Er... I'm sure Gamespot has their reasons. Maybe the game takes longer to review? Maybe the folks who made Flashpoint didn't send a copy of the game to review or didn't send it as early as Uncharted? You yourself even mentioned that this game isn't extremely hyped...

Not quite sure why this has you so confused or up in arms, especially because Gamespot isn't the only website to have a review up for Uncharted and not for Operation Flashpoint. Flashpoint only has three reviews, and Uncharted has 15.

there are some games that they dont review until a week later or 2 weeks later like Culdcept Saga for 360 it took them months to review that game.

@msudude211 I understand your points, but I still find it odd that sites release a review a full week before a game is out. I know this is not the first time, and it won't be the last time this happens. Just wish it was different.

Alot depends on whether the developer sends out review copies in advance or not. Obviously Naughty Dog sent out advance review copies, while maybe Codemasters did not. As I understand it, if a developer has any concerns the game is going to get some criticism they don't send out advance review copies so that can get a few days or a week of sales before the bulk of criticisms hit the market.

The other reason is that GS is short staffed. Ask Austin what the list of games for freelance reviews looks like, it's kind of long and not all games even get reviewed.

I think that polsci1503 has some very good points and hit the nail right on the head. Well done.

Well I think GS wants to be early or as quick as they can with reviews for the more popular and anticipated games because they need to compete with other review sites and critics. Its business

It all comes down to when they receive the game. Considering IGN had an Uncharted review up like a week ago, I'd assume the final review versions were sent out around then. For all we know the Operation Flashpoint ones came today.

LOL, I gave up trying to figure out GS review policies a long time ago. Now I just go to metacritic.com and check out different reviews from there since quite often a game will be reviewed by many different sites before GS gets around to it.

For what it's worth, we really couldn't care less about being first with a review - as evidenced by the fact that we're normally criticized for being last. The reason we're sometimes perceived as being "late" with reviews is that we always test finished retail code, and we always take the time to test multiplayer before posting a review. On this occasion, Uncharted 2 has gone up a little earier that we'd normally post a review for a number of reasons, including the fact that we were able to get our hands on multiple, boxed retail copies of the game well in advance of the release date. For what it's worth, we're planning to post our Operation Flashpoint review is scheduled to post today. It's a game that we needed to spend a considerable amount of time with before reviewing, not least because it's appearing on three different platforms. Also, I'll point out that advertisements on the site have no impact on the timing (or content) of reviews whatsoever. Most of us are rarely even aware of what's being advertised on the site because we're always logged in.

Justin Calvert said it all, they want the best review possible. But I agree with you, Operation Flashpoint didn't received the hype like the games that you've mentioned.

I did find it strange to see an U2 review so early.

I guess GS is short on staff

Well there can be many reasons why it takes longer but i really did thought the reviews don't come out till the release date of the game itself. I've seen their videos live at times and they just did not get the copy when they were suppose to and it takes them longer, also it might be a longer game then most and their review will be till later. Or the could just pick other games which are more fun for them to start with and the (sorry to say this) weaker games for last. I actually never heard of the game you are talking about, but now i'm curious.

To be honest I believe that the reviewer hasn't stepped up to the plate - simple as. Annoying as it is, its nothing compared to reading a review in a magazine when its been out for a good fortnight.

Hey ... it's a website ... that doubles as a blog site ... dealing with topics in an industry that changes extremely fast ... where new things are ALWAYS coming out. You try staffing for a company like that and keeping up with EVERYTHING going on while maintaining integrity.

It's obvious to anyone who thinks about it that they got an early copy of the game. They probably didn't get an early copy of whatever game it is you're asking about.

And why would a review make up you mind on a game. I usually do all the research on something like that myself. I know if I'm buying something well before it comes out. The only reason I read/watch reviews is to see others opinions.

Do you know how many great games you have and will miss out on when dealing with the opinions of others?

I agree maybe the review will come out like Gamer1985 said...

XO XO

confused like u

Well, it might not score well, and that could be why they're holding off on their review. Publishers often set different embargo dates dependent upon the score. They might tell a gaming site, "if you give the game anything higher than an '8,' you can release it early. If you give it less than '8,' you'll have to wait until after release to post your review." None of it is bound legally, but it is bound by the politics of give and take between the sites and the publishers.

Of course, GS is renown for being way behind on most of their reviews, so who knows. I've seen Square Enix game reviews come out a month late on this site.

I think it all depends on when they get the game from the publishers, how long it takes them to go through it, and so on. Over at EndSights, we already have a review for both Uncharted 2 and Demon's Souls, which come out next week. Why wouldn't we not publish the reviews if we get the games early?

Who knows, they did the same with Halo Wars. They reviewed it like 2 weeks before the game was released!

Like polsci1503 first mentioned, and I can support his comment from experience, albeit relatively new experience, that it's normally due to when review copies are sent out. Justin also covered the rest, some titles just contain more content that needs to be covered. But I'm also not naive to the possibility that some games are reviewed and prioritized based upon urgency and hype.

I'd like to point out that I saw many reviews of Uncharted 2 on others sites a week or more before Gamespot posted theirs, which tells me the review copy of that game was sent out to game sites much earlier than usual. GS was not even close to being "first" with that review.

As others have said, it's all about when Gamespot gets their copy of the game and how long the reviewer takes to complete it.

What Scott said. I myself, don't bother with GS reviews anymore, unless it is one done by one of my freelance friends. If I need a review before I buy a game (which is almost never) I straight up go to another site. I like the user reviews of people that I know and truthfully(and no slam at GS, business is business) I trust them more. \

@msudude211 - I like reading your replies in blogs, but seriously dude, I have an awful time doing it. Any way you can make your font a bit larger.

IGN has had their Uncharted 2 review up a month before the game is released. Gamespot sure wasnt first.

I wonder why this happens to, it really makes no sense why they do it. I mean I'm sure they have there own reasons but still it's confusing.

I hate when magazines do that too for example one magazine reviewed something that isn't even out get and say next month they will review marvel ultimate alliance2 and Halo ODST but we have uncharted!!!...whats the point?

haven't I seen the review today and sadly it was a 7.5 while most of the other sites gave it better reviews.

I'm sure GS has their reasons with the obvious being that they received the copy of Operation Flashpoint much later than the Uncharted one.

for what it' worth, GS was far from being the 1st to review Uncharted 2, GameTrailers and IGN already reviewd it about a week ago... and yeah, I was really shocked to see a GameSpot employee comment on your blog must be really cool

@polsci1503 Did you come here thinking I wanted to hear something that made sense?

@spazzx625 Understood, but I don't give a crap about IGN

@JusticeCovert I apologize if it looks like I hit a nerve here, that was not my intent. However, I had no clue you guys waited for a retail cd before you did reviews. Oh, and I did watch the review of OP Flashpoint, maybe one of the best, dead on reviews I have seen in a long time.


@tu2pac WOW, I never said I was waiting for the GS review before I bought Operation Flashpoint. I had preordered the game MONTHS ago and was picking it up no matter what. I guess I was just VERY curious as to what they would say, based on the very mixed "predictions" from gamers about the game.

@NeoJedi I do understand the need to get reviews out early... I guess. It just seems (to me) that if people are able to go pick up a game (buy it) that day, I would get that review out first, and maybe push others back a day or two. NOW, with that said, I do understand that GS is not in the business of selling games.

@johnsteed7 Again, I don't visit other game sites so I really don't know/care when they have their reviews up.

In the end, I was just very anxious I guess, and not seeing that review up just kinda caught me off guard.

I thought this would be a blog of GS review scores which I've found sketchy over the last few years. The GS review of Halo Wars was 6.5/10 while the average critic score was 8.2. Their review for Need for Speed Shift was incredibly low...a 7.0 versus the critic average of 8.4. For NFS Shift, were they playing the same game I'm playing now? It's a great racing game. Yet, back in the day, they gave amazing reviews on PDZ, which is an average game at best. I could go on and on... By the way, the review is out for Operation Flashpoint on GS. 7.5/10. Ign UK rated it 8.2/10.

Doesn't make sense to me either.

It's not so bad, really. GS does have a schedule for reviews, so cut them some slack. They have to play crap games as well as all the good ones - I'm not saying any games you mentioned are crap, only that it isn't an easy job.

I also think it has alot to do when they get the game and get thru see what it is all about and playing it.