Why is it?

[AlBoogy]

Why is it that everyone is looking forward to reviews for Halo 2 from IGN, Gamestop, TXB, EGM, etc... but yet you never hear anyone anticipating a XBA review. The entire time Ive been here Ive never seen anyone anticipating an XBA review. With so many people visiting this website youd think it would be different.

[Xtopia]

Good point, Al, who plans on writing it? If any staff are reading this, I would love to help out on the writing side of the site....hint...hint. :)

[l Maximus l]

Alboogy has a really good point. But, not to slam anyone specifically, but, the review from here about Rallisport Challenge 2 was so grossly off the mark it wasn't even funny.

[Reclaimer]

Well for starters, TXB is operated by IGN.
We're a good site and we have a ton of unique hits per day, but its hard to operate in the shadow of TeamXbox because they have more resources, and they host OXM's forums.
I like to think we're the internet's best kept secret sometimes. Have you seen TXB's forums? It's God-awful over there. It's chaos for the most part.

So to be honest, we'll never be a major player like those guys simply because we don't have the backing like they do. We don't have a media publication hooking us up.
What you see on XBA is the result of everyone on the staff working hard and getting it down the best way we can. We rent the games, they aren't handed to us.
We have to scour the news outlets for our news, they aren't emailed to us. (Sometimes they are).
We have to work every angle we have to get our interviews. We don't have a publicist to do that for us.
Despite that... when I first got on staff, the boss told me we where the largest privately run international Xbox site. In terms of site traffic and unique hits ber day, we're second to Teamxbox. We got more traffic than Xbox.com.
The people you see posting here aren't the only ones who come to this site. This site is always being hit by thousands of guests, from the main page to the forums.

So on our own, we kick ass. But we can't compete against the big looming giant because they have the IGN network with them. It's like being a bunch of rebels.

For Halo 2? Don't worry. Barring something bizarre from happening, we got it covered. There will be a review and all that. That's all I can say.
We can't talk about business to much in the open.

[Variation-XBA]

Reason I'm looking forward to the other reviews are because it's fun to read bais reviews.

[LoRd StOnEpAw]

Reason I'm looking forward to the other reviews are because it's fun to read bais reviews.

So true... i mean a 9.7??? c'mon! :rofl:

[AlBoogy]

Well for starters, TXB is operated by IGN.
We're a good site and we have a ton of unique hits per day, but its hard to operate in the shadow of TeamXbox because they have more resources, and they host OXM's forums.
I like to think we're the internet's best kept secret sometimes. Have you seen TXB's forums? It's God-awful over there. It's chaos for the most part.

So to be honest, we'll never be a major player like those guys simply because we don't have the backing like they do.


Reclaimer, thats b.s. because the IGN buyout happened recently. They have posted original material long before the IGN buyout. I am pretty sure you guys here at XBA can have the same access they did before IGN was around. It would just take quite a bit of work and once you guys get in good with a lot of the companies it wont be as difficult thereafter. Basically, after some time they will be coming to you and all the legwork done in the beginning will pay off.

[Casper]

Eh, TXB has been on MS' nipple for awhile, enjoying it's milk.

We'll have our review up there - if it gets read, good. I've seen a few reviews from this site that have been mentioned on other sites (I remember my PGR2 reviewed caused a stir because I received an early copy from MS so it was up 4 days early, but then MS wanted it down). This happens - it's all part of the game. But I guarantee that our review will be up there nice and quick - hopefully I can get 2 guys to do 2 views on it, for some views and not just one weighted review.

[LTM360]

I am more so than XBA because the Rallisport Challenge 2 review... that left a bad taste in my mouth.

[stormin4]

Alboogy has a really good point. But, not to slam anyone specifically, but, the review from here about Rallisport Challenge 2 was so grossly off the mark it wasn't even funny.

I didn't see that review. What was off the mark about it? I just bought that game and I like it.

[Casper]

I am more so than XBA because the Rallisport Challenge 2 review... that left a bad taste in my mouth.
That was the guys first review - albeit, I wasn't happy about it, I'm not the decision maker when it comes to the editorial edge of stuff around here. Hopefully, I will be able to guarantee in the future that when it comes to a big game coming out - it gets what it deserves - a full-out review from someone who played the entire game and understands the background of the game at the same time.

[LTM360]

XBA RalliSport Challenge 2 Review (http://www.xboxaddict.com/products/staff_reviews/view.php?Product_ID=770)

I don't know specifically what Max is talkin about storm, but I know the sound is one thing he complained about Max didn't agree with at all. And, I don't either.

Ralli 2 is the best realistic racer I've ever played, and an 8/10 just... isn't a good score for a game as good as Rallisport Challenge 2.

[Reclaimer]

Reclaimer, thats b.s. because the IGN buyout happened recently. They have posted original material long before the IGN buyout. I am pretty sure you guys here at XBA can have the same access they did before IGN was around. It would just take quite a bit of work and once you guys get in good with a lot of the companies it wont be as difficult thereafter. Basically, after some time they will be coming to you and all the legwork done in the beginning will pay off.


It's been more than recently. Do you remember the first TXB invasion here at XBA because their forums went down and TXB was just about closed for good?
That was the IGN take over. That was nearly two years ago, it happened just as I became a member here.

[ShannonX]

http://www.xboxaddict.com/products/staff_reviews/view.php?Product_ID=770

rallisport challenge 2

[Koopa]

i post at TXB every now and then just because its so huge that new replies and threads pop up more quickly...but here there's a sense of community, and you actually know the guys you're talking to or arguing with.

[AlBoogy]

It's been more than recently. Do you remember the first TXB invasion here at XBA because their forums went down and TXB was just about closed for good?
That was the IGN take over. That was nearly two years ago, it happened just as I became a member here.

I dont think it was 2 years ago but it may very well have been. But thats not the point. The point is that before IGN took it over, they always had reviews, previews and original news on time. They also rarely linked their news to other sites info because they were the ones getting the info themselves. And ultimately, their reviews did and still come out before or on the day a game comes out. Not weeks or even months after something comes out.

[StudioAlex]

Well, not to trash anyone, but sometimes the staff reviews here aren't so great. I remember one game, a heavily hyped shooter, receiving perfect 5's across the boards. This was before they averaged out staff reviews, but still, this was a mediocre game that was pretty much a let down for the vast majority of people who played it. I was particularly annoyed because I went out and bought it that day because of the strong review. I was expecting another halo. It was more like a mace griffon.

I haven't read any of them since. Maybe that's not fair but I figure it's not fair trusting a review here cost me fifty bucks either.

[themoosearmy]

I think that its really hard to do a review on any game. Mainly because of your inherent bias towards a particular genre of games. I can't stand the "new style" RPGs but they still make GotY. You have to really see a lot of games and play a lot of different stuff to make good reviews. That's why I think the big name reviews are more sought after. They (usually) have tenured staff that have a lot of time and a lot of experience playing and rating games relative to that genre.

[AlBoogy]

Well, not to trash anyone, but sometimes the staff reviews here aren't so great. I remember one game, a heavily hyped shooter, receiving perfect 5's across the boards. This was before they averaged out staff reviews, but still, this was a mediocre game that was pretty much a let down for the vast majority of people who played it. I was particularly annoyed because I went out and bought it that day because of the strong review. I was expecting another halo. It was more like a mace griffon.

I haven't read any of them since. Maybe that's not fair but I figure it's not fair trusting a review here cost me fifty bucks either.


Im glad to see someone isnt afraid to tell it how it is. You know how its been Studio. Weve been here for a long time and with the exception of a few instances, things havent changed much as far as material is concerned.

[l Maximus l]

XBA RalliSport Challenge 2 Review (http://www.xboxaddict.com/products/staff_reviews/view.php?Product_ID=770)

I don't know specifically what Max is talkin about storm, but I know the sound is one thing he complained about Max didn't agree with at all. And, I don't either.

Ralli 2 is the best realistic racer I've ever played, and an 8/10 just... isn't a good score for a game as good as Rallisport Challenge 2.

Yeah, I couldn't believe it when I read that all the cars sound the exact same. I just about blew a gasket (pun intended) when I read that. When I read it, you can tell that the reviewer didn't even play the game.

But, I will admit that the Review for Rallisport Challenge 2 is not representative to all the reviews here at XBA. In fact, there are some damn good reviews.

And yes, 8/10 is a mediocre score for a much more exceptional game. I would say arguably the best racer I have every played on XBox...well, that and Burnout 3 :D (But that game is completely different, of course)

[StudioAlex]

I think that its really hard to do a review on any game. Mainly because of your inherent bias towards a particular genre of games. I can't stand the "new style" RPGs but they still make GotY. You have to really see a lot of games and play a lot of different stuff to make good reviews. That's why I think the big name reviews are more sought after. They (usually) have tenured staff that have a lot of time and a lot of experience playing and rating games relative to that genre.

I think the problem is nacent fanboyism, not neccesarily genre bias. Professional reviewers shouldn't let the excitement overwhelm them, overrating products. Also, actual writing ability is something you're more likely to get from a big media outlet, even if you disagree with the opinion.