Telltale devs caught juking Metacritic user reviews, studio stands behind them

@Ribs (and everyone else here)

I will agree with you that Metacritic user reviews don't "count", and I don't know anyone that uses them as a reliable source. However, that does NOT excuse Telltale employees' behavior, and you shouldn't be so gentle on them as you all are. It doesn't matter whether or not Metacritic is reliable or not - they're abusing the system. The world doesn't operate in a vacuum; if you let them off the hook for this, they'll get bolder and bolder.

There are certain things that are RIGHT, and certain things that are WRONG. This one is wrong, and it needs to be corrected so that it doesn't become wrong-er in the future. Understand that the word "precedent" exists in every single action, and informs future actions.

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

If you get spam and spyware does it hurt you?

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

That's what you get for having your real name be your username...

@SmashZilla

Only if it's not organic.

@xHotPotatox
Or a better chance of Anderson Cooper and CNN giving an unbiased review of ANYTHING.

@xHotPotatox or an unbiased opinion of anyone who isn't a liberal democrat on MSNBC

@xHotPotatox
Same thing, was making a joke not trying to stir the bees net...

@xHotPotatox
OK, Just please keep your liberal viewpoint out of my videogames, thank you. Not all of us have drank the Obama Kool-ade like you.

@Klearwater Killer
shut up and take the joke.

@Klearwater Killer Please keep your racism out my video games, thank you.

@Klearwater Killer

Do you realize you are the one drinking the fox news kool aid? Who did you vote for in 2008? U mad sarah palin isn't president? Or did you even vote, in that case, just shut yer mouth.

PS real bang up job on those Republican Candidates. Can't seem to make up your mind though! Of course when Obama is re-elected, you'll blame the media instead of the idea that maybe.. like in 2008, your candidates are for the most part, extremely poor choices that no majority could rally behind.

@SomeRandomJrk

Good point, he's one K away from being in the Klan!

@HighFiveJesus

oh Jesus, please stop talking. there is such a thing as a pretentious liberal douche, and you're coming extremely close to falling into that category.

so apparently it's OK to trash Fox news on this site, but when someone mentions how every other news channel is just as bias out come the "oh he's a republican racist!" comments. get off your high horse already. better yet, get some more schooling in ya, move out of your mom's basement, get a good job, pay some taxes, raise a family, and then come and talk to me about how great leftism really is.

or you could just go back to your Daily Show with Jon Stewart. i know that's what you really want to do...

@HighFiveJesus

So he is a racist because he doesn't like Obama? You're an idiot. He probably doesn't like him because he is a worthless Socialist. Same reason I can't stand that SOB.

@SomeRandomJrk

Where is the racism in his remark? By the way, the whole "race card" thing has worn out its welcome. Get a life.

@HotToddy74

the racism card is just a big fat load of bullshit. it's what people say to other people who have differing political views these days. pathetic.

@HotToddy74

Wow. You're still harping on that socialist communist drivel that sprang up in the 08 campaign. Newsflash, it didn't stick because its bullshit. Keep it up, and you're only going to have yourself to blame because nobody takes you seriously as soon as the "socialist communist kenyan" bs comes out of your mouth.

@Liquidfingers

Why should I stop talking? Seems people overwhelmingly agree with me. Maybe you should stop talking, or at least discuss things without throwing personal attacks, that is really childish.
"get some more schooling in ya, move out of your mom's basement, get a good job, pay some taxes, liberal douche ect."
Try again. I'm a moderate who actually participated in the republican primary process in 08, and was a registered republican until the party knee jerked so far to the right that apparently to disagree with them makes you an automatic liberal douche. Keep it up, you're doing a real good job alienating moderates and independents with your hateful rhetoric.

no i don't think he was a racist, Its just funny that it keeps getting brought up and how it makes you sooooooo angry. the truth is, if you do have some degree of racism in your personal and political beliefs, you probably don't vote for the party that has the majority of minority support. That's just reality. So who do you want for president? I have a feeling you aren't willing to say.

@HighFiveJesus


"every other news channel is just as bias"

Ps. Bullshit. Prove it. I have clip after clip of Fox News regurgitating the same spin and talking points that the dem·a·gogue politicians have been asking them to repeat. Considering Fox is always reminding us that they are number 1 in ratings and viewership, you would think they would have a LITTLE more integrity than say... MSNBC which is just as awful but has a fraction of the ratings. The old "its ok if I do it because others do it" argument is also bullshit. Lead by example!

@HighFiveJesus

honestly i don't want anyone for president, because they're all terrible candidates. least of all though, i don't want another 4 years of Obama doing absolutely nothing productive. and no, that's not a comment about how he's "black and lazy" or anything like that :D i'm not a Republican by a longshot, but i'm even further away from being a Democrat.

i didn't mean to insult your personal sensibilities. it was more a comment in your snide little attitude's general direction. i've seen you post on here before, and i have nothing against you per se, but i can't help but defend Fox news when i see it getting bashed by people who get their own news from MSNBC and CNN, which are just as bias if not more so. i don't need to prove this to you because, as they say, the proof is in the pudding. besides, there's not an entire show dedicated to bashing these news channels like there is for FOX news. if you want support for you viewpoint, all you've got to do is turn to Comedy Central every other half hour.

@Liquidfingers OBAMA'S EARS ARE HUGE!
Can't we all agree in one point and be done with this talks about politics in a gaming site?

@sammo21

It is a vastly different thing than Telltale's ever done before. No walking around, no inventory system, no real puzzles. It's a nice change, but I'm really hoping they go back to their normal routine for The Walking Dead.

@maxwell97
MW3 got put down to a 3because it's ridiculously rehashed material. I didn't personally buy it but all my friends who did (quite a few) all exzpressed utter disappointment in the game. It's likened to guitar hero 3 after the series was passed on from Harmonix- a game that plays it so safe that it plays just like the last. That is the case with this game which was made by *new* infinity ward

@(Unverified)

If you think MW3 is anywhere close to a 3/10 title, you really need to see a doctor about removing your head from your ass.

@Gunballs
if you think its higher than a 3/10 you need to play other games.

@(Unverified) It's not the most original game in the world, nor the best, but it's not a 3.2 by a looong shot. I'd believe anything from a 5 to a 9 as an honest opinion; anything lower than a 5 is just someone hating it on principle, not judging it based on what it actually is.

For example, Battlefield 3 has a 7.5, which is perfectly reasonable, and it's every bit as rehashed as MW3.

@ch3burashka
How is it any different from fanboys defending Skyward Sword from Gamespot's review before they've even played it? these guys might be biased, but at least they know what they're talking about.

@Snowblind
Are you kidding me?! How do I get voted down and he up? The fact that the general Joystiq public agrees with Mr. Snowblind here shows how brainwashed you people have been. In what sane universe is it alright for a person intimately involved in a project to post a review on said project? Why do you people think companies exist that deal exclusively in the reviewing of games? Because company employees CANNOT be trusted to give you an accurate portrayal of their product. Having seen Jurassic Park The Video Game (not played it), it is OBVIOUSLY not a 10/10. In what industry is it acceptable to believe a sales person verbatim, without doing prior research?

I shouldn't have to remind you or explain why developer reviews are NOT the same as user reviews, but apparently it's necessary in this case; FANS ARE MORONS. Not only that, the are not responsible members of internet society, as shown by their clear abuse of the rating system on Metacritic or any other review site. Developers, however, ARE responsible for what they say on the internet, especially when it's related to their very own product, and their conduct is highly inappropriate. Not only that, even though Telltale says they're not "hiding anything", that complete bull - of course they are. Like Ben said, no one is going to go investigate who is associated with the username - if you don't say who you are when relevant (as it was in this situation), you are not being entirely honest.

And Snowblind, just because they "know more about the game than the fanboys" doesn't give them the right to sell you on the product anonymously. I literally do not understand why a majority of the Joystiq readership doesn't comprehend this - they are lying to you, and you're happy to take it. If anything, this is exemplary of fanboyism - giving them a pass when they clearly don't deserve it.

Please, for the love of God, someone agree with me so I know we are not entirely lost as a civilization.

@Faceless Troll

EL-OH-EL I whole-heartedly agree.

@Faceless Troll
Well if it's just a number sure but most reviews explain the scores and that information is pretty useful. Back in the day when magazines two months after the game hits the shelf were the only source of critique I got stuck with a lot of dogs.

@salvage If only the reviews actually reflected the scores?

"Well this game has flaw x, y, z, oh and this is a problem, and this is a bug, and this is annoying. But you know what who cares, it's my favorite series, 10/10."