View Poll Results: Metacritic? Does it influence you?
Voters: 32. You may not vote on this poll
Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
08-21-13, 10:40 AM
#1
DVD Talk Hero
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Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I didn't want to boggle down the other threads with this, so I just wanted to see where people stand on such things. If there's another thread, feel free to remove/merge this one... but I'm curious about our "current" readers here, not so much what people said X number of years ago.
Personally, I never ever look at Metacritic, much like I don't really care what Rotten Tomatoes displays most of the time for movies.
Personally, I never ever look at Metacritic, much like I don't really care what Rotten Tomatoes displays most of the time for movies.
08-21-13, 10:41 AM
#2
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Yes
08-21-13, 10:43 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
08-21-13, 10:49 AM
#6
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Yup. I don't play THAT many games, so often times I wait for reviews and only play games that seem like they will be worth my while. Reviews aren't perfect, but Metacritic is a quick and easy way to at least see what the general consensus is.
08-21-13, 11:22 AM
#8
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Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I dont pay attention at all. If I can play a demo or rent first then I will go off my "rating". If thats no available and I still think it looks then I will buy
08-21-13, 11:24 AM
#9
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Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I reference it a lot when trying to figure out if a game I'm eyeing as a gift for a friend/relative is up-to-par.
For myself, not really. I'll use Metacritic as a quick gateway to a bunch of opinions, and I'll try to skim through a few on different sides of the spectrum. Posts on forums like DVD Talk and LCVG push me more towards/against games than reviews in general. If I'm on the fence, a high Metacritic score could push me over.
For myself, not really. I'll use Metacritic as a quick gateway to a bunch of opinions, and I'll try to skim through a few on different sides of the spectrum. Posts on forums like DVD Talk and LCVG push me more towards/against games than reviews in general. If I'm on the fence, a high Metacritic score could push me over.
08-21-13, 11:31 AM
#10
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I don't think I've ever been to Metacritic. I listen to the fine folks on this forum.
08-21-13, 11:32 AM
#11
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I reference meta sites like gamerankings.com, but not metacritic in specific. Does that count?
08-21-13, 11:35 AM
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I buy what I want. Ratings have never influenced me. Opinions of people I know and trust? Sure. Random internet people? Nope.
08-21-13, 12:08 PM
#13
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Absolutely. It's not my only resource, but I think it's important : I find that the Metacritic video game scores tend to be artificially high, at least in comparison to movie or music scores (see Last of Us, The). If a game has an aggregate score of less than 70, in my experience there's probably a significant reason for that score (Unlike movies, where there are many enjoyable films with scores in the 60s).
08-21-13, 12:10 PM
#14
Moderator
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Yes. If I'm interested in a game, and it's bombing in all the reviews, I'll balk. And if a game wasn't on my radar, and is suddenly getting universal praise, I'll give it a second look.
08-21-13, 12:24 PM
#15
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Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Not metacritic specifically, but I definitely look at reviews before investing my time or money into a game.
Voted maybe.
Voted maybe.
08-21-13, 12:40 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I didn't want to boggle down the other threads with this, so I just wanted to see where people stand on such things. If there's another thread, feel free to remove/merge this one... but I'm curious about our "current" readers here, not so much what people said X number of years ago.
Personally, I never ever look at Metacritic, much like I don't really care what Rotten Tomatoes displays most of the time for movies.
Personally, I never ever look at Metacritic, much like I don't really care what Rotten Tomatoes displays most of the time for movies.
But if I want a game, I'm going to get that game.
08-21-13, 12:48 PM
#18
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I voted maybe. If it's a game based on something I have an interest in (like that horrible LOST game), i'll at least rent it and try it. But if it sucks, I'm OK with not finishing it.
08-21-13, 12:57 PM
#19
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Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I almost never buy games at release, but I keep a list of what I am intersted in getting cheap. I add games to that list based off of recomendations here and on the couple of gaming podcasts I listen to. I'll read reviews for games if they go on sale for crazy prices on XBLA or PSN and I haven't heard of them before.
08-21-13, 03:54 PM
#23
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Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I'll look if I'm on the fence about a game or see an older game that I don't remember reading about.
08-21-13, 05:52 PM
#24
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
Yes. Otherwise I would have spent $60 on Resident Evil 6 on release day. Metacritic made me wait till it was $10.
08-21-13, 05:53 PM
#25
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Do you care about Metacritic scores enough to let it influence a game purchase?
I think it's a good starting point, but you have to be careful. Sometimes, especially with indie/less popular games, there won't be many reviews and one bad score can bring down the average considerably. I also get a bit disappointed when they list reviews in English that are actually in foreign languages when you visit the site, and when some reviews aren't available to read online at all. It's especially handy for checking out a batch of games in a new bundle.
However, as always I don't put a ton of stock in the numerical score and try to actually read the reviews. I think it's important to know WHY a game got the score it did, and Metacritic isn't perfect; some sites' grades don't lend themselves as well to being converted to a 0-100 scale.
However, as always I don't put a ton of stock in the numerical score and try to actually read the reviews. I think it's important to know WHY a game got the score it did, and Metacritic isn't perfect; some sites' grades don't lend themselves as well to being converted to a 0-100 scale.