Gamers and scores

[Gladion]

Edit: Sorry, accidently hit enter.

Anyways: What do you do if you're at your local video store and want to get a few films for the weekend? You probably check the boxes, read the text on the back or do a quick little research on the internet.
What do you do if you want to buy a book? Pretty much the same.

Now, what I'm asking is, why are gamers so undescribably obsessed with scores? It seems many many MANY people just don't buy a game that's not gotten at least a score of ~85 on at least 5 different online-portals. If I really only looked at scores, I'd probably never played Killer7, Spartan, Zone of the Enders, the Legacy of Kain games, Chaos Legion etc. etc.
I enjoyed them all but none of them got any scores that go near Halo or Gears of War. So, why is this the case? Are people scared to waste their money, are they afraid to test something new or is there some reason I cannot think of?

 

[Trivun]

You know, that's just asking for the Banhammer.

 

[Fraught]

EDIT: Okay, so, you actually had something to say.

Wait, wait, wait, WAIT!
Does it automatically type "(no text)" when you just hit the enter? And shouldn't enter go to a new row when you start typing?
Even if you don't start to type, enter doesn't post the thread.
This is fishy. Fishy ass sheet.

Anyway, I'm not obsessed with scores.
Two games that are probably in my top 20 best games ever atleast, got 70-80 on MetaCritic, and those are Bully: Scholarship Edition and Skate.
But usually I look at review scores, because on many occasions they atleast warn you from a bad game.
But I do not hesitate to buy a game that gets 50, 60 or 70 from a gaming site, if I, myself, am interested in the game.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

Why is he risking the ban hammer? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question.

 

[squid5580]

Wow way to nicely call gamers a bunch of mindless sheep who only care about some arbitaury numbers. Reviewers have it all wrong. Don't detail what the game is like just throw out a number and that will decide how many buy it. Madden scored high guess I better run out and buy it even though I am not a sports fan.

 

[Fraught]

Why is he risking the ban hammer? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question.

Did you see the "Edit:" in the original post? 'Nuff said.

 

[RetiarySword]

Good question. I have found quite a few people I know disreguard good games for more mainstream games. Maybe there promoted more?

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Well I check the scores for some games, but I get more opinions than just one. On the other hand, it definitely would have saved me from a couple crappy game buys.

 

[A.I. Sigma]

Why is he risking the ban hammer? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question.

Did you see the "Edit:" in the original post? 'Nuff said.

Nope. Care to enlighten me?

 

[nova18]

If we can get on topic
I have wondered this myself, as I buy games indiscriminately of their reviews. I buy what I think will give me the best entertainment, I will play small indie games just for the original ideas.
I think reviews are important in gaming because every game you buy is essentially an investment, when you pay around £40 in England for a new release it is important that you are getting value for money.
You can buy 10 movies or books for the price of a game if you know where to shop, so it doesnt matter if you buy something you dislike because you havent spent too much on them.

 

[144_v1legacy]

Why is he risking the ban hammer? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question.

Did you see the "Edit:" in the original post? 'Nuff said.

Nope. Care to enlighten me?

He means that the topic-starter hit "post" before he meant to, and what resulted was something that may have been only partially completed or empty.

Like all purchases, we want to convince ourselves that the one console we own (most people just have 1 per generation, computers excluded) has good games on it. While we check the scores frantically under the facade of wanting to receive the most enjoyment, and justify it further by saying that games are more expensive, that's not really the truth. People want to convince themselves that what they own is of good taste and what others find to be of high quality, as it is a makes us feel our investment is well spent. It's for the same reason that somebody who has acquired a Porsche might then suddenly become a car fanatic, subscribe to Porsche magazine and cars...magazine, or whatever, and read about how great Porsches are. It's also why we amble around looking for affirmation of what we already believe - it's comforting.

 

[blood77]

Wow way to nicely call gamers a bunch of mindless sheep who only care about some arbitaury numbers. Reviewers have it all wrong. Don't detail what the game is like just throw out a number and that will decide how many buy it. Madden scored high guess I better run out and buy it even though I am not a sports fan.

Well in some respect yes, if they are not out chasing after big numbers then maybe they are geting a game becuase they like the series and blindly follow that thinking the designers could do no wrong.

 

[squid5580]

Wow way to nicely call gamers a bunch of mindless sheep who only care about some arbitaury numbers. Reviewers have it all wrong. Don't detail what the game is like just throw out a number and that will decide how many buy it. Madden scored high guess I better run out and buy it even though I am not a sports fan.

Well in some respect yes, if they are not out chasing after big numbers then maybe they are geting a game becuase they like the series and blindly follow that thinking the designers could do no wrong.

What about the reasons behind the big scores? That is what is important not the score itself. As for following a series you like well that is usually safe. Doesn't always work out but it is alot safer than buying a 60 dollar game made by an unknown company. Not saying new IPs are bad I just think alot will second guess themselves before they reach the counter. A well written review is gold. It is when we get into the numbers,grades, stars or whatever system you want to use to score the game is where the problem arises. Especially with games. How many times have you loved a game and had someone tell you they hated it. You would give it a 9 but I may give it a 3. How does the rest of the world decide which one is right?

 

[Gladion]

To make things clear: I hit the enter button accidently when I was still typing in the name of the topic. That just posted it right away, I didnt have my cursor in the text field yet. Test it yourselves, if you don't believe me.


Anyways, back to topic. Maybe I should have referred to the loads of flame wars that go on because of reviews. People seem to feel very depressed when a game gets scored "too low" in their opinion. I remember that happening to Halo 2...

Like all purchases, we want to convince ourselves that the one console we own (most people just have 1 per generation, computers excluded) has good games on it. While we check the scores frantically under the facade of wanting to receive the most enjoyment, and justify it further by saying that games are more expensive, that's not really the truth. People want to convince themselves that what they own is of good taste and what others find to be of high quality, as it is a makes us feel our investment is well spent. It's for the same reason that somebody who has acquired a Porsche might then suddenly become a car fanatic, subscribe to Porsche magazine and cars...magazine, or whatever, and read about how great Porsches are. It's also why we amble around looking for affirmation of what we already believe - it's comforting.

I don't think the systems play a big role in that part any more. You want Halo and Gears of War, you get the 360, you want MGS4 and God of War 3, you get the PS3. All of those games get great reviews, and most of the others are multiplatform. Though your point of people wanting to convince themselves they got the best console is probably a good one.

Wow way to nicely call gamers a bunch of mindless sheep who only care about some arbitaury numbers. Reviewers have it all wrong. Don't detail what the game is like just throw out a number and that will decide how many buy it. Madden scored high guess I better run out and buy it even though I am not a sports fan.

Well, gamers sure at least decide their favorite genres, but that's all about it, it seems to me. But apart from that, yeah, that's pretty much what I'm saying (exceptions prove the rule). If someone wants to buy a racing game, which one is this person getting? Sure, the one that scored highest. I mean, it's written down here, this game is the best of its genre, there can't be a better choice.

 

[Blow_Pop]

i look at the scores and then i look at the game itself. if i really want to play it and it has a bad score i will rent it. high score and really want to play i'll buy. high score and not sure about i'll rent. i own plenty of games with low scores(ie zone of the enders)but will still play them cause i like them.

 

[squid5580]

The best in terms of what? If I am not big into customizing cars and just want to race and I see a racing game gets 10's across the board should I still buy it? What if the game is getting rave reviews because of its customization features? Then I am kinda hooped arent' I?

 

[Gladion]

The best in terms of what? If I am not big into customizing cars and just want to race and I see a racing game gets 10's across the board should I still buy it? What if the game is getting rave reviews because of its customization features? Then I am kinda hooped arent' I?

That last sentence of mine was pure irony, maybe I should've highlighted that, but maybe you got it and I just don't understand your reply, because what you are saying is exactly what I am saying.


Anyways, I felt I was the only person on this planet giving low-rated games a chance. Nice to see that this is not the case.

 

[Draygen]

Honestly I never pay attention to ratings or scores at all. I got this thing about people telling me what I'm supposed to like. Chiefly, I don't like it when they do that. The people that rate games and the like are the same people that would tell you that "Army of Darkness" sucked because the special effects were all cheaply done.

I don't really get that much into Halo, not because its popular to hate something that's popular, its just not my thing. Reviews and hype had nothing to do with it, and its not even because I suck at it. I'm pretty good. But to me its like being good at changing a tire. Big whoop, right?

Ratings shouldn't be the only basis, if any kind of basis at all, in buying a video game. Give them about as much credit as your little brother saying, "Yeah, I think it was all right," or "Nah, it sucks. If you just gotta play it, rent it."

 

[Merciless.Fire]

A game with a high score means a lot of people are regarding the game with high scores in many areas of gameplay. You would tend to gravitate toward these games because you are either:

-Going with the flow

-Prefer not to take chances with games (aka you don't rent)

That being said, your personal tastes will always determine which game YOU like. As with the scores, having a lot of people rating a game high means that a lot of people personally LIKE the game, and you have a higher chance of liking it as well. Not always the case, but a simple observation.

 

[Fraught]

Why is he risking the ban hammer? I think it's a perfectly reasonable question.

Did you see the "Edit:" in the original post? 'Nuff said.

Nope. Care to enlighten me?

When there's an edit in someone's post, it means that at some point, it wasn't the same post you see now.

Giddit?