Yet another example of shady business practices

[Zeke45]

The censorship and lack of transparency in reviews for big-ticket games and/or games tied to big-name publishers.

For example, without being logged in, the War Thunder store page now has only the overall reviews summarized (not the recent reviews). The recent reviews were "overwhelmingly negative" for quite some weeks.

Without logging in, the aforementioned overall reviews are shown as "mostly positive." However, after logging in you can now see the *actual* overall reviews have dropped to "mixed."

Also, in case nobody noticed, they froze the display of reviews for War Thunder when the negative reviews started pouring in, so newer reviews were not displayed on the store page and the same reviews were locked in week after week. (To see newer reviews you had to click the "show all reviews" link and then sort by the more recently posted.)

Steam obviously going to great lengths to bury statistics that don't promote the product.

Not a good look.

[Start_Running]

You do realize that the diufference in tbe ioverall is likely due to your personal settings right?
And I'd wager the recent difference can be traced back to that as well.

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Zeke45:

The censorship and lack of transparency in reviews for big-ticket games and/or games tied to big-name publishers.

The review sections are quite clear about whether or not reviews are being excluded for detected off-topic periods. Valve has been quite open about how those off-topic periods are handled and how you, the user, can either decide to include them or not.

Originally posted by Zeke45:

Steam obviously going to great lengths to bury statistics that don't promote the product.

Steam is a product, not a company. Valve isn't trying to bury statistics. The reviews are still there. And anyone can create an account free of charge and toggle the option that allows those off-topic reviews to be included. Nothing is being hidden.

Originally posted by Zeke45:

Not a good look.

Indeed.

[Super.Skirv]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2999812668

Nice catch. Screenshot for the record.

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Super.Skirv:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2999812668

Nice catch. Screenshot for the record.

You still need to change the preference for off-topic reviews. Simply logging in doesn't change the score.

[Super.Skirv]

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

You still need to change the preference for off-topic reviews. Simply logging in doesn't change the score.

That was my browser(not logged in) and the steam client. If there is a setting somewhere regarding reviews its set to its default value.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Super.Skirv:

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

You still need to change the preference for off-topic reviews. Simply logging in doesn't change the score.

That was my browser(not logged in) and the steam client. If there is a setting somewhere regarding reviews its set to its default value.

https://imgur.com/ZCm8V5m

Default is to hide off-topic reviews. You would have had to have changed it.

Mine shows the game as Mostly Positive while logged in and through the browser when not logged in.

If I change the setting to include off-topic reviews, then it goes to mixed.

Originally posted by Zeke45:

The censorship and lack of transparency in reviews for big-ticket games and/or games tied to big-name publishers.

It is actually very transparent. There is an * next to "Mostly Positive" that informs the user about off-topic reviews.

https://imgur.com/GEhfabB

[rawWwRrr]

Originally posted by Super.Skirv:

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

You still need to change the preference for off-topic reviews. Simply logging in doesn't change the score.

That was my browser(not logged in) and the steam client. If there is a setting somewhere regarding reviews its set to its default value.

The default value is to exclude off-topic reviews. In order for you to see them included, you would have toggled the setting at some point.

edit:
https://i.imgur.com/0JZAtwU.png
This is my browser (not logged in) compared to the Steam client. Scores are identical.\

edit2:
https://i.imgur.com/3yfG4LG.png
This is how transparent the review score is. When you hover over the asterisk, you are given an explanation of how based on preferences the reviews are excluded from the Review Score. Again, nothing is being hidden.

Just noticed Spawn of Totoro adding the same information.

[Nx Machina]

Those reviews are off-topic hence their exclusion. Off-topic includes both positive and negative reviews NOT focused on the ACTUAL GAME which is the purpose of the system, as in review bombing.

Secondly YOU are asked a question. "Would YOU recommend this GAME to other players", you are not asked about the developer, their country of origin etc.

You can change the filter if you want to see them.

[AlexTheRedScout]

Originally posted by Zeke45:

The censorship and lack of transparency in reviews for big-ticket games and/or games tied to big-name publishers.

For example, without being logged in, the War Thunder store page now has only the overall reviews summarized (not the recent reviews). The recent reviews were "overwhelmingly negative" for quite some weeks.

Without logging in, the aforementioned overall reviews are shown as "mostly positive." However, after logging in you can now see the *actual* overall reviews have dropped to "mixed."

Also, in case nobody noticed, they froze the display of reviews for War Thunder when the negative reviews started pouring in, so newer reviews were not displayed on the store page and the same reviews were locked in week after week. (To see newer reviews you had to click the "show all reviews" link and then sort by the more recently posted.)

Steam obviously going to great lengths to bury statistics that don't promote the product.

Not a good look.

this is false steam only fliters them + personal settings

[FOXDUDE69]

This is the company that filters out reviews they consider to be "review bombing" from the overall rating. They dont even allow 5 star reviews, you either completely hated a game or absolutely adored it, with nothing in between. Nobody should take the Steam review rating seriously.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

This is the company that filters out reviews they consider to be "review bombing" from the overall rating. They dont even allow 5 star reviews, you either completely hated a game or absolutely adored it, with nothing in between. Nobody should take the Steam review rating seriously.

There isn't a need for a star system. The question is simply if you would recommend the game to someone else.

The filter is also automatic since review bombing is usually done in a big flux after a period of much less activity. You can also turn that setting off personally to see what the rating is without the filter.

[FOXDUDE69]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

There isn't a need for a star system. The question is simply if you would recommend the game to someone else.

And considering games are composed of multiple aspects, some good, some bad, greatly differing in quality, that question boxes the reviewer into a rating that might not reflect his or hers opinions of a game.

Also, if they are only recommendations, why does steam refer to them as reviews?

Originally posted by SlowMango:

The filter is also automatic since review bombing is usually done in a big flux after a period of much less activity. You can also turn that setting off personally to see what the rating is without the filter.

And you think this is a positive thing?

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

This is the company that filters out reviews they consider to be "review bombing" from the overall rating. They dont even allow 5 star reviews, you either completely hated a game or absolutely adored it, with nothing in between. Nobody should take the Steam review rating seriously.

You can recommend a game despite it's flaws. You do not need to love it to do so.

You can not recommend a game because it was not what it promised to be. You do not need to hate it to do so.

Valve has the system they want and developers can see at a glance how their game is received without the need to read numerous reviews.

https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1448326897426987372

From Valve: For User Reviews, the goal is fairly obvious - allow people who've played a game to tell potential purchasers whether or not they should buy the game, and why.

Hence why YOU are asked if YOU recommend a game or not - Recommend: to endorse.

As for 5 star:

5 star - must buy. Recommended.

4 star - nearly a 5 star, buy. Recommended.

3 star - avoid. Not recommended. Gameplay lacking.

2 star - avoid. Not recommended.

1 star - avoid. Not recommend.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Zeke45:

The censorship and lack of transparency in reviews for big-ticket games and/or games tied to big-name publishers.

For example, without being logged in, the War Thunder store page now has only the overall reviews summarized (not the recent reviews). The recent reviews were "overwhelmingly negative" for quite some weeks.

Without logging in, the aforementioned overall reviews are shown as "mostly positive." However, after logging in you can now see the *actual* overall reviews have dropped to "mixed."

Also, in case nobody noticed, they froze the display of reviews for War Thunder when the negative reviews started pouring in, so newer reviews were not displayed on the store page and the same reviews were locked in week after week. (To see newer reviews you had to click the "show all reviews" link and then sort by the more recently posted.)

Steam obviously going to great lengths to bury statistics that don't promote the product.

Not a good look.

Yep OP as mentioned its nothing shady. You cahnged your settings to exclude off topic reviews, and you are seeing the reviews with them being excluded per your preference. If you set your setting back to what the default is then it matches....

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

There isn't a need for a star system. The question is simply if you would recommend the game to someone else.

And considering games are composed of multiple aspects, some good, some bad, greatly differing in quality, that question boxes the reviewer into a rating that might not reflect his or hers opinions of a game.

Also, if they are only recommendations, why does steam refer to them as reviews?

Because of the option to type a full review explaining your answer.

Originally posted by FOXDUDE69:

Originally posted by SlowMango:

The filter is also automatic since review bombing is usually done in a big flux after a period of much less activity. You can also turn that setting off personally to see what the rating is without the filter.

And you think this is a positive thing?

Better than the alternative of removing reviews or allowing surges of off topic reviews permanently affect the score.