To me, it appears numerical ratings are being interpreted as a measure of the quality of a game. I think this is largely doomed to failure, as a number doesn't indicate anything about gameplay, graphics, sound, and the countless other characteristics that constitute a game.
However, I do believe that numerical ratings have their place as a measure of how strongly the reviewer recommends the product. An earlier post) was on the right track in terms of using ratings as a measure of recommending the game, though it wasn't explicit.
So in this 'system', if a game gets a low rating, it merely means the reviewer/s didn't feel impressed enough with the game to recommend it. But, to see why they feel that way, you need to read the article.
Slashdot Mirror
However, I do believe that numerical ratings have their place as a measure of how strongly the reviewer recommends the product. An earlier post) was on the right track in terms of using ratings as a measure of recommending the game, though it wasn't explicit.
So in this 'system', if a game gets a low rating, it merely means the reviewer/s didn't feel impressed enough with the game to recommend it. But, to see why they feel that way, you need to read the article.