Good points everyone.   Those are clearly how games should be reviewed.  But Out of Eight has a different perspective and way of doing things.  And I guess this deviation is why it garnered a wide audience.

People who are complaining about Out of Eight's score may not fully understand what the final score means.  As I have stated before, it's not about how perfect the game is.  It's about how well it suites the Out of Eight audience according to Jame's impressions.  This is what makes his scoring system unique. 

If he gives it a perfect 8 then it means everyone should buy it without even thinking.  He did this for CMSF because he thought it was ground-breaking despite the hiccups and it showed a lot of potential which actually materialized along the years. CMSF has no equivalent competition at that time. Other iterations of CMx2 did not get an 8 because you only get some improvements, new equpment, and theaters... but the core gameplay and level of detail is the same. These games are also competing with exising CMx2 games so the bar is now higher. The other CMx2 games these are only recommended for people interested about WW2 (and Afghanistan).  As I'm pretty sure most people here who totally love CMx2 (CMFI in particular) are those avid wargamers who likes to simulate WW2 tactical battles in detail.  The score is just right = "Buy if you are interested in the Genre".  No need to convince those who are sick of WW2, those casual gamers, those grand strategy players, etc. -- which are all part of his audience -- to buy the game.

Anyway this debate doesn't matter anymore.  What is done is done.  Out of Eight will not be doing written reviews anymore.  Just video impressions and no scoring. 

Originally Posted By jomni (28 AUG 2012 7:33pm)

If he gives it a perfect 8 then it means everyone should buy it without even thinking.

 

The other CMx2 games these are only recommended for people interested about WW2 (and Afghanistan).  As I'm pretty sure most people here who totally love CMx2 (CMFI in particular) are those avid wargamers who likes to simulate WW2 tactical battles in detail.  The score is just right = "Buy if you are interested in the Genre".  No need to convince those who are sick of WW2, those casual gamers, those grand strategy players, etc. -- which are all part of his audience -- to buy the game.

You got it exactly.

So no niche product however well executed will get an 8?.

Also, if we are using other CM products as a yardstick, then that should actually push the score higher ducy? (this is the most polished game of the series).

Out of Eight will not be doing written reviews anymore. 

What?? WHY JAMES? I've always looked forward to your reviews as much as I did TROTTERS (even though I don't always agree with ALL of them)...Why are you quitting? I don't want to read some amateurs review out of college who doesn't really know squat about what a wargamer wants to read. We are sadly running out of good reviewers. Tom Chick is about the only one left that I always enjoy reading his reviews. This will be a sad day for us wargamers.....RIP Oo8 Reviews....

Originally Posted By Wolverine101 (29 AUG 2012 9:48pm)

Out of Eight will not be doing written reviews anymore. 

 

What?? WHY JAMES? I've always looked forward to your reviews as much as I did TROTTERS (even though I don't always agree with ALL of them)...Why are you quitting? I don't want to read some amateurs review out of college who doesn't really know squat about what a wargamer wants to read. We are sadly running out of good reviewers. Tom Chick is about the only one left that I always enjoy reading his reviews. This will be a sad day for us wargamers.....RIP Oo8 Reviews....

If you missed the news, it's discussed here: http://www.wargamer.com/forums/posts.asp?t=584297

James will continue Out of Eight with video impressions.

I should note that, by however much he missed the mark in his CM:FI review, his reviews will be much missed by me for all the reasons Wolverine gives.  I was never interested in the numerical score (except to check out those deemed worthy of an eight) but found him literate and thorough.  I will continue to follow the video posts with great interest, but believe his departure from the ranks of reviewers is a real loss.

Best,

Jim

"Cyrano"

:/7)