How a Game Gets a 10.0 at Operation Sports - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

How a Game Gets a 10.0 at Operation Sports Stuck

Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:27 AM.

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I have been at Operation Sports for nearly five years now, and not once have we given a game a perfect 10 on our review scale. There have been some 9.5s, but never once has a game crept up over that magic 9.5 barrier. It's gotten to the point that I get e-mails and PMs about it, wondering if our scale is actually a 2.5 to 9.5 scale.

It's not.

First, remember our review scale was tweaked a couple of years ago to allow for a full 10 point scale to be utilized. Most sites just utilize the 5-10 part of their scale, we decided to do a full to point scale where 5.0 games are the average ones and 7.0s are actually good. Basically we don't grade games like college papers, we grade them on a full scale.

Thus, a 10.0 isn't an A+, it's literally the top of the mountain for a game in which no real flaws can be found. As an example of how a game can get a 10.0, I'd like to share a few things that we look for to take a game from a 9.5 to 10.

Does everything work as expected? This can include online modes, servers, stats, simulations, etc. If something isn't working right, and enough of somethings isn't working right, then there's no way a game goes from 9.5 to 10.

Is the game both easily accessible and deep? Simply put, can your grandma pick up the game and can a hardcore fan of the sport pick up and strategize with it? Some games do not cater to this type of audience such as OOTP, in that case we have a different criteria: Is there something missing from this experience?

Are the controls easy to use? One of the biggest reasons (minus online servers) that some games haven't and won't ever get over the 9.5 mark is that the controls of many sports games are way too complicated as-is to recommend the game universally to everyone -- which is what a 10.0 rating really signifies. Think about our 'easy to pick up and play, difficult to master' theory. That's what I'm talking about here as well.

Is the gameplay perfectly balanced? We put a lot of emphasis on gameplay, and this is the hardest section to really gauge. Gameplay balance in sports games means you get realistic results. In football some games are defensive slugfests some are high octane score-fests. In basketball, some nights teams don't shoot as well. For a game to be universally recommended, we want it to be balanced in every way. We allow some creative license for sliders and such here too -- which means another big question we ask of games is, at it's core, is the gameplay experience customizable?

Another thing we have to ask, does the game have staying power? There are several ways this can happen. Brilliant dynasty modes, awesome online modes like Ultimate Team, fun mini-games. You name it. We want to see games which are universally recommended be able to basically stay on someone's shelf for a long time and never quite get stale.

Finally, we have to ask, is the game moving the sports gaming genre forward in such a manner that it's unquestionably better than it's predecessors? With most of the games being in a series here at Operation Sports, we have past efforts to judge current games off of. It's impossible to review sports games in a vacuum because they simply don't exist in one. So if a game fixes little issues from a prior effort the previous year but fails to move the genre forward in any meaningful way, it's final review score will suffer as a result.

In theory, a 10.0 game is one that gets everything right and innovates all at the same time.

So...is a 10.0 possible?

I can say without hesitation that it is possible. Some things have to change for the franchises which are on the cusp of greatness to really get a shot at it. NBA 2K needs to iron out online and control issues, NHL has to work out it's quirks but has the accessibility and deep part of the measure down, FIFA is in the same trap as NHL with an added flair of more gameplay variety needed. MLB: The Show is close in many respects, but it's not as accessible as it needs to be and it needs to innovate a bit more to get over that hump.

So while a 10.0 remains possible, I believe it will prove elusive for at least another year. This is the next to the last big year of this console generation, so my gut tells me 2014 might be the year a 10.0 is possible -- but the jury is still out on that one.

Sound off: Are our standards too high or are they just right for a 10.0? Let us know by commenting on this post!

Comments

# 1 ThaShark28_316 @ Dec 19

OS is too pessimistic to start doling out 10.0s.

# 2 kjjnesb @ Dec 19

The game its self would have to greatly exceed expectations.

For example if NBA Live somehow returned with a vengeance and in its first year back by some act of god had deeper career modes better online game-play less bugs etc than 2K than that would warrant a 10 imo.

That will never happen but if they somehow kicked the door down like that than maybe.

# 3 jmmontoro @ Dec 19

10.0s are impossible for new reviews, but in retrospective, games should be rereviewed and awarded a 10.0 for the impact and or the revolution they had/caused in the industry.

# 4 JerzeyReign @ Dec 19

10.0 possible? Only if their is OS in heaven and I can play NFL 2k62

# 5 outkaz79 @ Dec 19

Not if E.A is attached to it

# 6 Jimbo614 @ Dec 19

I think you left out one criteria; How does this game compare to the other sports games in that year. Has the game reached its fullest potential on that platform?
Exmple: If The Show comes out in March, and it's stepped up in comparison to say Fifa, it might be a 10.0. But if say Madden releases, and it's even better than the Show, then The Show might drop to a 9.5 just because of the comparison.

# 7 Dazraz @ Dec 20

I agree with jmmontoro. Reviews are based on the experience of spending an intense amount of time over a short period with a game. There are often features in a game whose importance & influence don't shine until some while later. Sometimes it's only when a game is put into consideration against other titles that you truly appreciate what the developer of a said game has achieved.

# 8 tril @ Dec 21

Long term, I dont think the 10.0 matters all that much. there are games that have received average scores, and wound up becoming classics.

# 9 bxphenom7 @ Dec 23

I agree with everything in this blog. Just to add, a game should also be judged on how it can respond to its competitor's features. It's bothered me so much that MLB The Show has yet to implement a Build Your Stadium mode and add the ability to relocate franchises. It shouldn't matter if a game of a different sport does this, as a developer, you should be able to compete with your better version of the feature. There are certain features that don't get added and make you wonder why the hell not. Overdue features should keep a game from getting a 10 because this is where developers have the opportunity to innovate as well. I don't care for Madden (still sour about NFL 2k) but the option to relocate your team was such a great feature. EA's MVP Baseball 2005 had owner mode where you could build your own ballpark. By now, this should at least be attempted by all sports games because this gen could have really made features like that deeper and detailed.

# 10 bxphenom7 @ Dec 23

To add, I couldn't believe WWE '13 didn't have some sort of career mode. I don't watch wrestling but I like playing the games. I felt the attitude era mode, while great, should have been complemented by a career mode. Universe mode is great, but it made me feel the developers used the attitude era mode as a crutch because they couldn't think of anything creative for the game (Um...a career mode maybe??). Therefore, all they had to do was recreate something that already happened. Being that THQ is bankrupt, I hope the title switches hands. It has a great foundation but I feel THQ lacks creativity.