spectrum48k

Gamespot, a very well known gaming website, posted a bad review of the game Kane & Lynch.

It's alleged Eidos, the publishers of the game, and major advertiser on the website, took exception to the review. The adverts for the game were mysteriously pulled from the website. Subsequently,the long-standing editor responsible has been fired from his job.

More info:
Rumor: Gamespot's editorial director fired over Kane & Lynch review - Joystiq

Moral to the story, games magazines and websites who's primary revenue comes from those who create the games they review don't like their games getting bad reviews. Best make up review scores instead if you want to keep your job.

Markus

Penny Arcade has picked up on it too, as shown in their current cartoon. Tycho's newspost later today should make for an interesting read.

It does sound as though Eidos has put pressure on Gamespot to fire him due to the poor review, and that simply is not on. The reviewer has confirmed he's been fired, but he's not discussing details at the moment, probably due to pending legal action against Gamespot and/or Eidos.

Who is going to trust a GS review from now on? If a game gets a poor score is it simply because their publisher does not has a massive advertising budget with GS and thus can't put pressure on them for a good review. If a game gets a good review and a good score, it is really a good game, or is the reviewer toeing the like so as to keep their job?

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

This is something we have all suspected for a while

Just had a look at the Penny Arcade site. The narrative is very hard to read, the way its written tends to suggest you are already meant to know what he is talking about!

Markus

Typically the comic goes up before the newspost as Gabe has to draw the thing all Tycho has to do is ramble on about it Give it another hour and the title of the newspost and the comic should match.

I do agree that sometimes I have found myself reading the newspost when the comic isn't available and wondering what on earth they are rambling on about, but when the comic arrives it all starts to make sense.

As you say, this whole debacle isn't a complete shock. Back in the days of CRASH! I did always wonder if good reviews were paid for, as many of the games they reviewed and gave excellent reviews for were very poor indeed, conversely some of the games they didn't rate highly were gems.

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

The best game review is the one you perform shortly after finding a torrent

Then, if its stable and as good as they made out. Buy it

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Inevitable when there is such a conflict of interests IMHO!

I read a review of Assasins Creed today (another Edios game) in an independent mag and they panned it 4/10. Gamespot, despite raising similar criticisms, gave it somewhat higher marks!

Ns04

bob269

can Eidos argue with the scores of the paying public

Kane & Lynch: Dead Men for Xbox 360 Reviews - Xbox 360 Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Reviews