Websites timings on reviews

[PDorr3]

How come websites like gamespot, IGN, etc sometimes post game reviews days before the game comes out, most of the time its on the ship date, and sometimes even after it comes out.

I was just wondering if any of you know the reasons behind this, as sometimes I anticipate the reviews before I buy a game only to find out they did not post it until a week later.

[zmweasel]

How come websites like gamespot, IGN, etc sometimes post game reviews days before the game comes out, most of the time its on the ship date, and sometimes even after it comes out.

I was just wondering if any of you know the reasons behind this, as sometimes I anticipate the reviews before I buy a game only to find out they did not post it until a week later.

Most game publishers establish an embargo so that web reviews of a game aren't posted until the game's ship date. If you break the embargo, you don't get no mo' reviewables from the publisher.

Which recent game reviews have you seen posted on prosites before the games themselves had shipped?

As for a web review posted after a game has shipped, the website presumably didn't get a pre-release copy, and so had to review a retail copy.

-- Z.

[poopnes]

sometimes even after it comes out.

Said reason & they could be super backlogged/busy at the momment. The smaller, less hyped games aren't given first priority.

[shvnsth]

look at vid game mags. they often have to reveiw stuff 3 weeks before they ship, but they always have an area in the back where they say " game " got to us late, and we didn't have enough time to review it. i guess that when publishers finish a game, they send it to the reviewers at the same time the send it to the press.

[PDorr3]

ya I guess u r right about high profile games getting first priority. But sometimes I wish there were more reviews out there before making a first day purchase for a game.

[RCM]

Hopefully in the next gen demos will be available for download for every game. I generally don't agree with reviews. I would rather play for myself than take someones word for it. And of course i'm aware that a demo is not a full game, but they are supposed to help induce a purchase right?

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[KJN]

look at vid game mags. they often have to reveiw stuff 3 weeks before they ship, but they always have an area in the back where they say " game " got to us late, and we didn't have enough time to review it. i guess that when publishers finish a game, they send it to the reviewers at the same time the send it to the press.

Sadly there is also the case where the publisher demands that you have to feature game X on the magazine cover if you want the review copy in time.

[zmweasel]

Sadly there is also the case where the publisher demands that you have to feature game X on the magazine cover if you want the review copy in time.

Can you give an example of this?

Also, I don't remember the last game I saw featured on a magazine cover that wasn't being PREviewed. Previews are what drive the game-magazine biz, and they're infinitely more valuable to game publishers than reviews.

-- Z.

[KJN]

Sadly there is also the case where the publisher demands that you have to feature game X on the magazine cover if you want the review copy in time.

Can you give an example of this?
The Swedish multi format magazine Superplay have mentioned this a coupple of times. The first case I can remember was with Mafia a few years ago, they had an article about how the publisher demanded that it had to be on the cover and they refused to do that.

[zmweasel]

Sadly there is also the case where the publisher demands that you have to feature game X on the magazine cover if you want the review copy in time.

Can you give an example of this?
The Swedish multi format magazine Superplay have mentioned this a coupple of times. The first case I can remember was with Mafia a few years ago, they had an article about how the publisher demanded that it had to be on the cover and they refused to do that.

I was hoping for an example of a U.S. magazine. It's well-known that European mags (and especially British mags) are usually willing to bend to publishers' "requests."

-- Z.

[shvnsth]

im sure it happens whenever a mag has the "exclusive first review" of a game. i know gamepro had this with some of the tony hawks, but i don't know if they had cut a deal with the publisher to do this.