GameSpy takes refreshing stance on game reviews

By Ross Miller

When the Xbox 360 hits the streets next week, it will be the first console to launch with a successful online infrastructure behind it. The entire concept of Xbox Live! is going to sell consoles. With online multiplayer so important in future games, how can game journalists make definitive early reviews without testing out the multiplayer in a real-world scenario?

GameSpy is taking a stance of "get it done right, not first" with its reviews. Editorial Director John "Warrior"
Keefer has stated that GameSpy "will no longer pursue exclusive reviews on games that have a significant online multiplayer component," opting instead to "test every online-enabled title – PC and console – on live servers, with real traffic. Every time."

Such a stance is very bold, with everyone currently clamoring for
early
reviews on Xbox 360 launch titles. Will GameSpy?s stance set a precedent? Probably not – even GameSpy themselves are advertising an ?Out of the Box? early review which,
while not definitive, will give thorough impressions for those who must be the game the day of release, ?with the final review to follow shortly after.? The truth is that early reviews will always be a necessity – early reviews get people excited to buy the game on the first day. If there existed no early adopters of a game, then GameSpy would still not be able to give a fair review.

GameSpy is able to take this position of greater credibility because they know that consumers will still buy the game
- be it from intuition or from another early review – and flood the online servers against whom GameSpy will compete in order to review. This editorial is a blessing for those with the willpower to wait a few days, but we doubt any other major game website will follow in their footsteps.

[via Evil Avatar]

Recommended