What's with the rating?

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St. Martyne (3648) on 6/5/2008 4:14 PM · Permalink · Report

I have noticed a handful of games for which the rating taken from Computer Bild Spiele is described in a extremely puzzling fashion, like for Mass Effect, it says "2.05 out of 6" which miraculously translates into 79 out of 100 as a normalized ranking for MobyRank.

How does that work, I wonder? I don't think its a mistake, as it surely would have been noticed by other people. But every time I bump into those ratings from Computer Bild Spiele I feel myself like a total fool for not being able to figure it out.

So, what does this "2.05 out of 6" mean?

DreinIX (10446) on 6/5/2008 4:22 PM · edited · Permalink · Report

That people should pay more attention on their Maths class

Indra was here (20755) on 6/5/2008 6:45 PM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start DreinIX wrote--]That people should pay more attention on their Maths class [/Q --end DreinIX wrote--]

That's why god created social studies, accountants and accustic children.

Sciere (930489) on 6/5/2008 4:24 PM · Permalink · Report

It's valid, Wizo will explain.

Xoleras (66141) on 6/5/2008 4:29 PM · edited · Permalink · Report

German school marks, ranging from 1 (best) to 6 (worst). Therefore 2.06 is just a bit worse then "good" (grade 2) -> a bit less then 80%.

It basically works similar to A-F ratings, yet with numerical it allows finer marks. It's calculated in the magazine with percentages of those grades. (i.e. 1% of the game gets grade 2, 5% gets grade 4, 40% gets 1 etc.; different percentages for different aspects (i.e. graphics vs. tech support))

DreinIX (10446) on 6/5/2008 4:36 PM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start Oliver Jahn wrote--] ranging from 1 (best) to 6 (worst). [/Q --end Oliver Jahn wrote--]Yeap, that makes perfect sense. (never would have figure that out)

Xoleras (66141) on 6/5/2008 4:40 PM · Permalink · Report

Example: rating details for GTA4

St. Martyne (3648) on 6/5/2008 6:24 PM · Permalink · Report

Thanks for clarification.

[Q --start Oliver Jahn wrote--]Example: rating details for GTA4 [/Q --end Oliver Jahn wrote--]

Wow. It appears those guys take their jobs very seriously.

Xoleras (66141) on 6/5/2008 6:29 PM · edited · Permalink · Report

well, depends...

For example, if they rate a budget-price compilation like Gold Games or Play the Games, which obviously has the manuals as PDF on disc instead of a thousand-pages-manual in the small box, they rate it according to their standard. Means, mark 6 (rated for 2% of the final score) for no printed manual!

Wizo (28758) on 6/5/2008 7:12 PM · Permalink · Report

Mr. Jahn already explained it. The 2.05 out of 6 result in 79% when you select "Numeric Score (Lowest score is best)".

By the way, their rating details may look impressive but they are probably the worst videogames magazine you can buy in Germany. Their only advantage is the content of their DVDs.

Xoleras (66141) on 6/5/2008 8:06 PM · Permalink · Report

Oh please... that sounds so ridiculous. ;)

Martin Smith (81664) on 6/19/2008 12:04 AM · Permalink · Report

ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) rating games out of 1000 seemed like the most ridiculous. Should I give this game 905 or 914?

Xoleras (66141) on 6/19/2008 12:45 AM · edited · Permalink · Report

Is is better to have an 'out of 100' with one decimal number? ;)

But in either case, the question is whether it's calculated via sub-scores or set "arbitrary" by the reviewer.

Игги Друге (46653) on 6/19/2008 10:02 PM · Permalink · Report

I still think ACE gave out good scores.