Tuesday, May 30, 2006
I took over as Video Games Editor here at Lawrence.com a couple weeks ago, and immediately started debating about how I'd be changing the ratings system for games. The old "percentage system" worked to an extent, but in the long run it skewed the scores. For example, a game that is completely "average" in every aspect would get a 5.0 on most other sites, but a "70% C" score on our old system. On sites that compile the scores of the nation's critics (GameRankings.com is a great example), this old system made it difficult to represent an accurate score.
I've decided to go with a more traditional 10-point review system, but keep the categories that we've established here at L-com. All categories (with the exception of Overall) will be a decimal between 0 and 10, rounded to a .5 or .0. The Overall score doesn't have to be rounded, and is not an average of the other categories. Therefore, you'll be seeing scores like this in the future:
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 7.5
First Play: 9.0
Replay Value: 8.0
Gameplay: 8.5
Overall: 8.7
The Overall score is obviously the most important, and is gauged by the final end-game experience of the reviewer (after considering all aspects). Some sites simply average the rest of the categories together to get their final score, but I think it's ridiculous to consider Graphics or Sound on the same level of importance as Gameplay.
No monumental changes or anything, just something to more accurately portray the score we're trying to give a game.
lawrence.comrade
Comments
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gamer (Matt Cox) says...
Good change.
Yeah, GR will be happier with the change. Some sites just give grades and GR turns a straight C into something MUCH less than a 70.
I'll admit I had a hard time differentiating 59 and below to everyone. :)
And man do I HATE sites that put graphics and gameplay on an even field.
Have fun with the site, man!
-Matt
May 30, 2006 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joeynotjoe (Joseph Murphy) says...
That sounds like a really good change. Can't wait to see you get your hands on a DS Lite.
May 31, 2006 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ryckert (Dan Ryckert) says...
I played the DS Lite at E3, and it was great. I'll post a full impressions article once I receive one.
June 1, 2006 at 3:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )