<![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> However you look at it, it's now just a 13 point system. A+ = 13/13, A = 12/13, etc.

M

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @EnigmaNemesis: Wow, Enigma...I'm late to respond here, but you've really hit the nail on the head. It would really suck to be a game designer, working hard day in and day out on a game, only to have someone give you a "grade" at the end like you're in high school.

Spoony Bard

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I've always hated how a game had to basically be Big Rigs to get lower than 5. Why do sites never go below 6 or so most of the time? Surely ont EVERY hyped up game is that good.

And screw metacritic, they can do what they want but so can the review sites. Different sites will have different scales, so sites like metacritic will never work perfectly.

PurpleSfinx

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Um, yeah good job! Because people who went to school don't know that 10 is more than 1.

Seriously though; people didn't know 5 was average because of score inflation. It sucks but it's true. The big problem is that grade inflation is an even bigger problem. With Advance placement programs pushing the grade point averages of many people above 4.0, a "C" suddenly seems below average to many people. Sounds like 1up has made things worse to me.

Interesting too that schools moved from lettered to numbered GPA systems for the sake of clarity, and 1up is moving in the opposite direction and trying to achieve the same thing.

KypFox

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @smitty1123: Seriously, people never get that. If you go out and actually read reviews on different sites, even if you get different scores, you'll find a lot of the same issues listed in many cases. This is absolutely what you look for when deciding whether or not you're going to purchase a game. Not whether its a 8.0 versus an 8.9. I wish all the game review sites would simultaneously drop scores and have their writers articulate their opinions on a game.

I get angry when people are like for example saying that Jeff is a moron for giving Zelda one of the lower scores. I might not agree with his score, but you have to look at that reviewers particular issues with the game.

Another thing is when people say, but they gave the first game a higher number. That only holds relevance really if its the same person who reviewed the original. On the other hand if say one reviewer gives assassin's creed a 9.0 and another gives Mass Effect a 8.6 this isn't saying the site as a whole thinks one game is better than another. I'm sure each person on staff hold's their own opinion. Its saying that Mark gave Mass Effect a 8.6 and James gave Assassin's Creed a 9.0 and that's all.

Kounji

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I think it's a good idea, but I'd lose the +/- designations. 5 star/grade, in my opinion, is how games should be reviewed. You should be able to fit a game into one of five categories (i.e. unplayable, bad, average, good, great), then expand upon the opinion in the actual text of the review. All this 8.4 or 8.6 shit is just assinine and seems completely arbitrary.

Strangelove

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Poison: Exactly what I was thinking...

This is my first post in Kotaku, by the way :)

Greetings from Chile!

Kr!s

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Even if I didn't already know that this will be a step in the right direction, reading some of these comments would have convinced me of it. Guys, a 7/10 has never been a C just like a 2/4 has never been an F. Going to the letter scale is not merely a conversion.

Leviticus

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is what I've been advocating for a while. I like it.

CyberSkull

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I propose an internet acronym rating system.

8-10 - omg
6-8 - lol
4-6 - rofl
2-4 - wtf
0-2 - zomgwtfbbq

V1L3

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> i think this new reviewing scheme will work well. 1-10 never did it for me, regardless of site. all sites should either incorporate this or a five star system.

kw4k

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @bnpederson:

You are right as well. I was trying to be nice to the fellow gamers, but you are right. Most are accustomed to it and are too lame to let it go. Gosh, having to read, *zoiks* ... we cant flame on boards without a numerical value, *cries*

@MantisDragon:

Well it sort of works. You have "rent" for every color, because obviouslly if people are on the fence, just rent the darn thing ... and the colors represent for those who buy regularly.

Red = stop and don't get

Yellow = it might be worth a purchase to some, since how many treat yellow like a second green light :-p

Green = all engines a go!

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Dekko: Bingo. Exactly how I feel. Not that it stops me using a score on my reviews, but this is still part of my 'everybody else does it' ethos. With hindsight, I should probably stop.

TearsandScreams

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Forget number, letters, colors, or one-liners. How about you read an actual review of the game to decide? Some of the best reviews I've ever read were nothing more than honest impressions, reactions, summeries of plot (minus spoilers), etc.

Gilgamoth

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @axiom, dowingba:

While the grading scale looks menancing, it has no real value behind it, because 2/3 of the school had a 3.0 or above GPA. And this was not a school of geniuses, just a small school in SD.

SuperFox

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Soldrak: Please provide examples of 1UP reviews that lack professionalism, and proof that this is commonplace on the site.

Homard

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I didn't have a problem with numbers because I don't mindlessly take review scores like they're etched in stone and flip out whenever someone gives a game 0.5 points differently than I would have.

Now it's just more vague.

fuchikoma

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> The old system doesn't work is because 5/10 is not the "average" score given out. You can't give the vast majority of games 6-7-8 scores and expect people to see a 5 as decent.

GhaleonUnlimited

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is actually a really good idea, seeing as how 7/10 is about the average score for game reviews (obnoxiously high). I think more sites should follow this.

GhaleonUnlimited

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Soldrak:
@Soldrak:
Now I'm almost 100% sure that you're a woman, 1Up Network is a man, and they cheated on you. Sorry but there's very view ways of explaining your kind of hate.

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> The problem with a thumbs up/thumbs down system is that you need some familiarity with the reviewers. It worked well with Siskel & Ebert, if a low-brow movie looked interesting to me and Siskel gave it a thumbs down it wouldn't deter me because I knew what Siskel liked. If they both agreed that carried more weight.

Roeper is more of a loose cannon and while his reviews are interesting his ups & downs don't mean much. And now with the shifting co-hosts the "thumb ratings" mean next to nothing to me.

I don't know the names of any videogame reviewers and my own tastes are not the same as most of them (don't like Halo, hate Final Fantasy, will never play any Star Wars game...). I like numbers or letter grades, I know what looks interesting to me, but if I see that a game is getting a lot of 6.5's it will put me off and if a game is getting a lot of 9's or A's I'll at least read the reviews even if I wasn't too interested in the first place.

I don't really have the interest or the time to read the reviews of every game that gets released, the summary needs to be as informative as possible. I like the way the Onion does it, a couple sentences before you click and then a letter grade at the bottom of the review.

BCThunderthud

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Thank god. The 1 to 10 system is so ridiculous I'm glad someone out there has the balls to do something about it. And while I'm on my soap-box... Metacritic is one of the worst things to happen to gaming in a very long time. I hope this system DOES break it.

Sinnix

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @underthechestnuttree: Or better yet a system where they DON'T assign numerical or letter scores. Maybe then their "dumb" readers will actually "read" their overrated, unprofessional opinions.

Soldrak

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Letter grades are a far better measuring stick IMO. This is a good move.

Homard

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Haha it is not so much that a letter grading system is objectively better than a numerical one (it isn't, usually), its that the readers seem too dumb to understand that a 5/10 means average. They need something more pedestrian. Oh well.

I'm of the view that a grading system with the highest amount of degrees contained within it (say, 100) is the best. This allows for a precise and articulated judgment of a game, compared to its peers. Systems out of 15 (as I presume this letter system is - ie: A+ through F-) would be that much better with the addition of a further variable, A++ and thus out of 16. Better yet, use the whole bloody alphabet, A through Z, and now we have a system out of 26.

Whatever the 'sort' of symbol used (letters or numbers) the higher amount of varables in a grading system make it more refined and exacting. It is not the case they want to become more refined and exacting here, it is just that a letter system is more familiar. More familiar, at the cost of precision.

underthechestnuttree

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I understand why 3 would be average but for practical purposes anything less than average is a waste of time (by that I mean I can't see readers wanting to buy a 2 out of 5 game) hence why I'd go with a 4 star system.

TrustyBadger

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> RPGamer.com long ago switch to a 1 to 5 scale with one being horrible, 5 amazing, and 3 average... so far I believe it has worked. I don't see a school like grading system working when all those grades do is replace a percentile.

Maybe it is me, but I've spent a lot of time working towards grad-school which means the only thing that mattered was A's and B's. Everything thing else was "teh suck." I think a lot of people are not going to see a C as average, they are going to see it as a 7/10 or a 70% and still equate it to the old system.

@EnigmaNemesis: I personally like this idea of the traffic light system. combine it contextual reviews that truly highlight what is good or bad about the game and I'm sold!

MantisDragon

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> A four star rating would suffice: 1=Rubbish, 2=Mediocre, 3=Good, 4=Essential. But I doubt that would be popular with the publishers when most games earn a 2 or 3 ;)

TrustyBadger

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Will this use the College Grading system?

A 3 Credit game's A would be more significant than a 4 Credit game's B? Or is that the other way around?

How about Pass/Fail games?

Or 1 Credit Kinesiology games like Wii Fit?

And Labs. Like Trauma Center.

Will they track the developer's GPA?

Cardigan Square

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is pointless. You just calculate the numerical value from the grade. How is this a change?

SwedishChef

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Though I would prefer a 5 star rating scale over all other rating options. I guess this will have to do.

Something definitely needs to be done about game reviewing websites rating system. Idiot fanboys, heck idiot gamers blow game ratings that are under 80 way out of proportion.

Janos2615

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This a stupid idea. The first time I read it on the blog, I thought it was a joke, as the 1up staff are normally pretty smart.

With the previous system, the idea was to use the full scale of 1-10, with 5 being an average game's score. This was a good idea, as it allowed a more graduated scale for good games. The idea did not work, because people insist on seeing 7 as a poor score.

Now 1up intends to use letter grades for the games. This does not solve the problem at all. Instead of having to educate people that 5 out of 10 is not a bad score, they will have to educate them that a C or D is not a bad score. I fail to see the any advantage to this system.

frnknstn

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> When the summer new-user rush comes, every PS3 game's reader reviews will suddenly plummet.

Frank

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Is it just me, or this this blowback from the Ubisoft/Mortal Kombat pulling their coverage? I postulated that it was because EGM insists on rating things on their own scale, which is basically a lower version of everyone else's scale, because they use "the whole thing."

Now, their Editor in Chief is gone, and their ratings system changes? Hmmmmmmmm.

creid

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @EnigmaNemesis: I say scratch reviews and keep the score.

Okay I'm being a bit facetious but in my experience scores are pretty reliable. Not a single score, those are not useful, but the averaged scores are a pretty damn great way of sorting out the general opinion on a game and avoiding the 'this one reviewer was having a bad day' or the 'this one site is in the pay of their advertisers' syndrome.

This is a good move by 1Up not because it simplifies their system but because it makes it easier to be sure their ratings work on the sites that combine scores. Metacritic uses 7.0 as 'average' for games and 1Up didn't, so that's a potential problem. 1Up's C can be cleanly translated to 7.0, so it'll nicely match the other sites.

Basically I do actually agree with the traffic light system (but I think it could do with more detail inside there - there's a difference between 'barely scraped a green' and 'top of the green list'). But I think such a system - and most other scoring - is only really useful at all when it averages the opinions of a number of reviewers. Of course, if everyone did traffic lights you could make a combined site that does a pretty cool colour average... :)

quen

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I like that 5 outta 10 being average line. Most Americans are brought up that if you score half on anything its a loss. Hell a coin can score 5 outta 10.

I still think Buy Rent Avoid are the only things we need in this day and age.

invictus

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I really think that reviews should change the metric entirely to something more like:

Buy
Buy if you're a fan (here the review could possibly list things you might want to be a fan of)
Rent
Don't Bother

DannoHung

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Seriously 1UP, you guys and your entire industry of review clusterfucks get an F for taking bribes in the form of advertisement promissory notes from companies, the hiring of incompetent reviewers and your general lack of a thing called clue. When people would rather rely on Ubisoft's marketing hype machine than listen to your idiotic reviews, you know there is something seriously wrong with your industry. I think it's high time we see a culling in the number of you people being around, I'd personally like to see half of you "gaming sites" go bankrupt and pay for the awful way you've run reviewer reputations to the ground.

Soldrak

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This being mapped to their full 10 point system, F would be a values less then 2.5 but as I remember schools in my time gave Fs to values less then 5.5 (which I always found hard to except). Not till I went to college did I get the taste of a weighted 10 point system which some referred to as "skewed." To me, it just made perfect sense. Good Job 1up! :)
...
Now let's just work on some of the game-snobbery and things will be perfect.

okenny :) ...building bridges (to hide under)

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Milky's the editor now? Wow. I remember when he used to run that column on playing FFXI.

VipingViper

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Also, thinking on their comment that people will understand what they mean now, that's not actually the case. Grade inflation is rampant in Universities and High Schools across the country, so a C could very well mean a D to some students, while they mean C to be passable but not exemplary in any way.

@EnigmaNemesis:
"But unfortunately this wont happen. Game companies are too accustomed to numerical values, and have too much "invested" in these sites to have that go away."

Forget the game companies, the readership won't accept it. I have absolutely no doubt that, regardless of the amount of bitching it gets, the silent majority of gamers read the score first and only read the review if they have some spare time or are really looking forward to the game.

Hell, the 1up forums show that most people bitching don't read the reviews, or at least don't read them carefully. :P

bnpederson

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @EnigmaNemesis: I like your idea, it is a shame it wont happen as you explain :(

Irenicus-the one and only

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> A+ to F? No S-Rank? And they call themselves gamers...

Lu-Tze

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> How long till A++ or A* or A Smiley Face. I applaud this fight against "score creep" though.

GMC

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I say, scratch any score at all! None, nothing, zero, zilch, nada!

And just force people to read reviews to see if the positives and negatives are what they want to play in a game.

Have quick positives and negative sentences at the end to sum it up for the ones that don't want to read.

But unfortunately this wont happen. Game companies are too accustomed to numerical values, and have too much "invested" in these sites to have that go away.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ExtremeOne316: I certainly don't call it a dumb move. It's a half a step in the right direction. Two more steps and they drop that part and go to the Play It / Don't Play It method. One (it seems) many people here are all for.

withaneight

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> what a dumb move on 1up's part. what is now taking game reviews back to high school and middle school where grades are given out like A's and B's this is stupid oh so the thinking is we are to dumb to understand numbers so now we have to be treated like school kids when we view a game review

ExtremeOne316

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> If the review is well written: You don't need the score.
If the review is badly written: You can't trust the score.

Dekko

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Game reviews are useless until they start use the 1-5 system that movies do. Anything more than that and it's painfully pretentious on the part of the reviewer. And we've got to get out of this extreme phobia of ever giving a game a "10" unless it's name starts with O and rhymes with "Bocarina of Time".

dowingba

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Why not just go to a three tiered system? Buy/Rent/Avoid

SumDum_Guy

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Seriously, judge a game based upon what you like. An awesome story can override almost anything for me; this may differ for others, so judge based upon what you actually care about. If you are interested enough in the games you buy, which actually require thought based upon my budget, then choose based upon more than a Metacritic or Gamerankings review. The aggregate rating may be useful, but the individual scores, particularly from sites that focus upon your interests, are more important (IMHO). I'd choose an RPG game based upon an RPG*.* site more than an aggregate site, but interests certainly differ from person to person.

Eirias

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> On my own blog, I've taken to reviewing games on a "pass/fail" basis. At the end of a given review, I give a simple recommendation. Buy, rent, or pass.
It's a simple way to answer a simple question: Is it worth $60? If not, is it worth playing?

Frankly, what more information does a review need at it's conclusion? "Scoring" a game serves no purpose other than handing out arbitrary bragging rights.

Insomnia Bob

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Really now. Is this where we are at now. Where we are so fixated about game reviews we just forget about the games themselves. Much akin to how some places only care about which ivy league school you graduated from, rather then you know, the actual character of a person.

Plus you can call it something else, but at the end of the day I see the same end result.

Game reviews for me has always been about bringing to my attention hidden gems that just don't have marketing power of established IP/ self proclaimed "AAA" titles. Yeah letter/ number grades are a nice quick reference but really it means nothing more then tools fan boys use for flaming. I know so that leaves only reading and reading is so boring, but hey at least it has some real substance. Now go find an outlet with reviewers that can actually write.

doing

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> So are we now all on the same page; that this is a completely futile change that results in almost exactly the same system?

Well, that and their added pretentiousness from saying this is actually better, and their own way of saying that we're all idiots.


1up.com - The Nacho Cheesier of video game ratings

justhesh

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> 64 vs. 65? if you are THAT picky about a game then don't bother....a 100% scoring system lets you see that something in the 60s is a lot worse than something in the high 90s... how is this a bad thing???

Hyperlite

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is awsome, I never liked 1-10 scale or 1-100 for that matter which was even worse. But, why do they have to add plus and minus signs and bullshit making it 1-11 scale giving me a headache more then before. Can't you JUST stick with the letters, do you need a gold star in the upper right corner too? :/

I bet this will confuse people more then help. WHy not just use 1-5 or thumb up/down etc or some symbol that has a 1-5 scale and if using a-f stick with the letters and skip the plus/minus etc.

Irenicus-the one and only

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> "anyone who's gone to school will instantly know how we feel when they see our letter grade on a game review."

Ya, anyone who's gone to school in the US maybe. You trying to tell me 7/10 is harder to understand than B+?

Poison

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Turns out my school doesn't use a letter system.... 100% system FTW

Hyperlite

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Euh, *confused*. Letters? Here in Europe (the Netherlands that is) are still using numbers. Maybe all you crazy Americans use letters, but if I see a random review with the score "D", I have no clue what kind of score it is :'D (well, now I do, because I have read the comments, but... you'll get me :p).

Kravos

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> The 100 point system is stupid. Really, really stupid. Why would you give a game a 64 instead of a 65?

1-10, A-F...it's all good. Except for the 100 point system!

Spoony Bard

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Let's see:

A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F

Yeah. That about narrows it down.

FIRST!!!

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @SuperFox: You've got to be kidding me. Do you go to some gifted school of Geniuses or something? 70% = F? Yikes.

dowingba

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @SuperFox:

Damn thats some curve. Seriously.

axiom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Gamerankings is going to impode.

dowingba

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Until other sites do it and give every damn game a B+ or A-, and then suddenly 1Up will be giving out "the dreaded C!!!"

OrionTheSmiter

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Len Bias Cocaine Surplus: LOL, had me laughing for a good ten minutes!

Question: Self proclaimed "AAA games" will be, dunno, like scoring a 30 out of 10?

REDFIELD8

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I think they should just put a TL:DR version at the top of their reviews. It's like a letter or number, but gamerankings will have no idea what to do!

Sinfjotle

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I personally think they should just toss out scores all together. If they write their reviews good enough and trust that they contain the content needed to help their readers decide whether or not the game is worth their time, they don't need numbers.

champ24 vamp_24(psn)

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Wyld:

When I said the letter grades didn't correlate to numbers I was speaking directly about Mikazukinoyaiba's Interpretation of how the number scale works.

He said: "Personally I always have considered:
9.0 - 10.0 - A
8.9 - 8.0 - B
7.9 - 7.0 - C"

And I was just pointing out that the number grades do not work the same way as a letter grade percentage; As in F is not a 5 and below. And as proof I gave my own number distribution for letter grades as what I believed to be a better distribution for it. I did not mean it to say that letter grades cannot correlate to number scores, just not to his specific number scores.

NeoAkira

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Hell yes! It's about freaking time. Too long have people taken 7 as a bad score.
Just really hope they go A,B,C,D,E and ignore the whole plus/minus bullcrap with A being stellar, C being average and E being pretty bad. Only stuff like Postal will get an F :P

Demaar

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Why not adopt the Devil May Cry way of ranking games? With SSStylish the highest rank down to Dope. The positive language would come off better than just seeing an F and people may still buy the game thus supporting the developer/publisher and their employees. Would also prevent companies from getting upset over consistently bad ratings and refusing to let them review anymore of their games.

UmeShoryu

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> GREAT NEWS EVERYBODY!

artofwar420

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Dormin: Yeah, i agree...not being familiair with the american letter grading doesn't really help. I haven't got a clue what a B would mean...

dreamc

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I think their approach is trying to be more vague in rating games. You know, give a bit of a leeway in for some for the paying master & the fanboys. I guess it save them hell in the long run. Who knows you'll have FF XIII rating as A, and LO also rating as A thus which A is better now is later up to the ire of fanboys argument. Movie reviews been like that for a long time.

ahmeng

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Well, techinically they did before :o

crunks

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> They should use the 100 point scale.

crunks

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I still believe in the One Life Left school of game reviews. Give everything 7 out of 10. I sand by that. I literally even bought the tee shirt...

[www.cafepress.com]

withaneight

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Don´t like it at all, it seems pretty simple for north americans but for everyone else is confusing as hell, is B- is good or bad? why the minus?.

If it used letters as an EXACT replacement for numbers it would be cool, let´s say 10 was an A, B a 9 etc but then the intervals would suffer, is a C is good?, it´s the third letter so it must correspond to a 7 right? WRONG, it means a score from 83-85, this change seems unnecesary to me.

Dormin

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> A+ = 10
A = 9
A- or B+ = 8
B = 7
B- or C+ = 6
C = 5
C- or D+ = 4
D = 3
F = 2 or below

Sathias

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> April Fools???

doctorwily

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I think its a good idea for them, may not work for other reviewers. Irregardless i can not stand 1up's reviews anyways.

snakepliskin

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> "...Getting back to the point, I'm the new EIC of EGM and the console side of 1UP, which is a job that has never existed within Ziff-Davis before."

So Dan Shoe Hsu is no longer EIC of EGM?

Lixie

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Ampillion lives a life much like No More Heroes.:
And that is exactly why you can't have a perfect system because everybody has a different idea of what is better. Best solution go find the sites that best mirror your views and stick to them.

All these new systems being proposed can really just have the same pitfalls as the current one. All reviews are subjective there is no perfect model that games can be measured up against.

FtGF

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> So how is this solving anything? The grading system from my high school:

A: 94-100
A-: 92-94
B+: 90-91
B: 88-89
B-: 86-87
C+: 83-85
C: 80-82
C-: 78-79
D+: 76-77
D: 73-75
D-: 70-72
F: Below 70

The letter grades still have the same exact number corrolations - below a 7, its an F. Don't buy.

SuperFox

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @branchclarke: HA, you're not serious right?
I think it would be better if they just gave their opinions and forgot about scores.

TonyMcPwny

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I hope they start using I, A, B, C, M, E, L -system to score the games. It's just easier and everyone who has gone to school knows it. ;)

Furu

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @CaptainBuzzKill:
If you would give Mass Effect an 8 but in some ways it's the best game you have ever played then your ranking system is broken. A game is not about the individual parts, so what if it has some bugs it's about the whole package and the experience the player has.

Again there will never be a perfect ranking system that will apply to everybody. And people thinking that switching to letters will be any different are really confused.

FtGF

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @elevenoverzero:

Well, in order to get to know stuff you´ll really like, then, wes. Your oppinion is always better than the critic´s ones, cuz your personal tastes are yours and noone else, and you´ll only learn and get to know stuff for real if you try it yourself. Follow reviews with doubt, and as a base think guidelines, not as a bible. Trust your instincts and feelings.

Wyld

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @smitty1123: Your question is exactly my point. Your continued point is also a good one. If you read the text and find out what is good and bad about the game, you'll know if it's for you.

Unfortunately, I think EGM tried having scoreless reviews for an issue or two, and people were outraged. So much for that...

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @baberg:

Nice, I do the same thing

But you know what, just a small suggestion:

above all that, trust yourself. Go see a movie you´ve never heard about, or buy a book or a game when you´re clueless, maybe you´ll learn something that Crescente and Plunkett would gladly take as a good suggestion. You can do it as well.

Wyld

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @EnigmaNemesis:

So rent everything?

elevenoverzero

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ShirtGuyDom: And furthermore, the grade/score/recommendation is just a freaking summary. It's not meant to replace the actual review. Want to know if the game is for you? Try reading the actual text, not just skipping to the end.

smitty1123

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @NeoAkira:

whoa whoa, if they aren´t correlated to numbers they are correlated to words then?

B+, A, A-, A+ = good
as in 7,8,9,10 = good

what´s the misterious difference between numbers and letters in order to score something, then?

Wyld

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> *sigh* Here we go again. More debate on scores.

I admit, I use number scores and number sites like Metacritic and Gamerankings. But I use them to see what I've missed. When I finally bought an Xbox I went and searched for all Xbox games that were 90% or better, and went from there. Since I like RPGs, I searched for RPGs over 75%.

I also use individual reviews to assist me in my buying habits. But I use sites I trust, like Kotaku. I wouldn't have bought Zack and Wiki without Crecente and Plunkett's good words. I wouldn't have tried Monster Hunter 2 on the PSP without PapaBear and Witz's enthusiasm. And Puzzle Quest? I would've dismissed it as Bejeweled until I heard people devoting entire days to playing it.

Trust people, not numbers.

baberg

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Same shit. Ban the numbers. Or name the A+ games so we can "compare"

speaking of which, with grade do you guys give to old stuff? Like Tetris, Mario, Pac-Man, and Mona Lisa?

Maybe Van Gogh deserves a ... B- right? Or maybe scoring stuff doesn´t makes much sense after a few years.

Wyld

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Mikazukinoyaiba:

That's the absolute wrong way of looking at the scores. THat is why gaming sites stay within the 5-10 range in a 1-10 scale. 9-10 is not A and 8-9 is not B. Grades do not correlate to those numbers. But I guess if you want to think about how the NEW grading system will work based off the old numbers I would guess something like this:

A: 8.5 - 10
B: 6.5 - 8.4
C: 4.5 - 6.4
D: 2.5 - 4.4
F: 0.0 - 2.4

NeoAkira

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @bnpederson:
Wait they're doing + and -? What the fuck, that's the same thing as they do now. Pretty much all their reviews are .0 or .5.

gamadaya

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ShirtGuyDom: Worth the reader's money. If you are going to take personal tastes into consideration, then any sort of scoring/recommendation system is useless anyway. Afterall, does that A- score apply to hardcore fans, casual fans, little Jimmy from down the street who has never tried the series before?

smitty1123

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ftgf: It's actually not all that bad if you give a reason for those outcomes. I tend to do similar on my meager gaming blog (shameless self promotion!). I tend to rank out reasons why to rent/play/buy the game, and reasons to avoid it. If you agree with certain statements over others, you might want to check it out. Likewise, if you don't really find the reasons to check it out all that grand, you might save yourself time and money and skip it.

Ampillion, Dayman. Fighter of the Nightman.

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Honestly, if you judge a game soley by any arbitrary numerical score, you are a moron anyway. You should actually read several reviews to get a feel for how the game is and then decide if it appeals to you.

For evidence the sole numerical scores are bullshit, look at a game like Mass Effect. It has a million little problems, and I couldn't honestly give it over like an 8,but it some ways it's the best game I've ever played.

Also, look at paintings. There is a reason no one compares a Van Gogh to a Dali and gives them a score-it just doesn't work right.

CaptainBuzzKill

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> A+ through F, eh? Let's see, assuming F doesn't get a minus but all other have both a + and a - that means they'll be scaling everything from one to thirteen.

This helps how exactly? It's still an arbitrary ranking that can be scaled back into a percentage for gamerankings or metacritic. You may as well ten versions of a gamer's interest for all the difference it makes.

Ah well, at least it got them some free advertising on video game blogs.

bnpederson

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @homernoy: I don't think that changing the system means building trust in a gamesite's review score. I think it's more of the gamesite building trust in their readers with their work. Regardless of what scoring system they actually use, it works fine as long as the reader in question knows what the final score really means.

tnx3

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I'd prefer to base the quality of the game by reading the review, gets in my monthly (per issue) reading quota :)

But then again, all reviews are OPINIONS by People with different views.

AntiZERØ

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I think its better if a game is reviewed with a bunch of peers like here. Impressions of a game from an editor and then it is broken down from a bunch of commentators. That's why i like to come here because everybody is different so I get different perspectives. Also ask friends as well.

FP Shindokie

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> No one knew that 5-out-of-10 meant average...

Yeah. Cause we're that kind of dumb.

And how is it not going to be exactly the same, but with a different meaningless symbol representing what the numbers did? And they don't realize that a school letter grading system IS in fact based on numbers? Or that one letter grade can be just as wide a range of numbers as the actual number rating system, and thus requires numbers to even explain what the letter represents?

Yeah. Smart move, or completely trivial one?

justhesh

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Seems like a good idea.

GiantEnemyCrab

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I can't say how much I like this. Really, we need a system that is applicable to gaming consumers so we can easily judge a review at face value. Don't you? About time.

homernoy

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I don't have a problem with the numerical system, as long as it goes in 0.5 increments (seriously, how the hell can you rate something a 9.2?). I also think a 5 is a good score for a total mediocre,average game. It's not their fault people are morons and like to inflate scores and consider anything under like a 7 to be total garbage.

CaptainBuzzKill

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @wild_world_girl:
That's a lot better than just looking at one site's score, but just reading one site's review is often better than looking at a 20 site average on metacritic. It seems to me like metacritic just validates a lot of the bullshit 7-10 sites. More people would get a better idea about how the reviewer felt about the game if they would just read the review. I also don't think anybody should score games with a number, but that won't happen, so I'm happy with a F to A system (hope it doesn't have - or +). Actually, I do like Enigmanemes's system.

gamadaya

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> For a game to technically be "average" that means roughly half the games out there are better and half are worse. Good luck trying that type of system out...

I vote for a multi-writer reviews with a final count of thumbs up and thumbs down. Now where have I heard this one... >.>

tnx3

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> It sounds like a good idea on paper, but then, so does the infamous "1-10 scale." I'm afraid that pretty soon we'll see a bastardization of the A-F scale, when GOTY material gets "A+" or "AAA" ratings, and pretty soon the "C" grade will be the equivalent of the old "7.0" No matter the grading system you choose, it might or not might work depending on how it's used. It's a shame that such a simple system as 1-10 became so broken, and I hope we don't see that happening here. That said, it's a good idea, and it was certainly time for a change. Major props for rewriting scores, too. That can't be easy.

Cogito

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Even if 5 is average, that doesn't mean people want to settle for average games. People want to throw their money down on the best games on the market, to make sure they have the most fun possible with the games.

That's why people blow off games that get 'average' ratings. Why get the average games when you can get the above average games?

This just means C is the new average (I'm assuming) and everyone will blow off the C's as average games that aren't worth their time.

Mit

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @smitty1123: Worth who's money? A hardcore fan of the series or genre or someone who's getting into it for the first time. Game reviews can't be simple because the breadth of people who play games isn't simple.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Meh I don't think switching to letters will be any different. Really I don't think there is anything wrong with the current system and Metacritic seems to work just fine. Never bought a game I didn't end up liking and I'm pretty picky. I don't see why some people want it so simplified like

"Red (Rent or Stay Away)

Yellow (Rent or Fans Buy)

Green (Rent or Must Buy)"

That's way to simplified to be valuable. Read a few reviews and then make up your mind.

FtGF

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ShirtGuyDom: That's even easier: buy, don't buy. Seriously, it all comes down to this: is this game worth your money? Scoring a game in any way beyond that is just an academic hand job.

smitty1123

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @blackadvent: Demos are too rare. Then again, so are PC gamers, apparently.

I STILL PLAY BF2!!!

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @smitty1123:
That's kind of a waste of money. I think the easiest solution is to adopt the 1-5 star system. No decimals, because that's bullshit. But, honestly, I've never actaully cared about the score that much. The way I look at reviews is I read the articles on a couple sites, watch some videos, and then decide if I want to buy it.

gamadaya

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @ShirtGuyDom: Good demos.

blackadvent

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Sintariot: That's why most Wii games get average scores: averages scores for average people.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @dynendal:

Other sites have already been doing this.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Sintariot: Ditto.

Allen750

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @gamadaya: I love gamerankings (which I hear is the same as metacritic) - I almost never read single review scores any more if it is a game I don't know anything about. What's wrong with that?

wild_world_girl

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Red (Rent or Stay Away)

Yellow (Rent or Fans Buy)

Green (Rent or Must Buy)

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is the same thing. Can't they see that? The main problem with videogame reviews these days is that reviewers are out of touch with society. There are a lot more people than socially inept nerds playing videogames these days.

Sintariot

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I'm liking this move. Here's hoping it all pans out.

blackadvent

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Now if only they made accurate reviews...

nman

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @smitty1123: How do you rent PC games? How would GFW Magazine operate?

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Easiest solution possible: buy it, rent it, don't buy it. Screw this scoring crap.

smitty1123

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is really great news, and I PRAY that the rest of the industry follows suit.

PsycheDiver

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> This is a bold move for reviewers everywhere.

dynendal

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> If it aint broke....

branchclarke

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @EnigmaNemesis:

weight*

lawl

While I do think the letters are a better step, it still doesn't remove the numerical value! That the ranking sites will apply sadly.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @dexterr:

Well, considering the maturity level of some opinions...

SuperMaxZero

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Awesome.

Delano_J

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Mikazukinoyaiba: Man you are SO indoctrinated.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> @Justcrim:
metacritic shouldn't exist. But I love this new policy. 1up is my favorite review site, simply because they rarely gave scores that didn't end in a 0 or a .5, and they seem to get reviews up pretty fast, but they have news up WAAAAYYY before ign or that other piece of shit that is slowly sinking and, quite frankly, desrves it. I'll still visit ign from time to time, but not for reviews anymore.

gamadaya

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Well... this is pointless for me but whatever they need to help convey whether a game is "must buy" "great" "average" (which in gamer terms really man bad), and "awful run away if you see this game near you".

Personally I always have considered:
9.0 - 10.0 - A
8.9 - 8.0 - B
7.9 - 7.0 - C

You get the idea.

Deaf Mute

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> That makes sense. They are right after all, people still don't understand they used the 1-10 scale and not the 7-10 scale.

Digitalguardian

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> So every game will be better than my high school career

Len Bias Cocaine Surplus

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> No! I got that 5 meant average. It was great system because it meant that 1-5 were bad and 5-10 were good, not 1-7 were bad. I get it, You don't need to tell me how much a game blows based on 7 levels of suck.
For that we have Seanbaby.

Erwin

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> OMFG Zelda 10 got a B+ and not an A- ... LYNCH EM!

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> They can say 5 out of 10 meant average to them all they want. If all the other sites in the world, including metacritic and gamerankings don't see it that way. Then it has no wait.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> it almost feels like school grades.

dexterr

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> Good news. Didn't mind the number system much, but if this will be better for most readers, so be it.

Saint Anima

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> "...it'll more accurately convey how we feel about a game. I mean, we knew a 5 out of 10 meant 'average' to us, but no one else seemed to get the clue."

Err...if you say so.

Aethyr

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I knew that a 5 out of 10 was average. Jeff Green talked about it for like 20 minutes on a GFW podcast.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I can dig it

Drizko

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> They will turn the letters into numbers on those other sites like every other letter site.

They just need to do red, yellow, and green. All sites should do this.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> I wonder how that will track in metacritic.

Justcrim

]]> <![CDATA[1UP Changes Scoring Policy, Letters To Replace Numbers]]> About damn time -- hopefully it lasts unlike the star system that CGW (GFW) tried for a bit.

Snake726

]]>