Amidst recent games industry controversy (i.e. #GamerGate, NotYourShield, and the like), one would think that many game publishers and developers would attempt to put a definite end to underhanded business practices, or, at the very least, try to keep them out of the limelight.
Unfortunately, that is not yet the case, and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment/Monolith Productions’ upcoming Lord of the Rings-inspired game, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is not exempt from the proverbial hands of corporate business, as revealed by prominent gaming YouTube personality, TotalBiscuit, on Twitter.
Read more details after the break.
Shadow of Mordor Review Code Deal
According to TotalBiscuit, review code copies of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor were only being given to reviewers if they accepted a paid branding deal. He was offered the very same deal, and subsequently turned it down.
TotalBiscuit posted the following on his Twitter in regards to the situation:
“As an FYI, Shadow of Mordor on PC was given out early to a bunch of YouTube channels for brand deals. Expect lots of content on launch.”
See the rest of TotalBiscuit’s Shadow of Mordor tweets below:
I very much disapprove of this practice and hope it doesn't become commonplace. The mixed messages regarding review copies are troubling.
— TotalBiscuit (@Totalbiscuit) September 28, 2014
The message we got was "we can give you prerelease code but only if you do this paid brand deal". We refused, naturally.
— TotalBiscuit (@Totalbiscuit) September 28, 2014
Bear in mind however it could simply be a breakdown in communication. I have no idea, it was frustrating however.
— TotalBiscuit (@Totalbiscuit) September 28, 2014
Fortunately, TotalBiscuit was able to procure a copy of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor through other means, he said:
“Anyway, thankfully we have other people willing to help so we got it [Shadow of Mordor] with no strings attached. Please, no more of this nonsense, PR firms.”
Essentially, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor review code was, supposedly, only being released to YouTube reviewers in return for paid branding on their respective YouTube channel.
While not inherently malicious in practice, reviewers accepting Shadow of Mordor‘s brand deal aren’t really receiving any benefits from the agreement.
However, associating review copies of games with any form of advertising makes it hard for individuals reading or watching reviews of a particular game to believe that the actual review is unbiased. This practice invites the assumption that the reviewer was paid to give the game (whatever it may be, Shadow of Mordor in this case) a positive review.
As TotalBiscuit said, the entire fiasco may simply be a communication breakdown. Yet, even the possibility of such a deal is disheartening to gamers, to say the least.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is set to release on September 30th, 2014 for XBO, PS4, and PC.
The last-generation versions of the game were originally set to release alongside the PS4, Xbox One, and PC versions of Shadow of Mordor, however, the game is now slated to release for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 18th in the United States, and November 21st in Europe.
What are your thoughts on this situation? What do you think of Shadow of Mordor‘s paid brand deal? What about TotalBiscuit’s response?
Let us know in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to GamerHeadlines.com for the latest in video game and technology news.
Source: TotalBiscuit’s Twitter
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