QJ.NET's new 5-Star review scoring system |
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Yup, you read that right: we're introducing a brand new scoring system that we hope will make it easier for you to get a clear idea of where we stand on the games we review. From now on we're going to be rating our games according to a five-star scoring system, with a single star representing the lowest a game can score, and five stars representing the absolute zenith of the form.
We figured you might have one or two questions, like "why the hell are you doing this anyway?" or "what does this even mean?" So we've put together a handy little FAQ for ya.
What does each rating mean?
1 Star: This is a poor game, not worth buying, not worth playing... we took one for the team and you definitely owe us.
2 Stars: Not particularly good, but some fun can be had if you're willing to put up with a bevy of faults.
3 Stars: This is an average game, it's more good than bad, would probably make a good rental.
4 Stars: A really good game, just about everyone will likely have fun with this, definitely a recommended purchase.
5 Stars: There is no such thing as a perfect game, but this comes darn close. It's revolutionary, or at least evolutionary, an amazing experience that represents the best gaming has to offer, everyone should experience this.
Why a 5 Star review system?
We've thought long and hard about it and the fact is that a numerical scale or percentile system implies that there's a mathematical formula that can followed, or a checklist of items that can be ticked off to come up with a game's score. This simply isn't true. A game is, for most people, more than the sum of its parts, it's about a complete experience, and throwing out arbitrary figures just didn't seem right.
The 5-Star system is our attempt to avoid the numerical scale while at the same time providing a strong visual identifier for you to immediately get an idea of just how good or bad the game is.
Why not an alphabet based review system?
We feel the A-B-C-D grading system is too strongly linked to the percentile grading system, where an "A" often represents a gray area between 90-100%... it seemed just a little too inaccurate so we decided it'd be best to avoid that whole mess altogether.
No half-stars...why no half-stars?
Half-stars give a little too much wiggle room. We want you to be able to get a good idea of how good or bad a game is at a glance; the half-star complicates things and quite frankly would probably allow us the chance to cop out from time to time. It forces us to be harder on ourselves when we evaluate a game because the difference between 3 stars and 4 stars means that much more.
Cool, what does an actual score look like?
We really hope this new system helps clarify things, and we're also pretty excited that the very first review using this new system is actually already up!
From us all at QJ, stay frosty... or something.
44 Jumps PSP Homebrew - PSPDisp v0.4
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Comments [refresh]
Looking forward to the reviews...
I hate 5 star system they don't really let you understand which game is better than the other which I want to know when I'm choosing between 2 games one that might be a 90 and another that might be 100 which is a huge difference even a 5 point difference on a 100 point scale is important.
I dont see this anywhere
you putting stars on the banner but we cant vote?
so this is useless
I rather having a ranking thing besides Jump
This system is being used by us to score reviews, as opposed to previously, where we had no score attached to the review.
Oh.... so, meh....
I love having my opinion of a game told to me on a scaled out-of-5 system!
Are you REALLY going to be rating very much with one or two stars?
If you're determined to go with the stars system, please consider creating categories. Some possibilities include graphics (technical), graphics (content), playability, system requirements and so on.
Good idea to have a rating system for games. Are you guys at Qj.net going to do lots of these now? Also how about a games review database section on your site? Your going more mainstream now. Another thing, how about you have a bio section with a little info about you guys that work for Qj.net so we can get to know you a little better without having to keep the relations strange and mysterious all the time? You guys could even have us do our bio too if you want. ;D
2.
So I really dont care this new scoring system becasue its not really a SYSTEM. it's just slap'in stars on a gayeh banner.
I always wanted to know bio of Victor B.
Hey Victor! You got a fan! ^_^
Always the staunch supporter eh? Hehehe! Much appreciated, man! And yes, we're undergoing quite a lot of... changes, to say the least. But here's a hint: Keep an eye out for QuickPeek's Anniversary.
As for review databases... Well. You can check the "Reviews" category on the side bar of any blog you want to check out reviews for. Now honestly, we don't get to dish out a lot of reviews (teehee, we have our own limitations too :-p), but yeah, they're all there.
Your suggestion about bios? Hehehe! I do remember some sort of similar feature before... but... gosh, it's been ages since it was taken out.
I think your closest bet to see "Bios" is to check out each blogger's link. For example, mine's http://www.qj.net/bgid/518
See, I'm sure you've noticed it by now... but you can actually click on our names at the by-line right below the title of an article, and from there, check out every single article written by that person. Err, I guess in that way, it's a bit of a bio, as you can see how each of us write differently and allow you to see our... varied personalities. It's not a bio in the strictest sense, but howell. Guess it could do for now. *shrug* Hehehe!
Anyhoo... thanks again for the all feedback, CHUCKINGROCKS! ^_^
you're basing your purchase on a .5 decimal score in difference? whatever happened to going for your gut feel?
just buy whichever game you want to buy. isn't that consumer choice? consumer choice isn't dictated by gamespot's lousy .5 decimals or metacritic scores. they're all relative and to a degree, flawed. consumer choice is dictated by the consumer!
all i need is a recommendation. is it worth a purchase? is it just a rental? should i just borrow it from a friend? so i think in that sense qj's being rather sensible about it.
i never liked numerical scores and percentiles because it sorta robs you off of listening to your own likes or dislikes. i mean, cmon. just because a review gives the game a lousy 4/10 doesn't mean it's something to avoid entirely. because who knows? the person who might have reviewed it didn't like the game simply because it didn't click with them?
and then you're gonna base your purchase (or non-purchase for that matter) on their score? please. i think you're smart enough to just figure out for yourself if you want to get the game or not. not allow some lousy number to brainwash you.
So a numerical scale implies that there is mathematical formula, but a star scale doesn't?
Personally, I much prefer a numerical scale, where you know exactly how good a game is, 1-5 is just not accurate enough.
Can someone explain to me how a 1-5 stars is NOT a numerical scale? Just because you replace the numbers with an equal number of stars, doesnt change anything. 3 stars out of 5 is just like a 3/5 rating (which in a 1-10 scale would be a 6/10 rating if we keep the ratio)
If that is truly QJs reasoning, then the minds behind this need to go back to elementary school...
Thats what I meant to say and thedevilsjester is right as well.