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Valve making steps to address 'off-topic review bombs' on Steam

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In a blog post today, Valve announced a pretty simple change to the way Steam games get a review score, to help with review bombing.

What is Review Bombing? To put it simply, tons of users going to a Steam page and leaving a negative review that's not always to do with the actual game in question. It's been something of a hot topic, since it became a tool for users to show their feelings about various things, most of the time something directed at the developer or publisher.

A recent example, would be how the Metro games on Steam got waves of negative reviews when Metro Exodus was announced as a timed-exclusive on the Epic Store.

So what are Valve doing? Well, they're going to remove what they say are 'off-topic review bombs' from the overall review score for that time period. However, the reviews themselves will still be left up for all to read and users on Steam can actually opt out of this removal system to continue seeing a review bomb as normal.

In a two question Q&A at the end of the blog post, Valve also mentioned a flaw in the system being that any review made during this period will no longer count if you leave this system turned on, which presumably means positive reviews too.

Valve did say they're working on "some other features around User Reviews" but they wanted to get this out as they thought it was "worth shipping by itself".

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam, Valve
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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Corben Mar 15, 2019
This is definitely needed. Atm Beat Saber is being review bombed, because the mods broke with yesterday's update and people can't dowload songs for free and complain about having to pay for songs. m( (that's the facepalm smiley)

1. they could easily downgrade
2. mods will be upgraded
3. song creators want to be paid for their work

Those negative reviews aren't helpful at all... mods are modding the current code, of course they don't work with a different/updated code. Also, those mods are inofficial. And the game is still in early access, so updates are expected... oh man :-/
Segata Sanshiro Mar 15, 2019
I definitely have mixed feelings on the whole review bombing thing.

On the one hand, a bunch of entitled and over-excited little kids (or grown men who behave as such) going on some crusade because their favorite Youtuber told them to really doesn't help anyone. There's games that have years of work put into them and get absolutely panned for no reason. There's often no second chances and with smaller companies it can ruin them.

On the other hand, it's pretty clear to some of the big developers and publishers that they can't get away with some of the abhorrent business practices that they have been able to in the past. In these cases it's often companies throwing their toys out of the pram because they can't get away with carving-out content and charging for it later or pay-to-win nonsense or just making crappy generic games for a quick buck. It's no coincidence that the Epic Store et. al. don't have reviews. How pro-consumer.
Koopacabras Mar 16, 2019
and what about this?? is valve going to throw complaints of DRM, and lock-ins down the carpet??

I don't consider DRM complaints as a review-bomb, especially on linux, since that makes games unplayable, (Denuvo, anti-Cheat system lock-ins. etc)




Last edited by Koopacabras on 16 March 2019 at 1:45 am UTC
Koopacabras Mar 16, 2019
DRM is the worst thing about Valve, I like Valve and their efforts on pushing linux gaming, I will keep on using it, but will keep complaining about DRM and lock-ins, because it's matter of property and a unfair system that wants to turn players into slave pets of the developers. My game, my binary I do whatever I please.

I comes to my mind the case of Shadow of war and micro-transactions, it was review-bombed because of that and developers decided to remove that "feature", not only that, but now the devs also removed Denuvo and the game is now playable on linux (w/dxvk). So no review bomb there, legit complaints about something morally arguable done by the devs. And you what? the review system worked just fine!


Last edited by Koopacabras on 16 March 2019 at 2:19 am UTC
Purple Library Guy Mar 16, 2019
The approach seems like a pretty fair compromise. The reviews don't disappear, nothing's being censored. And, if you're the kind of person who thinks review bombing is often justified/relevant, you can turn the feature off.
Schattenspiegel Mar 16, 2019
So if a game is buggy on release and immediately gets "review bombed" for it, you will not see any score at all for that time period? - Well, I guess no press is better than bad press... . On the other hand one wonders why publishers/developers complain about lack of exposure constantly then... . Or maybe creators/publishers of consumer content should try to not constantly find new ways to anger their customers.

I think the business looks at the reviews the wrong way. They are indicators that something is wrong with the product and needs to be changed. Hiding the reviews/scores does not help solve this problem.


Last edited by Schattenspiegel on 16 March 2019 at 5:14 am UTC
doomiebaby Mar 16, 2019
Quoting: Purple Library GuyThe approach seems like a pretty fair compromise. The reviews don't disappear, nothing's being censored. And, if you're the kind of person who thinks review bombing is often justified/relevant, you can turn the feature off.

Yeh, I do think it's a mix, but it does seem to be the most fair attempt at a hands-off compromise I've seen thus far from anyone with half the investment, influence and control of valve. I actually think a better solution would be to consider this notion of "topic" more thoroughly, and work to make their system reflect legitimate consumer concerns. Since Steam hasn't even had a big problem with joke reviews, but gave users the option to mark them as such; "helpful", "unhelpful", "funny". I really liked the ability to mark them as "funny" ..what a great way to let a community be natural.

I think something as simple as labeling and sorting reviews would be best, and maybe less biased as pertains to importance. A 10 point system in categories could help a meta score as well, for things like graphics, sound, install experience, level of support from the dev- and most controversial of all, but should not be hidden by default: ethics. why not? Then you could have a metascore for gameplay AND consumer experience. But I don't make millions selling "privileges" to play games, so what do I know? *le shrug* :P''
Gobo Mar 16, 2019
Keep in mind that you can opt out of that blind spot!

I like that a lot, but with time it could turn the whole feature useless. The same riot starters that rally the masses to review bomb a title will simply add the request to change this option in the settings. The more people see review bombs again, the more "victims" will complain.

What will Valve do at that point? Turn off the whole thing or just take away the opt out? Which side will they take, being a developer and publisher themselves?

And IMO the timing of this announcement and the recent Artifact news is noteworthy.
Mal Mar 16, 2019
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A sad day for consumers.
Doc Angelo Mar 16, 2019
Quoting: MalA sad day for consumers.

Huh? Why?
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