Ubisoft won't allow reviewer early access to the division?

[outwar6010]

http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/tom_cl...at_launch.html

Does this seem dodgy to you?

[Saracen]

....

Does this seem dodgy to you?

It's not my field, but their reason seems plausible so me, so no, it doesn't.

Typically, most people only read a review once, so the first impressions given in major review sites can be critical. In many, probably most, products getting an early review copy doesn't matter that much as not much changes. But if the feel of the game depends on thousands of users populating servers, then any early review could well give an unjustified negative impression based on a "feel" not properly reflecting the real event.

So Ubisoft have a judgement to reach - does the changed "feel" make so much difference that getting proper reviews outweighs getting quicker ones. Clearly, they think yes.

And personally, I'd rather have a good review based on the real-world experience than a fast review based on an environment that wouldn't be what I'd find as a buyer.

[kalniel]

It's a bit chicken and egg - who is going to populate these servers?

But that's the nature of multiplayer focused games - all good publications will only do final reviews on a product that reflects the real player experience anyway. Until then you're best tided over with beta impressions and opportunities to take part in server testing.

[spacein_vader]

For an online only game it makes sense. When it's a mostly single player game alarm bells start to ring, as PC games (I don't own a console so YMMV there,) reviewed in this manner over the past couple of years tend to either be buggy or not very good. Or both in the case of Aliens: Colonial Marines.

That said, the timing of the review doesn't matter as long as people don't preorder. I can't understand why you'd put down money for something that will be delivered at some point in the future & may or may not be any good. Or even working.

[Biscuit]

I'm sure they could fairly easily set up a dedicated server for reviewers and get them playing together... but I still don't think its dodgy. Problem is that people pre-order games regardless so reviewers can go sling one off the side of the hill for all Ubisoft care. At least there was an ' open beta' which is basically similar to a 'demo' in old skool speak in this case, so people kind of know what to expect.

This game will be buggy, will have significant issues and will get a lot of bad press when its released, I guarantee it.

[shaithis]

The reason doesn't fly with me, if only for the fact that they did the same with Farcry Primal.

Seems like a new change of policy over at Ubi

[outwar6010]

I did play the open beta and it mostly fine on my pc but I did get frame drops here and there. This just seems to be a tactic to hold back port reports etc as long as possible.

[Saracen]

It's a bit chicken and egg - who is going to populate these servers?

But that's the nature of multiplayer focused games - all good publications will only do final reviews on a product that reflects the real player experience anyway. Until then you're best tided over with beta impressions and opportunities to take part in server testing.

Who? People that don't buy based on reviews, presumably.

Agreed on what good magazines do, though. And not just for games. Over the years, I've done countless reviews that were :-

- Reviews, based on final product
- Previews, based on late but not final version. That would be stipulated.
- Beta Previews, based on a named and/or dated beta version.

It was nearly always less important with non-gaming products and I only did a few games. It also varied from publication to publication. For instance, some had a general policy of only covering final versions, but would deviate from that for clearly-labelled "strategic" products, like a new version of Windows, or Office, and these were often about major changes in feature sets rather than reviews as such.

[Saracen]

The reason doesn't fly with me, if only for the fact that they did the same with Farcry Primal.

Seems like a new change of policy over at Ubi

That could be. I didn't follow that game.

[MrJim]

This game will be buggy, will have significant issues and will get a lot of bad press when its released, I guarantee it.

Hey, it is a Ubisoft game, after all...