Why Videogame Reviews End Up Being So Controversial

Thanks to GamerDad for its editorial discussing why videogame reviews are sometimes controversial, and "why fanboys have such a hard time understanding that reviews are just opinions." The author explains: "I think it's simply a product of the games being essentially mechanical constructs... The mechanics of a game are often reviewed with their own numerical scores that then produce the overall total score." He goes on: "So many folks believe the pieces that create the game, because of the technology used (good or bad), define how good it can or can't be", before concluding: "Five stars out of five doesn't mean that's the greatest game and no game could be better. It does mean that it's one of the very best your money can buy in the opinion of the writer of the review."

Comments

opinions that look like facts.

[slothman32]

The problem with reviews isn't that they are opinions but that they seem to be facts. Many reviewers and critics make it look like a movie or game or book really is bad rather than they just think it's bad. I personally don't look at reviews because the opinions are so ubiquitous that I the "facts" become meaning less. If I like it I like it. What others think is irrelevant.