And I thought McQuaid was bad... (CA) - Page 2

Punko · 08-20-2009, 04:15 AM

After enjoying the awesome that Medieval total war II was, I went out and bought this game, actually pre-ordered it.

Big mistake. The game is very buggy, it still doesn't work for me atm, unless I revert to older, inferior drivers, and has been basically breaking on and off on a regular basis. More off then on though.

The finish / AI / overall game is just shit compared to the earlier total war games.

The elite version of the game was a sad rip, I payed 5$ extra for 6? fucking units ? In a game that won't even start up ..

In short, I'll be pirating whatever they make in the next few years, until they can convince me that it isn't shit in a bag, like E:TW is.

Leason learned, unlearning it is going to take years.

Thanks CA / Sega.

Szlia · 08-20-2009, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utnayan

1> They paid off reviewers. Well over 50% that even bought the game would crash constantly. And of those 50% that didn't, 40% would crash after a period of time during the same file. It came down to the points where you couldn't even have certain ships in a fleet because of you did, those ships would crash the game. Or, the save file would get corrupt. Worse, trades were all over the board. Some you could easily exploit, others didn't even work (Trade routes). Even though this was all happening, somehow reviews came in 85% and above. But all it takes is one google search on the game and you can see anyone buying it, fans of the series or no, questioning how this game got the reviews it got. Epire: Total war was one of the higher paid advertisements for a lot of magazines and online sites - including G4.

I think Lumie has a trademark on these leaps of logic. A common scenario is for reviews to be done based on a build that is not the final one. So if Sega send the reviewers a build with a note saying something like "there are still some bugs in this version, but be sure everything will be ironed out by the time of release!", reviewers will give the game the benefit of the doubt. Considering the quality of the previous Total War games, why would they not? Sometimes reviewers will mention that in their article, sometimes they will do a follow-up article if the final version did not address the bugs that were in the version they tested, but that is the exception, not the norm.

Requiem · 08-20-2009, 04:38 AM

The entire video game related online review world is bought and paid for. I've seen blatant line item lists of what you get for how much money, and the receipts.

fanaskin · 08-20-2009, 04:47 AM

fan made patches mods conversions and content always made these games well worth it to me. i can't imagine playing rome total war without rome total realism mod now. that and multiplayer. there isn't an ai for a strategy game on the planet that on equal rulesets is as good crafty and interesting as a human opponent.

Lost Ranger · 08-20-2009, 06:39 AM

I really don't understand this games issues. I bought the box version since I rarely use steam and have had almost no problems with it. I have played half a dozen grand campaigns with out a single crash. My oldest son who also loves the series installed the same copy I did and is lucky to play 15 minutes before he crashes to desktop. He has even crashed so hard he has to reset the system because it completely froze. Same copy of the game and our systems are exactly the same since I built them together.

I think I am done with the total war series. Which is sad to say because I love them so much but this kinda shit is just not acceptable. Only way I drop any more money on them is if the next game gets some amazing reviews from posters here I trust. I honestly don't know why ANYONE would go looking for reviews from websites and magazines. That shit stopped being reliable years ago. Want a 10 out of 10? Fork over the cash.

Jozu · 08-20-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

I honestly don't know why ANYONE would go looking for reviews from websites and magazines. That shit stopped being reliable years ago. Want a 10 out of 10? Fork over the cash.

Does this trickle down to the Magazines also? I used to read Game Informer and Electronic Gaming Monthly, and they were pretty decent. I stopped subscribing a little over 2 years ago, but most of the reviews seemed to be honest, and objective, considering 4 or 5 different reviewers/editors gave scores for an aggregate.

Lost Ranger · 08-20-2009, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jozu

Does this trickle down to the Magazines also? I used to read Game Informer and Electronic Gaming Monthly, and they were pretty decent. I stopped subscribing a little over 2 years ago, but most of the reviews seemed to be honest, and objective, considering 4 or 5 different reviewers/editors gave scores for an aggregate.

Sure. It is just as easy to pay for a good review in a magazine as it is on the internet. That is not to say you never get honest reviews but it has reached the point that anything you read has to be taken with a huge grain of salt. If the reviews are not bought and paid for then you often times get extreme company bias. I have seen critics who I am sure would buy a steaming pile of shit in a box so long as it had Nintendo stamped on it. Then write a review on how amazing it is. Same goes for the xbox/ps3. Critics are not immune to being fanboys.

I just have no respect for any of them anymore. Everywhere I go the reviews seem tainted to me. I find I get MUCH better review quality here because I trust the opinions of certain posters. Like if Dumar hates something it is a pretty good chance I (and probably everyone else) will enjoy it for example.

Indiana · 08-20-2009, 07:11 AM

GameSpot used to be pretty decent, but those days are long gone. Even total shit like the remake of Colonization gets lauded for "outstanding gameplay" It's absurd and sickening. I stopped trusting reviews altogether with the possible exception of Zeropunctuation. I boughtthe CE Total War: Empire because I figured it would be at least as good as medieval, but I was terribly wrong. Congracts CA - from now on I'll pirate your games before I even think of supporting you.

Eomer · 08-20-2009, 09:26 AM

I never bought or pirated Empire, because everything I read about it lead me to believe it was a gigantic turd of a game (I downloaded the demo, and after waiting 5 minutes for a level load I just deleted it). I have bought Shogun, Medieval and Medieval II and thoroughly enjoyed those games, although as others have mentioned diplomacy has always been a fucking joke.

CA is pretty disgusting in my opinion. They've basically been releasing the exact same game for 10 years, with some minor changes from one release to the next. Basically everything after Shogun could have been a series of expansion packs. They certainly were in terms of the development resources required, I'm sure.

I certainly won't be purchasing any of their products in the foreseeable future.

James · 08-20-2009, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Requiem

The entire video game related online review world is bought and paid for. I've seen blatant line item lists of what you get for how much money, and the receipts.

We should start our own game review site, hell yeah. I'd review the shit out of some games.

Adam12 · 08-20-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James

We should start our own game review site, hell yeah. I'd review the shit out of some games.

There's always a market for humorously negative (but honest) reviews. Zero Punctuation is good, but he tends to stick to games that are more on the fringe (with the occasional big name title).

Edit: I usually wait for people here to review games if I'm on the fence anyway. I'm sure you aren't completely serious, but why not?

Hatorade · 08-20-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utnayan

Jesus Christ look at some of these newegg reviews? And some of these idiots will rate it a product a 5 because they bought it on newegg!

Customer Reviews Of Empire: Total War PC Game SEGA - Retail

Can't argue with this:
Pros: Very fun to play, instintley became a top five game for me.

Cons: None

@ James we do that shit now at least I do every time I make a new thread about a game. I would actually like to review games for a living but I lack the ability to form a structured review. That and these guys either have to finish the game in crunch time or come very close.

James · 08-20-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam12

Edit: I usually wait for people here to review games if I'm on the fence anyway. I'm sure you aren't completely serious, but why not?

Yeah, maybe not completely serious, but FoH could really put something together I'd imagine. At least more main stream than a subforum, that is. Run it with a panel of 'certified' reviewers or some shit, maybe have an area for user reviews and an aggregate score of each. Like Rotten Tomatoes for games. It would be fun, I think.

Adam12 · 08-20-2009, 11:17 AM

Yeah, it would be pretty cool. Most review sites are shit these days, so it's not a bad idea. If you use a rating system though, make it comprehensive and not the "This game is full of bugs, sucks graphically, runs like shit on my new PC, and is poorly designed....7/10!" bullshit.

Hatorade · 08-20-2009, 11:22 AM

This is like the 15th time this has come up, nothing ever comes of it though. Review sites are everywhere and already over saturated, who has the money to make one that is better than destructoid or gametrailers to a lesser extent.

08-20-2009, 04:38 AM	#18 (permalink)
Requiem Site Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,259 +109 Internets	The entire video game related online review world is bought and paid for. I've seen blatant line item lists of what you get for how much money, and the receipts. __________________ Requiem Alloria Mistweave Uberguilds.org, fohguild.org Site Administrator requiem@fohguild.org

08-20-2009, 07:11 AM	#23 (permalink)
Indiana This is not 'Nam. This is bowling. There are rules Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 711 +13 Internets	GameSpot used to be pretty decent, but those days are long gone. Even total shit like the remake of Colonization gets lauded for "outstanding gameplay" It's absurd and sickening. I stopped trusting reviews altogether with the possible exception of Zeropunctuation. I boughtthe CE Total War: Empire because I figured it would be at least as good as medieval, but I was terribly wrong. Congracts CA - from now on I'll pirate your games before I even think of supporting you. __________________ Indiana the Silent Club Fu Bristlebane We want to be the Blizzard of massively multiplayer gaming - John Smedley

08-20-2009, 11:22 AM	#30 (permalink)
Hatorade Cause it's better than water Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,217 +78 Internets	This is like the 15th time this has come up, nothing ever comes of it though. Review sites are everywhere and already over saturated, who has the money to make one that is better than destructoid or gametrailers to a lesser extent. __________________ Wii Friend Code 1729 2890 3780 7210 AION group

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08-20-2009, 04:15 AM	#16 (permalink)
Punko Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 369 -14 Internets	After enjoying the awesome that Medieval total war II was, I went out and bought this game, actually pre-ordered it. Big mistake. The game is very buggy, it still doesn't work for me atm, unless I revert to older, inferior drivers, and has been basically breaking on and off on a regular basis. More off then on though. The finish / AI / overall game is just shit compared to the earlier total war games. The elite version of the game was a sad rip, I payed 5$ extra for 6? fucking units ? In a game that won't even start up .. In short, I'll be pirating whatever they make in the next few years, until they can convince me that it isn't shit in a bag, like E:TW is. Leason learned, unlearning it is going to take years. Thanks CA / Sega.

08-20-2009, 04:47 AM	#19 (permalink)
fanaskin Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 174 -8 Internets	fan made patches mods conversions and content always made these games well worth it to me. i can't imagine playing rome total war without rome total realism mod now. that and multiplayer. there isn't an ai for a strategy game on the planet that on equal rulesets is as good crafty and interesting as a human opponent.

08-20-2009, 06:39 AM	#20 (permalink)
Lost Ranger Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,001 -4 Internets	I really don't understand this games issues. I bought the box version since I rarely use steam and have had almost no problems with it. I have played half a dozen grand campaigns with out a single crash. My oldest son who also loves the series installed the same copy I did and is lucky to play 15 minutes before he crashes to desktop. He has even crashed so hard he has to reset the system because it completely froze. Same copy of the game and our systems are exactly the same since I built them together. I think I am done with the total war series. Which is sad to say because I love them so much but this kinda shit is just not acceptable. Only way I drop any more money on them is if the next game gets some amazing reviews from posters here I trust. I honestly don't know why ANYONE would go looking for reviews from websites and magazines. That shit stopped being reliable years ago. Want a 10 out of 10? Fork over the cash.

08-20-2009, 09:26 AM	#24 (permalink)
Eomer You mean I can change this? Neat! Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,975 +66 Internets	I never bought or pirated Empire, because everything I read about it lead me to believe it was a gigantic turd of a game (I downloaded the demo, and after waiting 5 minutes for a level load I just deleted it). I have bought Shogun, Medieval and Medieval II and thoroughly enjoyed those games, although as others have mentioned diplomacy has always been a fucking joke. CA is pretty disgusting in my opinion. They've basically been releasing the exact same game for 10 years, with some minor changes from one release to the next. Basically everything after Shogun could have been a series of expansion packs. They certainly were in terms of the development resources required, I'm sure. I certainly won't be purchasing any of their products in the foreseeable future.

08-20-2009, 11:17 AM	#29 (permalink)
Adam12 Hobophobic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,293 +26 Internets	Yeah, it would be pretty cool. Most review sites are shit these days, so it's not a bad idea. If you use a rating system though, make it comprehensive and not the "This game is full of bugs, sucks graphically, runs like shit on my new PC, and is poorly designed....7/10!" bullshit.