Quote:
|
Originally Posted by jeff lackey
Well, there's a good reason most magazines review the out-of-the-box versions: that's what people are getting when they buy the product. Also, at least one editor told me a few years ago that he didn't want to encourage publishers to push things out the door unfinished, knowing they could still get a better review with a patch (I've had publisher PR folks send me a patch and tell me to not review the version in the box, but only the patched version - they then got very POed when I told them I was reviewing what my neighbor would get if he bought the game at Best Buy.)
I try to throw in a comment about a patch being available if it's out when the review is written, but the score and review still has to reflect the version shipped for review/retail shelves. Which is why it is really not good business to push a product out the door a week earlier (or even a couple of weeks, or even 4 weeks) if you could have significant bug fixes, etc. if you wait. Certainly not for a single week.
Immaculata - nothing to do with "high horses". The version they sent for review is the version we review. How long do you wait? Do I wait for a couple of weeks when I get a copy for review, hoping there might be a patch? Do I tell the editor to wait for two more weeks when a patch comes out so I can run that through the paces? There will be another patch after this one - do you wait for it? This patch isn't even out yet.
If the publsiher ships copies for review, and if they ship these to the shelves for people to purchase, that's what gets reviewed. It's up to the publishers to decide what they want to push out the door.
|
Not for nuthin' Jeff, but it strikes me that there is a certain amount of irony at play here.
Most sub-simmers, at least the bleeding-edge, early adaptors, are also internet savy and experienced in the release-then-patch process and so will be able to avail themselves of any patches. Failing that I seem to recall that on SH3 there was some kind of auto-update feature.
Now without doubt your review will mention that the game was rushed out the door before it was ready, and, I guess, rightfully so.
However... with the first patch imminent, and the knowledge that it will fix a lot of the issues that are causing concern, isn't there an elemnet of rushing your review out the door?
Almost certainly the second pressing will be 1.1 or higher and that is the one that the late adaptors and casual gamers will be buying, so your review, based on a product that we know isn't the one they will be able to buy, might be seen as misleading and unfair?
I just askin'.
JCC