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"'Games Magazine' - Bias Views"

I get the Official Xbox Magazine every month but like to get more than one review for games so I pick and choose some other magazines to suplement my reading.

Every month I go into my local shop and pick up 'Games' magazine and every month it pans any Xbox release. I have barely seen an Xbox game get more than 6/10 yet seen some ordinary PS2/Gamecube/GBA games get stupidly high scores.

Is this just my bias in favour of the Xbox, is it that the other consoles genuinely bringing out better games or is it that the reviewers in 'Games' magaizne are discruntled ex-Microsoft employees.

What is you opinion on this.

My personal favourite advert was in NOM a fair few years back.

It read simply:

Who would wait two years for a plumber?

With a saturn logo under it.

Thank god most of us did wait for that plumber.

I think there are more games being released on average per week on the PS2, than on the X-Box, so mags like Games TM are probably going to choose to review the better PS2 games and leave behind the dross. With the X-Box, being a newer console, until recently less titles have been released in the same period, and so in order to keep a fairly even coverage they need to review more of the lower quality games.

I would be interested to know what games you think Games TM have underscored. I can only think of a handful of titles that have deserved to score highly.

i have been influenced in my buying by Games TM reviews, and so far they haven't let me down.

unknown kernal. I bought Egde this month, but the reviews contained woords that I didn't understand, and the reviews felt more like a chore to read than fun.

Well, I think that all the magazines recognise truly brilliant games like Knights and score them accordingly. But when it comes to the average or quite good games then multiformat magazines tend to be a lot harsher. I haven't noticed any Xbox bias, but maybe I'm just unobservant. It doesn't really bother me, though, because I don't have the time or money to spend on average games. As long as magazines can help me decide which games are excellent then I'm happy because I'm not that interested in the difference between a 6 out of 10 game and a 4 out of 10 game - I'm not going to be playing either. And it does seem like there are just more 8s 9s and 10s on other formats.

So the question remains, are the games on the other consoles of better quality than that are currently on the Xbox.

Yes, most 'Official' magazines will obviously have a bias but that can't explain the low scores that Xbox games get in 'Games TM'. Only the obviously brilliant get good scores i.e Star Wars KOTR.

I own a Dreamcast(saddly under rated), PS2 and Xbox but wouldn't say that either the PS2 or Xbox are miles ahead with regard to quality games (it's not just in the graphics). So why do PS2 games fare better than Xbox games in 'Games TM'.

I still don't understand, please someone explain. I am just plainly stupid (I know I am , not need to repeat this on any reply) and don't notice that Gamcube and PS2 are producing better quality games.

Rosalind wrote:
> I'm not mature enough to resort to Edge yet.

Ah, go on, you know you want to. I love Edge, particularly the way it takes games very, very seriously. It's sweet and very endearing. I just want to pat its writers on the head.

The only magazines whose reviews I trust are Edge, GamesTM and possibly PC Gamer. I think the problem is that the Xbox has only had one truly great game. Halo apart, nothing else in my opinion has deserved a 9 or a 10. Morrowind, maybe, but I have that on PC and, even though I love it to bits, it has major flaws as a game.

So, no, I don't think there is bias against the Xbox: it's just that single format magazines, especially of the 'Official' kind, are bound to up their scores to keep their readers and advertisers happy.

Are you talking about Games TM?

If so, I love this mag. I've got a subscription to it, and I think its great, Its half way between CVG/Gamesmaster and Edge in terms of maturity and content, which is perfert for me, cause all though I'm an older gamer, I'm not mature enough to resort to Edge yet.

I havem't noticed any biased towards any console in the mag, but I'm multiconsole, so I don't look out for any of the consoles in particular.

For me, there haven't been a lot of great X-Boxs yets. But a couple of gems, and the promise of more great games to come, persaded me to invest in the big black box. Knights got 9/10 this month though, I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on it.

P.S If you weren't talking about Games TM, my mistake, sorry.

I get the Official Xbox Magazine every month but like to get more than one review for games so I pick and choose some other magazines to suplement my reading.

Every month I go into my local shop and pick up 'Games' magazine and every month it pans any Xbox release. I have barely seen an Xbox game get more than 6/10 yet seen some ordinary PS2/Gamecube/GBA games get stupidly high scores.

Is this just my bias in favour of the Xbox, is it that the other consoles genuinely bringing out better games or is it that the reviewers in 'Games' magaizne are discruntled ex-Microsoft employees.

What is you opinion on this.