710°

The Sixth Axis Pressured to remove 3/10 score from NBA 2K18 Review By 2K

2K games are really off to a bad start with their NBA 2K game. Everyone agreed that their microtransactions system is a complete ripoff, now, according to Neogaf, they pressured The Six Axis website to remove the review where they gave 2K18 a 3/10.

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beyond-gaming.net
porkChop2401d ago

And they gave in. That's the opposite of what journalists are trained to do. You don't bow down and give in to bullies, neither do you essentially censor your own work. The reason publishers get away with this is because so many journalists allow them to, so they know this tactic will work.

roadkillers2400d ago

Bullies? Publishers give good reviews and in exchange the sites get information on upcoming releases along with review builds of their games. They can easily blacklist a company from receiving their games early. 3/10 is outrageous in today's age when everyone looks at reviews before purchasing.

EatCrow2400d ago

Its a problem with the review system.

/10 scale is just simply outdated.
It should be /5

3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 2/10 and 1/10 all say the same thing.
Bad game. Avoid it.

yomfweeee2400d ago

@EatCrow, that doesn't exactly make sense. if 2/10 - 6/10 all say the same thing. On a 5 point system that would basically mean 1/5 - 3/5 all say the same thing.... what's the difference?

vallencer2400d ago

@yomfweee

Its a psychological thing. A 3/5 looks better then a 6/10 because it has a smaller numbers gap. Plus a lot of people are just bad at fractions.

wonderfulmonkeyman2400d ago

@Crow
Shhhh, you're not allowed to question the status quo of a bad review system here on N4G.
People have been using it so long that they'll downvote-nuke you for even suggesting it's flawed.

yeahright22400d ago

@yomfweeee, I'm with eatcrow. It does make sense primarily because of how we're graded in schools. you don't get a 50% on a test and consider it average, but if you see a 3/5 star review you think "ok". Of all the outlets and youtubers out there I think I've only come across angry who sticks by the 5.0 = average. the rest see it as bad. Some of the worst scales are at places like IGN where they have a 100 point scale. That's just too much. what's the difference between an 8.6 and an 8.7? A twenty point scale is better but has the same problems as a 10 point that eatcrow mentioned. a 2/10 and a 4.5/10 both mean it's a bad game, no real difference. But a 1/5 and 2/5? That tells me one is a bad game and one is one of the worst games ever made. similarly, 3 would mean it's ok, 4 that it's good and 5 a must buy if you like then genre.

SegaGamer2400d ago

@Roadkillers. Give good reviews in exchange for goods......why bother reviewing a game at all then ? If you can't be honest then there really is no point in a review. Also, not EVERYBODY looks at reviews before purchasing a game, i don't need somebody else to tell me what is good and what isn't.

Bleucrunch2400d ago

You sound like you would bow down to them as well. A review is an opinion, you are advocating for these reviews to just regurgitate what the publisher wants (lie) because they will get upset?? Yous a punk!!!

roadkillers2400d ago

If dont care about reviews then why the hell does this bother you? It shouldn't because you dont care, but you are here posting your problem with it.

Kleptic2400d ago (Edited 2400d ago )

^just guessing, but probably because a content creator pressuring critics is kind of a big deal, even if you don't care about the review or game.

Many of us haven't read reviews in years...many still do. If you can't see the conflict of interest within a publisher making a public media outlet a puppet...then that is very sad. That influences the industry; makes more shat games become acceptable, and removes any degree of integrity between the parties involved.

I'm tired of comic book movies. I don't read reviews about them, and I don't go to see them in theaters (if ever, actually)...but when all the bs exploded last year about warner brothers pressuring critics because of Suicide Squad getting raked through the coals...It got my attention. I didn't care about the movie, didn't care if it failed...but if it was bad (which was obvious to me without needing a review), I most definitely didn't want the distributor walking around getting critics to pull the critique...isn't that like the most ethically obvious thing in all of entertainment? This is all very different than 'news media', owned by conglomerates that skew information while also money hatting political figures. No game site is blasting other games and turning around giving a publisher money with 'vote for this change in Halo's multiplayer'...there is NO reason for any subjective relationship between a game publisher and a media site. ever.

2400d ago
2399d ago
yeahright22399d ago

@ceo 1.5 is still a 10 point scale, he's saying it should be a 5 point scale. so either a 1 out of five or a 2. So maybe lighten up on calling him too lazy to do math before you can accomplish that little task yourself.

roadkillers2399d ago

Yup that's exactly what I'm saying. 3/10 is setting a bad precedence for games. This game is a 7/10 at worst, so how would you rate the shittier games coming out. 2/10 and 1/10? Setting a very bad precedence.

+ Show (10) more repliesLast reply 2399d ago
BenRC012400d ago

They didnt give in. Read the effing article

porkChop2400d ago (Edited 2400d ago )

I looked at the actual review where they had in fact taken down the score. They did give in.

rocketpanda2400d ago

Here a quote:

"Update: In discussion with 2K Games, we’ve temporarily removed the score pending a statement with regard to our criticisms, at which point it will be reinstated. Additionally, a draft conclusion was posted that incorrectly characterised our score as a protest vote, and has been reworded to reflect that our criticisms are rooted in the effect that VC and microtransactions have on the gameplay."

Any time a publisher contacts you because of a review score, it's pressure because they obviously didn't like the score. It. Can be in the most friendly way possible but it doesn't matter. Rather than read the criticism in the reviews they want to take it a step further and have direct influence in the reviews.

Why would any outlet need to liaise with a publisher after a review goes up? They did cave in, and because this went public very fast and also something called the Streisand effect. If anything, the review should have need been taken down during the exchanges.

indyman77772400d ago

PorkChop what do you mean they gave in? They reinstated the score after the reviewed the complaint according to the article. Of course I'm reading it 15 hours after your statement so maybe they updated it after you read it?

porkChop2400d ago

Yup. When I read the article, the score was gone. They reinstated it after.

RommyReigns2400d ago

If everyone behaved like the reviewer for NBA 2K18 did maybe Shadow of War wouldn’t have happened, and maybe Overwatch wouldn’t have set a new standard for how much a game can get away with.

conanlifts2400d ago

"Update 2 1PM BST 22/09: Our 3/10 score has now been restored to this review, with all but the wording that suggested this was a protest vote also kept intact."

porkChop2400d ago

Yeah, I saw. This was done after I saw the review.

TejasTV2400d ago

I'm not sure they are journalists and having gone through journalism school myself I can confirm they basically teach you how to make money as a journalist and not how to be a good journalist.

porkChop2400d ago

I have also gone through journalism school, and my course must have been very different to yours. They hammered us with ethics, the pillars of journalism, loyalty to readers, etc. They taught us how to be good journalists, very little of the course had to do with money at all.

subtenko2400d ago

So basically they teach you to lie and extort literally teaching you that in your face or subtly suggesting it? So what are your assignments? Lie to the teacher? Do they expect the lies and bs or is this a game of trying to outsmart a liar? What kind of scummy class are you actually describing here?

Seraphim2400d ago

so called gaming journalism has been a huge joke for at least a couple decades. Though from the sounds of it this was a childish score based not off the merits of the game itself but microtransactions etc.

That being said, I'm sorry but any game that functions properly and plays good receiving a low score is absurd. idk what exactly their scoring system is and nowadays it's often a challenge to find the scoring system, if you even can, which enables you to put the score in context based off the particular site or reviewers values. Of course even giving imperfect games a 10 is a joke. Anyway, any given game that plays well with minimal bugs or problems should score between, at the very least, 6-7, probably more like 6-8. The article itself is where you knock the crap out of a game for management decisions you don't agree with or they fact they're pushing DLC, microtrans or whatever else that doesn't sit well with the reviewer.

porkChop2400d ago

I agree that the score was a bit ridiculous. But I don't even like scores tbh. Play, Wait, or Skip is much more useful information to me than some number.

ChickenOfTheCaveMan2399d ago

On the other hand, gaming journalists are kind of shit to begin with.

porkChop2399d ago

Unfortunately I can't argue there. There are some good ones, but many do certain things that journalists just aren't supposed to.

warriorcase2399d ago

Why even give review copies if you can't handle a review?

review
rɪˈvjuː/Submit
noun
1.
a formal assessment of something with the intention of instituting change if necessary.
"a comprehensive review of UK defence policy"
synonyms: analysis, evaluation, assessment, appraisal, examination, investigation, scrutiny, enquiry, exploration, probe, inspection, study, audit; rareanatomization
"the Council is to undertake a review of its property portfolio"
2.
a critical appraisal of a book, play, film, etc. published in a newspaper or magazine.

+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 2399d ago
gtxgamer22400d ago

What the hell? Aren't reviews based off of opinion? If 2k really feels threatened by people's reviews maybe they should've put more time into the switch version. Does anyone have nba on switch? How does it compare to other versions?

BlacKJesu52400d ago

It'll prob be Garbo like you'd assume basketball on a handheld would be.

G3ng4r2400d ago

You're right though. It was dumb to test switch waters with a degraded and custom built sports game when a shinier port of black ops 2 would have likely sold better to nintendo fans. The wii u version sold .41 million which meant like 3 copies per Wii u owner.

The 10th Rider2400d ago

I don't have it but I hang around a few Switch sites and have heard from people that do. From the sound of things all versions have some minor performance issues in some areas, but on the Switch it's sometimes so bad it's nearly unplayable. From what I understand that's in the open world career mode or whatever it's called. The save files can be a ridiculous 5gb, which is a major issue since Nintendo still hasn't allowed us to transfer saves to an SD card. There's also a few bugs, most notably ones that can corrupt your save file . . . a huge concern considering how riddled the game is with micro-transactions and if you buy any and your save corrupts, you just lost all that money.

There's enough there for it to eventually be a good game, but it clearly needed some more time for optimization and bug fixing, as well as some work to fix the astounding size of the save files.

2400d ago
Nintendew2400d ago

Just wish there was more then 2 basket ball games each year.
Playgrounds is good. Have switch version and no problems.
But seems like you play 2k or nothing at all.

The 10th Rider2400d ago

@someone72,

Glad to hear it's working well for you. From what I heard the gameplay on the courts was fine, but the open world stuff or whatever was a little rough around the edges frame-rate wise. Then again, some people consider 20fps unplayable and others find it perfectly fine. Either way the port seems fine outside of save files. If they can fix that and optimize it a bit better it sounds like it'll be a good game.

yeahright22400d ago

Yeah, but reviews in general are starting to carry less and less weight now. Look at Jim sterling with hellblade. he got emotional about a bug most would be unlikely to encounter and gave it 1/5. Or games where the online component works great while only game journalists are playing their preview copies but then the online breaks when the masses hit it. Now with this, EA just called up Jimmy bone crusher to "talk" to them and the review score magically gets changed. the irony is reviews are easier than ever to find now but I never know if any of them are worth my time.

Relientk772400d ago

Stupid, 2K don't have the right to do that

Also heard nothing but bad things from this game and the microtransactions. Make a better game with no ripoff microtransactions.

nowitzki20042400d ago (Edited 2400d ago )

Its not as bad as people make it seem. You can earn everything its just that if you pay you will acquire it much faster. Should be that way if people are willing to spend more imo. It also doesnt affect every game mode. The gameplay is probably better than its ever been so 3/10 is complete BS.

PlayableGamez-2400d ago

It's people like you why MTs are getting worse.
Stop defending bullshit dude. Please?

nowitzki20042400d ago

@PlayableGamez

I have only bought DLC for any game maybe twice in my life.. Microtransactions? about $0 spent in my life lol. Im not defending it. Im defending the game getting a 3/10 review. Has nothing to do with MT.

ifrit_caress2400d ago

@nowitzki2004
You say "You can earn everything its just that if you pay you will acquire it much faster."

Let me ask you: Which do you think these publishers, 2K for example, want? For the players to grind through the game without paying or to pay and get better quicker?

If you know how corporations work, you know they, 2K in this case, want you to pay. So they will get the game developing studio to increase the grind and make the in-game currency more attractive in an attempt to psychologically batter/force you to pay.

Also take note, if 2K didn't want the players to use microtransactions, they never would've put them in the game.

nowitzki20042400d ago

I have played 2k games since they have been out on Dreamcast, I have no problem with the way it is. I personally used to hate how easy it used to be to get to a high rating while playing. Theres still an advantage if you play and get the rating up through badges.

Michiel19892400d ago

U get less credits to buy stuff in game because they want to sell those for real money. So yes it isbad.
Dont try to justify this money milking.

PlayableGamez-2400d ago

Sidenote: Why do you have to pay "Virtual Coins" to change your hair style in a video game?

rocketpanda2400d ago

Oh go away with that logic. People paid full price for what should have been accessible as soon as you boot it up. I don't care if you can everything the with need the VC, the is why is it riddled with micro transactions

Content locked behind virtual currency belongs in f2p models.

3/10 is fully justified.

UCForce2400d ago

Dude, that's microtransaction is a scam system. It take away the meaning of grinding and reward. It's make thing feel less satisfying and more hollow.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2400d ago
FloydianAndroid2400d ago

I've played every 2k basketball game, and there are some major major flaws with this game not even counting the reliance on micro transactions. The narrative in the my player portion is laughable. The character that's supposed to be your friend is so annoying and pointless. The graphics are bad in the my player portion. Also the after game reactions make no sense. I had 40 pts, 11 rbs, and 12 assists yet after the game the narrative was that I had a terrible game. Once again the play calling when playing through a season is very unintuitive, by the time you cycle through to the play you want the shot clock is almost at 0 and you end up having to force shots. Lastly and most frustrating is the server issues and how your my player won't show up at certain times forcing you to reboot the game. In my opinion it's a 5 out of 10 at best.

gbsrnctaln2400d ago

Sounds like you need to practice and get better.

MrFisher212400d ago

Yeah, your just trash it sounds. Game is amazing. And very well done. And that's just my opinion

Sgt_Slaughter2400d ago

Sounds like you two need to take the 2k blindfold off and actually look at what he's saying.

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140°

With Larian Out Of The Picture, Will The Baldur's Gate IP Be In Safe Hands?

Huzaifah from eXputer: "With Larian Studios washing their hands of the IP, what is the ultimate fate of the legendary Baldur's Gate series?"

RaidenBlack11h ago

If anybody's gonna mention BioWare, then look at Archetype Entertainment, they're the new BioWare
or else
Obsidian is still a good choice but not independent anymore.

anast11h ago(Edited 11h ago)

No, WoTC is pivoting to mobile. They can use Larian's work to justify DnD Go and everyone will accept it.

RiseNShine10h ago

Short answer, nope. Long answer, f*ck nope.

Christopher10h ago

Honestly, we're talking completely new engine and none of Larian's built-in stuff with regard to environments and the like that they had from their past divinity game. No one is going to have that just ready to go. So, they need to shop for a dev studio that has a past game that shows what they want.

Obsidian doesn't have that, maybe the closest being Dungeon Siege 3 or Pillars of Eternity, but those are very basic, not as open, very little environment related and altering capabilities. So, we're talking a step way back on what Larian delivered. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Okay conversation tree designs, but still needs more complexity.

inXile has Wasteland 3 as a base model engine, and I think that's better than Pillars of Eternity from Obsidian. But, still needs to be more open world, more environmental effects, and a much heavier rules set adaptation. But, not a bad overall engine as a base, but still a ton of work. Zero scene experience to line up with what was done in BG3. Needs a ton of work on that entirely.

Tactical Adventure did the Solasta game. Really good and more accurate as far as 5e rules than BG3. But, again, if the expectation is similar to what made BG3 a big hit, engine isn't designed for moving the camera, is a bit outdated in graphics, doesn't have in-game scene elements, and needs much better writers/voice actors.

Owlcat of pathfinder games is another choice, even though they've recently moved on to WH40k licensed games. Again, though, the engine is the biggest issue here to match up, but it's a much better option overall than Tactical Adventure. Another question is writers/story telling, as much of their overall story telling bits are very limited with a lot of random worldbuilding elements that are just +\- of some attributes.

TBH, no matter who takes over, it's just not going to be like BG3 much like how BG3 isn't at all like BG1/2. And BG3 was so successful because of how much Larian was able to put in with their engine and how focused they were on players having ridiculous control over the story being told. I just don't see the next BG being the same and depending on what it is, it might be good but I'm not as big of a reach as BG3. It's way more likely players are going to go into BG4 (or its spiritual successor if it moves away from Baldur's Gate and into Neverwinter or something like Plansescape) expecting much of what is in BG3 with more options, new and older characters, and the same level of control over what they're doing. If it doesn't have that, regardless of who makes it, it won't be as successful, IMHO.

CrimsonWing699h ago

Probably not, but maybe… just maybe…

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30°

Human Fall Flat 2 Delayed, Devolver Details Major 2023 Sales Decline

As part of its latest financial report, Devolver Digital has announced that upcoming physics platformer Human Fall Flat 2 has been delayed beyond 2025.

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techraptor.net
260°

Microsoft has ‘let Blizzard be Blizzard’ following its acquisition, studio says

Microsoft has 'let Blizzard be Blizzard' following the acquisition of the veteran developer according to World of Warcraft's executive producer.

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videogameschronicle.com
Kaii1d 8h ago

Diablo 4 storefront being a cash grabbing shitshow does unironically attest to that, kudos.

kythlyn1h ago

Microsoft needs to be guiding Blizzard to be what it USED to be, not allowing it to continue to be the greedy bastardization of itself that it has become.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

Okay i will be interested if they become old Blizzard but might as well be dead.

Rynxie14h ago

They will never be old blizzard. Most of all the OG's left from developers to those on the top (even some decision making folks left).

Vits1d 5h ago

Shame most of the people that made Blizzard what they were, have already left a while ago.

ApocalypseShadow1d 5h ago

I was about to say this. How can they be blizzard when they're no longer blizzard from yesteryear?

blacktiger19h ago

Rare was the thing I lost heart

victorMaje16h ago

Exactly. Blizzard hasn’t been Blizzard for a long time.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Knightofelemia1d 1h ago

Blizzard is not the same Blizzard like it use to be.

PassNextquestion19h ago

Were you expecting Microsoft to hire everyone that had left Blizzard long before they purchased the company...

Microsoft has let the Blizzard company they purchased continue to be the Blizzard company they purchased.

thesoftware73013h ago

Wow, PassNextquestion,

You fully understand what that saying means, unlike some people on here who just have to say negative garbage talk.

When someone says, "Just let *blank* be *blank*, "they are just letting them operate how they operate.

It's pretty much how Sony "let Bungie be Bungie."

This comment section is full of outright haters, but you have to "let N4G be N4G"

GamerRN11h ago

This site leans so heavily in one direction...

BISHOP-BRASIL2h ago

I don't think people commenting are necessarily blaming MS for anything here, this is just collective longing for what Blizzard/Vivendi was before Activision's meddling.

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