Dear Gamespot,

Your business has endured and prospered in a volatile industry for many years, staying afloat as tons of competing sites have sprung up and those in print are on the verge of cancellation. This isn't by chance, it's the result of sticking to a plan. Detailed reviews and a structured scoring system has seperated you from the other gaming outlets which seem to conjure up a score and review every game as a "3 out of 5".Detail and telling the truth has set you apart from these others. Standing above the fray, sticking to the system and maintaining consistency has been the formula; but no longer.

For anyone else reading this, if you haven't already read the news, check this out.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=25721552

Read the explination of the changes. Read about the new formula and reasoning behind it.

Why? Why move from a definitive formula to an arbitrary one? Why replace reasoned explinations of quality differences with badges?

1. The very nature of reviews requires a standard and easy to understand means of measurement. I'm sorry, but I can't see where "new math" stars and butterflys could possibly make a review more accurate or easier to understand then good old english. If writing a descriptive sentence that quickly communicates the message isn't your strong suit, then try another profession.
If we wanted blurbs, we would go to Yahoo.

2. Why would you change the format to make things easier when you have a listing called "tilt"? The purpose of tilt was to consider the little differences that come into play. Add all the stars, bells and flare you want, but when you dumb down the number system to half points, that screams of something else. Changing the formula doesn't require changing to a half pt. system. The only reasons to change would be either: a) to make it easier on the reviewer (sorry, but I have no sympathy for people who take this on as a profession), or b) to pander to the game manufacturers. I can see where the reps from one company are pissed at you because you put there game as a 8.3 and the equivalent competition at 8.5. Is there some advertising dollars or special consideration at work here?

I know the concept of "journalistic integrity" is a joke in this industry, but c'mon guys. This was almost the last bastion of honesty out there. When the number one publication is GameInformer (an advertisment for Gamestop passed off as a magazine) the situation is grim, and the value of your unbiased reviews has made you the many fans you enjoy and benefit from. Do them right, add to the information to better round out the review, give more importance to the tilt, but don't "dumb down" your numerical ratings system to appease your advertisers. We don't deserve that.

As an ending thought, just a quick suggestion. In most businesses, before changing the formula for how your product is made, you may want to test it with your consumers first. After reading the forums and comments for the blog and news listing, this new format should be nicknamed "New Coke".