Someone is messing with the metacritic user score.

MkilbrideMkilbride Join Date: 2010-01-07 Member: 69952Members
Ahem.

For once, not in a bad way, but that may depend on your perception. I check it 2-3 times a day.

2-3 hours ago it had roughly 50 user scores.

Now, it has over 120, and every single one of them is a 10.

We could assume, in a perfect world, that a large amount of players just decided to randomly post their thoughts on the game, on metacritic.

But it's been out for over a week, and now, suddenly, it more than doubles in number on metacritic, and universally praised?

Obviously the Gamespot review may have had something to do with it. People seeing that review and mass voting it up. Keep in mind, the majority of these new 10's do not really leave a review, just a score.

I don't like it. The review was ######, but I'm willing to bet that most of those new reviews are people who didn't even play the game, but felt UWE was under attack by Gamespot and did that simply to support the game and UWE, and have not played it.

Granted, it didn't change the overall score much since it was nearly universal praise before....but it's not right. I guess there is nothing that can be done, as why would any developer complain about such a thing, or how could you really prove it?

IT just takes away, overall. It feels cheap, and wrong. The Gamestop review was taken down from Gamestop and soon from Metacritic...but it's user score has been influenced beyond repair.


It's a type of trolling and I think it's terrible to do.

Comments

  • tarquinbbtarquinbb Join Date: 2012-11-03 Member: 166314Members
    what.... and this type of fanboyism is absent in every other game?

    people being infuriated by the shoddy gamespot review is one thing, but i don't see how a small minority of hardcore fans could sway the score for ns2 more than the hardcore fans of any other game :P
  • cmc5788cmc5788 Join Date: 2009-10-06 Member: 68959Members
    edited November 2012
    This sort of thing might be able to moderately inflate the user score over a short period of time, but in the long run 50 reviews give-or-take don't matter. I wouldn't freak out about it. Who cares about metacritic user score anyhow? Literally noone.
  • ZekZek Join Date: 2002-11-10 Member: 7962Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    It is what it is, video game user scores have always been absolutely meaningless. Diablo 3 has a user score of 3.8.
  • BearTornadoBearTornado Join Date: 2012-11-02 Member: 166223Members
    True statements.

    Resident evil 6 got higher than a 3 on the User scores.

    Completely inaccurate.
  • MangoMango Join Date: 2012-10-11 Member: 162061Members
    edited November 2012
    You can't please everyone. The scores are high!! the scores are low!! lol lets face the majority loves the game that is why you see user review very positive. Sorry, that not everyone feels the way you feel about the game only a handful of trolls in this forum are raging about the game, but I gave it a 10+ and you can't convince me otherwise. It is a great game and I love playing aliens and marines, plus there is no monthly fee. If you don't believe I play the game a lot here is proof.

    <img src="http://s18.postimage.org/8gywz012h/ns2timeplayed.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2-3 hours ago it had roughly 50 user scores. Now, it has over 120, and every single one of them is a 10.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    False, today Nov 9, 2012 ONLY 7 users reviewed it, and Nov 8, 2012(yesterday) only 8 users reviewed. you just make up things as you go? Nice troll OP..
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    better question is, why are you checking ns2's metacritic so often? bored much?
  • NeoRussiaNeoRussia Join Date: 2012-08-04 Member: 154743Members
    Metacritic is already ruining gaming as we know it. Referencing that site should be a mortal sin.
  • xen32xen32 Join Date: 2012-10-18 Member: 162676Members, Reinforced - Supporter
    Who cares about other people opinions?..
  • MangoMango Join Date: 2012-10-11 Member: 162061Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2017628:date=Nov 9 2012, 04:20 PM:name=Wheeee)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wheeee @ Nov 9 2012, 04:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017628"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->better question is, why are you checking ns2's metacritic so often? bored much?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    No job and living in a van by the river boredom comes and goes. But, I like to point out the OP is spreading false statements.

    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->2-3 hours ago it had roughly 50 user scores.

    Now, it has over 120, and every single one of them is a 10.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    only 7 reviewed it today and only 8 yesterday, plus Nov 6, 2012 only 4 reviewed the game, so his trolling us very hard trying to start something that is not even true. Check for yourself <a href="http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/natural-selection-2/user-reviews?sort-by=date&num_items=100" target="_blank">Metacritics Users review by date</a>
  • DJPenguinDJPenguin Useless Join Date: 2003-07-29 Member: 18538Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2017632:date=Nov 9 2012, 07:23 PM:name=NeoRussia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NeoRussia @ Nov 9 2012, 07:23 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017632"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Metacritic is already ruining gaming as we know it. Referencing that site should be a mortal sin.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    all that site does is add all the scores and divide it by the number of scores. surely it can't generate THAT much hatred.
  • slimeslime Join Date: 2010-07-14 Member: 72352Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2017651:date=Nov 9 2012, 07:38 PM:name=DJPenguin)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DJPenguin @ Nov 9 2012, 07:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017651"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->all that site does is add all the scores and divide it by the number of scores. surely it can't generate THAT much hatred.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/obsidian-missed-fallout-new-vegas-metacritic-bonus-by-one-point/" target="_blank">http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/obsidian...s-by-one-point/</a>

    <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-07-27-irrational-games-looks-to-hire-devs-with-game-metacritic-ratings-over-85" target="_blank">http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012...ratings-over-85</a>
  • PsympleJesterPsympleJester Join Date: 2008-04-06 Member: 64024Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2017615:date=Nov 9 2012, 11:07 PM:name=Zek)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zek @ Nov 9 2012, 11:07 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017615"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It is what it is, video game user scores have always been absolutely meaningless. Diablo 3 has a user score of 3.8.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I would argue that 3.8 is a fair score for Diablo 3 and this point essentially hinders your argument that scores mean nothing as opposed to supporting it.
  • DaemonlaudDaemonlaud Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11637Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2017664:date=Nov 9 2012, 07:49 PM:name=PsympleJester)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PsympleJester @ Nov 9 2012, 07:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017664"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I would argue that 3.8 is a fair score for Diablo 3 and this point essentially hinders your argument that scores mean nothing as opposed to supporting it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    QFT

    Anyway, metacritic, positive or negative, is totally irrelevant and the notion of an aggregate analysis of an artform is a corrupt concept beneath my contempt. Especially when the best reviews I read don't actually have scores.
  • tarquinbbtarquinbb Join Date: 2012-11-03 Member: 166314Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2017664:date=Nov 9 2012, 11:49 PM:name=PsympleJester)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PsympleJester @ Nov 9 2012, 11:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017664"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I would argue that 3.8 is a fair score for Diablo 3 and this point essentially hinders your argument that scores mean nothing as opposed to supporting it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    nah... in all seriousness diablo 3 has gotta be at least a 7.5-8...

    it's braindead, awful story, dated 'world of warcraft' graphics... but there is a very small part which latches onto the epicness of diablo2. granted it's not enough to last more than ~10 hours of farming, where you start to hate it but can't stop yourself from playing...

    i was massively disappointed and really hate diablo3... but the fact that i've played it for about 50 hours says that it's better than dishonored etc - which i enjoyed and played for 20 hours but will probably never play again.
  • minos_minos_ Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165722Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2017612:date=Nov 9 2012, 05:05 PM:name=cmc5788)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cmc5788 @ Nov 9 2012, 05:05 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017612"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This sort of thing might be able to moderately inflate the user score over a short period of time, but in the long run 50 reviews give-or-take don't matter. I wouldn't freak out about it. Who cares about metacritic user score anyhow? Literally noone.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Unfortunately, people make buying decisions based on metacritic scores. Journalists are more likely to cover games with higher scores. It's even used in the games industry as a benchmark- there was a big brouhaha when (I think it was) Fallout New Vegas came out and got an 89 metacritic score, and the developers only got a bonus from the publisher if they had a 90 or above on metacritic.
  • NeokenNeoken Bruges, Belgium Join Date: 2004-03-20 Member: 27447Members, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Playtester
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2017653:date=Nov 9 2012, 06:41 PM:name=slime)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (slime @ Nov 9 2012, 06:41 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017653"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><a href="http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/obsidian-missed-fallout-new-vegas-metacritic-bonus-by-one-point/" target="_blank">http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/15/obsidian...s-by-one-point/</a>

    <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-07-27-irrational-games-looks-to-hire-devs-with-game-metacritic-ratings-over-85" target="_blank">http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012...ratings-over-85</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    That's not Metacritic's fault though. All they do is gather reviews, give them a certain weight, and compile an average score. The problem lies with the reviewers, or better yet, the nature of review scores itself and how much value the readers/publishers give it. If the readers stop giving weight to those scores, or if the reviewers stop giving scores in the first place, all Metacritic can do is just compile lists of reviews.
  • peregrinusperegrinus Join Date: 2010-07-16 Member: 72445Members
    edited November 2012
    Metacritic is relevant for people who value review scores and want to see individual review site scores in one place. Opinions about review scores being meaningless doesn't change that.
  • Mr.GreedyMr.Greedy Join Date: 2012-07-21 Member: 154270Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2018215:date=Nov 10 2012, 05:40 AM:name=peregrinus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peregrinus @ Nov 10 2012, 05:40 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2018215"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Metacritic is relevant for people who value review scores and want to see individual review site scores in one place. Opinions about review scores being meaningless doesn't change that.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Well, if NS1 gets a score of 9.0-10.0 then a score between 6.0-7.0 for NS2 is just fair. Simply there are no/low improvements compared to NS1.

    Gameplay isent improved.Its a massive downgrade currently. Especially the strategic depht is lower compared to NS1. Less upgrades ,no weldable doors,no elevators for example. And those CommanderGUIs...hell . I dont know any RTS-game with such a badly designed GUI. (for example: why in hell they dont add the mod "insight" to the commanderGUI)

    I loved NS1. NS2 is near of a NS1 with improved graphics(but lower performance o_O ) so I like it too. But I dont see any real improvements and that pissed me of a bit. So much years of development(beta!) for what? Results are simply to low. Points of 10 are unobjective,not pragmatic, ridiculous and made by fanatic fanboys.

    Maybe I am blind. Just tell me where are the big improvements in gamedesign.
  • WheeeeWheeee Join Date: 2003-02-18 Member: 13713Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    offtopic, i don't like diablo 3 that much but it's worth more than 3.8 guys. it's worth at least a 5, i'd say a 6-7 would be a fair range. the only reason it's rated so low is because it claims to be the successor to diablo 2. as a standalone game, it's pretty decent.
  • MakenshiMakenshi Join Date: 2012-10-30 Member: 164681Members
    I am pretty sure you were viewing the firefox cache. I checked the metacritic after the Gamespot score went up and it already had 80 ratings which was a few days ago, so it definitely had more than 50 ratings yesterday.
  • Onii-chanOnii-chan Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7164Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2017632:date=Nov 10 2012, 01:23 AM:name=NeoRussia)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NeoRussia @ Nov 10 2012, 01:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2017632"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Metacritic is already ruining gaming as we know it. Referencing that site should be a mortal sin.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    +1
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