Paying Off Gamers

I had mentioned on someone else blog that maybe game reviewers get paid by big corporations to give the game a positive review, making it bias. I was merely joking until I read the article Killzone 2 reviews: fanboy food with side order of nastiness. Obviously here the author is making a joke about the idea but who knows, could it possibly exisit? A place where game reviewers go when hard up for cash, instead of selling-out in WoW they plead with top gaming companies to give them a stipen for their lack-luster words. I am sure it happens; hopefully rarely.

It does present a good question, if this does happen, when and how can we tell? It would be hard to tell unless that reviewer had a following and a sudden shift in the style of games they are gun-ho about do a 180. It could be possible to watch the style of text being used. The reviewer begins to use an array of different words to describe the action, words you would find on the back of the game, not in a review. Also if the reviewer is known for rating the game and the audience notices a steep jump, a 10 out of 10, unheard of for this reviewer. Surely I am way off, but who knows.

For me, I listen to what other gamers have to say about certain games. I am not concerned with what the company has said about their game because it's much too bias. I am the one who will be playing the game so knowing from someone else first hand account helps me choose what I should spend my money on.