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Microsoft: Bribing Halo 3 Reviewers?

September 27, 2007 in Other comments 12

Could Microsoft be bribing reviews to get higher ratings? It could very well be the case. With reviewers receiving $800 worth of "free stuff" from Microsoft, Dean Takahashi has considering it to be nothing more than a bribe. Could this be the reason for the insanely high scores for XBOX360's Halo 3? Well, even without the bribe, I still expect it to be getting around 8/9, but anything higher, and maybe the bribe worked as Microsoft had planned.

But with people such as Dean Takahashi and Brain Lam saying bye to the Free Stuff and looking at the game for purely the content, then we may still get some unbiased Reviews.

What do you think? An $800 bribe, or simply a "free gift"?

P.S. Why did they include a first aid kit? o_O

Included in the huge personalized duffel bag of goodies are Xbox 360 controllers, a Halo 3 Xbox Live headset, a displayable Master Chief helmet and a $480 Halo 3 limited edition Xbox 360, not to mention a first aid kit and some UNSC-issued food.
Krunal via next-gen.biz »
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  • -1
    Bale Fire Sep 27, 07
    I wouldn't say Microsoft bribes reviewers but I feel they get a lot of pressure (from the public and Microsoft) to give it a high score
  • -3
    Storm Sep 27, 07
    I agree. This is the most anticipated game around...it'll make the reviewers look bad to just give it less than a 9.5/10 or something. Fans may not buy their magazines/read their reviews in the near future because of it.
    • 2
      Sayyed Sep 27, 07
      Thats bull. reviewers should review it for what it is. not what they need to give it.
    • 1
      iLLmatic Sep 27, 07
      So Storm, are you saying you would compromise your own morals so people will like you, instead of being honest and respected for it?
      • 1
        neto_360 Sep 27, 07
        I don't see anywhere in Storms post that suggest HE would twist a review to make others happy. Though, other people might do just that.
  • -1
    streetcarp81 Sep 27, 07
    hell i dont care what m$ does, i think the game is amazing, a 10/10 and this is my first time playing halo. i hated how everyone was obsessed with halo when it first came out and with halo2, but the game is just that good. but yes if M$ is giving these gifts then it should be seen as a bribe, in one way or another, but dont think M$ is the only company doing it, they ALL do!
    • 0
      Krunal Sep 28, 07
      They don't give $800 gifts now do they?

      As for you giving it a 10/10, the thing is you've not played Halo 1 or 2 and as far as I've seen, most people have complained that it's far too similar to Halo 2, which just means that if you haven't played them, then it's fine, if you have, then it's really just repetition of the game.
  • 1
    Kazooieman Sep 27, 07
    For me i'd probably rate the game a 7.2!

    "P.S. Why did they include a first aid kit? ", probably to make it look more like a survival pack and authentic.
  • 0
    Big Willie Sep 28, 07
    Bribe seems to be too strong of a word for it. It's not like they're going to take away the gifts if they get a bad review. Plus, a lot of the stuff seemed to be geared for Halo in that they will probably get reviewed as well. Game companies do it in all aspects of the business. They give game retailers free stuff to keep their employees happy in hopes to sell more of their product. Do I think it actually helps? In most cases no...
    • 1
      Krunal Sep 28, 07
      "Incentive" to review Halo 3 higher? Is that a better word for it then? In all honesty, companies do give reviewers free copies of games, but they don't go to the lengths of giving them a whole package that costs more than $800, that's just M$.
  • 1
    FFXFREAK Oct 1, 07
    The hell, Bill Gates has to much money on his hands T__T. Oh well; Halo 3 was going to get high scores regardless reviewers probably felt the need to score it a little higher then necessary so that the game doesn't fall short and people don't boycott their websites =[. The $800 dollar 'incentive' as Krunal called it was just a little helper =].


    ~FFXFREAK
  • 0
    Dai Oct 4, 07
    Wow... I can't even call that a cheap move. It seems Microsoft really was banking on Halo 3. I wonder if they realize this really hurts theirs reps more than one game can repair- even Halo. Even Microsoft fanboys should admit that this isn't the kind of conduct a video game company- or any company, should be divulging in. Its shameful if their intention was to make the scores sweeter. Heh...

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