Jimquisition: Shadiness of Mordor

[veloper]

This shit isn't exactly new either: google EA ronku.

I trust a man like Total Biscuit to stay honest, but I'm pretty sure these schemes wouldn't exist without atleast some takers.
Youtubers and traditional game reviewers are just advertisers to me, until I can find out enough about them that encourages trust.

 

[spoonybard.hahs]

Weird that they specified not wanting references to the movies or the books... Its from the same WB, after all.

Was wondering about that as well. Seems strange.

Probably the same reason it's not called Lord of the Rings: Shadow of Mordor, in that the game actually isn't considered canon and is thus "separate" from the mythos.

Or something like that.

Edit: The devs wanted to avoid confusion that it had anything to do with the movies or books [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-10-02-video-why-theres-no-lord-of-the-rings-in-shadows-of-mordors-name].

Which is absolutely bizarre. Gollum as he appears in the films - and even voiced by an Andy Serkis sound-a-like - is the game. Hell, they even establish that this takes place not to long before Fellowship.

 

[Mr. Q]

Wow! There is a different between shady dealings and this BS. What kind of corporate scumbag thought this up? I can understand something like that if the game was total ass. But if it was a good or possibly a great game, you only end up shooting yourself in the foot with this dirty deed. No matter what you do from that point forward, a lot of people are going to judge your output with a more critical eye and there might be a game that doesn't deserve it.

Thanks for bringing this up, Jim, and kudos to Totalbiscuit for speaking up as well.

 

[Fappy]

A good episode as always. On a somewhat related note I am waiting to get this until I am done with Hyrule Warriors. 7 more Rank 3 weapons to go!

(Agitha can die in a fire, she's so bad DX)

 

[Aardvaarkman]

It's pretty shitty, but I feel you are dancing around the real issue here - reviewers shouldn't rely on free or pre-release copies of games. Reviewers should be buying retail copies at release like everybody else.

You're just playing their game by going down this "first to review" path of bullshit.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

Weird that they specified not wanting references to the movies or the books... Its from the same WB, after all.

The reason is the same reason why "Lord of the Rings" is not in the game title, instead just a reference to 'Middle Earth'. It has been vetted by critics that WB felt very strongly that any ties to the existing media would make Mordor look like a bad movie tie-in or cash grab. After having spent over a decade making debatably-mediocre movie tie-in LotR games, they are really tired of their games being known as such. Any spoken phrase linking Shadows of Mordor to would have "Tainted" players opinions.

Good thing they went the censorship route, because that never taints peoples feelings /sarcasm.

 

[whycantijustdeletemyaccount]

.

 

[Zacharious-khan]

Jim, do you think that the actions of the Publisher are heinous enough to warrant not purchasing this game out of principle. I saw your game play on your youtube channel and the game looked really good but after hearing this the whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth

 

[ex275w]

So Jim how about plans to have early access to comment on your videos? Here are some rules based on this brilliant sponsored deal:
1. Tweet 7 times how you love the Jimquisition with the tag #Jimquisition4Ever
2. Make a livestream of you watching the video early.
3. Mention how funny the joke at 3:33 is.
4. Tell your livestream audience how distinct and unique's Jim's personality is.
5. Your early comment on the escapist thread must be approved 96 hours by Jim personally.
6. The comment must end with the phrase: "Thank God for Jim!"

So please PM Jim if you want to discuss this totally not shady sponsored Jimquistion deal.

Thank God for Jim!

 

[Andy Shandy]

Okay, I knew it was shady, but I had no idea it was that shady. Particularly stupid, considering how good the game is and you should all buy it.*

*[sub]This post is part of a paid brand deal with Warner Bros.[/sub]
[sub][sub]Not really[/sub][/sub]

 

[MXRom]

Now I am conflicted. The game is great, hell I never watched any let's plays or anything like that but I got it on release, and found it a blast. Why does WB feel the need to control video content so stringently and not just let the developer's effort shine through on its own? Is this insecurity, or general assholery?

I feel like I shouldn't have bought it since this was pretty shady of the publisher, but then I'd feel guilty for ignoring a good developer.

 

[kuolonen]

"A really good game"? Meh, mediocre for me at least. Combat is fun but gets repetitive fast and plot is not exactly breaking any new grounds. Also game kind of feels rushed and ends in a very painful sequel hook. And if you have read read the books and other lore you may lose some hairs to the degree which they take liberties with Tolkien universe. Lastly, it is a prequel. An Unforgivable sin.

While all above can be subjective, if what Jim describes is company policy, I'd say avoid the game like the plague.

 

[Thanatos2k]

Shame on anyone who agreed to deals like this. That's personal integrity out the window.

 

[Catasros]

What. F-ing what? This kind of shit is what publishers think will sell games for them? I mean, I saw the TB video so I knew that he had problems getting a code, but I figured it was a single instance. But Warner Brothers had this kind of rules for reviewers to get to review their game? And here I thought the game looked kinda fun, I figured that I'd buy it as soon as it dropped a bit in price, but now I kinda don't, I mean, then it'd be like telling publishers "Yes, this b-ll-shit works, God Speed you mad b@stards".

.
.
.

Thank GOD/JEHOVAH/ALLAH/BRAHMAN/BUDDAH/OSIRIS/ZEUS/JUPITER/WHOEVER for Jim!

 

[Imp_Emissary]

Dang. When I heard about this it sounded like a bad idea, but I didn't know they were actually trying to take down any reviews they didn't pay for.

I feel less bad about deciding to wait a good long while to get SoM. It's a shame because what I've heard of the game is that it's pretty good, so I don't know why they would be so paranoid about its reviews.

 

[nevarran]

That's one of the shadiest crap, I've heard of.
I'm adding WB to my "purchase with caution from those assholes" list.

 

[Evonisia]

At the very least this controversy makes me want to look into the game. I object to bullshit like this but I don't regularly watch any YouTuber reviewing games so it has little affect on me.

Of course the plan was probably to let the controversy leak out so suckers like me would look into the game. Damn.

 

[CelestDaer]

For the record, the header says 'Morodr...'?

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

Youtube, you GOTTA fix that copyright ID system. This is getting abused to hell and back now.

Seriously, they content IDd any review that didn't sign a deal with them to "convince people to go buy it"?

I......Dear God, that's awful. Just...Jeez...

 

[Shjade]

Having heard about this, it makes me doubt the validity of the previous coverage I'd seen of this game. It may be legitimately good, it might not be. Given that there's language that essentially says "make sure you mention this and keep it good (or else)", I have no way of knowing with certainty just how much of a reviewer's opinion is his/her own and how much of it is done to appease their contract. I want this industry to succeed, but I don't want it done with Stepford Wives-esque complacency. "Everything's fine, dear. Here, have another AAA game..."

That is the saddest part. The game genuinely IS good enough to deserve a lot of the praise I saw. Shitty tactics like this undermine the goodwill that a game is quite capable of earning on its own. In some ways, I'm more saddened by a good game having its qualities doubted than I am by a bad game being lied about to make it look good. It's just a waste of natural credit.

Pretty much the reaction I had. This video's disappointing in the extreme because it's legitimately a fun game. Heck, the biggest downside I give it is being on the short side (comparatively speaking) - 100% completion, all achievements etc., in just over 30 hours when I'm not the kind of player who usually 100% completes games. But hey, 30 hours before I finished everything and now I'm starting a new game to try going kamikaze for more deaths (the Nemesis system sadly feels a little...irrelevant when you don't die much)? It's certainly a good game in my view.

So why would they do this stupid bullshit? :| Bleh.