<\/a>When things go sideways on Metacritic, developers don't have many options for appeal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Supergiant Games<\/a> and Signal Studios<\/a> were in awkward positions earlier this month, after the average user review score for each game plummeted overnight and seemingly without justification.<\/p>It was unclear who was responsible for the sudden change, and there are limited tools for those affected that don't come across as...weird.<\/p>The developers of Bastion<\/a> and Toy Soldiers: Cold War<\/a> asked fans to submit reviews to Metacritic, which resulted in a slight bump for each but an average score ultimately much lower than it was previously.<\/p>After speaking to Supergiant and Signal, I ran a story earlier this week<\/a> about the challenges the studios faced in addressing these issues.<\/p>Metacritic has since identified the users responsible, both banning the users themselves and removing their scores putting things out of balance.<\/p>The users were targeting certain games, and hitting them with zero scores without a written review, raising eyebrows.<\/p>\"A publisher of a different game let us know that he noticed that his game had been 'bombed' by a bunch of zero ratings in an unusually short period of time,\" said Metacritic co-founder Marc Doyle in an email to me today. \"While investigating those ratings, we noticed a group of user accounts and activities that were clearly illegitimate and violated our terms of use.\"<\/p>Doyle's team found a group of users had been coordinating similar attacks on other games within Metacritic's database, allowing Metacritic to fix the \"bombings\" that had been targeted at other games.<\/p>Metacritic is often used to determine royalty and bonus payouts for developers, though its exact use varies from publisher to publisher. I've never heard of a publisher leveraging user<\/i> reviews as a metric for payment because<\/i> of situations like this, but especially for small studios, perception is king, which is why user reviews remain very important.<\/p>Signal Studios president and creative director Douglas Robert Albright III had proposed a fix to the problem.<\/p>\"The way to fix Metacritic user reviews is to simply require a written review and verify user accounts,\" he said. \"If it was just some random blog I'd say whatever. But this is a major news review aggregator that should have better oversight and some standards.\"<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>Wemibelle<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>2742<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>2671<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 76<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 11<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By Wemibelle<\/a><\/div><\/div>Glad to hear someone is cracking down on these jerks.\n <\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>LisaFurioso<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>24<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>75<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By LisaFurioso<\/a><\/div><\/div>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>elcalavera<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>392<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 3<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By elcalavera<\/a><\/div><\/div>Very nice.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@elcalavera<\/strong> said:<\/p>Very nice.<\/p><\/blockquote>Is it?<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Glad to hear someone is cracking down on these jerks.\n <\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>LisaFurioso<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>24<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>75<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By LisaFurioso<\/a><\/div><\/div>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>elcalavera<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>392<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 3<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By elcalavera<\/a><\/div><\/div>Very nice.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@elcalavera<\/strong> said:<\/p>Very nice.<\/p><\/blockquote>Is it?<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>elcalavera<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>392<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 3<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By elcalavera<\/a><\/div><\/div>Very nice.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@elcalavera<\/strong> said:<\/p>Very nice.<\/p><\/blockquote>Is it?<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
Very nice.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@elcalavera<\/strong> said:<\/p>Very nice.<\/p><\/blockquote>Is it?<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>@elcalavera<\/strong> said:<\/p>Very nice.<\/p><\/blockquote>Is it?<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>5026<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>347<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By BestUsernameEver<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span>@ZackHoagie<\/strong> said:<\/p>So... why exactly were they doing this? I mean, trolling is pretty unreasonable by design, but usually trolls have some sort of selection process for their targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>Yeah, metacritic is the target.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a>prestonhedges<\/a><\/svg><\/i> Follow\n <\/a><\/div><\/header>1961<\/p>Forum Posts<\/p><\/div>42<\/p>Wiki Points<\/p><\/div>0<\/p>Followers<\/p><\/div><\/section>Reviews:<\/span> 0<\/p>User Lists:<\/span> 0<\/p><\/section><\/div><\/div>\n Edited By prestonhedges<\/a><\/div><\/div>They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
They should just ban all user reviews below 100%. Problem solved.<\/p><\/article>12 years ago<\/time><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
139 Comments<\/h4>