Eidos Seek 90% Score & Cover For Arkham Asylum In Exchange For Early Review

[The Gamer]

from The RAM Raider: Eidos Seek 90% Score & Cover For Arkham Asylum In Exchange For Early Review

Unlike our no-longer-regularly-updated blog, corruption in the games industry has so far failed to go into hibernation. In the week that Eidos has breathed its last, they’ve decided to go out with a bang by brazenly attempting to artificially hype up their forthcoming Arkham Asylum release.

Several mags have their review code already, but have to sit on their reviews until a hateful embargo expires at the end of the month. But Eidos, ever the helpful fellows that they are, have been offering a way around this embargo. If you dedicate the cover of your mag to Arkham Asylum and guarantee a score of at least 90%, Eidos will allow you to run the review early.

We know that one editor has already valiantly told Eidos to get lost, but we can’t tell you which to protect our Anonymous Dark Knight. We also asked the usually chatty UK Officially Corrupt Xbox 360 Magazine editor Jon Hicks about it, who tellingly clammed up at the mere mention.

But what of the others? Well, there’s an exciting way to find out in the form of a game that you can play at home over the next month called “Spot The Corrupt Arkham Asylum Review”. You see, Arkham Asylum is a decentish release that’s not quite up to par when it comes to variety and depth. This means even the most charitable outlets should settle at no more than the 80s in their verdicts, but don’t be surprised if you see a few 7s from the pseuds.

This means that if you see a mag turn up within the next few weeks (ding!) that features Arkham Asylum on its cover (ding!) and gives it at least 90% (ding ding ding!), you have a winner.

Exciting…

[rrquinta]

*sigh*

lol. Apparently just typing *sigh* was too short... maybe Eidos has corrupted the forum, too!!

[skygear75]

Guess these kind of things can never be avoided. I heard last year Ubisoft did something similiar to EGM, how they threatened to pull their advertising because the reviewers would rate their games poorly.

[The Gamer]

it will be hilarious to see a mag brag about having the first Batman review as a cover story and if it is a 90% score

[rrquinta]

I will laugh my you-know-what off if I get my September issue of POTM (Playstation mag) and it has batman on the cover with a 9/10 score lol.

[The Gamer]

i guess we will know the integrity of the mag that accepts the offer

[GhostVoices]

There's always been corruption going on in the game industry, in regards to bribery and high reviews for games that didn't deserve it etc.

so none of this really surprises me, but it does depress me a bit...

Eidos should be ashamed of themselves, but I DOUBT THEY ARE!

[The Liztress]

Originally Posted by skygear75

Guess these kind of things can never be avoided. I heard last year Ubisoft did something similiar to EGM, how they threatened to pull their advertising because the reviewers would rate their games poorly.

I remember that as well. Just not the name of the game.


Regardless, I think it's shameful that a company would pull this stunt just to get a good review. And I was looking forward to playing the game too.

[GhostVoices]

I am sure the game is okay enough on it's own, so why couldn't Eidos just shut up, and deal with a 70-something review, which is still pretty decent?

[The Gamer]

true this just makes the game look bad