Is Gametrailers really biased or incompetent with the PS3 vs Xbox 360 comparisons?
Good old Gametrailers has come under fire once again with accusations that the site is biased towards the Xbox 360. The site has been accused in the past for similar reasons when a comparison video was not labeled correctly. Questions have come up as to whether the gaffe was done by mistake.
Many sites across the Web jumped on the “Gametrailers is biased against the PS3″ bandwagon after members of Gametrailers discovered a glaringly issue with the site’s latest PS3 vs Xbox 360 comparison videos. The video titled “X-Men Origins: Wolverine PS3 vs Xbox 360 Comparison” showed parts of the game that are obviously from an Xbox 360 video feed but was labeled as PS3 feed.
Many are hesitant to blow this off as an honest mistake citing a similar incident that happened last year. If you recall from my past story, the site showed a comparison video where two crash scenes were displayed for a “Grid PS3 vs Xbox 360 comparison video.”
Viewers noticed that the spectacular crash video that was labeled as Xbox 360 was indeed from the PS3 version, while a very lackluster crash video was labeled as the PS3 version. As it turns out both were from the PS3 version of the game as determined by the controller button icons displayed.
The site also came under some criticism after a video editor for Gametrailers wrote on his personal GT Blog how he thinks the PS3 is outdated compared to the Xbox 360. The writer clearly shows bias against the PS3 from his entry and also disclaims that this is his personal opinion and not that of Gametrailers.
The X-Men Origins comparison video gaffe was revealed in a similar fashion as the PS3 side clearly shows the Xbox 360 controller button icons displayed at the bottom. Gametrailers has since yanked the version on the site and replaced it with a fixed version of the video. However, readers can catch the original video on Youtube displayed below. The switch can be seen around the 45 second mark.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine PS3 vs Xbox 360 Comparison Video
By studying the video it looks like this issue could very well be just a honest mistake rather than bias on Gametrailers part. It looks like the PS3 and Xbox 360 labels are just placed on the wrong sides. However, other sites such as TAWKN and SouthSideGamer (just to name a few), seem unconvinced it was an honest mistake.
These mistakes do bring up a very important point – the only reason these two incidents were caught by the viewers were due to the controller button icons displayed on the screen, so what other “mistakes” could there be that might have escaped detection due to lack of such clues? I respect and thoroughly enjoy Gametrailers, but site heads may want to think about making an example out of their employees to show that they are serious about maintaining quality control.
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36 Responses to “Is Gametrailers really biased or incompetent with the PS3 vs Xbox 360 comparisons?”
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May 4th, 2009
I’ve never heard of TAWKN or SouthSideGamer. They must be pretty well respected websites….!
May 4th, 2009
I hate to say this but I think The PS3 is better, at least when it comes to textures:
http://kineticninja.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
That’s another thing I hate about the Unreal Tournament 3’s graphics: The textures are compressed to hell; some textures don’t even have Normal Mapping; and some compressed Normal Maps are put on the wrong textures, making it look muddy.
Even John Carmack (who hates developing on the PS3) is saying the textures will look better on the PS3 just because of the blu-ray.
May 4th, 2009
AND GO BUY CRYOSTASIS: SLEEP OF REASON!!!!
Help games to become art!
May 4th, 2009
I prefer my games to be games
“I’ve never heard of TAWKN or SouthSideGamer. They must be pretty well respected websites….!”
lol, thats what I was thinkin’… Mistake or on purpose, who fucking cares.
I’d wager the people that care about side-by-side comparisons have already made thier decision on which unit to buy (if not both) and thus will buy the game for that unit.
Both games look very VERY smililar to me anywhoos. The overlay on the video probably got mixed up because the video editor couldn’t tell the ‘em fuckin’ apart either.
Mountain out of a molehill.
May 4th, 2009
“probably got mixed up because the video editor couldn’t tell the ‘em fuckin’ apart either” – nice
…but he does have a point about the button icons, though those parts could have been easily missed in a rush.
May 4th, 2009
I am getting sick of waiting for my post to get moderated, so let me post what I said without the link:
I hate to say this but I think The PS3 is better, at least when it comes to textures:
[Link]
That’s another thing I hate about the Unreal Tournament 3’s graphics: The textures are compressed to hell; some textures don’t even have Normal Mapping; and some compressed Normal Maps are put on the wrong textures, making it look muddy.
Even John Carmack (who hates developing on the PS3) is saying the textures will look better on the PS3 just because of the blu-ray.
May 4th, 2009
The differences are minimal and it is stupid arguing about them.
Please lets not get back into the argument over graphics/textures better/worse because of BD !!!!!!
Websites all over the world have a bias whether it be a tiny favorite or a blatant bias. Who cares ….
Not trying to start a flame war eh Mike
May 4th, 2009
But the link, THE LINK!!! If only I could show you the bloody Link!
Well, at least look at Mr. Ferro’s review of Killzone 2. He talks a little bit about the textures.
May 4th, 2009
Is Gamer.Blorge biased towards the PS3? Ratemypoo.com and catsthatlooklikehitler.com think so.
May 4th, 2009
Your not gonna get me Harry …… I’ve already seen Kenny Rogers lookalikes !!??
May 4th, 2009
kineticninja.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
May 4th, 2009
Hey, it worked!
kineticninja.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
May 4th, 2009
@ spidey, some of the ratemypoo stuff is awful.
May 4th, 2009
Exactly, lets not get into whose graphics are better…coming from the PS3 side, thats the best we can expect from developers of multi-platform tiltes..is even graphics, so i am for one very thrilled
May 4th, 2009
I can only imagine Harry …. lol Although my poo would rate pretty high I thinks ??!!
May 4th, 2009
Other sites such as TAWKN and SouthSideGamer said this???
I’m shocked!
May 4th, 2009
Mulitplatform games will almost always be identical. If there is a difference, it’s going to be minimal. This is mainly due to developers appealing to the least common denominator between the two consoles.
Zoar, I’ve mentioned this before, that Uncharted is an older launch title and still looks better than Gears 2. It’s nice to see a side by side comparison though. You should really post this link at Gametrailers and see what there xbot editors have to say.
May 4th, 2009
Wow I’m shocked that a site dedicated to the PS3 has the nerve to run a article about Gametrailers being Bias. Talk about a oxymoron.
May 4th, 2009
Down with GameTrailers fuck them bias bitches screw them. PS3 is the best that’s a FACT.
May 4th, 2009
Wow, 2 sites no-one’s ever heard of thinks Gametrailers is biased.
Call the Police!
The blog is interesting, whether you agree with his opinion or not.
At least he makes clear it is his personal view.
Far better that & it being out in the open for all to see & know instead of those who would publicly claim to be completely neutral and yet are not, eh?
(*and far far worse are those who because of advertising revenues and/or freebies continually slant stories a definite way and never declare the ’sold-out’ status.)
*this one is a classic.
I know for a fact that certain product manufacturers have given trade journos incredibly large discounts on brand new goods to ensure a favourable review.
It goes on in lots of business and you really can’t believe everything you read.
Why do you think so many supposedly ‘professional’ reviewers disagree?
It isn’t always because of individual differences of opinion.
May 4th, 2009
@CAD,
Oxy-”Moron” indeed.. the nerve of me saying that Gametrailers IS NOT bias…
May 4th, 2009
Happy,
your * is the reason i stopped reading Gamepro/EGM a long time ago, way before EGM went out of the print industry, they sold out, when Dan Hsu took over, it just made things even worse.
If anyone is interested in a pretty neutral magazine, and i mean to neutral to everything, including game hyping ( aka Halo 3, Gears 2, Killzone 2 ) and mag that stays focused, even when all other magazines have x fotm game on their covers, look no further than Play magazine, by Dave Halverson, i’ve been following them since pre-Gamefan days and they always deliver….they don’t even rate games anymore, you should read-up on why
Also, another mag i appreciate is Edge
Anywhoo, those are the only game magazines i check out these days, another non-game mag you guys definitely should check out is Show Magazine, hopefully it gets bigger than Playboy..<—PB sucks imo…
And back on topic…
I’ve always got the vibe that this site was Microsoft biased, as evidenced by the hardcore 360 fanatics on here….hmmm crazy, that it turns out this site is PS3 “biased” when the reason i even started posting was all the PS3 hating…lol
Gametrailers, like IGN, serves its purpose: Free videos and pics. IGN has been trash for a very long time now, they are only good for the pics/videos, and thats when GTs, doesn’t have them, anyone who takes IGNs reviews even remotely serious, or even bothers to read their reviews, has their credibility down the toilet, again imo…
May 4th, 2009
Thank you Barnabe Jones.
But I’m not really up to it: taking it to Gametrailers and all.
May 4th, 2009
And Mike Ferro, why didn’t you moderate my post?!?!?
May 4th, 2009
And please review Cryostasis: The Sleep of Reason, will you Mike? Pleeeeease
May 4th, 2009
I know Mike, Tell me about it!! LOL
May 4th, 2009
Hey Mike… you should do a piece like DBlock’s, except we know you could do it better (say a real Op-Ed), with more than just one reason why a certain console is generally the one that you like for most of your gaming needs… you could even say “these views are my own and do not necessarily represent the position of Gamer.Blorge” or some such.
May 4th, 2009
think that’s bad? check cnet latest biased article!!
May 5th, 2009
maniac8881, why don’t you try linking it, Ivan?
May 5th, 2009
Cnet is among the worst out there. They are actually owned by Microsoft and have the nerve to constantly slag the PS3 while praising the 360. Controlling the media is fascism at it’s best.
May 5th, 2009
Cnet is not owned by Microsoft. They’re owned by CBS.
May 5th, 2009
Barnabe,
“Cnet is among the worst out there… the nerve to constantly slag the PS3 while praising the 360.”
Yes, this is evident by how they rated the PS3 (8.7 – drag your cursor over the stars) higher than 360 (8.5) in their reviews of both products here:
reviews.cnet.com/4504-4_7-0.html?id=31355096&id=31355103&&tag=boxcoco
May 6th, 2009
@CAD, lol… I don’t think you understood what I meant. I am defending Gametrailers saying that they are not bias.
@Carl, I think its pointless, no real preference I play the good exclusive games available for that system. I think single platform owners have difficulty understanding that there are good games on both systems. Things like no trophy support on older PS3 games and RRoD and on 360 are annoying but in the end its about games.
@Zoar, you seem to be promoting that game pretty hard. I might if the publisher sends me a review copy.
May 6th, 2009
@Mike,
No, it’s not pointless, at least when you can point out real strengths and weaknesses between each system the way you see it. It wouldn’t just be an op-ed, though you could put your personal take in there. I think amongst the fifteen or so platforms I’ve owned over the years I could clearly see several strengths and weaknesses with each system of the same generation.
Some of the ones I favored the most did the worst in sales, but it was the gems that I played on that system that made the difference. As you said, “in the end its about games,” at least for us. But each gamer has different experiences and a different perspective (having played different games), and when individuals can put it on the table, it can bring value and an insight that other gamers without those experiences might value (or not).
Of course I am not talking about just the single reason “DBlock” gave or the 2 that you gave, but rather a more in depth “state of the consoles” piece with several categories. It would take up a lot of time though, and may not be worth it in the end for you. I have read fairly objective ones over the years and enjoyed them thoroughly though.
May 6th, 2009
Carl, the link isn’t working. Just out of curiosity which game is it?
May 6th, 2009
It is the console reviews. You can compare them on the right when you pull up one or the other console’s review.