Disgusting move by Bioware and all other publishers...

So typical, only let the media who we know give us great scores, review our game and delay all other reviews until releaseday. 
IGN choosed ME as the best XBOX 360game, go figure why they got handpicked. or the OXM.
Its typical bullshit, and it will continue for every other big franchise, remember ubisoft stopped sending EGM games after the 7/10 for Assassins Creed. Letting them know, if thats how they view our games, buy it at launch and get no media coverage in time. In one way I can understand that mentality, why should a publisher release stuff before its out to sites/magazines which doesnt help them? but when it comes to Assassins Creed2 or Mass Effect 2 we already know it wont flop. so its just to hype the 10/10 stuff...
 
hate it, and it will happen with FFXIII also. And no, im not some kind of ME2 basher, I love ME, but where are all the european or american reviews? nope, IGN got their exclusive apparently.
Any consumer who see benefits with "review exclusive before launch" ? what a retarded system to begin with.

In Bioware's defence, they have nothing to do with the marketing for the game.  It's all EA.
But yes, sadly this is just how it works.  At least in ME2's case I'm sure the review didn't change based on the fact they got an exclusive.
 
Look at Tony Hawk Ride in comparasion, where only reviewers who gave the game a 90% or higher were allowed to review the game before release.

It's not like they're threatening to pull ad support if they don't get good scores like some pubs.

Feel better?

" It's not like they're threatening to pull ad support if they don't get good scores like some pubs. "

Welcome to modern gaming, everyone does it.  
 
Should be use to it by now. Can you blame them? Game development is an expensive business and they'll take any precaution they can to make sure there game sells. 

Games(tm) - 10/10

CD-Action (Polish) - 10/10

X360 Magazine (UK) - 5/5

Burn360 - 5/5

NOW Gamer 9.8

IGN - 9.6

OXM - 9.5

IGN (AU) - 9.3

GamesAktuel (German) - 91%

PC Gamer (UK) - 90%

Xbox World - 90%

Xbox Gamer -  9/10

Gamestar (German) - 88/100

ZAP 2 it - no score (positive review)    

"
Again... 
 

Games(tm) - 10/10

CD-Action (Polish) - 10/10

X360 Magazine (UK) - 5/5

Burn360 - 5/5

NOW Gamer 9.8

IGN - 9.6

OXM - 9.5

IGN (AU) - 9.3

GamesAktuel (German) - 91%

PC Gamer (UK) - 90%

Xbox World - 90%

Xbox Gamer -  9/10

Gamestar (German) - 88/100

ZAP 2 it - no score (positive review)    

"

Yes, review embargoes bother me, as you mentioned with Assassin's Creed/EGM incident (I didn't really like AC). That's why I like websites that compile multiple reviews to get a better sense of people's complaints.

Well, im glad that you link german and polish magazine, that really help. never heard of anyone nor will I understand it.
How about english gamingsites? like gamepro,gamespot,gamespy,1up or eurogamer etc. you see what im hinting at here?
irrelevant gamingsites or magazines in germany or poland doesnt help me,nor does "IGN's second opinion guys at AU or UK.
 
btw, very intresting with for ex Swedish gamingsites (like gamereactor) they have ADVS for ME2, but not the review.
Its laughable and low by EA/BIOWARE who basically fill you with commerical, but the review, well you can have it the day your supposed to buy the game.
 
Do the music or movie industry work the same? no.

" Well, im glad that you link german and polish magazine, that really help. never heard of anyone nor will I understand it. How about english gamingsites? like gamepro,gamespot,gamespy,1up or eurogamer etc. you see what im hinting at here? irrelevant gamingsites or magazines in germany or poland doesnt help me,nor does "IGN's second opinion guys at AU or UK.  btw, very intresting with for ex Swedish gamingsites (like gamereactor) they have AVDS for ME2, but not the review. Its laughable. "

" @YakuzaIII said:

" Well, im glad that you link german and polish magazine, that really help. never heard of anyone nor will I understand it. How about english gamingsites? like gamepro,gamespot,gamespy,1up or eurogamer etc. you see what im hinting at here? irrelevant gamingsites or magazines in germany or poland doesnt help me,nor does "IGN's second opinion guys at AU or UK.  btw, very intresting with for ex Swedish gamingsites (like gamereactor) they have AVDS for ME2, but not the review. Its laughable. "

So you're saying you're not happy with obscure, unknown publications reviewing it... and then not happy when big publications like IGN review it? "

Why not give a game it's credit for lords sake, if a games good then it'll get a good score. It's not a damn conspiracy, There's nothing wrong with those scores, maybe they gave Mass Effect such good scores because it's actually a good game... ever thought about that.  

You say major sales don't come from Poland... then why do you think EA/Bioware even gave that magazine the game to review in the first place? What's your conspiracy theory for that?

You're making a big deal out of this. Reviews are authorised on release day and they want to control reviews that might come out before that day, its quite alright.
 
dont like it? Wait for release day.
 
Now get a tissue and calm down.

Bioware and all other publishers?...sigh....Bioware isn't even the Publisher..

I am pretty sure IGN has been given this exclusivity for quite some time, as they are part of a giant media... er... giant. I'm not too surprised, but I also don't depend exclusively on reviews to say whether I am purchasing a game or not, so in the end, I don't care too much.
 
And yes, let's try to leave the whole Ubisoft Assassin's Creed ordeal in the past, hm?

Do the music or movie industry work the same? no. "

To be fair, it's just the way the business of reviews work. I believe the embargo is up tomorrow for everyone. If you don't trust IGN's review, wait the 24 hours, check out ALL the reviews and then pick up the game.

I heard on the a few podcasts (Invisible Walls & Joystiq) that they had review copies in and were playing them.  They said the reviews would be posted on the day of release.  So, (A) that isn't the same as "go buy it if you want to review it" and (B) it isn't the same as threatening to cut off access if a bad review is given.  Smaller game websites break embargoes, it's true, but the respectable ones who want to have good relationships with the game publishers respect them so that they can continue to have access to the developers.  What is more troubling is rumors that some websites get priority only if they rate a game at a 9 or 10.   I've also heard that publishers can practically buy a good review from other publications like Famitsu.   The truth of the matter is this is a business and the best way to ensure profitability is to reduce risk.  
 
Plus, in this case, maybe EA/Bioware didn't want a whole lot of spoiler laden reviews on the web before people had a chance to have the game in their hands.  By limiting the number of websites allowed to publish a review they hoped to limit the spoilers in circulation.  Maybe, maybe not, but it's just a thought.  After all, who wants tho know how Final Fantasy XIII ends three months before you can play it?

This thread is fucking stupid

As an aside - what is with IGN AU and giving most games (especially big releases) lower scores than IGN US - do they want attention or something?

This is the way the review process works. It's worked this way for a long time. Get over it. There are far more unethical practices in this industry than how gaming reviews and the press are handled. The thing to do is not pay attention to those reviews that come out two weeks ahead of the games launch day saying how amazing game X is and that it's God's new gift to the world. Don't buy games on launch day unless it's something you know you will like based off what is shown and told about the game ahead of time. If it's something you are on the fence about wait until after the game has been out for a month or so before purchasing it. By that time the negative reviews will be out and you will get to see the whole picture. Also, learn to read between the lines so you know if someone is trying to sell you cloud insurance or not.

Buck up buddy, it's a billion dollar industry now.

" As an aside - what is with IGN AU and giving most games (especially big releases) lower scores than IGN US - do they want attention or something? "

Nah, games that come to Australia automatically get deducted points because of the crime committed with the Office of Film and Literature:

Until you actually have a clue at what you're talking about, its better just to not comment and make yourself look dumb in the process.

The Polish CD-Action gave 10/10 to Mass Effect 2? I remember they were very harsh when it came to tens at their peak. Either it's so good, or the harshness got devaluated along with the rest of the mag (which is a shame).

Nonetheless, I don't give a fuck. I only read about games on Giant Bomb, Destructoid and GameTrailers, and at points even their reviews can't stop me from buying something I'm hyped for.

Also, I prefer paid reviews over Germany's Eurogamer, which made a point of honor to give a 6-7 to every awesome game released in the last 10 years and every piece of shit a 9/10 and GOTY as long it was made in Germany.

" @YakuzaIII said:

Do the music or movie industry work the same? no. "

Actually, they do the exact same thing. When studios think a movie is going to flop, they don't hold preview screenings for critics so there are no bad reviews until the movie comes out. It's kind of a red flag. "

" In Bioware's defence, they have nothing to do with the marketing for the game.  It's all EA. But yes, sadly this is just how it works.  At least in ME2's case I'm sure the review didn't change based on the fact they got an exclusive.  Look at Tony Hawk Ride in comparasion, where only reviewers who gave the game a 90% or higher were allowed to review the game before release. "

I don't mean to state the obvious here but well here goes.  
If the industry shills are so easy to pick out, just ignore them. Is it really that hard to ignore them? Is it really that hard to ignore Famitsu, IGN, Play, etc? You not ignoring them even though they're clearly shills is what put them in power to begin with.

But You guys have to bare in mind it works this way for a reason. I'm not saying it's okay but i'm saying it does operate that way for a positive purpose. 
 
And people like ourselves know this is how it works, so wait for release day for your review, it's pretty simple.

" This thread is fucking stupid "

" @Venatio said:

" This thread is fucking stupid "

what a moron. "

" @YakuzaIII said:

" @Venatio said:

" This thread is fucking stupid "

what a moron. "

Calling me a moron? Thanks random GB user "

I guess I can see you frustration, but no one gets all upset when a movie doesn't do a review screening. Games like ME are big enough that everyone else will review the game at some point. If everyone can manage to wait a couple days after release then you can get more reviews and make a more informed purchase. On one hand, it kind of sucks, but on the other hand it's a business thing, and as such, it makes sense. The only way that it really becomes a problem is if they actually tell people what to review their game. That becomes a journalistic ethics thing.   

Either way, it's not that big of a deal. I think people just need to keep in mind that game publishing is a business. They aren't there to cater to us as much as they are there to make money by putting out games.  
 
Oh, and you should be upset with EA, not Bioware. They don't control things like this, the actual publisher does. Bioware just makes the game, they don't put it out. They're just the developer.

well, im not that frustrated, but it does stink that in day 25th, no review by gamespot,1up,gamepro,gameinformer and eurogamer etc.

IGN usually gets picked for exclusive reviews in the US when the publisher has a strong feeling that they are going to give it a high score.  Tin hat enthusiasts believe this is all a marketing scheme: IGN gets paid for reviews and publishers get a high score to market the game with.  I just think that PR people are good at their jobs and know that IGN is as well known site and what they say matters.  While the internetz hate IGNorant, it's clear that the site gets the most traffic and people who don't live on forum boards take their reviews and make purchasing decisions off of them.

"As an aside - what is with IGN AU and giving most games (especially big releases) lower scores than IGN US - do they want attention or something? "

" I understand the feeling... as I posted in another thread around here, on the Bioware forums they've just been locking any thread that discusses the game before release. 
 
So even when a fan who really enjoyed it wants to share their experience, and everyone is dying to ask questions, they shut it down to control the image and make sure the image they paid for is what we see. 
  http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/103/index/738611/1   Sucks.  Sucks a lot.  All games need marketing to make lots of money these days, that's fine, but when a company like Bioware/EA doesn't trust the game to sell itself on their own fan forums I get suspicious/worried/disappointed. "

" @WinterSnowblind said:

" In Bioware's defence, they have nothing to do with the marketing for the game.  It's all EA. But yes, sadly this is just how it works.  At least in ME2's case I'm sure the review didn't change based on the fact they got an exclusive.  Look at Tony Hawk Ride in comparasion, where only reviewers who gave the game a 90% or higher were allowed to review the game before release. "

This confuses me.  Someone actually gave Tony Hawk Ride a 90%? "

Business as usual, nothing more.