moms basement don't get any preview info on a game. How would you feel if you were developing a title, and a media person game in, played the demo and said "Wow, this game is utterly terrible. I'll be sure to include just how poorly this game is coming along. By the way, could you give me any details on the plot?" The only thing he would get is a swift kick in the *** out the door.
It's polotics man, just relax. Don't buy a game on previews alone.
heysharpshooter
If they were honest and did say to them how bad it was then they might actually make better games.
Game Informer is an industry advertising supplement, in my opinion. I subscribe, yes, but mainly to get previews and details on upcoming games, but I realize that they are heavily advertising driven and closely associated with GameStop.
Previews just can't be honest that's the problem. They don't want to criticize an unfinished game too harshly, and if they do developers will just stop giving them inside peaks. So it's not a fair unbias preview, but at least it tells you what to expect. What do you propose for them to fill up space with then? Tips and Tricks? I could care less it's always some game I don't own or don't care about or have already beaten by the time I see these "great tips". Cheat codes are pretty much gone so...
I understand the concept behind not totally trashing a game in it's final stages. BUT "we enjoyed our time with the turret and sniper sections" vs "give turret and sniper sections a bad name". Now that is a total lie. Either somehow they were given two TOTALLY different copies of those sections or they just blatently lied to millions of people. I think the old saying is "if you dont have anything nice to say don't say it at all", not "if you don't have anything nice to say make up a bunch of lies to sell more copies. And if they were honest you believe that the company would have held back future early copies? Doubtful. That would really be cutting off thier nose to spite their face. Sure they may hold back more games the quality of Wanted, but who wouldn't they rather forget it than flat out lie about it? "What do you propose for them to fill up space with then? Tips and Tricks? I could care less it's always some game I don't own or don't care about or have already beaten by the time I see these "great tips". Cheat codes are pretty much gone so..." There are so many decent articles that they could do. It wouldn't have to necessarily be a Tips and Tricks section, but what I am saying here is, if GI or even some other sources do a story, it is usually a preview in a round about way. I will never forget reading a Gamepro when I was little and there was this story about a kid who was in an accident and lost his hands. He played 8-bit Nintendo with his feet. It was like 3 pages, and okay, not that important in the grand scheme of things, but I couldn't imagine HOW he was able to do that, and I still remember it 20 years later. I will not remember anything Game Informer prints in 20 years.
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