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Eurogamer why our Starfield: review will be late (DF unaffected and will be on time)

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Why did Jez Corden receive a code then?

Access to the game appears to have been heavily restricted in the UK, where Bethesda has also not provided copies of Starfield to other websites and YouTube channels owned by Eurogamer parent company Reedpop. Meanwhile, some other UK outlets have been provided access through Bethesda's US arm.




All the answers are in the OP.
 

solidus12

Member
Took years but finally people are catching on to this DF blatant bias.

It’s right there in the 360/PS3 era, when MS used them for console wars. Pretty sure they sponsored them at one point.
Yeah, they always carefully choose their words to minimize comparisons when PS5 has the advantage.

Also, notice that they are not allowed to do direct Xbox Series X / PC comparisons; it’s always PS5 vs PC.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Yeah, they always carefully choose their words to minimize comparisons when PS5 has the advantage.

Also, notice that they are not allowed to do direct Xbox Series X / PC comparisons; it’s always PS5 vs PC.
Thats because usually the PS5 is the better performing version..

you people are...

p07jstr1.jpg
 

Montauk

Member
Kind of lame to put this out there tbh. Bethesda doesn't owe anyone a review code.

And yet it’s normal and best practice to give every review outlet a code.

As for it being lame of them to discuss this publicly (it’s perfectly fair) they obviously have previously contacted all relevant parties privately, at various levels.

That has failed so at a late stage they have chosen to alert their readers, because their readers will obviously be expecting a review on review day.

Nothing lame about any of that.
 
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Thirty7ven

Banned
They did. MS used to loan them expensive developer equipment and software that cost 10's of thousands to measure and capture performance on the machines back then. "For free."

They used to have a sponsorship page mentioning this at the time.

Yeah I thought so. Leave it to worker bees like adamsapple to blush it away with a laugh though.
 

Sephimoth

Member
Sorry, so what you want is *more* conformity of opinion? Really?
Thanks for your interest in what I want. And yes, I do, because if I see a site always going against the general consensus I wonder if they're doing it "for the clicks" (and it's often sites that are struggling- Kotaku/Polygon etc)

Spoiler: They usually are doing it for clicks

But seeing more of this thread and that other sites have been denied codes, I guess that's not the reason.
 
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Stuart360

Member
Took years but finally people are catching on to this DF blatant bias.

It’s right there in the 360/PS3 era, when MS used them for console wars. Pretty sure they sponsored them at one point.
Multiplatform games were usually better on the 360 over PS3 in that gen. Just like how last gen they reported on the PS4 having the better versions of games over the XB1. No one had a problem with them last gen, well until the OneX released.

People see what they want to see.
 

spons

Gold Member
Seems like a UK-wide issue then. I know for a fact that Zenimax Benelux has given out copies to outlets here, so it's not a European problem.
I still think it's entitled garbage to claim free codes though.
 

tmlDan

Member
No.
But its a similar situation here. Tell me, what stops them from buying the game and review themselves? I don't think companies can stop them, at least not that I know.

Now, if in Skill Up case is a clear case of choice, then I think he has every right to not review the game. But people also have the right to criticise him from not doing so, because it tells alot about his integrity/profissionalism.

he's clarified on his Pod that he's just too busy and he has no interest in Harry Potter as a franchise so it's hard for him to go back, he's travelled and done reviews and took a small break recently.

I am sure if he got a review code when the game releases were significantly lighter he would have done it. He gets more views on his reviews than 90% of news outlets, but I have a feeling he'd be an ass about HP since he seems very contradictory based on the FF7 and Ff16 review drama earlier this year - he's hard to predict.
 

Cyberpunkd

Member
Todd has stated multiple times that he respects DF's work and how everyone in the industry watches their videos.
Just what the industry needs - more masturbatory pixel counting. They do for game reviews what tech YouTubers do for product reviews - 100% pointless fluff, no quality insight.
 

Thirty7ven

Banned
Multiplatform games were usually better on the 360 over PS3 in that gen. Just like how last gen they reported on the PS4 having the better versions of games over the XB1. No one had a problem with them last gen, well until the OneX released.

People see what they want to see.

Facts are not the point, I’m not arguing that 360 didn’t usually have the best ports.

Keep up or don’t bother.
 

Stuart360

Member
The problem with this kind of action is you're almost guaranteeing a dodgy review from these outlets (if the game is great they obviously wont give like a 4/10 etc, but more like 7/10). Where as if you had provided codes to these outlets you dont trust, you may or may not of got a dodgy review. If you get what i mean.

Thats why i think doing this kind of means a 90+ MC score isnt possible now.
 

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
Multiplatform games were usually better on the 360 over PS3 in that gen. Just like how last gen they reported on the PS4 having the better versions of games over the XB1. No one had a problem with them last gen, well until the OneX released.

People see what they want to see.
You mean last gen when they conveniently included in their "tech articles" that...

"If you prefer the controller...." or "If your friends on are Xbox..." "...the the differences in performance and resolution should not impact you."

Those softening the blow caveats™ were never used the gen prior, especially with #grassgate, I wonder why that is?
however-there-are-c05f6d5l.jpg


That is why people started taking notice. Because what controller you prefer and where you friends are have fuck all to do with a "tech breakdown."
 
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RoboFu

One of the green rats
I still find it weird that DF is somehow respected, they're still super niche averaging just over 100k views a video in most cases.

I find their videos to be pretty useless in the grand scheme of things but nerd jerking and fueling console wars.

DF plays to fanboys.. not having a DF video is worse than being the lower performer in one.
 

Stuart360

Member
Facts are not the point, I’m not arguing that 360 didn’t usually have the best ports.

Keep up or don’t bother.
Facts are not the point?, what?.

You said DF bias started in the 360/ps3 gen, and i'm saying that the 360 usually had the better versions of multiplatform games that gen. Its not DF's fault if that is the case. They wouldnt be doing their job if they didnt show 'facts'.
 

Pedro Motta

Member
You mean last gen when they conveniently included in their "tech articles" that...

"If you prefer the controller...." or "If your friends on are Xbox..." "...the the differences in performance and resolution should not impact you."

Those softening the blow caveats™ were never used the gen prior, especially with #grassgate, I wonder why that is?
however-there-are-c05f6d5l.jpg
Wait until you see this clip. The masterfull way they spin out of the topic of the price, tell the Xbox solution is better because you can install it to a different console, and the SSD on the PS5 causes crashes lol.
 

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes

Access to the game appears to have been heavily restricted in the UK, where Bethesda has also not provided copies of Starfield to other websites and YouTube channels owned by Eurogamer parent company Reedpop. Meanwhile, some other UK outlets have been provided access through Bethesda's US arm.




All the answers are in the OP.
Dude are you seriously telling me that Microsoft was stopped at customs and had their review codes stolen at gunpoint by the UK Mafia?

But then Phil Spencer risked his life and evaded capture around UK to personally hand Richard a review copy he had hidden in his anus?

These are fucking digital codes you email to people. It literally takes seconds. This has nothing to do with some kind of UK specific embargo.
 

solidus12

Member
You mean last gen when they conveniently included in their "tech articles" that...

"If you prefer the controller...." or "If your friends on are Xbox..." "...the the differences in performance and resolution should not impact you."

Those softening the blow caveats™ were never used the gen prior, especially with #grassgate, I wonder why that is?
however-there-are-c05f6d5l.jpg
They also said that they prefer Xbox’s solution for additional storage compared to the PS5’s NVME SSDs.
 

oji-san

Banned
The problem with this kind of action is you're almost guaranteeing a dodgy review from these outlets (if the game is great they obviously wont give like a 4/10 etc, but more like 7/10). Where as if you had provided codes to these outlets you dont trust, you may or may not of got a dodgy review. If you get what i mean.

Thats why i think doing this kind of means a 90+ MC score isnt possible now.
Sounds very professional.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Dude are you seriously telling me that Microsoft was stopped at customs and had their review codes stolen at gunpoint by the UK Mafia?

But then Phil Spencer risked his life and evaded capture around UK to personally hand Richard a review copy he had hidden in his anus?

These are fucking digital codes you email to people. It literally takes seconds. This has nothing to do with some kind of UK specific embargo.


No, I'm not seriously telling you that.

I'm pointing out that it is a UK only issue, as reported by multiple websites.

You're turning it into a "because EG and Edge are the only websites which give harsh reviews" narrative, which is clearly not true.
 

DrFigs

Member
I still find it weird that DF is somehow respected, they're still super niche averaging just over 100k views a video in most cases.

I find their videos to be pretty useless in the grand scheme of things but nerd jerking and fueling console wars.
Well they're giving review codes to tiny youtubers too. So they're giving plenty of review codes out there. But I also think DF gvies more utility to devs. Like in being able to find bugs or whatever.
 

Thirty7ven

Banned
Facts are not the point?, what?.

You said DF bias started in the 360/ps3 gen, and i'm saying that the 360 usually had the better versions of multiplatform games that gen. Its not DF's fault if that is the case. They wouldnt be doing their job if they didnt show 'facts'.

That’s not how bias works. Obviously if DF lied about which version of games perform better then they wouldn’t be in business.
 

Stuart360

Member
You mean last gen when they conveniently included in their "tech articles" that...

"If you prefer the controller...." or "If your friends on are Xbox..." "...the the differences in performance and resolution should not impact you."

Those softening the blow caveats™ were never used the gen prior, especially with #grassgate, I wonder why that is?
however-there-are-c05f6d5l.jpg
I mean people on here have used the 'which controller i prefer' and 'where my friends play', to make choices on what version of a game to get.

Again no one really had problems with DF last gen until the OneX launched. DF comparison threads used to be big business on here, 20-30 page threads.
 

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
The problem with this kind of action is you're almost guaranteeing a dodgy review from these outlets (if the game is great they obviously wont give like a 4/10 etc, but more like 7/10). Where as if you had provided codes to these outlets you dont trust, you may or may not of got a dodgy review. If you get what i mean.

Thats why i think doing this kind of means a 90+ MC score isnt possible now.
Based on the things we've seen from leaked footage, I don't think 90+ was ever on the cards anyway.

A 90+ game is mostly flawless (e.g., Elden Ring, Witcher, TLOU, Zelda, Mario). Starfield seems to have multiple issues: poor visuals, poor animations, tiles, loading screens, 30 FPS, weird water animation, problems with shooting and how bullets home in to enemies automatically, etc. That's too much baggage to hit 90+, but I could be wrong of course.
 
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DeepEnigma

Gold Member
I mean people on here have used the 'which controller i prefer' and 'where my friends play', to make choices on what version of a game to get.

Again no one really had problems with DF last gen until the OneX launched. DF comparison threads used to be big business on here, 20-30 page threads.
That is why people started taking notice. Because what controller you prefer and where you friends are have fuck all to do with a "tech breakdown." But conveniently popped up last gen but not the gen prior, at all.

It also disappeared post X launch.
 
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Thief1987

Member
Yep that’s the biggest issue here. It completely exposes digital foundry as partial to Microsoft, and at worst has tainted the upcoming df technical review of starfield.
Well, that nice Gamescom photo should be in the OP of DF's Starfield thread, just as a reminder
 
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Montauk

Member
Wow man the DF obsession is truly insane here. You guys are so off the deep end you’re at the bottom of the Mariana trench.

Some of you must have been holding this laughable conspiratorial grudge for like approaching a decade by now.

Aren’t half of you in your 30s and 40s? Isn’t it time to let it go lads?
 

KingT731

Member
2 possible outcomes from this -

1. The game isnt woke and has stuff in the game that would make woke outlets cry over the game (so a good outcome).

2. This probably means a 90+ score is a goner, especially as these outlets are probably 'offended' over not getting a code.
Can you at least use woke in the correct context lol.

Why wouldn't outlets be a bit surprised that they either aren't getting review codes, or will get them at a later date, for what some have dubbed as a potential "game of the generation" and MS's biggest game in over a decade?
 
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Thirty7ven

Banned
That is why people started taking notice. Because what controller you prefer and where you friends are have fuck all to do with a "tech breakdown." But conveniently popped up last gen but not the gen prior, at all.

I like how all of a sudden console versions started getting more play time by some of the hosts as soon as the One X hit. Even though nothing changed and PC was still the superior option…
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Dude are you seriously telling me that Microsoft was stopped at customs and had their review codes stolen at gunpoint by the UK Mafia?

But then Phil Spencer risked his life and evaded capture around UK to personally hand Richard a review copy he had hidden in his anus?

These are fucking digital codes you email to people. It literally takes seconds. This has nothing to do with some kind of UK specific embargo.
8kwJjlb.jpg
 
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