Bits Bytes Pixels and Sprites is calling out PGNx media and writer Jose Liz for writing reviews based on previews. In the piece, Andrew Hayward of BBPS, says that the Spider-Man 3 "review" is based on a demo he saw with this writer while on an Activision junket. He believes the writer made up the review based on the preview information as evidence by lines like "These interactive cinematics provided some of the demo's (emphasis ours) biggest 'wow' moments such as struggling in the air against the Green Goblin (while playing as Peter) and jumping through lasers as Spider-Man." Oops, helps to double-check that stuff before posting. Coincidentally, the DS review by the same writer ends with, "We're very excited to review the full version when it is released in early May." Double d'oh!Hayward says, "The writer seemed like a really nice guy, but the more I interact with some of the writers at these independent gaming websites, the more I sense a general lack of knowledge pertaining to ethics and correctness in reporting." Of course, this statement would just be soaking in the juices of irony if Hayward had his airfare, hotel and other incidentals paid for by Activision as part of this junket.
This certainly isn't the most high-ranking screw-up in recent memory (frankly we've never heard of PGNx Media), but it does make an interesting footnote in the world of preview and review game writing. In the eyes of a PR company though, it doesn't matter how the review is written, as long as the writer says good things about the game.
