Game Score-to-Sale Theory Disproven at Gamasutra

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According to Gamasutra, the analysis in Susquehanna Financial Group's Video Game Journal disproves the theory that review scores affect a game's fate in retail sale. Here's a snip:

The survey used NPD Funworld sales data and Metacritic scores for 275 games across genres for the PlayStation 2, on the basis that it's the console with the largest install base and diversity of games.

The authors first plotted the games on a graph by review score, intending to compare the graph to a second chart which would plot the games by amount sold. The result is that "The low correlation may indicate that this random sample, which includes PS2 titles across six years and multiple genres, is the result of a failure to account for a number of other factors. Ratings may only tell part of the story."

Read the whole thing at Gamasutra.

[ December 09, 2005, 23:49: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

I can't believe that reviews don't affect sales in some way at some point. Perhaps people rely on the word of mouth more than on reviews and buy the game if friends recommend it but reviews aren't irrelevant. Any game release that takes place needs publicity to turn out a success.

[ December 09, 2005, 23:53: Message edited by: chevalier ]

 

So does this mean that publishers will stop trying to rig scores to get sales?

 

I don't think so. But I believe it should be criminal for both the publisher and the reviewer. It's ugly bribery which deceives the readers and potential game buyers.