If that's the case I still find it gross. Just because it happens all the time doesn't mean it should be okay. The simple fact that there are huge AAA ads on the front page of these supposed "unbiased" review sites is questionable to begin with.
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Bethesda has an embargo on announcing the FO4 review embargo, are you kidding me
- Thread starter BiggNife
- Start date
If that's the case I still find it gross. Just because it happens all the time doesn't mean it should be okay. The simple fact that there are huge AAA ads on the front page of these supposed "unbiased" review sites is questionable to begin with.
Solid Samus
Banned
I'd take this thread over that Bayonetta rape thread any day of the week personally
pyrealnova
Member
Holy shit, someone who gets it!! Like seeing a lake in the middle of a desert.
TheSlySoul
Member
I expect trailers of trailers next.
2020 will have microtransactions of microtransactions.
Gentleman Jack
Member
They're agreeing to more than that, which is why this thread exists.
Nah. Bethesda didn't send us this e-mail.
TemplaerDude
Member
But, they can still choose not to agree to anything at all as I said. It's their editorial teams' choice to agree to any sort of embargo or not. Embargos can have multiple stipulations.
Sometimes I think it sucks a bit being such a big Bethesda fan on NEOGAF. But, I'm going to be playing Fallout 4 in like 4 days. Who gives a crap? lol
Seriously though, this is silly, but a non-issue.
superNESjoe
Member
This really seems like a silly non-issue. Don't know why people are mad about this.
Tatsumi Oga
Banned
Yeah but i never understood that. Because their games are fine and look at the damn reviews they always get. I have faith thar F4 is a fine game, so i just don't get this. I am sure both companies got their reasons for it.
Well, I think the issue some people are having is that a review ideally should not be an advert for the game or part of a some carefully curated marketing plan.
superNESjoe
Member
Copycat
Imitation and flattery and all that.
Being a huge fan of one of the most mainstream gaming publishers? From a game that is sure to get 9/10 as far as the eyes can see from mainstream reviewers?
Feeling victimized?
Bethesda games are easy to criticize when you break down the game into parts. This is a forum of hardcore gaming enthusiasts, expect criticism.
Gentleman Jack
Member
Somehow that doesn't mollify me about a situation in which a press outlet either agrees to an open-ended number of strings attached to review copies, or quickly find themselves hamstrung and at an extreme disadvantage by needing to buy every game they need to cover at retail.
fastballspecial
Member
Jason broke the embargo of the embargo without breaking the embargo of the embargo.
Good shit, dude.
But, fuck. That is seriously messed up. I don't get the point of the whole scenario to begin with. Will Bethesda assuage us with a blog post again?
Good shit, dude.
But, fuck. That is seriously messed up. I don't get the point of the whole scenario to begin with. Will Bethesda assuage us with a blog post again?
Arbitrary internet anger topic of the hour
thebigmanjosh
Member
It doesn't affect consumers, but I wasn't informed of this and inadvertently tweeted the time our review would be posted earlier today. I'm hoping Bethesda doesn't slam us for missing a review embargo embargo.
Exactly. This just strikes me as part of Mr. Marketings plan for optimal advertisement penetration
That's the only way early access will exist for entertainment reviews though. They can opt out and find other ways to review the game, but it's such a common practice that its effects on reviews themselves isn't likely to exist at all - the same way it has little effect on the world of film, music or book reviews.
They will surely embargo you.
Mr. Nice_Guy
Member
The first two pages had me in stitches. Thanks for the laughs everybody.
Seems odd, since this is one of the most anticipated games this year, and a sequel to one of the best selling (?) games of the previous generation.
Doesn't affect me though, still looking forward to it.
Seems odd, since this is one of the most anticipated games this year, and a sequel to one of the best selling (?) games of the previous generation.
Doesn't affect me though, still looking forward to it.
Gentleman Jack
Member
This is optimism on your part.
I'm not an optimist, and Bethesda's track record is not such that I automatically grant them or their PR mouthpieces the benefit of the doubt in 2015.
Any game is easy to criticize when you break down the game into parts. And yes, Bethesda games seem to be more criticized than others. I'm not a victim nor do I feel victimized nor do I think that this game is not deserving of criticism. Doesn't mean I can't think it sucks to read about it all the time. Sorry if you disagree.
atlusprime
Atlus PR
I think people are conditioned now to think that day-prior review scores are to "hide" the fact that the game isn't as good as the public hype perception. I've already seen people on Twitter posting the likes of "day-before-launch review embargo for FO4. Uh oh." When more likely than not, it's just a strategy to avoid getting overshadowed by the noise that will come with the CODBLOPS3 release on Friday.
No publisher in their right mind would want to compete with the noise of the "DAY 1 SALES PASSED 6 MILLION COPIES!" "BIGGEST LAUNCH EVER!" and all the other comments that come with a COD release. Even with a property like Fallout.
At least, that's where my line of thinking would be.
It's not optimism in Bethesda or otherwise, it's that it's been a common practice in entertainment reviews for decades and plenty of hyped up junk has gotten panned.
This is Bethesda making some attempt to strike a balance between sales and having informed consumers. The review own embargo is a bit weird but it seems like they are trying to put website on equal footing while still controlling the release narrative.
We are STILL getting reviews before many people have a chance to remove the wrap off (since this only affects console users unless Steams refund policy is US only).
The people going on and on about how this is "gross" are deluding the word. MGSV and it's microtransactions are gross. Arkham Knight releasing in the state it was in for PC is gross. Fallout 4 having a controlled roll out isn't even close.
But let's pretend it is because it's Bethesda and Todd lied or whatever other bullshit animosity NeoGAF had toward these guys.
CornBurrito
Member
Don't see why they are doing a review embargo. There's no way a reviewer gives the game anything less than an 8/10. Not for a game with this much marketing and budget, and from this big a studio. Not for a game that already has this much premature internet hype surrounding it.
I'm almost certain that hype determines review scores in this industry.
I'm almost certain that hype determines review scores in this industry.
Gentleman Jack
Member
I wasn't commenting on whether or not it's common, I'm commenting on your speculation that it has a negligible impact on reviews.
The only reason I can see Bethesda has for imposing this degree of control is to maximize the chances that the game clears some pre-determined benchmark for success on Metacritic, and so that the rather vocal segment of tastemakers and press outlets do not so much as whisper the dirty word 'Embargo' until its too late to enter the public consciousness. It's obviously a control ploy to ensure that maximum return on first-weekend sales. I can't help but distrust it.
old manatee
Banned
MiguelItUp
Member
Lol, that just seems so pointless. I mean, why even mention something like that at all? The word embargo has officially become one of my least favorite words. Really though, I wouldn't be surprised if stuff like this has been happening for awhile.
7DollarHagane
Banned
It's more like a turducken
Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
As a consumer I want to see what exactly I'm getting, even on launch day.
"Control release of information" is never a good code word when it comes to being a consumer lol.
Blackleg-sanji1
Banned
So is this another protect bethseda thread? That's the only way i see this stretching 7 pages. If it was ubisoft or something im sure the outrage would have no defenders.
It does have no meaningful though. Embargo'd films, music and games get poor and mediocre reviews every week.
The reviews will be up a day before the game launches though. Mentioning embargo doesn't seem to have much of an impact on sales anyway as the only people who care are the press and a niche segment of hardcore consumers.
Xaero Gravity
NEXT LEVEL lame™
The fact that I can no longer tell if this is sarcasm scares me.
Gentleman Jack
Member
If it had zero impact then it would not be on Bethesda's stipulations that you don't mention the embargo.
stufte
Member
First rule of embargo club...