Is the GB crew baised at times?

hey guys, 
after listening to a few bombcasts i cant help but think that Giant bomb could be biased sometimes, i mean they keep talking about how awesome modern warfare 2 is without even playing it. It sounds like that game is guaranteed a 5 star score. This isn't the only time, remember burnout paradise and rockband? 
 
what do you guys think?

what do you mean "without playing it"... they are not YOU, they are game journalists, who have access to games long before they come out

Everyone has bias, isnt that why we all have different points of view?

" what do you mean "without playing it"... they are not YOU, they are game journalists, who have access to games long before they come out "

Everyone's biased to some degree. It's just a matter of how much. And yeah I think Brad did play it so he's got the gist of it.

They have their opinions about games that they really like/hate and are going to be honest about it. Thats not being biased

They are getting excited about games that have had previous games in the series be totally awesome so they expect the same awesomeness...not to much of a stretch there.
 
Every game you mentioned had a precursor game that was fantastic: Call Of Duty this is Number 6, Rockband was during the big guitar hero craze, and burnout paradise was after Burnout!

One of the reasons they made this site was so they could be biased, that VG journalism doesnt exist in a fucking vacuum. Especially with reviews, they do reflect the bias of the person reviewing.

I think maybe you don't understand what the word bias means. Certainly everyone has preferences for certain genres and things like that, but I don't think it's fair to label that as "bias".
 
Also, specifically looking at the case of Burnout Paradise, people in the gaming press have a lot of games to play, so I think the fact that Jeff played so much of it speaks volumes. He thoroughly enjoyed that game, and when you're on a weekly podcast, chances are you're going to talk about the games that you are playing and enjoying. The only bias I see there is that the dude likes good games.

Their biased opinion doesn't guarantee a 5 start rating. Jeff said himself in "I Love Mondays" that Borderlands might be his favorite game this year and he only gave it a 4.

" I think maybe you don't understand what the word bias means. Certainly everyone has preferences for certain genres and things like that, but I don't think it's fair to label that as "bias".  Also, specifically looking at the case of Burnout Paradise, people in the gaming press have a lot of games to play, so I think the fact that Jeff played so much of it speaks volumes. He thoroughly enjoyed that game, and when you're on a weekly podcast, chances are you're going to talk about the games that you are playing and enjoying. The only bias I see there is that the dude likes good games. "

" Everyone's biased to some degree. It's just a matter of how much. And yeah I think Brad did play it so he's got the gist of it. "

Dude the the GB crew are the last people I would say are biased reviewers. Jeff's just excited about MW2, thats all.

They like some games. That doesnt make them bias.

Wow, flamebait! Flagged.

" Wow, flamebait! Flagged. "

They like games too.  They also happen to enjoy video games, it's not just a job for them.  It's not biased.  They get just excited about the games they like as we do.  We've all played Modern Warfare.  After playing that, how could you not be optimistic about the second?  
 
People on video game related websites just loved throwing the word biased around, I swear.  And besides, all the games you listed ARE ACTUALLY GREAT GAMES.  How does liking those games make them biased?  Bias towards what?  Good games?  Because if so, you can throw me in that same boat, as well.  I don't see what you're getting at, at all...

" Wow, flamebait! Flagged. "

" Everyone has bias, isnt that why we all have different points of view? "

Oh come on, it's obvious that they (apart from Brad who has actually played it) are just talking about how awesome they think the game looks. I'm sure when it actually comes to reviews they will be fair in the reviewing process and only give the game the score it deserves, just like every game before it.

What I want to say has already been said so far. So yeah, read them.

Yep, if someone is excited for something, that means they are biased.

" hey guys, after listening to a few bombcasts i cant help but think that Giant bomb could be biased sometimes, i mean they keep talking about how awesome modern warfare 2 is without even playing it. It sounds like that game is guaranteed a 5 star score. This isn't the only time, remember burnout paradise and rockband?  what do you guys think? "

" Yep, if someone is excited for something, that means they are biased. "

Were you the kid who tried putting the square shape in the circle hole?

Crew, no.
Jeff and Ryan, yes.

Ok this is when we need a moderator to come out and lock or make this forum post disappear. Hate to say it dude. If you think someone is bias or playing favorites you need to keep it to yourself. Posting it on a forum, especially on the site that you think is biased, then that will cause tons of flame wars.

Everyone is biased at times.

Ugh, yes, they are biased. All reviews are subjective personal opinions. A good reviewer/journalist will keep it to a minimum, but preconceived opinions are still there, as they should be. Having robots review/report things for us would be very dull. Let’s not forget that human beings run this site, as is much clearer on this site then on most others.    

" @krazy_kyle: That be rumor, he could have left for other reasons but has never stated why and never will due to legal reasons and for personal ones.  "

" @Driadon said:

" @krazy_kyle: That be rumor, he could have left for other reasons but has never stated why and never will due to legal reasons and for personal ones.  "

Nono, just let them think what they want...  We don't wanna discuss this again.. 2008 wants it's arguments back.. So please, don't try it :P "

Wow reading through this has really made me feel alot better about the GB community 90% of the post in this thread is an exact inverse to what I thought would be said I just assumed everyone would run in here and start yelling "YEA THEY ARE BIASED!" Good job guys Defend Our Crew!

Opinion is bias . The only way to be none bias is to not have a opinion

My opinions on the GB staff are well known, as are my attitudes to some reviews.  The OP is entitled to a view. 
 
Bias is not the right word in my view though.  Preference and personal taste is better.  There is nothing wrong with them hyping up their preference in games and as I don't share hardly any common interests in games as the GB staff, I don't bother listening or reading what they do.  Try not taking it seriously (it is entertainment after all) or stop listening perhaps.

I think they are just excited for the game. If the game turned out to be bad by their standards, they would certainly give it the proper score, not inflating it just to do so.

Isn't everyone at least a little biased?  In the case of MW2 I feel like I know enough about that game where I don't even need a review except to tell me if there are any game breaking bugs which there probably won't be.

Everyone, including the staff, has their own opinion about video games.  Giant Bomb was created for us to freely and joyingly discuss those opinions with other video games fans,