Poll of the Day > Have you ever review bombed a game?

(+) Yeah! (+)

So, when some people are ticked off at a video game, they go on websites like Metacritic and give it super low scores, whether they've played it or not. Have you ever done that?

Personally, I've never been angry enough at a game or a developer to bother. Besides, it seems like a childish, ineffective way to try to make your voice heard. I doubt the user average review on Metacritic transforms the way companies operate... but maybe I don't pay enough attention to that sort of thing. What do you think?

Tails 64 posted...

it seems like a childish, ineffective way to try to make your voice heard. I doubt the user average review on Metacritic transforms the way companies operate...

This is literally false, since there are stories of publishers that refuse to pay bonuses based on Metacritic scores. Devs and publishers definitely pay attention, and review-bombed scores (whether there, on IMDB, or elsewhere) can lead potential audience to avoid titles, thus causing loss of sales.

I've never review-bombed anything myself, but when games get review-bombed I do start paying attention to why people are complaining, and often it'll lead me to decide that the flaws they're pissed about also annoy me, and thus I avoid buying the game. So in that sense, it works.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

This is literally false, since there are stories of publishers that refuse to pay bonuses based on Metacritic scores. Devs and publishers definitely pay attention, and review-bombed scores (whether there, on IMDB, or elsewhere) can lead potential audience to avoid titles, thus causing loss of sales.

I've never review-bombed anything myself, but when games get review-bombed I do start paying attention to why people are complaining, and often it'll lead me to decide that the flaws they're pissed about also annoy me, and thus I avoid buying the game. So in that sense, it works.

This, in addition I've never reveiw bombed a game I have not not played. I definitly left a negetive reveiw for games I played and disliked.

No because I'm not a bot.

ParanoidObsessive posted...

This is literally false, since there are stories of publishers that refuse to pay bonuses based on Metacritic scores. Devs and publishers definitely pay attention, and review-bombed scores (whether there, on IMDB, or elsewhere) can lead potential audience to avoid titles, thus causing loss of sales.

Hmm. I've heard about devs and publishers basing pay bonuses based on the critic score, but not the user score. After all, a user score could just as easily be manipulated into being higher than it should be if bots and such leave enough ultra-positive reviews.

Most people would have to give a shit first.

I've given bad reviews but never bombed a game. It's pointlessly spiteful and childlike.

A couple of times, when developers / publishers have removed a purchased game from Steam accounts. That has happened way too often for something that shouldn't happen at all.

Game, no. restaurant on yelp, you betcha

Why would I? People like what they like. All that matters is what I like. I've no need to concern myself with things I don't like and certainly don't care about review scores.

How does a single person "review bomb" you are only capable of leaving a single review and if its a bad or broken game it deserves it.

dioxxys posted...

How does a single person "review bomb" you are only capable of leaving a single review and if its a bad or broken game it deserves it.

I suppose the better wording would be "Have you ever participated in a review bombing?"

no, idk if I've submitted a review for a game anywhere

No. Most games I have no interest in playing but I respect the fact that others may enjoy them.