IGN changes it's review scale

SlapHappy · Aug 4, 2010

"Just because everything's different doesn't mean anything's changed." - Irene Porter

The Internet is always in flux, and we're finding that we need to continue to adapt. On that same end, the game industry is still fairly young (as is videogame coverage) and what made sense years ago doesn't really make sense anymore.

I'm referring to our review scale which has, since IGN's inception more than a decade ago, scored games on a 100-point scale. That changes today.

After many long discussions (and really, this has been going on for years), we've decided to alter our review scale. From today forward, we will score games on a 20-point scale (meaning games score will be 7.0 or 7.5 or 8.0, etc.).

A Score Does Not Define a Game
Let's face it, trying to determine the finite difference between games to make one an 8.7 and another an 8.8 is just about impossible. A score is not the critical impression of a game. It's actually a benchmark so gamers can easily understand in one flash the overall quality of a game. The criticism is in the text of the review. And for that, we remain a site dedicated to offering in-depth examinations of titles both in the review and beyond with features such as our Second Opinion pieces where other editors chime in with their take on a game.

But more and more the score (with a 100-point scale) has come to define the game, which is not our intention. The score should say, "This game is in the same league as these other games of the same score" and the criticism lives within the text (which we hope you all read) as well as the discussions that occur after the review.

My hope is that by simplifying the score, we open up further debate. The "best" game won't be determined strictly by a tenth of a point (as is the current case with Mass Effect 2 and Red Dead Redemption) but instead by legitimate discussion comparing the quality of two games that are relative equals.

How the heck do they figure out these scores?!

Does This Mean More 10s?
Only if more companies make incredible titles worthy of the score. We aren't going to give games an imaginary bump. If a game earns a 10 on IGN, it's because the reviewer truly believes that it is a masterpiece that will be remembered as one of the greatest games ever made.

What Happens to Old Reviews?
We believe in maintaining IGN's legacy, so no earlier scores will be adjusted. The 7.9s and 9.9s of the past live on. We're looking towards the future, one that will certainly require us to continue to redefine ourselves. I know it's hard to let go, but nothing great comes to those who do nothing. And we absolutely strive for greatness. We won't always succeed, but know that no one at IGN takes the job for granted and we continue to push to keep you better informed and better entertained.

Here, have a picture of a cat fighting Godzilla.

Wait, Did You Say You're Going to Keep Changing?
Yeah, sorry about that. We're not done yet. Honestly, we'll never be done trying to perfect the site and find new ways to cover games. As that relates to reviews, we'll be continuing to make updates to our system throughout the year. Moving to a 20-point scale is just the beginning of a transformation to our reviews. I think you'll like where we end up.

Thanks for reading IGN. I know the decision to change our review scale might upset some (and hopefully excite a few), but I'll do my best to continue the discussion on why we made the change as we move forward.

Hilary Goldstein
Editor-in-Chief, IGN.com
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I haven't been to IGN for reviews, but it seems they are trying to go in the right direction.

InsaneNutter · Aug 4, 2010

I don't read reviews for games by the big players such as IGN anymore, I can make my mind up from watching videos on the net, looking at screenshots and playing the beta / demo of it.

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IGN changes it's review scale

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IGN changes it's review scale

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