Ugh, this discussion happens every time this topic comes up. There’s nothing about the phrase “review bombing” that implies the reviews are somehow illegitimate. It just means a large number of reviews in a short time.
Comment on Ori developer Moon Studios head warns it may have to shut down following review bombing [VGC]
HiDiddlyDoodlyHo@beehaw.org 5 weeks ago
That sounds less like review bombing and more like poorly received mechanics and broken promises. Am I missing something here?
Ulrich@feddit.org 5 weeks ago
Vodulas@beehaw.org 5 weeks ago
Ulrich@feddit.org 4 weeks ago
While it mentions malice in the first few words, I would argue many of their examples are not malicious, including the one given about the first known use of the phrase:
One of the first appearances of the term “review bomb” was in a 2008 Ars Technica article by Ben Kuchera describing the effect in regards to Spore, in which users left negative reviews on Amazon citing the game’s perceived lackluster gameplay and digital rights management system.
Vodulas@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
I would argue the first use was malicious and that it spawned even worse instances after. It is a known favorite tool of gamergaters and right wingers
Vodulas@beehaw.org 5 weeks ago
Right? “We made a mediocre game that doesn’t deliver on the promises we made. Pls give good review now”
That being said, I have not read the Steam reviews, but it could be that they are getting bombed, but the situation described in the article is just people not liking the game for valid reasons