PC Gamer Sweden-no review

[rrm]

I don't know why PC Gamer Sweden didn't want to put HL2 in the cover , if you say is right about them posting fair reviews , then what does it matter if they put the game on the cover ? Just put it , it doesn't indicate that the review will be biased.

HL2 is the most antipicated PC game of all time . Why not put it on the cover when you are reviewing it? It got nothing to do with "selling out".

fanboy

 

[Mountain Man]

Putting Half-Life 2 on the cover means more exposure for Valve and more sales for the magazine. Sounds like a win/win to me.

 

[PvtRyan]

Wait, it was only 2 pages and they give it a ten?

They only have very short reviews apparently. 2 pages is even quite long. They don't have huge screenshots spread out over 2 pages like some other mags.

 

[theGreenBunny]

Isn't it Vivendi who invited them over there without telling Valve? That's the impression I get from this part:

The head (The developer Valve) doesn’t know what the tail’s doing (The publisher Vivendi) is doing, and it all results in one big mess.

I'm not saying Valve didn't screw up (I don't exactly care what some magazine editor thinks), of course they could've let the guy review it anyway.

I find it interesting how Valve seems to have a very different attitude towards gamers/fans. A few months ago fans could pretty much hop on in and playtest, now they're not letting a journalist review it.

 

[liPillON]

What? No Half-Life 2? No Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault? No Battle for Middle-Earth? Has PCG gone beserk and hidden them inbetween pages somewhere? No, unfortunately these reviews are missing in action. Miss Fortuna’s evil sister has been at it again.

and what about these reviews? why they complain valve only?

 

[MoonShadow]

Valve probably had a very good reason to disallow their time to review the game. You guys are only getting one side of the story and immediately you jump on valve.

Take a minute to think things through and make less rash and harsh posts, because conclusions that are being thrown about in here obviously have about 10 seconds of thought behind them.

Sorry, only said that because some people are going crazy =P

 

[timech187]

just another **** up from valve

doug lombardi is a slimball

Give me a ****ing break. This magazine journalists are the slimeballs. Valve didn't share their toys and now the magazine is crying.

If you ran a magazine you would post the HL2 review with a HL2 cover, cause you know it would sell through the roof.

Against their policy? They screwed themselves.

Timech187

 

[jakoblindberg]

Moonshadow wrote:

Valve probably had a very good reason to disallow their time to review the game. You guys are only getting one side of the story and immediately you jump on valve.

Maybe, maybe not. I see two things in this that is bad. One is that a guy is asked to fly across half the globe to play the game, and then they do not let him in through the door. Vivendi or Valve's error? I do not know. ID software had the same approach with Doom3 as Valve/ Vivendi have with HL2 and I have not heard about anyone that was not allowed to play the game at their premises if they were invited...

Secondly, the Vivendi and Valve problems are on the rise, and I believe that to be bad for gamers. Lawsuits flying around, who is calling the shots with regard to reviews, distribution etcetera. It seems this conflict only has begun.

 

[Naveed]

What's the harm in "buying" the reviews. If id could buy 94% for the shit game like Doom 3 from PCG, then Valve had the right to buy 98%. At least it shows that HL2 will be 4% better than Doom 3

 

[jamespow]

I wonder if they really have the right to put themselves over these "other" magazines that "sell themselves" to the companies. Although I'll admit it's not impossible, I doubt that putting Sims 2 on the cover of the issue when they reviewed Sims 2 was entirely their own decision. Not to mention the marine and hellknight being on the cover for their issue with the review of Doom 3.

 

[Brian Damage]

I don't think that's what was being referred to, Naveed. I'm pretty sure they were saying that the right to review HL2 was exchanged for the magazine having to put HL2 on its cover...

 

[She]

doom3 has nothing to do with this.

 

[rrm]

Give me a ****ing break. This magazine journalists are the slimeballs. Valve didn't share their toys and now the magazine is crying.

If you ran a magazine you would post the HL2 review with a HL2 cover, cause you know it would sell through the roof.

Against their policy? They screwed themselves.

Timech187

yeah maybe, but that's not the point. the guy even stayed for a weekend in a hotel only to have his visit to valve cancelled

and valve's condition of having hl2 art in the cover of magazines seems a bit unethical to me. it's probably bullshit anyway since edge didn't have hl2 on its cover

 

[zul]

It's no mystery the company that owns PC Gamer (US and UK versions) pays a bunch of money to Vivendi to get dibs on first reviews... Things like that have been going on for years and years now (and it certainly isnt limited to PC-only mags). Judging from that translation that mag is really really unprofessional, i mean if you dont get to review it early with the big boys then dont whine and insult the company like a couple of school children. Ya know what the sad part is, this is going to sway their review score when it DOES come out so now the average will be lowered just because this whiney obscure mag had a grudge against valve. Way to be professional!

 

[CrazyHarij]

The swedish PC Gamer is a fantastic magazine, great writers who are really personal and humoristic.

This is abit sad, but I can't see why you protect Valve and blame the magazine when it's Valve's fault.

 

[SFLUFAN]

Even if they act unprofessional and exact revenge by lowering their score, it is hardly going to matter in the long run when the other stellar scores are factored in. Their lower score will only make them look conspicuous and rather silly.

Furthermore, if they do lower their score because of petty behavior, they will lose credibility with their readership so they'll bitch and complain but won't have it adversely affect the score they give to the game.

And their justification for Valve's denial makes no sense as Edge didn't put HL2 on their cover and were allowed to review the game.

 

[SFLUFAN]

The swedish PC Gamer is a fantastic magazine, great writers who are really personal and humoristic.

This is abit sad, but I can't see why you protect Valve and blame the magazine when it's Valve's fault.

We've only heard one side of the story so far - that of the magazine. And there are three sides to the story: this magazine, Valve, and the truth (which probably lies somewhere in between).

 

[rrm]

The swedish PC Gamer is a fantastic magazine, great writers who are really personal and humoristic.

This is abit sad, but I can't see why you protect Valve and blame the magazine when it's Valve's fault.

'cause they're a bunch of fanboys

 

[Crocz]

LOL, what bullshit. I can't remember Edge having a HL2 cover (it just said Reviews: Half-Life 2 - Rome Total War and some other games) or a forced 12344 page review of HL2 (it was just 2 pages), yet they got to review it too.

Yes, because it's EDGE. Ponder this for a while, and then you might be enlightened. Also, please read and comprehend the updated translation, then reread your post.

Anyway, more respect for PCG.swe, and less respect for Lombardi and the other persons involved in this cluster****, that led to the cancelled meeting.

I don't know why PC Gamer Sweden didn't want to put HL2 in the cover , if you say is right about them posting fair reviews , then what does it matter if they put the game on the cover ? Just put it , it doesn't indicate that the review will be biased.

Yes, and they would probably award it +95%. That doesn't mean it becomes less of an expensive advertisement, should one sell the reviewscore.

 

[Dougy]

Its getting more and more disturbing to see the levels of fanboyism on these boards.

Valve quite blatantly screw over a magazine company and then you fanboys act like its the mags fault...

*shakes head in utter disbelief*

Hang on, their might be a robber who got shot by his victims wanting your help to sue them in court.

 

[SFLUFAN]

Its getting more and more disturbing to see the levels of fanboyism on these boards.

Valve quite blatantly screw over a magazine company and then you fanboys act like its the mags fault...

*shakes head in utter disbelief*

Hang on, their might be a robber who got shot by his victims wanting your help to sue them in court.

And I will reiterate that we've only heard the magazine's side of the story and they would naturally give their version which will naturally contain an inherent bias - nothing wrong with that but let's not jump to ANYONE's defense yet.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Its getting more and more disturbing to see the levels of fanboyism on these boards.

Valve quite blatantly screw over a magazine company and then you fanboys act like its the mags fault...

*shakes head in utter disbelief*

Hang on, their might be a robber who got shot by his victims wanting your help to sue them in court.

Sad, but nevertheless true. I'd like to know if those kind of people believe they'll get the game extra early or a personal "Thank you" letter for protecting Valve in matters like this..

 

[Crocz]

and valve's condition of having hl2 art in the cover of magazines seems a bit unethical to me. it's probably bullshit anyway since edge didn't have hl2 on its cover

Because it's EDGE.

And their justification for Valve's denial makes no sense as Edge didn't put HL2 on their cover and were allowed to review the game.

Because it's EDGE.

Goddammit people! We're talking the most respected magazine in the industry! (And one that doesn't sell their cover, I might add) That's why they don't get silly, unethical demands from publishers.

 

[SFLUFAN]

"Anyway, we haven't had a good review and I was hoping for a fair HL2 review in the november issue of PCG Swe."

I bet your pardon? Haven't you noticed the plethora of "good" reviews over the last couple of weeks? Especially the one from the notoriously harsh and unbiased reviewers from Edge?

 

[Acert93]

they now sit there with a finished game that they wont let anyone review! A few magazines have been allowed to print their reviews in October, after have signed a treaty that Valve’s artwork is on the front page in the same number. For that is how it works -“journalists” sell themselves for “the highest bidder”, and do it with a big smile, without any thoughts on those that they actually writes for in the end.
... So if you still lives under the illusion that Valve is a company on the gamer’s side- forget it They’ve had hubris combined with paranoid and is probably worried that some evil idiot are going to write the “cell code” between the lines in the magazine. So the review comes when it comes, and then you can count on that the score is not coloured by different signed treaties and “back-slapping” between game-journalists and developer.

#1 -- They are not making Journalist sell out. The game is not released yet. All Valve has done is request that for the privledge of EARLY access for reviews that they give cover art. Nothing here indicates that Valve was buying good scores. Basically it is a mutually beneficial arangement... although Edge did not have HL2 on the cover. Makes you wonder how accurate they are being.

#2 -- They talk about selling out, yet they we willing to "sell out" also! Hypocrits! Since it did not work out for them they slam others?

#3 -- Nothing they said backs up that "Valve is not for the game player". They need to explain that (not having an early exclusive review is not an indication Valve is against gamers).

#4 -- When you do not get the good scoop MAKE a good scoop. PCG Sweeden dropped the ball (or was not invited to play) and now are trying to save face.

Their comments about a "fair" review, after their whining tone, can be translated as, "We think Valve is given too much credit, they did not play nice with us in our opinion, so we wont play nice with them!"

Journalism... meh

 

[CrazyHarij]

And I will reiterate that we've only heard the magazine's side of the story and they would naturally give their version which will naturally contain an inherent bias - nothing wrong with that but let's not jump to ANYONE's defense yet.

Well, I've been reading PC Gamer since 1996 and my impression is that they are honest, professional and personal. I'm actually surprised they were this negative in that page (very, very unusual, don't judge the magazine from that piece of text), which I suspect proves that Valve really handled this bad, which they from my experience do with most things.

 

[SFLUFAN]

Because it's EDGE.


Because it's EDGE.

Goddammit people! We're talking the most respected magazine in the industry! (And one that doesn't sell their cover, I might add) That's why they don't get silly, unethical demands from publishers.

What's so unethical about putting art on your cover? It's called BUSINESS and that's the way of the world. Either play the game or cash out but don't whine and complain about it.

Edit: that's the problem with Sweden - too many socialists, not enough capitalists (j/k Swedes - but I had to throw that in)

 

[jamespow]

Kinda weird that several of these magazines, including PCG Sweden, agreed on putting HL2 on the cover (or at least according to PCGS). Now, of all these magazines, PCG Sweden was the ONLY one that didn't get to review. Why is that so? Did Valve do something, or did PCGS do something?

Or... was it something PCG DIDN'T do? Maybe they didn't finish the review in time and, like someone else here said, are now trying to save face.

 

[Crocz]

What's so unethical about putting art on your cover? It's called BUSINESS and that's the way of the world. Either play the game or cash out but don't whine and complain about it.

Edit: that's the problem with Sweden - too many socialists, not enough businessmen (j/k Swedes - but I had to throw that in)

Business for Valve, unethical for a magazine in my opinion. Magazine space can be bought in the advertisement pages, the cover is the magazines face, and should not be sold.

Does anyone remember that huge HL2/KOTOR2-debacle in one of the PC Gamers this spring?

 

[Crocz]

Kinda weird that several of these magazines, including PCG Sweden, agreed on putting HL2 on the cover (or at least according to PCGS).

You mean according to what you (and a few others it seems) just interpreted. Read again (page two translation), they did not sell the cover. However, it seems that after several negotiations, they worked out a timeslot in wich they could visit Valve and play the game, just like the other magazines.
However, this was apparently cancelled by Valve, just prior to the meeting.

 

[jamespow]

they did not sell the cover.

... damn. I withdraw my comment.

 

[zul]

Fanboyism? No, i'm being realistic. Just like i stated before, it is absolutely no secret that the publisher of the US and UK PC Gamer trades truckloads of cash (to vivendi, not valve, because i suspect they handle all advertisements and publicizing) to be able to review it first. Is this right or ethical? you make the call, but remember it has been going on for ages not only in the gaming industry but hundreds of other places as well. As for the "front cover deal" everyone is talking about, I dont believe it. i think MONEY is exchanged, not cover space on the mags. If you think about it, why would any of those mags NOT put HL2 on the cover? they all reviewed it in that issue and it was the biggest, most anticipated game in the past few years. Edge is a multiplatform mag and therefore takes their reviews from a larger pool of games, including other highly hyped games such as halo 2. They decided not to put it on the cover. 10+ other mags did. Pretty simple. And the way this Swedish mag went about 'explaining' the situation just simply looks whiney. They say they flew out there and waited to review it only to be rejected at the end, and that is pretty sad if true, but that doesnt mean its simply because valve is an evil corporation out to prosecute every 'real' gamer because they are sadists like the mag would suggest. I challenge any of you to find as much correspondence between gamers and developers for other games like halo 2, BF2, or even SWG for that matter. In any case, it sucks what happened to that mag, and i'm sure their eventual review will be fine, but people need to realize there are two versions to every story.

 

[Crocz]

#1 -- They are not making Journalist sell out. The game is not released yet. All Valve has done is request that for the privledge of EARLY access for reviews that they give cover art. Nothing here indicates that Valve was buying good scores. Basically it is a mutually beneficial arangement... although Edge did not have HL2 on the cover. Makes you wonder how accurate they are being.

Here's some news for you; magazines get their games before the release date, so the reviews can come in tandem with the release. However, in order to avoid less exposure/bad scores combined with the big date, covers and/or reviews are often bought by publishers, in exchange for exclusive reviews and exclusive previews/features on their up-and-coming titles (big publishers, like the mammoth EA, can use this very conveniently, since they always have something huge in the pipeline). Usually review copies are sent out, which has "REVIEW COPY" in capitals, pasted over the disc. Sometimes (with consoles) the review copies are unable to play in the commercial machine. However, since HL2 is so high-profile, people have to travel over to play (this is nothing new either). So, the reviews that have been appearing all over the latest weeks aren't "EARLY" at all, they are just in time.

#2 -- They talk about selling out, yet they we willing to "sell out" also! Hypocrits! Since it did not work out for them they slam others?

No, they weren't. They negotiated, and eventually agreed on a timeslot.

#3 -- Nothing they said backs up that "Valve is not for the game player". They need to explain that (not having an early exclusive review is not an indication Valve is against gamers).

Several readers in the nordic countries can't get their review before/coincidentally with the worldwide release. All because someone cancelled the meeting at the last hour.

#4 -- When you do not get the good scoop MAKE a good scoop. PCG Sweeden dropped the ball (or was not invited to play) and now are trying to save face.

Their comments about a "fair" review, after their whining tone, can be translated as, "We think Valve is given too much credit, they did not play nice with us in our opinion, so we wont play nice with them!"

It seems to me they had an agreement that was dropped, and are now a bit ticked.

 

[The Mullinator]

Personally I would have throught Vivendi had more control over who gets to review the game more than Valve...

 

[ShadowFox]

"Anyway, we haven't had a good review and I was hoping for a fair HL2 review in the november issue of PCG Swe."

I bet your pardon? Haven't you noticed the plethora of "good" reviews over the last couple of weeks? Especially the one from the notoriously harsh and unbiased reviewers from Edge?

To some people, a good review is one that gives a game a bad score.

 

[The Mullinator]

heh, "This review is utter crap!"

"why do you say that?"

"Look at how much they say they liked this game. Don't you know the old fact that if a reviewer likes a game it must be terrible?"

"uhhh..."

 

[PvtRyan]

I don't care much whether or not Valve/VUG f*cked up, maybe they did, maybe they didn't. As a consumer I don't care what goes on between publisher and journalist, I'm interested in the product, and when they don't have it, my interest is lost. It's that simple.
But Valve f*cked up and now they're the big bad wolf.

But the bad part about that article is that it implies that every review was bought and biased, and they, the o so great swedish PC Gamer, are the righteous ones and will bring you a FAIR and a NOT sold out review. Yeah, I'm sure PC Gameplay and Edge both sold out, like they always do...

But don't worry dear friends, next month we're finally getting a fair and proper review! Huzzah! :dozey:

 

[Zerox]

Moonshadow wrote:

Valve probably had a very good reason to disallow their time to review the game. You guys are only getting one side of the story and immediately you jump on valve.

Maybe, maybe not. I see two things in this that is bad. One is that a guy is asked to fly across half the globe to play the game, and then they do not let him in through the door.

Just because they say they flew to Valve doesn't mean that they actually did that.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Yeah that did suck big time, big disappointment. but I was in best of forum in this issue so I still love em!
Also I might add that PCG Sweden has refused early sneakpeeks at for example Max Payne 2 because their demand was to give them the cover page picture.

 

[Acert93]

I don't care much whether or not Valve/VUG f*cked up, maybe they did, maybe they didn't. As a consumer I don't care what goes on between publisher and journalist, I'm interested in the product, and when they don't have it, my interest is lost. It's that simple.
But Valve f*cked up and now they're the big bad wolf.

But the bad part about that article is that it implies that every review was bought and biased, and they, the o so great swedish PC Gamer, are the righteous ones and will bring you a FAIR and a NOT sold out review. Yeah, I'm sure PC Gameplay and Edge both sold out, like they always do...

But don't worry dear friends, next month we're finally getting a fair and proper review! Huzzah! :dozey:

That is what I was saying--PCG Sweeden is implying that others were bought and were directly questioning the integrity of the other mags. The thing is--they too had agreed in principle to review the game on the same terms as other mags. I cosider this hypocritcal.

The same applies to the end of their rant when they state that when they do review it it wont be biased and hyped that they are implying this is the case with others.

Basically I see it as thus: they did not get the early scoop they wanted. It hurts a PC Game Mag to NOT have the biggest exclusve of the year FIRST. Since they do not have the HL2 scoop, the next best thing is controversy and creating hot saucy news about the the issue.

It seems mags under the Future umbrella got exclusive early access. Other mags may have it NOW (the exclusive period may, or may not, be over) or they may have to wait until it hits the streets. I know some game companies do not give mags early access to certain titles--many do, but not always. Mags do not have some special "right" to get early access to games before release. If a game has substantial hype and will have massive early presales (e.g. Halo 2) early reviews are pointless. Actually, early reviews can be bad if they are negative in any way, shape, or form.

I have no problem with PCG Sweeden being upset (although we are ONLY hearing their side). Their insinuations that they are "holier and more righteous" than other mags makes me sick. And the reality it is a business and Valve has the right to allow whoever they want early access.

And it is my understanding that some online venues HAVE gotten access to the game but have NDAs that prohibit them from releasing reviews UNTIL the release date. The bottom line is it is Valves product. They have a right to allow whoever they want access to it before it goes public. While I do not know what happened to PCG Sweeden, and they may have a right to be mad, the bottom line is that how they are portraying this is typical media sensationalism and they are taking pot shots at other mags which is really uncalled for. Their attitude really is not very professional. Businesses deal with dissappointment all the time, going public about it and implying bad things about your competition is childish.

As for Edge not having HL2 on the cover it can mean a couple things. First it could mean what PCG Sweeden stated is not completely true. Another possibility is that Edge is more console oriented and because of such was given a consession.