You'll collect a whole load of gold coins in Super Mario Odyssey, and although the game uses these instead of lives when you die, they're primarily used to purchase goodies at stores. Spread out throughout Mario Odyssey's many worlds are shops where you can buy top-ups for hearts, Power Moons, and--most importantly--costumes!
The various outfits available for Mario range from cosplay-style cowboy, diver, or racer outfits, to some nostalgic classic costumes that will make fans of Mario and Nintendo jump for joy. We've put together a nice little fashion parade of all the costumes we've found so far, so take a look at the video above to see everything you can dress everyone's favourite little plumber in. Certain Amiibo figures unlock Mario Odyssey costumes, but you'll still be able to get your hands on everything in-game without scanning any.
Of course, those that want to see all Mario Odyssey's costumes themselves should think twice about watching, as it's spoilerrifc. You can also check out Super Mario Odyssey review, and for even more Super Mario Odyssey related content, take a look at the list below.
Earlier this week, Ubisoft revealed a set of new, ultra-rare Assassin's Creed Origins Yeezys. The custom sneakers were designed by renowned sneaker artist Dominic Lowman, and were inspired by Assassin's Creed Origins' main character, Bayek.
Only 16 pairs are being produced worldwide, and we're giving away one of those pairs! Check out the design for yourself below, and check the bottom of this article for details on how to enter the contest, in which one lucky UK reader will win a black pair of the rare trainers.
To Enter
Follow @gamespot on Instagram and like the competition post.
Tag a friend in the Instagram post and comment with your favourite Assassin's Creed game.
Terms & Conditions
This giveaway is valid for residents of the UK only. The prize is for one pair of black trainers in size 10. Giveaway closes October 27.
There is no alternative prize.
Prize will be distributed on the week commencing November 13.
November is going to be a big month for subscribers to Amazon Prime. The service's streaming video component is beefing up its library heading into the end of the year with original TV shows and movies--including the critically acclaimed The Big Sick.
The big news for Amazon in November comes in the form of a secret agent, though. As with Hulu, a large piece of the James Bond film library will be available at the beginning of the month--practically every film from 1962's Dr. No through 2002's Die Another Day. The one omission is the original Casino Royale, which starred David Nivens as 007.
Another major arrival to Prime is three Thursday Night Football games, taking place throughout the month. Matchups featuring the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Pittsburgh Steelers will be available live exclusively through Amazon Prime Video.
By Anonymous on Oct 27, 2017 12:01 am Bungie denies that it banned players for using video recording or voice chat software, though about 400 players were banned following the PC launch.
A recent leak provided us with possible dates for the next three holiday sales on Steam. The first of these has proven to be accurate, as the Steam Halloween sale has officially begun, offering discounts on a variety of titles that Valve deems "horror games."
But as was the case last year, many of the titles on sale are not what you might consider horror games--they just have zombies or some kinds of spooky elements. Notable not-horror games on sale include Inside for $10/£7.49, Dead Rising 4 for $36/£24, Night in the Woods for $16.66/£12.59, Friday the 13th: The Game for $20/£15, Prey for $30/£22.49, and Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls for $21/£16. You'll also find horror movies on sale, but again, some fit that description (Saw: The Complete Collection for $39/£27) better than others (RiffTrax's wonderful take on House on Haunted Hill for $6/£4.31).
This sale runs from now until November 1 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST; you can see everything included here. If the aforementioned leaked list continues to prove accurate, Steam's Black Friday sale will begin on November 22 and will be followed by the Winter sale on December 21. If you're looking to celebrate the upcoming holiday, check out our roundup of Halloween in-game events and updates.
Following several weeks of field-testing, Pokemon Go developer Niantic will be making some changes to the game's upcoming EX Raids. In a post on Twitter today, the developer announced it will adjust the feature before it rolls out globally.
According to the tweet, Niantic will specifically "work to improve the invitation system based on what we heard from you." Unlike a typical Raid Battle, EX Raids are invite-only, meaning players need to receive an invitation in order to participate in one. However, feedback from those who've tested the feature has been negative due to the seemingly random nature with which invitations are distributed.
Niantic first announced EX Raid Battles earlier this summer. Originally dubbed Exclusive Raids, these events will be the only way to capture certain rare Pokemon, like the Legendary Mewtwo. Niantic hasn't detailed what conditions players will need to meet in order to receive an invite, but the developer did say you'll need to have completed a Raid "recently" at the same location the EX Raid is taking place.
For several years, Assassin's Creed was an annual occurrence. However, with ideas running dry, and franchise fatigue setting in, Ubisoft decided to take a year off from the globetrotting series.
This week, however, the staple returns. It's been two years since Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and with the Oct. 27 release of Assassin's Creed: Origins, Ubisoft is taking us back to the beginning of the storyline, in Northern Africa, in the shoes of protagonist Bayek.
In the video above, we discuss how the year off affected the Assassin's Creed franchise. Did it bring enough new ideas to the table this time around? Or does it still feel like the series is still a thing of the past?
For more on Assassin's Creed: Origins, stay tuned to GameSpot as we publish our review, features, and guides following its Friday release. For more live discussions like the one above, watch The Lobby every Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT.
Ubisoft has released the latest update for Rainbow Six Siege. As previously detailed, this is a Mid-Season Reinforcements patch, meaning it deals primarily with balance, enhancements, and bug fixes, rather than introducing new content. Some of the balance changes are significant, as they change the way Kapkan, in particular, functions.
Kapkan's gadget allows him to place trip mines in doorways and windows, but players have become so accustomed to the threat that it's rendered him ineffective: Enemies simply take their time and destroy his mines before they can do any damage. While that process may leave them vulnerable for a brief moment, it's not the type of threat he's meant to pose. With this new update, Kapkan's movement speed is increased and his mines disappear after they're placed. However, they no longer function as an instant-kill, instead dealing 60 damage to those caught in the blast.
"We feel as though this change is an adaptation of Kapkan to the skill level of players who have adapted to spotting the trip laser, instead of rushing through doorways," Ubisoft explained. "We hope to see new strategies develop for him, alongside our other trapper defenders."
Blitz, meanwhile, gains the ability to sprint without lowering his shield, and Ela loses one of her Grzmot mines and sees the recoil of her Scorpion SMG increase. Jager receives a new Elite set, Flying Ace, and Ubisoft has improved various network issues and fixed a wide variety of bug fixes. You can see everything that's changed in the full patch notes here.
In GameSpot's Super Mario Odyssey review, Peter Brown gave the game his gold seal of approval, awarding it a 10/10 for its effortless cycling through new worlds and enemies, unique gameplay ideas, and the sheer joy of controlling Mario.
"[Odyssey's] collection of open-world Kingdoms is varied and broad, and sometimes clearly inspired by Super Mario 64. Though it isn't necessarily a groundbreaking game like its ancestor, which redefined expectations for 3D games at large, Odyssey outpaces it at every turn. Its environments are bigger and some of the most interesting ever seen in a Mario game--just wait until you lay eyes on Bowser's elaborate fortress. All the extra space is invaluable, as the dense layouts of challenges and rewards justifies every building and landmass you encounter," he wrote.
We've collected a variety of other reviews and put them below. Take a look and you'll get a broader sense of how it is being received, and for more a much wider look at what critics have to say, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
CNET
"Super Mario Odyssey marks a major milestone in Mario's legacy. This will likely be the game his future endeavors get measured against. It's an absolute no-brainer to buy for anyone with a Switch. And if you've been waiting on Odyssey as a validation for a console purchase, I'm here to tell you the time is now." -- Jeff Bakalar [Full review]
IGN -- 10/10
"Mario's games have been around for almost as long as game consoles have been a thing, but thankfully, he's always evolving. We rarely get the same Mario twice. Super Mario Odyssey delivers on that ongoing promise of originality and innovation: It distills the venerable series' joyful, irreverent world and characters and best-in-class platforming action, and introduces a steady stream of new and unexpected mechanics. It's all spun together into a generational masterpiece." -- Ryan McCaffrey [Full review]
Polygon -- 9.5/10
"Super Mario Odyssey is almost certain to be counted among the best games in Nintendo's star series. For a character nearing 40 years old, it's amazing that Mario has remained not only a beloved character but one whose games are generally expected to be great. From that perspective, it's no surprise that Super Mario Odyssey is, yes, a great game. But more than that, it's a fantastic, even fundamental addition to Mario's legacy. From a plumber to a doctor to a tennis star to, uh, a Goomba, Mario has endured. No, this will not be the last Mario game, but it is almost certain to be lauded as one of his best." -- Philip Kollar and Allegra Frank [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.75/10
"I was floored by the creativity accompanying most of Odyssey. A lot of iteration and thought clearly went into some of the secrets and platforming exercises. I enjoyed each challenge type except the Roving Races, on-foot sprints against Koopa Troopers where every second counts. I was irked by the racers walking through enemies and walls without penalty--almost appearing to be a bug or a cheap way of intensifying the competition in a game that is otherwise nearly flawless in its execution. Quibbles aside, Super Mario Odyssey is an absolute delight, and another Switch release that will have Nintendo fans debating which 3D Mario game is the best of them all. I still hang my hat on Super Mario Galaxy as the pinnacle of the series, but Odyssey and its wealth of gameplay styles and moons make it a close second." -- Andrew Reiner [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 5/5
"[T]he gripes are so small that it's easy to say Odyssey is the most glorious of Mario's adventures to date. And not to mention adorable. Have you seen all of his outfits? Nintendo's ability to jam secrets and side-quests into every pixel continues to astonish and means I'll be playing Super Mario Odyssey for many Moons to come." -- Sam Loveridge [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Essential
"[T]here is nothing like a new Super Mario to remind you that there is no other studio that can make games like this. Jump on a tomato in the Luncheon Kingdom and watch how it splats out into a sizzling hot pool of sauce; ride a Jaxi, a stone steed as fast as a rocket, and watch the way it scrabbles frantically at the ground as you try to rein in its boundless speed. Then release it--whee! The happy revelry that has gone into the making of this nonsensical world is infectious, while the return to the open design of Super Mario 64 has freed all that gleeful energy in a sloppily explosive burst. To many people, Mario is video games. To play Super Mario Odyssey is to remember why that is." -- Oli Welsh [Full review]
USGamer -- 5/5
"The Nintendo Switch isn't hurting for must-have titles, and Super Mario Odyssey is a proud addition to its library. Like Breath of the Wild before it, it takes you on a journey that's not short on cool sights, epic battles, and coy suggestions to 'see what's over there.' Pack a suitcase and get on board; there's so very much to do." -- Nadia Oxford [Full review]
With every new peek at Thor: Ragnarok, it becomes clearer that it is unlike any movie Marvel has released before. With a quirky sense of humor that could only come from the mind of director Taika Waititi, and an adventure that finds Thor (Chris Hemsworth) struggling to save his home, and running into the familiar faces of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) along the way, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are in for something special.
In a new featurette from the movie, the trio--and their secret weapon, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson)--are introduced, as Thor puts together a new team of heroes to take on the goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). "Thor has certainly met his match and he needs help," Hemsworth teases in the video, which can be seen below.
It remains to be seen whether this team can properly band together to actually defeat Hela and save Asgard from complete destruction. In the meantime, though, at the very least this new group has a name. Thor almost immediately dubs them The Revengers. While it's not the most original name, it makes sense that Thor--a founding member of the Avengers--wouldn't stray too far from what he knows. Besides, as he explains to Valkyrie, the name makes some sense. "I'm getting revenge, you're getting revenge," the god of thunder says, as if it were obvious.
Can the Revengers actually get the job done, though? After all, Hulk is an uncontrollable rage monster, Loki would betray his brother before he would actually help him, and Thor is without his trusty hammer. That sounds like a recipe for a complete disaster. Luckily, as the featurette shows, Valkyrie--who Thompson describes as "one of many elite warriors"--is exactly what they need and will hopefully help bring them closer together. Honestly, based on what's been seen of the character so far, maybe a Valkyrie standalone movie isn't such a bad idea?
While most of us like to see our scares on the big screen with a long runtime, there are plenty of excellent horror films available to watch on the internet, some of which are no more than a minute long. They can create the same atmosphere and tone in the same amount of time it takes to cook a microwave burrito. If you've got a few minutes, then you have plenty of time to check out some of the best short horror films online, and here they are--with links to the videos--in no particular order.
2AM: The Smiling Man (2013)
A man is stalked after midnight by someone who won't stop creepily smiling.
It's Thursday again, which means another batch of games has been added to the Nintendo Switch Eshop. A total of 11 titles are now available for Nintendo's new console, but the biggest of this week's releases arrives tomorrow, October 27.
In one more day, Switch owners will be able to pick up Super Mario Odyssey. This adventure sees Nintendo's iconic plumber journey to a variety of unusual sandbox-style Kingdoms on his quest to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Joining him is his new sidekick Cappy, a hat-like being that players can throw and use to possess other characters and objects. It's one of Mario's most delightful adventures yet, earning a rare 10/10 in GameSpot's Super Mario Odyssey review. You can get ready for the game by reading six things we wish we knew before starting Super Mario Odyssey, as well as our roundup of everything you need to know about the game.
Moon Hunters
Before that, Switch owners can pick up a handful of new releases from the Eshop, including this week's requisite ACA Neo Geo game, the classic beat-'em-up Mutation Nation. Also available is Splasher, a 2D platformer in which you use paint to gain new abilities; Moon Hunters, a beautiful "personality test" cooperative RPG in which you explore a Mesopotamian-inspired world; and Violett, a stylish puzzle-adventure game.
With the end of the month in sight, Microsoft has revealed the next batch of games that will be available for free to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. As always, November's Games With Gold lineup consists of four games spread across Xbox One and Xbox 360.
On the Xbox One side, the month starts out with the fun, fast-paced racing game TrackMania Turbo. That will be available for the entire month, and it will be joined on November 16 by Tales From the Borderlands. This is Telltale's episodic spin-off series of the Gearbox shooters, and arguably the studio's best adventure game.
For those with an Xbox 360, Nights Into Dreams will be available during the first half of the month. During the second half, Deadfall Adventures will be free. Thanks to backwards compatibility--which now also supports original Xbox games--both of these are playable on Xbox One.
It's not too late to claim some of October's Games With Gold freebies, including Gone Home and Medal of Honor: Airborne; both of those return to their regular prices at the end of the month. Additionally, one of the Xbox One games, The Turing Test, will remain free until November 16. You can check out the full schedule for November's freebies below.
November 2017 Games With Gold
Xbox One
TrackMania Turbo (November 1-30)
Tales From the Borderlands (November 16 - December 15)
DC's Justice League is now only a few weeks from release, and we're in the final stages of promotion. The superhero team-up sees Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, The Flash, and Aquaman come together to fight the evil Steppenwolf, and a new trailer has been released.
This latest promo delivers quite a few new shots amongst the action--it's all very quick, but we see Amber Heard's Mera dispatching some Parademons with a single clap, and some new one-liners from The Flash. Check it out above.
The past few weeks have also seen the release of a pair of behind-the-scenes videos from the movie, featuring Cyborg and Aquaman. A series of stylish posters were also revealed.
Justice League stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg. It hits theaters on November 17, 2017.
[UPDATE: We've re-published this story today, October 26 2017, to include Super Mario Odyssey.]
It's not often that a game gets a 10/10, so it's an understandably big deal. After all, since 1996, only fifteen games have earned that rare rank. In no particular order, they are:
Super Mario Odyssey
Review date: October 26, 2017
"Super Mario Odyssey displays a clear understanding of what makes Mario tick, and is neck and neck for top billing among its esteemed predecessors. It surprises you with not just inventive mechanics, of which there are many, but with expertly tuned level design and moments of charismatic wit. It is comfortable in absurdity and wields this attitude to cut through the limitations of its otherwise straightforward structure and keep you smiling all along the way." Read the full review.
Divinity: Original Sin II
Review date: September 26, 2017
From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made. Its immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of the year thus far, and it has to be regarded as an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats. Read the full review
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Review date: March 2, 2017
"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created." Read the full review
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Review date: May 5, 2016
"As its final moments make clear, this is a story about storytelling--the importance we lend our idols, legends, and myths. How we pass down the ones that inspire us. How an old photo of three friends sitting on a pile of gold can unleash a flood of memories. Uncharted 4 is a challenge to the medium. In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to. It's a shining example. And we'll be talking about it for years to come." Read the full review.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Review date: August 23, 2015
"When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." Read the full review.
Journey (PS4)
Review date: July 23, 2015
"If you are returning to Journey, a higher resolution and a higher frame rate are your ostensible rewards for returning--a return that doesn't cost you anything if you already own the game on the PlayStation 3. But Journey's real rewards aren't so pedestrian. Journey offers you comfort. It gives you companionship in a lovely but forsaken world. It gives you reason to dream even when facing loss." Read the full review.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Review date: May 12, 2015
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." Read the full review.
Bayonetta 2
Review date: October 13, 2014
"Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all." Read the full review.
Grand Theft Auto IV
Review date: April 28, 2008
"Yes, this is another GTA game in which you'll likely spend the bulk of your time stealing cars and gunning down cops and criminals, but it's also much more than that. GTAIV is a game with a compelling and nonlinear storyline, a game with a great protagonist who you can't help but like, and a game that boasts a plethora of online multiplayer features in addition to its lengthy story mode. It's not without some flaws, but GTAIV is undoubtedly the best Grand Theft Auto yet." Read the full review.
Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)
Review date: August 9, 1999
"Yes, it is a fighting game, a genre with a fairly limited scope, but insofar as fighting games go, Soul Calibur is mind-numbing perfection. Namco has taken the best and made it considerably better. The level at which the company has done so is practically unprecedented. Think state of the art. Absolutely brilliant in all aspects, as far as games of this type go, Soul Calibur is the undisputed king of the hill. It is essential in any gamer's collection." Read the full review.
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Review date: May 21, 2010
"Everything is so well designed and so entertaining that it's easy to get sucked into this world for hours. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is so phenomenal that it's difficult to imagine where Mario could possibly go in the future. But that's hardly your concern now. Mario proves that he is still the king of fun." Read the full review.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Review date: October 29, 2001
"The Tony Hawk series has always had style. The first game reinvented a genre and set off a series of clones and pretenders that still flood the market today. The second game refined the formula, but its higher level of difficulty and steeper learning curve turned off casual players. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 brings it all together in one package that makes everything before it almost unplayable by comparison." Read the full review.
Chrono Cross
Review date: January 6, 2000
"With Square agonizing over every detail of its flagship property, the Chrono Cross team was apparently left mostly to themselves. Consequently, the game shares an all-out enthusiasm and joie de vivre found in the best 16-bit titles -- back before games became multimillion dollar properties that had to answer to glaring shareholders. Chrono Cross may not have had the largest budget, but it has the largest heart." Read the full review.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Review date: June 13, 2008
"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the most technically stunning video game ever made. It's also a fine example of storytelling prowess within its medium, combining gameplay and narrative so slickly and beautifully that it's impossible to extricate one from the other. It's likely you will emerge awestruck from your first play-through, wishing the experience would continue yet nonetheless satisfied with its conclusion. It's difficult not to sound hyperbolic when discussing MGS4 because every part of its design seemingly fulfills its vision, without compromise. There is no halfway." Read the full review.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Review Date: November 23, 1998
"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the real thing. This is the masterpiece that people will still be talking about ten years down the road. This is the game that perfectly exhibits the 'quality not quantity' mantra that Nintendo has been touting since the N64 was released. In a word, perfect. To call it anything else would be a bald-faced lie." Read the full review.
You can read more about exactly what GameSpot's review scores mean in this post, but we also wanted to let Senior Reviews Editor Peter Brown answer some of your other big questions about review and how scoring works:
How long have you headed up GameSpot's reviews, and how did you get here?
Peter Brown: I became GameSpot's reviews editor in the summer of 2015, following the departure of Kevin VanOrd. My time at GameSpot began when I was hired to write strategy guides back in the fall of 2011. I quickly grew out of that role, however, and would go on to become both a general editor, and at one point, head of GameSpot's GameTech hardware coverage.
My experience writing about games goes all the way back to 1999, when I covered the Dreamcast launch for PC Magazine. I continued to write about games and gaming hardware for PC Magazine on an infrequent basis as a contractor, but eventually took a break to go to college to study visual effects. Shortly before graduating, I joined 1UP's sister site GameVideos as a contract video producer. When that dried up, I eventually worked odd jobs outside of the industry with only occasional freelance work related to tech and gaming.
What makes a game a 10, and has that definition changed over the years? Does a 10 mean it's "perfect"?
A 10 does not mean a game is perfect, but it does mean that it's a game we believe everyone should play. In my opinion, no game can be considered perfect. That means you may see a game getting a 10 despite having issues. It also means that games without obvious flaws may be scored below 10.
On the rare occasion when we publish a 10 review, that is our way of saying that no matter you preference for genre, developer, setting, or console, you owe it to yourself to find a way to play the game in question.
A review is obviously just one person's opinion, so how do you deal with conflicting thoughts on a game, both for high and low scores? What if someone else on GameSpot thinks a game deserves a much higher (or lower) score?
It's true that every review is an individual's take on a game, and sure enough, the many individuals within GameSpot often have differing opinions on the same game. This is something we accept, and we welcome diversity of opinion at the end of the day.
GameSpot's editorial team peer-reviews each other's work during the review process. This is not to determine whether we all agree on a score, but it allows us to ensure that the text we publish backs up the score that's issued. That means that there are reviews published where I may not agree with the editor's opinion, but I am otherwise confident enough in their argumentation to put my stamp on the review despite my own preferences.
When the time comes that a score fails to align with the text as submitted, we will work together with the author to determine if they were able to effectively convey their thoughts relative to the score, and vice versa. I always encourage our writers to put their words down first and determine the score after the fact.
You talk a lot with publishers, developers, and PR, so how do you make sure that reviews remain unbiased by those relationships?
Yes, talking to people who represent the games we cover is a part of my job, but I always try to limit these conversations and interactions to the discussion of review code availability and embargo coordination. You may occasionally find me joking around with a game developer on social media, but maintaining the sanctity of our reviews process and standards is something I take very seriously.
When the time comes to assign a review, I almost never give an assignment to somebody who has extensive experience previewing the game in question. This is to ensure that our review is based on the final product alone, and not colored by previous impressions or interactions. Everyone on GameSpot is onboard with this policy, and everyone who reviews games for us maintains open communication to ensure that we aren't surprised by any potential conflicts.
What are the plans for GameSpot's reviews in the coming year? Any big changes in store?
I'm constantly thinking about how we can improve GameSpot's reviews. This can be on the ground level, in terms of the quality of the writing we publish, but I also want to adjust our review policies as trends emerge and the industry adapts. That means that we are working on a means to review early access games with a score, to provide more formal insight, in a traditional format, for games that may take years to come out but are already available for purchase.
Most recently, we've enabled scores on reviews in progress--our term for a review that is near final, often used when a game arrives in our hands very close to launch, or when we determine that a game's online modes need to be tested in public, post-launch conditions. In the case where we are simply waiting to confirm something such as online stability, our review will be labelled as a review in progress, but will be assigned a score that is subject to change until further testing.
Other than that, we are simply working as hard as we can to deliver the most informative and well-argued reviews on a daily basis. That will never change.
Do you have more questions about reviews on GameSpot? Leave us a comment below, or use the site's messaging system to contact us directly!
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Bungie denies that it banned players for using video recording or voice chat software, though about 400 players were banned following the PC launch.
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