Driv3r reviews are a example of the current problems with the so called "professional reviews".
Game magazines get most of their revenue out of advertisement, if LucasArts pull off all ads they had with KotOR II and Mercenaries it would hurt then.
So yes, LucasArts did pay for the awards and reviews ... even if the check is about "advertisement".
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In that way everyone is paying the Game magazines, since almost every game company is advertised in them.