In a 10 point review scale, what does a 7 mean to you?

Let's ignore the fact that numerical scores are arbitrary for a moment. I want to know, what does a 7/10 score mean to you?

I am prompted to ask this, because my best friend was looking forward to a game recently, and when he saw a 7.8 score (ya, almost an 8) he said, and I quote:

''Oh, a seven? Ah, man, I was looking forward to playing it, too.....''

I had to explain to him that not only is a 7.8 actually much closer to an 8, a seven doesn't mean ''don't play this.'' A seven doesn't mean the game is bad. (nevemind the fact that it's also just one person's opinion). (and of course, he didn't even read the review.....)

A 7/10, at least to me, signifies that the game is good, but has a few flaws, or perhaps doesn't do much to really differentiate itself, but is still worth a playthrough, especially for fans of the genre.

Or something like that. Basically, 7/10 is good. I think the ''pro'' reviewers have skewed this by throwing out all of these 9's.

What do you think?

i think numerical scores are pointless. coz it's got to the point where 5 means it's a bad game when it should mean it's average.

1,2,3 = Bad to Ok.

4 or 5 = Average, but maybe not worth a buy.

6 = Worth a rent at least.

7 or 8 = Good game, but with a few flaws. Perhaps wait for price to drop.

9 = Great game, but still flawed. Didn't reach full potential.

10 = An impossibility. The "perfect" game. Reaches full potential, is loved by all, couldn't be better, will make love to your wife better than you can...just by looking at her.

Ezio wrote:
i think numerical scores are pointless. coz it's got to the point where 5 means it's a bad game when it should mean it's average.

As I said to someone else in regards to this topic:

the fact that review scores are irrelevant to you doesn't matter. I'm asking, since they do exist, and we all see them, what do you think they tend to represent, on average. There has to be an answer to that question, since all games receive scores. There are are certain things, certain qualities, that attract certain scores, and I am trying to nail down what people think they are.

I agree with you on the scores thing, but since they aren't going away, they remain relevant.

Here's my made up 10 point scale:

1-The worst a game could ever be. Avoid, even if paid to play it.

2-Dreadful. Not worth it, even for free.

3-Very bad. Maybe play for th elulz, if you can get it free.

4-Pretty bad, but some redeeming qualities.

5-Mediocre. Few thigs done right, but buried amongst much bad.

6-Decent. The bones of a good game here, but many flaws. A rental.

7-Good. A good game that doesn't particularly stand out, and has some flaws, but is worth your time.

8-Great. Few flaws, mostly positives. Doesn't quite stand out, perhpas held back by a few little issues.

9-Excellent. A game that must be played. Very few discernable flaws. Nothing seriously wrong with it.

10-As good as you'll ever get. Does everything right. Seemingly flawless; what devs should aspire to.

And the fact that it all differes from person to person also shows that you are correct. They're arbitrary, especially when you get into the decimals. What's the dofference between a 7.8 and a 7.9?

1-2 = Total shit, not even bothering

3-4 = Really bad game

5-6 = (below) average

7 = great game, maybe not top of it's game but is at least enjoyable

8 = Great game, not epic or masterful just great.

9 = Excellent game, turns your world around

10 = Impossibility, enigma in a paradox sucked by a black hole, Armageddon amongst games.


And magx01, what makes a 7.8 or a 7.9 is for me a sub category within these scores.
And it depends on how much fun I've had within that grade.

What you see above is just a crude scale, but when you get into the sub category is where you put the details.

BlackZodiac wrote:
1-2 = Total shit, not even bothering

3-4 = Really bad game

5-6 = (below) average

7 = great game, maybe not top of it's game but is at least enjoyable

8 = Great game, not epic or masterful just great.

9 = Excellent game, turns your world around

10 = Impossibility, enigma in a paradox sucked by a black hole, Armageddon amongst games.


And magx01, what makes a 7.8 or a 7.9 is for me a sub category within these scores.
And it depends on how much fun I've had within that grade.

What you see above is just a crude scale, but when you get into the sub category is where you put the details.

I like your scale, but I see one major problem: It goes from below average to great, with nothing in between!

magx01 wrote:
BlackZodiac wrote:
1-2 = Total shit, not even bothering

3-4 = Really bad game

5-6 = (below) average

7 = great game, maybe not top of it's game but is at least enjoyable

8 = Great game, not epic or masterful just great.

9 = Excellent game, turns your world around

10 = Impossibility, enigma in a paradox sucked by a black hole, Armageddon amongst games.


And magx01, what makes a 7.8 or a 7.9 is for me a sub category within these scores.
And it depends on how much fun I've had within that grade.

What you see above is just a crude scale, but when you get into the sub category is where you put the details.

I like your scale, but I see one major problem: It goes from below average to great, with nothing in between!



just a mislabeling there.

To me, a 6 is still below average.
But when it hits the 7, it becomes enjoyable.

For example, Army of Two (haven't reviewed it on GT, mainly because it wasn't special enough to be bothered with that attention and GT already gave it somewhere around a 7 and I didn't disagree). But it's the perfect candidate to be used as example.
AoT would get somewhere around a 7.
Meaning it's still average, but does it's tricks well.
Whatever it specializes in, works well.
In this case the Aggro system and the chemistry between Rios and Salem.
They really come across as two guys with distinct personalities but work together like a great team.

So it's by no means a great game that left a special feeling on me, but it's not below average either.
Therefor a 7.

I already mentioned this on your blog I believe, but I put the scores into groups, just as if they were out of a 5 point scale.

A 7-10 means it's worth a buy, 5-6 means it's worth a rental, anything below is not worth it. It makes it more convenient and easier for me if I do that for scores.

I don't think it's so much as what it means to me, as much as what it means to the reviewer. Most gaming sites that award scores of 7, they usually criticize games very much, so it really leaves off a stale taste, like it's a really bad game, the type of game that back in the day would get a 3 or a 4. I know it's hard to sum up in 1 page or 5 minutes of video all the pros and cons of a game, to make it seem like a fair review, but would it hurt to try?

To me, a 7 would be a must buy for friends of the genre, but a rental for most other gamers. For those that are on the opposite side of the gaming spectrum, it's a don't even bother.

Nothing. I don't think a complex opinion can represented numerically, if you can't tell whether or not the game was good from the actual review and require a 'yay' or 'nay' from some figure of 'gaming authority' then that seems pretty worrying to me.. At the end of all Gametrailer's reviews I normally go off the page when they finish up with ''Presentation.''