This idea sprouted out of the EGS thread, and I thought it was a good enough topic to continue discussing elsewhere. How do you feel about free review keys, and do you believe that getting a game for free influences your overall opinion on said review?
I used to get lots of review keys for casual games a few years ago, and I noticed that even for the games I didn't care so much for, I was tempted to review them more favorably than not just because somewhere in the back of my head I felt that it was owed to them in payment for the free game. Once I realized that was something I was continually fighting against, I stopped taking the keys.
I do get review keys for my two Steam curation lists, and the ability to refuse or accept them has helped me stay more impartial towards a game. I dunno. It almost feels like just having Valve in between me and the dev makes it easier for me to be more objective about the games. If someone wants to send a key, fine. If they don't, it's no sweat off my back. I'll just buy the game myself and review it if I feel the need.
What are your thoughts? Where do you post reviews? Steam? Your own blog? Elsewhere? Also, feel free to post a link to your reviews here, if you'd like.
I used to get lots of review keys for casual games a few years ago, and I noticed that even for the games I didn't care so much for, I was tempted to review them more favorably than not just because somewhere in the back of my head I felt that it was owed to them in payment for the free game. Once I realized that was something I was continually fighting against, I stopped taking the keys.
I do get review keys for my two Steam curation lists, and the ability to refuse or accept them has helped me stay more impartial towards a game. I dunno. It almost feels like just having Valve in between me and the dev makes it easier for me to be more objective about the games. If someone wants to send a key, fine. If they don't, it's no sweat off my back. I'll just buy the game myself and review it if I feel the need.
What are your thoughts? Where do you post reviews? Steam? Your own blog? Elsewhere? Also, feel free to post a link to your reviews here, if you'd like.