Ever since this site got up and running, we're always being asked every now and then about reviews. "Are you reviewing this?", "When will the review be live?", etc. We thought that we might as well make a forum topic about it and have all of these questions in one place.
Basically, if you've got something to ask about our reviews, ask it here. I'll hopefully be around to answer anything that I can, although please be aware that sometimes we're simply not allowed to spill the beans on embargo times, and of course, our opinion of a game. Nevertheless, feel free to ask!
Questions that we should (mostly) be able to answer:
- Is Push Square reviewing [insert game here]? - When can we expect a review for [insert game here]? - Do you have a link to [insert game here]'s review?
Questions based on our review process:
- Who supplies your review copies of games? - How do you receive games to review? - When do you tend to receive review copies of games? - How do you go about writing a review? - What rules do you have to comply to when reviewing a game?
"They played us like a damn fiddle!" - MGS5
"Finish your mission, prove your loyalty." - MGS3
"We could take a s*** on you from such a height, you'd think God himself has crapped on you!" - GTA: SA
Currently Playing: The Phantom Pain.
Is Push Square reviewing Borderlands 2 PS Vita? If yes, an exact timeframe?
More problematic: Watch Dogs & Wolfenstein The New Order, Launch week right? Specific versions?
Borderlands 2 Vita is on the review list, but I can't give you a precise timeframe. It releases on the 28th here in Europe, but we may be a little late due to some technical difficulties. It is a priority, though, so we'll publish a review as soon as we can.
We'll definitely be reviewing Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein -- both on PS4. However, I can't guarantee that we'll have them ready for launch at this point. If I can get a more specific timeframe, I'll be sure to post.
"They played us like a damn fiddle!" - MGS5
"Finish your mission, prove your loyalty." - MGS3
"We could take a s*** on you from such a height, you'd think God himself has crapped on you!" - GTA: SA
Currently Playing: The Phantom Pain.
Will you have a review of Wolfenstein with, or without the day 1 patch? I recently picked up COD Ghosts and started playing the campaign immediately without any patches. I was like LOL this looks like pish. Then after I'd installed the patch I was like, wow this looks nice! Could be the same with Wolfenstein, or other games IDK.
We'll definitely be reviewing Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein -- both on PS4. However, I can't guarantee that we'll have them ready for launch at this point. If I can get a more specific timeframe, I'll be sure to post.
Are you now only reviewing PS4 titles if they're cross-gen? It's more than fine by me but still curious?
Yes, simply because the next-gen versions are likely to be the "best", and honestly are the ones that people are searching for. With regards to cross-buy titles (particularly PS4/Vita), we try to mention how the experiences compare and contrast between platforms where relevent.
Eventually, we're looking to switch to a system whereby there'll only be one 'Game' page for all versions of a title, as that probably makes more sense at this point.
EDIT: We will be reviewing Wolfenstein, but it won't be ready at launch now...
Do you ever have issues with PR guys over getting access to certain games to review? Or do you find the process straight forward?
Also on top of that, have you had any negative interactions with some due to low review scores on your behalf?
Some tough questions!
All I can really say is that yes, it's sometimes difficult to hunt down certain review copies. There can be a lot of different factors that come into play. Shipments of the review code may have been delayed, for example, or PR might make a mistake when sending it out to us. Of course, you don't get these problems with digital codes. Thankfully for the most part, though, it's an easy process.
Can't really say much about interactions, but we always send a link to the publisher to let them know that their game's review is live. Regardless of score, most publishers are simply happy that their release is getting attention on the net. At the end of the day, it's a mutually beneficial relationship and a one that's all but necessary for both parties.
@turtlelink - Your question did indeed light the spark for this thread!
Do you ever have issues with PR guys over getting access to certain games to review? Or do you find the process straight forward?
Also on top of that, have you had any negative interactions with some due to low review scores on your behalf?
Some tough questions!
All I can really say is that yes, it's sometimes difficult to hunt down certain review copies. There can be a lot of different factors that come into play. Shipments of the review code may have been delayed, for example, or PR might make a mistake when sending it out to us. Of course, you don't get these problems with digital codes. Thankfully for the most part, though, it's an easy process.
Can't really say much about interactions, but we always send a link to the publisher to let them know that their game's review is live. Regardless of score, most publishers are simply happy that their release is getting attention on the net. At the end of the day, it's a mutually beneficial relationship and a one that's all but necessary for both parties.
@turtlelink - Your question did indeed light the spark for this thread!
Thanks for the answers. Thank god for digital codes but the systems must slowly fill up.
Do you have a rota of who carry out the reviews or do you lot have a say of the great @get2sammyb?
Thanks for the answers. Thank god for digital codes but the systems must slowly fill up.
Do you have a rota of who carry out the reviews or do you lot have a say of the great @get2sammyb?
There's no order to our reviews or anything - we simply try to get the right people reviewing the right games. For example, I enjoy Dynasty Warriors titles and know the series well, so it only makes sense for me to review them so we can be as fair as possible. After all, it's no use giving FIFA to someone who doesn't have a clue about football.
Of course, it's not always possible to share out the games equally this way, although we try our best to make sure everyone gets something that's to their taste every now and then. However, when it comes to specifically important titles like a new AAA release, for example, we're obviously going to get one of our most experienced writers to cover it for logical reasons.
Do you think you guys will do games on certain exlusives not available in the West like J Stars and the vita Gundam game eventually? Would be cool if you found someone that can read japanese so they can be reviewed here...
Oh yeah almost forgot, have you guys reviewed Soul Sacrifice Delta? Not many sites have done so and i was wondering if you did or was going to. Or is it the same situation like Borderlands 2?
"They played us like a damn fiddle!" - MGS5
"Finish your mission, prove your loyalty." - MGS3
"We could take a s*** on you from such a height, you'd think God himself has crapped on you!" - GTA: SA
Currently Playing: The Phantom Pain.
Oh yeah almost forgot, have you guys reviewed Soul Sacrifice Delta? Not many sites have done so and i was wondering if you did or was going to. Or is it the same situation like Borderlands 2?
Do you think you guys will do games on certain exlusives not available in the West like J Stars and the vita Gundam game eventually? Would be cool if you found someone that can read japanese so they can be reviewed here...
This is something we'd love to do, but there are just too many obstacles for us to cover imports effectively at this point in time.
For starters, obviously getting an imported game is a hassle within itself, as it's unlikely that we'll ever receive review copies from a publisher based in Japan, or any other country for that matter. And secondly, like you say, the games will be in Japanese. With no one on the team currently able to read Japanese at a high level, we feel as though we wouldn't be doing these games justice, even if we did somehow get to review them. That's why we're always ecstatic when a Japanese title is announced for a Western release!
In short, we'd need a dedicated import reviewer and a lot of extra time to review just some of the games that we'd get our hands on.
Do you think you guys will do games on certain exlusives not available in the West like J Stars and the vita Gundam game eventually? Would be cool if you found someone that can read japanese so they can be reviewed here...
This is something we'd love to do, but there are just too many obstacles for us to cover imports effectively at this point in time.
For starters, obviously getting an imported game is a hassle within itself, as it's unlikely that we'll ever receive review copies from a publisher based in Japan, or any other country for that matter. And secondly, like you say, the games will be in Japanese. With no one on the team currently able to read Japanese at a high level, we feel as though we wouldn't be doing these games justice, even if we did somehow get to review them. That's why we're always ecstatic when a Japanese title is announced for a Western release!
In short, we'd need a dedicated import reviewer and a lot of extra time to review just some of the games that we'd get our hands on.
I'd love to do more of the Matters of Import articles that Kerry was submitting, though. I definitely have a couple of these in mind myself, but time is such a challenging taskmaster!
Er, thought I'd just revive this thread seeing as it's been buried for a while. With so many games coming up (and hopefully reviews of said games) feel free to pick our brains and we'll do our best to reply.
Would it be possible for you guys in the future to do more hardware reviews? I for one would love a PS TV review. I understand that it can be hard since a company may not give you a piece of hardware for review so it might not be realistic but it's a thought.
RetiredPush Square Moderator and all around retro gamer.
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