Japan's Famitsu undeserving of gamers' trust?

[sharkey360]

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The biggest Japanese game magazine, Famitsu, has awarded its highest score to stealth game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Deserved or undeserved, in the process of reviewing the game, the publication has shown that, as a source of objective game reviews, it cannot be trusted. Here's why:

Some would say that Famitsu has sold its soul long, long ago. The publication always has exclusives and game reveals before anyone else, arousing the suspicions of some. Then again, it can be argued that since Famitsu is the most influential game publication in Japan, it would naturally have these exclusives, as publishers would be keen to get their games to the largest audience possible!

There are even rumors that all the game announcements are written by game publishers themselves, and not by Famitsu. These, however, are rumors, and are unconfirmed. Famitsu's handling of MGS: Peace Walker, however, has been blunt and brazen, and destroys any illusion of impartial reviews. Forever.



Famitsu has awarded Peace Walker a 40 out of 40, its highest possible score. In publication since 1986, Famitsu has only given perfect review scores to these titles: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (199, Soulcalibur (1999), Vagrant Story (2000), The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2003), Nintendogs (2005), Final Fantasy XII (2006), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (200, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (200, 428 (200, Dragon Quest IX (2009), Monster Hunter Tri (2009), Bayonetta (2009), New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009) and now Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).

Regardless what you think of Famitsu, or even numbered reviews, getting a perfect Famitsu score is a big deal in Japan. It can potentially mean bigger sales. But what does it mean when the publication that is reviewing game is involved in the game itself?

Earlier, Kotaku pointed out that Famitsu appears in Peace Walker — along with Doritos, Mountain Dew, Axe body spray and rival Japanese game mag Dengeki. But it goes deeper than that.

Hirokazu Hamamura, the former Famitsu editor-in-chief, is the current president of Enterbrain, the company that publishes Famitsu. He also appears in an ad campaign for Peace Walker from the game's publisher, Konami. A two-page spread. And he's even on a Konami Peace Walker website. Both ads use a pun on his last name: ハマムラ、ハマる。("Hamamura, hamaru.") The Denshi Jisho online Japanese dictionary defines "Hamaru" (ハマる) as: "to get into; to go into; to fit; to be fit for; to suit; to fall into; to plunge into; to be deceived; to be taken in; to fall into a trap; to be addicted to; to be deep into". The connotations are fitting, and the irony is thick and heavy.

Sure, Hamamura is a recognizable face for the industry in Japan, but his publication is reviewing this game — and giving the title its highest score! And if Famitsu is going to do stuff like this, surely it should offer a full disclosure. However, the game's review makes no mention of the in-game tie-ins, and no mention of Hamamura's prominence in the title's ad campaign. Instead, there is a glowing review for Peace Walker, which is also the magazine's pick-of-the-week. (Granted, there could very well be a disclosure of the still-unreleased-magazine, which goes on sale later this week; however, there is no mention in the review itself.)

From what Kotaku has played of the game, Peace Walker does look like an exceptional PSP title. We're not saying that it didn't deserve the 40 out of 40 that Famitsu gave it. The game's designer, Hideo Kojima, has continually stressed how much effort and energy has gone into developing the title. All that effort and energy seems wasted on raised eyebrows over poor promotional and collaborative choices. Even if the game does appear to be fantastic, the review appears bought. It needlessly dirties up what could very well be a great game — a game that should stand alone on its own merit.

Peace Walker is better than this. Hideo Kojima is better than this. Famitsu, it seems, is not.

Source - Do Not Trust This Magazine's Review Scores - Famitsu - Kotaku

[sharkey360]

I wonder how many local gamers believe the scores and reviews of Famitsu. I know a few who understand Japanese, and then there are those who just look at the scores.

[vern]

How many have actually held a copy of the magazine in their hands? ... Famitsu is irrelevant in the Philippines and irrelevant anywhere else but Japan.

[AlucardChristian]

uh... who cares about their reviews?
I don't even buy magazines or read reviews about games anymore anyways because I find them nothing but misleading.

I'd rather play a game and know what it really is like.

And yeah... I haven't even seen a famitsu magazine in my whole life here in Cebu. Or maybe I just didn't care? >.< either of that.

[eirawn]

I prefer testimonials from actual gamers. Usually deri ra sad sa istorya.

[sharkey360]

Some persistent enthusiasts actually translate Famitsu content into English, but they are so scattered on the web it's hard to find them.

Famitsu = unethical journalism.

[Veng3ancE]

i'd go for gamepro, IGN and other gaming reveiw sites. In the end, i still choose a game because I like it. Thanks to youtube.com to check an upcoming game's gameplay

[sharkey360]

i'd go for gamepro, IGN and other gaming reveiw sites. In the end, i still choose a game because I like it. Thanks to youtube.com to check an upcoming game's gameplay

Did you notice GamePro's drastic improvement the last several years. Back in the 1990s, their reviews were either hardly believable or unbelievable. They revamped their editorial team and presentation several years back, and now they are more credible than before.

IGN is trustworthy, and so are TeamXbox (for the Xbox audience) and GameTrailers.

[sharkey360]

It's getting clear now - instead of sticking to ethical journalism, Famitsu does play favorites with participants of the gaming industry be it long term or short term.

Famitsu has a "We support Xbox 360" promo series of articles.




Some insight on Famitsu

Still on the topic of Famitsu, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker recently got a perfect 40/40 score from the magazine. Since the magazine actually appears as an in-game item, there has been some criticism going around, and broad questioning of the credibility of Famitsu’s review scores. Um, yeah? I love how people think this is a shock. “Gasp! Famitsu reviews are total BS!?” This is not new news. We’ve been saying that for a while. Alas, for these past years our words have been falling on deaf ears. Well hey, now maybe people won’t be surprised all over again next time something asinine comes out of Famitsu’s review section.

Famitsu: “We Support Xbox 360″ (American Gamer in Japan 4) | RPG Land: RPG reviews, wallpapers, news and more since 1999.