[Messofanego]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT REVIEW EMBARGO

http://www.gametrailers.com/full-epi...gital-delights

Skip to 2:18.

"Just want to talk a little about our MoH: Warfighter review. Our review is going up pretty late. EA has decided not to send us copies of the game until the day it ships. If you've watched the show over the last few years, I think you know: BUYER BEWARE, maybe?

"Marcus Beer: The phrase you're looking for is dodgy as fuuuck."

They gave MoH 2010 a 8.1, so can't be some weird blacklisting thing.

Genuine mistake? Any other websites getting the same deal?

UPDATE: Chris Kohler from Wired and Arthur Gies from Polygon have confirmed this.


Gamespot (Kevin VanOrd) also have confirmed this.

[NateDrake]

Not uncommon for a company to do this.

[Parakeetman]

Truthfully thats how it should be IMHO.

[pauljeremiah]

Blizzard did that with Starcraft 2

[Vinterbird]

I don't this is more of a alarm bell then the embargo for AC3 (which is the day before release). It happens often, so I wouldn't start going crazy over it.

[SailorDaravon]

I don't this is more of a alarm bell then the embargo for AC3 (which is the day before release). It happens often, so I wouldn't start going crazy over it.

With AC3 the embargo is going up the day before release. Review embargos going up the day before or the day of release are normal. EA is not even sending copies of this game out to reviewers until they could buy a copy in stores. Huge difference, and 99% of the time that means it's shit.

As far as other places I think I saw Chris Kohler mention this as well on Twitter yesterday, but I can't recall if it was in reference to them (Wired) directly or not.

[foogles]

This happens quite a bit.

Happened for GTA: Vice City way back in 2002, I believe.

[Deepack]

Truthfully thats how it should be IMHO.

Yeah? Why?

[tomakasatnav]

Other websites getting the same deal.

Review copies are being courier'ed to reviewers next Tuesday morning, not on Monday, as previously believed.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost...&postcount=120

[Spookie]

Didn't this happen with CoD?

[SailorDaravon]

Didn't this happen with CoD?

Not any of them that I can recall. CoD usually does the reviewer events where they have people come out to a hotel or whatever to play the game if I recall correctly.

[S1kkZ]

holding reviews back until launch is nothing unusual, but sending review copies out on launch day (which means reviews wont go up untill 2-3 days after launch)? like they said, pretty dodgy.

[SniperHunter]

They probably want to avoid any leaks like Halo 4 or something

[Choc]

It is pretty weird for this to happen. I mean you can even preload on origin now so just let them unlock early?

:\

Wonder what EA's reasoning is.

[CrunchinJelly]

Game is probably shit and EA have spent millions on marketing so want to protect their investment, I guess.

[SailorDaravon]

It is pretty weird for this to happen. I mean you can even preload on origin now so just let them unlock early? :\ Wonder what EA's reasoning is.

Do you? Do you really?

[Messofanego]

With AC3 the embargo is going up the day before release. Review embargos going up the day before or the day of release are normal. EA is not even sending copies of this game out to reviewers until they could buy a copy in stores. Huge difference, and 99% of the time that means it's shit. As far as other places I think I saw Chris Kohler mention this as well on Twitter yesterday, but I can't recall if it was in reference to them (Wired) directly or not.

This is really weird.

[Megasoum]

They probably want to avoid any leaks like Halo 4 or something

The game is already out on the web for modden xboxes anyway so it doesn't matter lol.

[SJRB]

This happens pretty regularly. Or reviews are under strict embargo until day of release.

I wouldn't immediately asume this game sucks and that this is a cover-up.

[Choc]

Do you? Do you really?

i mean the official company line. They have to have a reason, they wouldn tbe like BECAUSE WE THINK ITS CRAP

edit: oh i just thought of a potential possible legitimate reason.


maybe they have a 'no russian' moment they don't want spoiled. I know that sounds stupid but the mainstream media spoiled the shit out of that before the game came out thus ruined the developers intention.

Its possible, you never know. I would have preferred no russian to not be spoiled (pricks in mainstream media who dont realise what the fuck a spoiler is)

[Megasoum]

This happens pretty regularly. Or reviews are under strict embargo until day of release. I wouldn't immediately asume this game sucks and that this is a cover-up.

What happens regularly is that the embargo will go up to the release date which is fine (well...I think it sucks but it's the norm nowadays). What does not happen regularly is that the reviewer does not actually get the game before release day (especially for a big game like that).


But then again... MOH can be finished in 4-5 hours so I guess they still have time to do the review on day one lol.

[Stallion Free]

Oh man, reviewers might have to stay up late to beat it.

Oh wait, the game is gonna last like 4 hours like the last one. It will be manageable.

[LuchaShaq]

Game is probably shit and EA have spent millions on marketing so want to protect their investment, I guess.

This.


Last one was a complete pile of broken scripted garbage and I doubt this will be any better.

[Choc]

i would think that surely long lead has the game (print)

surely?

[Impeccable]

Considering the deals on the game before it even ships, like "trade one for one" in Canada says volumes as well.

[Sethos]

YEAH BOMBA!!



Shit, not yet ... Patience Sethos, patience.

[Messofanego]

This happens pretty regularly. Or reviews are under strict embargo until day of release. I wouldn't immediately asume this game sucks and that this is a cover-up.

This is not about embargo, it's about review copies being sent to websites so they can have enough time to review it until embargo. Sending review copies on day 1 is pretty unique for big games.

[Stallion Free]

Last one was a complete pile of broken scripted garbage and I doubt this will be any better.

Seeing as that they switched to a new engine in a two year dev cycle, this is pretty much guaranteed.

[Kintaro]

Meh. Can't say I care too much when a site gets review copies. GT has already made up their minds about it given past comments on demos. You are at the complete mercy of publishers anyways. Bitching about like you are not is laughable. Don't like it? Buy your own copies and play it with the rest of us.

[sonicmj1]

Meh. Can't say I care too much when a site gets review copies. GT has already made up their minds about it given past comments on demos. You are at the complete mercy of publishers anyways. Bitching about like you are not is laughable. Don't like it? Buy your own copies and play it with the rest of us.

I dunno. This is basically the equivalent of a movie not holding advance screenings for the press.

[Ravensmash]

If more companies did this then maybe the media could move away from the PR/publisher reliance that many complain about.

[sTeLioSco]

Not uncommon for a company to do this.

it is uncommon.

for every release you have reviews at the..... day...... of release

unless this is a blacklist for someone,its shady.....

[BurnOutBrighter]

Yup. The game is shit.

There's no other reason. Take it from history.

Spoilers, really? If there was something controversial in it that would gain media attention then you bet your ass that that would have "leaked" by now to build word of mouth.

[DaBuddaDa]

I smell lots of 6s and 7s.

[Visualante2]

This happens quite a bit. Happened for GTA: Vice City way back in 2002, I believe.

Wasn't the catch unless you could guarantee a score of 9 or higher?

[Alcoholikaust]

YEAH BOMBA!! Shit, not yet ... Patience Sethos, patience.

haha

[Kintaro]

I dunno. This is basically the equivalent of a movie not holding advance screenings for the press.

I don't really agree since movie reviewers tend to ospoil the fuck out of movies in early reviews. Actually...game reviewers do it too. Not saying spoiler are the reason here.

Either way, I find whenever sites bitch about not getting advance copies they sound like whiny assholes. As if they are entitled to it. Again, know your place.

[legacyzero]

It's stuff like this that makes ya glad that you only paid half price.

I find this all suspicious too. %50 off as a premium member? Yeeaaahhh..

[SpaceDrake]

Take it from a person involved in game dev: this sort of obsfucation means someone doesn't want reviews hitting until after the game is being sold. You can guess what that means.

[Takao]

Will wait for free on Origin then.

[TheBaronOfNA]

I don't really agree since movie reviewers tend to ospoil the fuck out of movies in early reviews. Actually...game reviewers do it too. Not saying spoiler are the reason here.

Dude, is not about you 'agree' or not, is just a common knowledge with movie enthusiasts that:

Not advanced screening to critics = The movie is probably shit

Either way, I find whenever sites bitch about not getting advance copies they sound like whiny assholes. As if they are entitled to it. Again, know your place.

You should work as PR person in EA

[StuBurns]

I often wonder why publishers bother supporting the press at all, it doesn't seem to benefit them.

[Ravensmash]

Take it from a person involved in game dev: this sort of obsfucation means someone doesn't want reviews hitting until after the game is being sold. You can guess what that means.

That they don't want the internet to think that their good reviews were paid for?

[Stallion Free]

If more companies did this then maybe the media could move away from the PR/publisher reliance that many complain about.

I would like reviewers to pay for the games, just like we do.

[BurnOutBrighter]

I don't really agree since movie reviewers tend to ospoil the fuck out of movies in early reviews. Actually...game reviewers do it too. Not saying spoiler are the reason here. Either way, I find whenever sites bitch about not getting advance copies they sound like whiny assholes. As if they are entitled to it. Again, know your place.

Their "place" is to receive games early for review. Sure they aren't entitled to it but when a publisher goes against standard procedure for a release, you know it's a red flag.

[Dorfdad]

probably means it's shit... They want to make sure that they get their hype sales before the word gets out that it's average..Thats my take.. If it was so awesome I would put it everywhere early!

[GraveRobberX]

That 360 Beta didn't help spread the positive word, more negative

LOL

I'll get it 1 month later with BF4 access + Best Buy Pre-Order goodies thrown-in for good measure for $29.99 @ BF

Will wait for free on Origin then.

HA!

Survey time Go! Go!

probably means it's shit... They want to make sure that they get their hype sales before the word gets out that it's average..Thats my take.. If it was so awesome I would put it everywhere early!

so does it ease your concerns or gives you unrest =D

[tiny raptor]

You should work as PR person in EA

No, he made a good point.

[TheBaronOfNA]

That they don't want the internet to think that their good reviews were paid for?

After the RE6 debacle I will say that they are more afraid of the opposite.

No, he made a good point.

"You should know your place in the corporate machine" ?

[Kintaro]

Dude, is not about you 'agree' or not, is just a common knowledge with movie enthusiasts that: Not advanced screening to critics = The movie is probably shit You should work as PR person in EA

I would rather work with Rockstar. You dictate everything, play sites like fiddles and sites eagerly suck their cocks for it all. Lol

Yes, I know what it usually means but MoH 2010 was a day 1 arrival too because Dice was running late. It still got decent scores and sold 5 million.