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Do you think the review scores will hurt Starfield's sales?
- Thread starter Gaiff
- Start date
Laieon
Member
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twilo99
Member
No.
Bry0
Member
And it sold considerably more copies being on steam day 1. That’s a great move to let people play on their MS platform of choice. Who cares how many Xboxes they sell if it comes at the cost screwing the massive PC market?
The more platforms the better imo.
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Die Namek Ability
Member
No but releasing as an Xbox exclusive surly will have an impact.
Agent_Nobody
Banned
If an 88/87 average hurts sales people are fucking stupid.
If a 7/10 score from IGN hurts sales when 90% of the actual review was glowingly positive…people are fucking stupid.
If a 7/10 score from IGN hurts sales when 90% of the actual review was glowingly positive…people are fucking stupid.
Goalus
Member
Retail sales.
What year is it?
PaintTinJr
Member
For the launch period it'll probably have a tiny impact because there are people - even ones I'm old friends with - that won't buy a game if IGN give it less than an 8, and even at an 8 it has to be a game they can play quick and trade for most of its value.
What I think is most damaging is that the IGN US review has a lot of text to substantiate the 7/10 score, and other late reviewers will probably read that review and then consider if they agree or disagree with the text before giving a score, potentially pulling down the aggregate and impacting the long term sales and gamepass subs effect.
In many ways I suspect IGN returned to a classic review of no-free-passes for teething issues, after the internet collectively told reviewers that review scores don't matter, and IGN have used this review to recover much lost credibility after the debacle with codes being withheld from many outlets, so I'm not even sure if a performance mode hitting 60fps or a PS5 version would have inched the IGN reviewer higher on the score when it feels like a solid right up and score was for taking some journalistic integrity back.
I'll probably still test the game out via a gamepass trial at some point, if a demo doesn't become available sooner, but the IGN review saying it might take 20hours to feel compelled to keep playing killed most of my FOMO to buy or gamepass on PC at day 1. I'm currently playing the new Zelda and enjoying it, but found the first 4hrs of that game a chore and nearly benched it, so 20hrs before clicking probably isn't for me.
What I think is most damaging is that the IGN US review has a lot of text to substantiate the 7/10 score, and other late reviewers will probably read that review and then consider if they agree or disagree with the text before giving a score, potentially pulling down the aggregate and impacting the long term sales and gamepass subs effect.
In many ways I suspect IGN returned to a classic review of no-free-passes for teething issues, after the internet collectively told reviewers that review scores don't matter, and IGN have used this review to recover much lost credibility after the debacle with codes being withheld from many outlets, so I'm not even sure if a performance mode hitting 60fps or a PS5 version would have inched the IGN reviewer higher on the score when it feels like a solid right up and score was for taking some journalistic integrity back.
I'll probably still test the game out via a gamepass trial at some point, if a demo doesn't become available sooner, but the IGN review saying it might take 20hours to feel compelled to keep playing killed most of my FOMO to buy or gamepass on PC at day 1. I'm currently playing the new Zelda and enjoying it, but found the first 4hrs of that game a chore and nearly benched it, so 20hrs before clicking probably isn't for me.
ReBurn
Gold Member
So you wanted a spaceship simulator and all you got was this RPG?
Kings Field
Member
Destiny sat at a 76 metacritic I believe and sold 10 million copies the first week
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ManaByte
Gold Member
Matsuchezz
Member
Another 1 year delay for it to get a 90+ among all sites was needed. Phil Spencer green lighting unfinished product again. Another turd down the crapper. Gamepass quality all over it. If this was their aaa I don’t want to see their b- games straight to gamepass is the same like straight to video for movies.
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Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
I sat on the fence about buying the premium upgrade and ended up buying it after the scores were published.
It's funny (well, not really) that IGN USA gave it a 7 but the IGN in Spain and Japan think it's a 10/10 masterpiece, IGN Brasil think it's 9.5/10 and IGN France say 9/10.
I think there's enough indication that if you thought you might like the game, then you'll likely enjoy it.
Tbh, I'm surprised at the spread. To contextualize it, certified disaster, Redfall came to rest at 56. Starfield's reviews include a 58. There's something not being your cup of tea and there's wondering if you're being objective or not.
It's funny (well, not really) that IGN USA gave it a 7 but the IGN in Spain and Japan think it's a 10/10 masterpiece, IGN Brasil think it's 9.5/10 and IGN France say 9/10.
I think there's enough indication that if you thought you might like the game, then you'll likely enjoy it.
Tbh, I'm surprised at the spread. To contextualize it, certified disaster, Redfall came to rest at 56. Starfield's reviews include a 58. There's something not being your cup of tea and there's wondering if you're being objective or not.
Crayon
Member
Nah. These games are rare. Even if it doesn't meet all expectations, it's not like there are a bunch of true alternatives. This game could rate a 60 and I would be like "I'll just have to see for myself" and buy it anyway. If I decide I don't like it, fine. But I'm not taking metacritic's word for it.
Thirty7ven
Banned
Word of mouth and gamepass will play a bigger part, but nobody knows when we will get the answer.
twilo99
Member
That is obviously their strategy and A LOT of people will disagree with you and tell you that making games console exclusive is the only way you can win in this business as a console maker. Games sell boxes and all of that .
Success
Gold Member
Cope.
Any person who is saying that these disappointing review scores of mid 80's won't affect sales is on the Phil Spencer Copiom Ultimate Delux Edition.
Starfield was meant to become the next Skyrim. A generational shift in gaming with high praise all around even with the Bethesda jank.
Starfield sales will be terrible for a first part big budget Bethesda game.
The needed 90+ Metacritic at least.
Any person who is saying that these disappointing review scores of mid 80's won't affect sales is on the Phil Spencer Copiom Ultimate Delux Edition.
Starfield was meant to become the next Skyrim. A generational shift in gaming with high praise all around even with the Bethesda jank.
Starfield sales will be terrible for a first part big budget Bethesda game.
The needed 90+ Metacritic at least.
twilo99
Member
Yes so what's the IGN average score then lol
Pagusas
Elden Member
...is this a joke post?
twilo99
Member
It would've been much worse if they didn't delay it, if anything, Phil saved it!
Success
Gold Member
Because it did.
Bethesda is not some indie, AA, or low AAA game studio.
It is a premium AAA+ game developer.
So getting mid 80's is a tragedy relative to what they should be scoring.
Success
Gold Member
Do you seriously not understand the point?
SF Kosmo
Banned
Do I think review scores impact sales to an extent? Obviously. If it got a 98 I am sure there are people who might not be interested who would jump on board to see what the hubub was about.
But an 88 is not low enough to deter sales. You won't see canceled pre-order or a massive backlash because the game is simply "very good" and not "game of the generation."
I think the long tail of the game is going to depend on things like post-game content, mods, expansions, streaming, and community. Those things will probably have a bigger impact on the game's continued sales than launch reviews.
But an 88 is not low enough to deter sales. You won't see canceled pre-order or a massive backlash because the game is simply "very good" and not "game of the generation."
I think the long tail of the game is going to depend on things like post-game content, mods, expansions, streaming, and community. Those things will probably have a bigger impact on the game's continued sales than launch reviews.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
According to the Samsung partnership, you don't even their console either.Sales? Where we're going, we don't need sales...
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The gaming future they want is grand!
Mr Reasonable
Completely Unreasonable
Not sure I understand what you mean, but I guess it's 9.1, unless there are other IGN's I don't know about (tbh, I didn't realise they didn't just translate their USA reviews until it was pointed out today).
My point was that even across the same brand, the scores can go from 10 to 7/10. That's a pretty big indication that if you thought you might not like it, maybe don't bother but if you thought you would, go for it, you'll likely be happy.
twilo99
Member
Flutta
Banned
Phil didn’t save shit, he basically hurt another promising game all because of Gamepass subs. Game needed more dev time simple as that.
MarkMe2525
Banned
Thirty7ven
Banned
Just like Fallout 4!
diffusionx
Gold Member
FWIW Skyrim was a 94-96 MC.
Bry0
Member
people are missing the forest for the trees. I agree it would probably sell more Xboxes, but would it generate more revenue overall? os selling more Xboxes how Microsoft would actually define success for the brand? Or is this just console warz fodder?
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Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
Nope, they didn't hurt Fallout 4's sales nor did they stop Fallout New Vegas from achieving it's legendary status.
Agent_Nobody
Banned
It seemed with the IGN review he mainly tagged them on the score for the slow boil progression since most of the other complaints seemed to tied to that…oddly enough other reviewers appreciated the slow burn.
And it’s odd him bringing up loving Fallout 4 too before complaining about not being able to sneak well, or use the jet pack, or mod equipment or create a massive settlement right away in Starfield. Like did the guy only play it modded?
I think the review was a little weird considering the preface he wrote, but at the same time fair; the guy truly didn’t like the starting grind and felt it went on too long, while ending up in the end wanting to play more in the end, and encouraged people to get past it to the good part. The score just seemed weighted to his initial impression somewhat, but it’s a number.…What number do you give something that you hate at the beginning and love at the end?
Wildebeest
Member
Reputation and understanding the concept means a lot to people. Reviews are part of reputation, but so is recent track record, of which they don't have anything good. In terms of understanding the concept, space exploration is something that people maybe get, although generally less loved than super generic historical fantasy, but in terms of what people understand to be space exploration it seems Starfield lines up with expectations in confusing ways. There also seems to be something of a return to the Daggerfall ocean with the depth of a puddle type design rather than the more commercially proven Morrowind design of a limited open world with unique locations.
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Danjin44
The nicest person on this forum
That explains why you guys gets so easily disappointed in most games.
I guess don’t understand mind-set of people so much value in “scores” so much.
Batiman
Banned
Man some of these posts….
People really wanted this to score low. Now that it didn’t they somehow are convincing themselves it has. You’d think it was getting 60% reading some of these posts. Holy fuck people lol. People really do lose their shit over video games. Embarrassing stuff
People really wanted this to score low. Now that it didn’t they somehow are convincing themselves it has. You’d think it was getting 60% reading some of these posts. Holy fuck people lol. People really do lose their shit over video games. Embarrassing stuff
Success
Gold Member
Exactly.
You are out of touch with how the current world of gaming works.
At least you are aware of it. Most people don't even realize it.
The reason why games like Hades and Buldur's Gate 3 blew up is because of amazing 95+ score reviews.
If either game got middling high 80's then they would not be GoTY material.
Starfield failed to produce the minimum bar of at least 90+.
Sgt. Pinback
(L3) + (R3) | Spartan rage activated
Most people aren't losers on internet gaming forums and don't give a fuck about 'review scores', or 'metacritic averages'. They don't give a shit.
This is a ridiculous thread, and there are many people here who need to go outside for a bit.
This is a ridiculous thread, and there are many people here who need to go outside for a bit.
marjo
Member
It's really becoming hard to tell now, isn't?