The Splinter Cell Essentials Marketing Fracas

Videogame Media Watch has a breakdown on a developing story, yet another example of the sometimes less than stellar relationship game reviews/previews have with game marketing. In essence, Ubisoft used language from a GameSpy preview in their marketing, combining words to get the result they wanted. From the article: "As the 1up article notes, the UbiSoft ad probably does need an ellipsis to note where words were removed from the GameSpy preview. This is hardly the main issue, though, as the difference between 'one of the best games on the PSP' and 'one of the best games we've played on the PSP' is not all that important. A somewhat more salient question: how can a game turn from '...one of the best...' on a system to a 2 out of 5 review in a matter of two-and-a-half months between preview and review? "

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[Skevin]

You can spin any review to read favorably:
"It's [an] amazing...piece of...work...that keeps...you coming...back...for a long, long time. Ten...out of...ten...two...thumbs...up."

Original Text:
"It's amazing anyone would buy this piece of crap. It's not like I already work my ass off for barely enough cash that keeps the bills paid. Ubisoft, I watch you coming out with this trash every year. I'm returning this game back to the store where I got it, and won't be recommending any more Ubisoft games for a long, long time. The next time I see anyone tenuously pulling any money out of his pocket to buy your ill-gotten two-bit software, I'll tell him what I think before he thumbs his nose up at you. Solomon