UPDATE: We Have A Winner
Unlike our no-longer-regularly-updated blog, corruption in the games industry has so far failed to go into hibernation. In the week that Eidos has breathed its last, they’ve decided to go out with a bang by brazenly attempting to artificially hype up their forthcoming Arkham Asylum release.
Several mags have their review code already, but have to sit on their reviews until a hateful embargo expires at the end of the month. But Eidos, ever the helpful fellows that they are, have been offering a way around this embargo. If you dedicate the cover of your mag to Arkham Asylum and guarantee a score of at least 90%, Eidos will allow you to run the review early.
We know that one editor has already valiantly told Eidos to fuck off, but we can’t tell you which to protect our Anonymous Dark Knight. We also asked the usually chatty UK Officially Corrupt Xbox 360 Magazine editor Jon Hicks about it, who tellingly clammed up tighter than a nun’s cunt at the mere mention.
But what of the others? Well, there’s an exciting way to find out in the form of a game that you can play at home over the next month called “Spot The Corrupt Arkham Asylum Review”. You see, Arkham Asylum is a decentish release that’s not quite up to par when it comes to variety and depth. This means even the most charitable outlets should settle at no more than the 80s in their verdicts, but don’t be surprised if you see a few 7s from the pseuds.
This means that if you see a mag turn up within the next few weeks (ding!) that features Arkham Asylum on its cover (ding!) and gives it at least 90% (ding ding ding!), you have a winner.
Exciting…
UPDATE: We Have A Winner
Err.. I've just played through the whole game and I would score it well over 90!
ReplyDeleteNot too sure which version of the game you've been playing, but it's sure not the one that we've got.
At least that is more ambitious than the 8/10 they tried to "handle" for Tomb Raider Underworld.
ReplyDeleteTrust Eidos to put a downer on an anticipated release eh?
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! This is freakin' hilarious! Someone seriously screwed up at Management.
ReplyDeletePlease keep lookin' into this and post the papers who prints a 90% score and all that crap so I/we know which mag. not to buy!
And for Eidos - I was actually going to buy Batman but not anymore, since you don't seem to believe in your own game to recieve a great score.. Well that tells me everything I need to know about the game.
Idiots.
This is so characteristic of Eidos. Fuck all faith in their product.
ReplyDeleteGood on the editor who showed some backbone.
I've only played two thirds of it so far, but it's certainly brushing around the 9/10 mark - maybe an eight.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!
ReplyDeleteCan we play this game with friends?
Glad to have you back.
ReplyDeleteThis is the way things have always been in print -- and online for 'exclusive' reviews.
ReplyDeleteIt's not right, and why so many people don't sign up to exclusive deals for reviews. It sucks, but it's how the industry has always worked.
Isn't this pretty much standard practice in videogame reviewing?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's usually not so blatant, but isn't trading early reviews for high scores pretty much standard practice in videogame reviewing?
Shitty or not, you know someone is breathing down the neck of the poor bastard who had to propose this deal to do it.
ReplyDeleteHow is it that any of you have the game and are supposedly playing it when it hasn't even been released?
ReplyDeleteThis is all bullsh**, AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE IT SAYS "Everything on this blog is the personal opinion of the RAM Raider, and is all lies (Apart from the comments, which are the personal opinions of the commenters. And are all lies.)"
ReplyDeleteIts so stupid on how you guys eat this BS up for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner.
this really has me wanting to cancel my $100+ preorder for the CE and just move to as a rental
ReplyDeleteEidos Community manager issues response on Eurogamer:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=153885&start=30
"RAM Raider lies", is the short version.
Because they're all pissed-off journalists on here...
ReplyDelete...in my time on a magazine, Eidos has done that to me too. Lots of pressure (advertising toys thrown out of magazine pram, angry PRs on phone) to give 9/10 to a 7/10 game.
When Jon Brooke says he's not discussed it, I'm sure that's true - he would have just told them, no discussion. Classic disingenuous answer.
Aren't deals like this standard? I don't get why it's news.
ReplyDeleteErm, do you actually have a source to support this story? Or did you just pull it out of your arse?
ReplyDeleteI smell Buuuuullshit
ReplyDeleteI liked the part where you were wrong, thanks for disgracing a company that didn't deserve it. You're really helping out with that whole yellow journalism thing everyone is talking about.
ReplyDeleteYes, Eidos has said "no discussions have been held about review scores with any magazines". That's because you either put it on the cover and give it 90% or not, there's nothing to discuss in their minds.
ReplyDeleteYou really are a twat sometimes.
ReplyDeleteHeaven forbid that anyone might actually like the game enough to give it 90%. Unlike you, some of us actually still enjoy playing decent videogames, you miserable bag of cat piss.
No doubt there will be the usual shady deals going on, but equally there will be people who like the game enough to give it 9/10. Essentially what you're saying in this post is that anyone who doesn't agree with your appraisal MUST be some form of seedy Nixonite. You refuse to entertain any other possibility, and as a result you're just as warped as the people and systems that you complain about.
On a side note, it is quite amusing to see how hard you find it to let go of your own masked vigilante shtick. What's the matter, Rammy? Don't you have anyone to stroke your ego in the real world?
Hello everyone, I'm a community manager at Eidos, I hope you can all hear me through the flame retardant suit I just put on.
ReplyDeleteI have Eidos' official statement on this for your info, it comes from Jon Brooke, the UK marketing manager:
“With regards an article posted on RamRaider alleging that Eidos has fixed review scores for Batman: Arkham Asylum, we want to state that no discussions have been held about review scores with any magazines. In short there is simply not one shred of truth in this article, except for the title of the game.”
So, Ram can't substantiate their claims, can they? They call their egotistical, overly sarcastic report "journalism", and they can't even provide us with any sources. They only expect us to believe their story, and seemingly conclude that only their view of the situation is correct.
ReplyDelete"You see, Arkham Asylum is a decentish release that’s not quite up to par when it comes to variety and depth." Well that's us told, but is that par set by Iron Man, or the one set by Superman? It could easily be a 9/10 game from what I've played, reminds me of the first Tenchu meets Splinter Cell. Hell, I'd give the bit where Scarecrow drugs Bats and he goes crazy and sees his dead parents as a child in a rainy alleyway 10/10. I wouldn't expect a mag to carry a cover of such a good game to give it a 7. They'd have given it to the wrong reviewer, i'e a cantacerous cunt like yourself. The real story, of course, is that finally someone has created a superhero game that understands the character it portrays and that's something to be applauded.
ReplyDeleteAlmost everyone who commented on this article works at Eidos.
ReplyDeleteFuck me. People are actually crediting RR as a source on this.
ReplyDeleteWell, I know who I believe, and it's not that lying cunt at Eidos. They've been doing this for years and they pulled a similar stunt with the last Tomb Raider game.
ReplyDeleteWhich, by the way, was actually pretty fucking decent regardless. They keep tarnishing their own games to get a meaningless Metacritic score. Pack of fucking cunts the lot of them.
So semi-anonymous Mr. RAM Raider just made up this story for kicks? Out of some deep-seated hatred for Eidos? Really folks?
ReplyDeleteMy take on this is that he heard about this situation happening at one particular magazine, and just made the leap of logic to apply that this was the case for all mags. Just my guess. But I really don't think he'd invent this story out of thin air; I can't see the point of that. It's not like he is trying to drive up blog traffic; he hardly updates this site anymore.
Can u prove Mr. Blogger?
ReplyDeleteIt´s very easy to create a polemic post like this one.
I will expect to PLAY the game.
lolz, this game is sooo screwed
ReplyDelete"The real story, of course, is that finally someone has created a superhero game that understands the character it portrays and that's something to be applauded."
ReplyDeleteYou're missing the point, you soft cunt. Regardless of how good the game is, Eidos have completely tarnished it by demanding a 9/10 score for earlier embargo lifting. Retard.
Batman AA may be a fantastic game, in which case it will review well on it's own. It isn't as if everyone had been waiting to give the game a good kicking, it is one one of the most anticipated releases this year.
ReplyDeleteEidos trying to manipulate review scores shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who remembers the Kane & Lynch debacle, or Tomb Raider. This sort of shit goes on all the time, and it must be disappointing for staff at Rocksteady to see their publisher has so little faith in their game, even though most coverage to date has been overwhelmingly positive.
As for RR and his sources, has it ever occurred to you geniuses that some people risked their (badly paid) jobs to leak the story? Maybe you'd like all the details public so the whistleblowers i'm question find themselves out of a job, but instead you'll just have decide what believe for yourselves.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/may/25/health/he-bitterness25
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I reviewed the most recent Tomb Raider for PC Gamer, and no demand for a minimum score was made of me. (Nor has there ever been for anything I've reviewed in ten years, by the by.)
ReplyDeleteLots of noise, not much evidence.
Will be a great game, sure!
ReplyDelete"You're missing the point, you soft cunt. Regardless of how good the game is, Eidos have completely tarnished it by demanding a 9/10 score for earlier embargo lifting. Retard." No, chief, the game is still plenty sweet and there is nothing wrong with having a cover for a game you believe is a good one and having played it I know that it is. There is no story here, and even if someone did ask that covers only go to mags who dig it I see no problem. This isn't Driv3r gate II, you firm cunt. It's Mr Raider failing to fuck off like he promised he would.
ReplyDeleteGood to see so many "journalists" on here justifying what will surely be their completely honest review scores.
ReplyDeleteThe piece that Walker is referring to is PC Gamer’s 86% review of Tomb Raider. The one that got bumped up to 90% when it was posted on Games Radar just as it turned into “Tomb Radar” for the day, accompanied by a press release from James Binns crowing about it. Anyone who thinks that’s more than an elaborate coincidence is clearly a fantasising conspiracy theorist...
ReplyDeletehttp://ramraider.blogspot.com/2008/11/eidos-paying-for-review-scores.html
Well most people that by games do so with out a review. They just use it as a way to reasure themself of making the right choice. So all this bullshit doesn't matter. Plus your stupid for beliving random people on the internet.
ReplyDelete"With regards an article posted on RamRaider alleging that Eidos has fixed review scores for Batman: Arkham Asylum, we want to state that no discussions have been held about review scores with any magazine..."
ReplyDeleteErm, where is it alleged that Eidos is fixing review scores? The issue is an earlier end of the embargo for a cover and review if the review score is over 90%
Nothing to do with fixing review scores, nice bait and switch Eidos.
And, 'Botherer', to my knowledge you've never been an editor of a mag, which is probably why you've never been asked to give a game a higher score than it deserves. Those special cases are usually kept in-house for obvious reasons. I have been an editor and I'ved been asked, cajoled, threatened and, in once case, bribed, to award over 90% to games.
ReplyDeleteYep. Mag writers generally aren't exposed to these sorts of negotiations and when it occurs it automatically means a staff writer. It's normally a senior staff thing but in my (past) experience it's usually a bit more subtle than this kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteSomewhat surprised it still goes on I mean specialist press just aint that important. They'd be far better off doing some proper grass roots PR to bump up their metacritic.
The thing, these negotiations can only ever result in a loss of favor when it comes to the 'next' thing. They can't stop you from doing what you like for the code you have. With Eidos being imminently absorbed into Square, who'd give a shit? You'd outright ignore them knowing that the gormless pricks who made the offer in the first place are almost certainly destined for the breadline.
And if they weren't before, they are now. (chuckle)
"The piece that Walker is referring to is PC Gamer’s 86% review of Tomb Raider. The one that got bumped up to 90%"... Is that he same Games Radar that gave Killzone 2 9/10 because it marks out of 10 these days? Putting magazine copy online is a pain in the ass, especially when you have to round-up scores.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as so many Eidos people are here, any chance of a Project Eden 2?
ReplyDelete"Seeing as so many Eidos people are here, any chance of a Project Eden 2?"
ReplyDeleteLOL
Also, please don't fuck up the next Tomb Raider, and stop making us shoot loads of henchmen. We want to explore and kill the occasional wolf/gorilla/bat.
A little late to the party here, but...
ReplyDeletemid 90s score
ONE OF THE BEST GAMES ON XBOX 360
guesswho
" You're missing the point, you soft cunt. Regardless of how good the game is, Eidos have completely tarnished it by demanding a 9/10 score for earlier embargo lifting. Retard. "
ReplyDeleteSo even if the game IS good enough to get over 90%, we shouldn't play it because its wonderful, innocent, previously flawless image is tarnished by corporate bullshit...I'm gonna have to vote NO on that one. Even if review scores were fixed, it's not by the people who physically MADE the game, it'll be at a management level (I presume).
Surely NOT playing the game as a means of 'sticking it to the man' defeats the purpose of and insults the quality of work that went into the game at a development level?
Also, reviews vary from different sources anyway...I never buy a game based on a review, and this one will be no different, 90% or not!
OP is a fag.
ReplyDeleteI'm a reviewer, I've played the game, it's damn good. Shove your opinion up your ass and don't try to force your idiotic review scores on others.
It's just a bunch of shitty journalists who are trying to get the attention............i'm getting Batman AA at midnight........and from what i've seen so far...........i believe Batman will stand with other great titles such as Bioshock, RE4, and even GOW.........i still have respect Eidos.
ReplyDeletehahaha Eidos..
ReplyDeleteI remember the time I was on their "experts panel", basically amateurs rating new games / ideas etc...
I won a Tshirt from them and was invited to new reviews all the time.
Until....
Until I basjed a truly ugly, horrid game they provided gameplay footage for - Backyard Wrestling I think it was called.
I told them so and was never contacted again...
Oh the wonders of anonymity. We don't know where RamRaider gets his stuff, we don't know that Eidos is honest, we don't know whether the "editors" are editors or dumb twelve year olds (or both).
ReplyDeleteGot to love it, really.
ReplyDelete"I'm a reviewer, I've played the game, it's damn good. Shove your opinion up your ass and don't try to force your idiotic review scores on others."
And what is it that YOU do again, Mr. 'Reviewer'?
I just laid down a hard earned Benjamin for this game. Initially I was thrilled with the anticipation to be playing as the Joker. I've been searching everywhere for a review and learned all about Eidos' tactics from reading these comments. Call me naive, but fuck you Eidos for pulling this kind of shit. You all suck major donkey dick just like Lara Croft. I pity Rocksteady because now I'm gonna get a refund on that damned CE with a stupid ass batarang. $40 extra for a cheap ass ninja star I could get in Tijuana for a buck!? C'mon, where the fuck are your heads at Eidos? I take a big Killer Croc sized shit right on your integrity.
ReplyDeleteThe CE actually comes with more than a Batarang, including a full-color manual, a WayneTech box, an exclusive Challenge Map code, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that any kind of review embargo should be abolished (reviews should be allowed as soon as review code is released), this talk of Eidos bribing and extorting editors like some kind of mafia crime family is grade A BS. No, I'll say it: Bullshit.
ReplyDeleteNow-a-days there are too many honest and genuine journalists that would blow the whistle on such a practice. Eurogamer for one would have yelled from the rooftops about it, as would Edge and Kikizo.
Grow the fuck up, smacktards.
Don`t you just love boys that are publishing news based on what they have heard from the streets, trying to be professional jurnalist, while they can`t even make an honest looking blog (hosted for free) and using silly little curse words in their news. How mature and professional im mean you GOTTA trust this guy with all the respect he is having for "His reders".
ReplyDeleteDon`t you just love boys that are publishing news based on what they have heard from the streets, trying to be professional jurnalist, while they can`t even make an honest looking blog (hosted for free) and using silly little curse words in their news. How mature and professional im mean you GOTTA trust this guy with all the respect he is having for "His reders".
ReplyDeletePlay the demo and base your opinion on that.
ReplyDeleteI for one will be getting the game. Anyone know if Play.com has actually sold out on CE?
Most comments oo tedious to trawl through, but I'm with RamRaider on this one. Eidos may say they never discussed scores etc, but their PR company clearly did. A certain distinction is required regarding games journalism here, too. These practices occur frequently, but only with the specialist mags -- in which a sort of duopoly (Future Publishing and the other muppets, whatever they're called) reigns. You should never pay any attention to mags staffed by bed-wetters. But there is plenty of objective games journalism going on beyond the corrupt world of specialist mags.
ReplyDeleteI'm just off to buy GamesMaster. Can't think why...
rofl-- this guy is such a retarded, ignorant piece of dog shit. He offers no evidence whatsoever, "oh trust me on this I have a source, but I'm not going to tell you."; And this fucking moron claims that if _any_ magazine whatsoever features this title on their cover or scores it above a 90 then its entirely the result of some conspiracy theory hes devised, as opposed to coincidence... Keep dreaming, if anything your dumb ass should be locked up in an 'Asylum'
ReplyDeleteFwiw, I assume the embargo is long gone now and "360" also gave it 5/5.
ReplyDeleteThe demo was great. The voice acting spot on. The Special Edition looks very cool. I'm definitely going to buy it regardless of whether RR loves it, hates it, thinks Eidos is/was a corrupt house of wanktards and whether or not they said that the embargo could be lifted for a cover and a +90% review score.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, when I WAS a games journo, 15 years ago, lifting embargoes for covers was pretty standard. As an Editor, dedicating a cover to game you slag off inside, would be pretty stupid. So, I don't see what all the fuss is about.
There is no embargo...just take a look at metacritic
ReplyDeleteGame deveopers have been doing this for years(as stated above), so why is there such an uproar over this game in particular? I've played the demo and it's a lot of fun. Reputable review sites are scoring this game above 90% because the game is THAT good.
ReplyDeletelol at artificial hype, decentish release and game getting 8/10 at most. Someone must be feeling pretty fucking dumb just about now.
ReplyDeleteOnly artificial hype here is your shitty blog with this garbage post.
A lot of people in these comments seem to lap up whatever shit the blogger churns out.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it was gonna get high reviews regardless, I mean, it looks like an awesome game.
Just some chubbyy internet blogger got his nerdrage on that a Batman game would have the audacity to actually be fun to play.
your a fucking moron, go waste someone else's time your cunt nerd. lying faggot
ReplyDeleteDemo is pretty cool, I dont really care about reviews anyway....well, their fun to read but i dont really pay attention, Harley Quinn Rocks!!!oh and her voice actress, and mark Hamill as joker.hmmmm..... I think people here are taking Ramraiders thing too seriously.....
ReplyDeleteRAM Raider, you're an idiot. How can you expect anyone to believe your drivel, when you aren't prepared to cite sources? Just posting some elaborate conspiracy theory on your blog isn't journalism - it's just the ranting of a loser.
ReplyDeleteIt may surprise you, but I've actually read some magazines before, read the reviews, bought games based on the reviews and been amazed to find...that I agree with them. Hence, I TRUST them more than you.
I will by buying Batman AA and I will enjoy playing it, thinking about how much of a douche you are.
Oh, and just because I like magazines, doesn't mean I work at one (I saw someone has said "everyone here works at Eidos" - um...yeah, right).
that's what game demos are for
ReplyDeleteWhat the fuck are on about, where's the proof? What Sad fuck spends their time typing this shit up and calling it truth?
ReplyDeleteCheck your post box for hate mail shortly.
dude are you some kind of idiot?
ReplyDeletethis game deserves WELL OVER 90. seriously. try playing the game before passing judgement on a review score. until then you're like any other idiotic 11 year old fanboy.
You're pathetic, you post this stuff without even playing it. And if they fixed the early magasines, then why has pretty much every reviewer given it 9 or more?
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, it persuaded me that if idiots like you said it was shit, then it must be worth buying, so i got Batman AA, and it was absolutely brilliant, best new game i have played in ages
ReplyDeleteThis adventure game downt earn more than 75% from me...I like actions.
ReplyDeleteLOL at the retards on here getting pissed off. It's a weak game about a faggot in a costume geared towards dipshits who think mashing one button for 8 hours and having their hand held through even the most simple of tasks is "brilliant." You guys are all the same fucktards they include 2 hour tutorial levels in games for because you're too stupid to read an instruction manual or, god forbid, figure something out all by yourself.
ReplyDeletegreat post
ReplyDeleteThis post is really incredible, one of the most helpful I have ever read,indeed.Shane Latham
ReplyDelete