GTA IV gets a perfect 10 at IGN

[Spider]

Maybe it's the limited aspect of a *10* scale. 9 and 10 are both As, but 10 denotes perfection.

 

It really doesn't. It's an arbitrary scale and as such, the definitions of whoever makes the scale needs to be used. That definition (in this case) is:

 

"A 10 doesn't mean a game is perfect -- it means a game is pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond its competitors that they overshadows any flaws."

 

Note the first few words.

[Arkan]

Maybe it's the limited aspect of a *10* scale. 9 and 10 are both As, but 10 denotes perfection.

 

It really doesn't. It's an arbitrary scale and as such, the definitions of whoever makes the scale needs to be used. That definition (in this case) is:

 

"A 10 doesn't mean a game is perfect -- it means a game is pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond its competitors that they overshadows any flaws."

 

Note the first few words.

 

 

Is GTA4 "pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond its competitors?"

[Spider]

I have no idea, I haven't played it (nor have I really read the review). But the reviewer should think so if he gives it that mark.

[Humodour]

No, a 9 means top notch within its genre. You hand out a few 9's every year. You DON'T ever hand out a 10 unless the game is something timeless, near perfect. A 10 is something to strive for, not something to cheapen.

 

Same thing applies to marking essays.

 

Ok, as a teacher, that's absolutely ridiculous. Students and parents would lynch me if I had that mentality, and rightly so. If a student turns in a great essay with minimal errors, they get a perfect score. Again, why have the number 10 if it's never used?

 

Wait, what?

 

What do you mean by minimal errors? How can you give a perfect score to a student that makes mistakes in his work?

 

Exactly what I was thinking. Personally I think its yet another symptom of education being dumbed down to make kids and parents happy, but whatever.

 

There should be a highest grade, a 100%, which means exactly perfection in an exam. It should be something rare dearly sought after, not handed out because the teacher is afraid to say "that's good, but not perfect".

 

And as for a maths exam, you should never ever give 100% if the student made a mistake.

[Moatilliatta]

Denmark had such a high grade. Then we changed it to be more in line with the rest of the world. I liked it, but I'm also for failing pupils until they've met minimum standards.

 

You can't compare grading in schools to grading in computer game reviews though.

[thepixiesrock]

Know what else is a 10? My boot in pixie's face.

 

10/10

 

 

I've got 10 fingers made into two knuckle sandwiches. You do the math.

 

 

100%

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Humodour]

Denmark had such a high grade. Then we changed it to be more in line with the rest of the world. I liked it, but I'm also for failing pupils until they've met minimum standards.

 

You can't compare grading in schools to grading in computer game reviews though.

 

You kind of can. People expect a 100% to mean something unique, rare and awesome. To feel like you need to give out a perfect score every year cheapens its credibility. What then do you give the game which comes along every so often (and it will come) which completely blows away the expectations of everybody, which IS perfect? If you give it the same score as that "best game of last year", there's a large amount of inconsistency there.

[Sand]

No one is saying 10 is perfect. It's the highest grade achievable, not the same thing. Hell, even IGN:s own definition acknowledges this fact.

 

A perfect score means a perfect game. Since there is no such thing as a perfect game then no game deserves a perfect score. If 10 is the highest score one can achieve then it is the perfect, best score achievable.

[Moatilliatta]

There is no inconsistency as the game that is perfect would be just as much ten as the other even if it would have attained a higher grading if there was one. Also people can expect 10 to be speciel but they are still wrong as 10 is clearly defined by IGN and IGN can give it out however they read their definition.

 

Haven't we already established that we dislike most reviewers? Why keep reading the reviews then?

 

EDit:

A perfect score means a perfect game. Since there is no such thing as a perfect game then no game deserves a perfect score. If 10 is the highest score one can achieve then it is the perfect, best score achievable.

Not according to IGN's own definition.

Also it is kinda silly to define a grade in a way that it supposedly can never be achieved. Humans already have the idea of perfection, you guys don't need to define it through a grade.

Edited April 27, 2008 by Moatilliatta

[Gorgon]

I guess with the inflation inherrent in such an interdependent system a 10 means that they really do like it, above the usual levels of keeping everybody happy .

[Humodour]

A perfect score means a perfect game. Since there is no such thing as a perfect game then no game deserves a perfect score. If 10 is the highest score one can achieve then it is the perfect, best score achievable.

Not according to IGN's own definition.

Also it is kinda silly to define a grade in a way that it supposedly can never be achieved. Humans already have the idea of perfection, you guys don't need to define it through a grade.

 

Actually it's not. I agree with Sand here. A 10 is a perfect score. It's more of an 'ideal' than something attainable. It's something games are designed to strive, for, not achieve. When you assigned a game a perfect score, you're essentially saying "this game can be no better", which is most likely not true. Even games like Deus Ex, Fallout, Torment I would not say deserve a 10, but a 9.5 (or 95%, whatever the system you use).

 

But you've a point that IGN have decided to define their grading system differently. I strongly disagree with it, but that's not anybody in this thread's fault.

[thepixiesrock]

Not anybody in this threads fault.

[Kaftan Barlast]

To refine the point I was trying to make earlier, IGN will give the score they're being paid to give it. If a publisher spens millions of dollars on PR, they pretty much expect all major gaming mags to give the game top scores, and if they dont there will be hell to pay. Gaming mags live in a symbiosis with the publishers, in exchange for good reviews they will get advance sneak peaks, interviews with devs etc. If they dont play ball, they wont get sh*t and thus they will have nothing to write about.

 

 

If you want honest reviews, you'll have to go to non-profit independant sites. Never ever trust major gaming mags or sites.

[Humodour]

Not anybody in this threads fault.

Were you trying to correct my grammar?

[thepixiesrock]

No, I was laughing at what you had said.

[Humodour]

Dost thou mocketh me?

[thepixiesrock]

I don't think so.

[Humodour]

I don't think so.

 

[thepixiesrock]

What is that hand doing?

[Humodour]

What is that hand doing?

 

Maybe it's using the right-hand grip rule because it's faced with a difficult solenoid problem? You know... with its left hand.

[Hurlshort]

The problem here is you are creating an unrealistic expectation, whether it's for students or games. No matter what the total is, 10, 20, 100, or 1,000, there should be a way to achieve that score. It should be possible for someone in the class to get that grade, otherwise there is no reason for that grade to exist. You're just dangling a carrot in front of students. Eventually they will realize it's unachievable, and that typically has an adverse affect. They start aiming for the 8 or 9 because there is no chance of getting that ten.

 

I'm not saying you hand out 10's like crazy. You hand them out when you get a great paper. It doesn't need to be completely perfect because there will always be errors in essays. This isn't multiple choice.

 

I completely oppose any teacher that makes a grade virtually unachievable for students. I have a hard time believing that you really know a lot of teachers with this policy. Maybe at the college level, where professors really don't have much training in actual education, but I hope that's not happening at the primary and secondary levels.

 

I'm quoting myself because Krezack and company seemed to ignore my argument here. Again, why have the ten available at all?

[thepixiesrock]

"Sorry little Johnny, even though your paper is pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond your classmates that it overshadows any flaws, I still can't give you an A."

[Arkan]

The problem here is you are creating an unrealistic expectation, whether it's for students or games. No matter what the total is, 10, 20, 100, or 1,000, there should be a way to achieve that score. It should be possible for someone in the class to get that grade, otherwise there is no reason for that grade to exist. You're just dangling a carrot in front of students. Eventually they will realize it's unachievable, and that typically has an adverse affect. They start aiming for the 8 or 9 because there is no chance of getting that ten.

 

I'm not saying you hand out 10's like crazy. You hand them out when you get a great paper. It doesn't need to be completely perfect because there will always be errors in essays. This isn't multiple choice.

 

I completely oppose any teacher that makes a grade virtually unachievable for students. I have a hard time believing that you really know a lot of teachers with this policy. Maybe at the college level, where professors really don't have much training in actual education, but I hope that's not happening at the primary and secondary levels.

 

I'm quoting myself because Krezack and company seemed to ignore my argument here. Again, why have the ten available at all?

Even though perfection may not be attainable, it is something to be striven for.

[Krookie]

Yeah, but why even bother telling someone that it's there if they can't get to it?

[Arkan]

"Sorry little Johnny, even though your paper is pushing boundaries, expanding a genre, and doing many things to a level so far above and beyond your classmates that it overshadows any flaws, I still can't give you an A."

 

 

Oh, please. You can still give him an A, just not a perfect score? What if there were some syntax errors throughout the paper? Doesn't necessarily detract from the quality, and you can still receive an A, it's not perfect.