Uploaded April 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A statistical exploration of Nintendo 64 review score variations between IGN and Gamespot across a number of categories. I present an argument (along with statistical evidence) that there are fundamental differences in review philosophies between the two outlets.
Includes both a general analysis of review statistics and a close look at six specific games with massive differences in review scores. Also uses aggregated review score data from Game Rankings to complement the analysis.
Notes:
I had originally wanted to describe this as an analysis of bias in IGN and Gamespot reviews, but the scope of the study is more of an analysis of fundamental review philosophies (e.g. strict versus generous). A forthcoming analysis will make an attempt at measuring bias in game reviews (and has a dataset of nearly 9,000 games across 5 generations — much more robust).
This Nintendo 64 review dataset compiled by publicly available review scores on IGN, Gamespot, and Game Rankings websites. Additional information (genre, publisher, etc.) compiled from a variety of sources (e.g. Wikipedia).
The Nintendo 64 had 296 officially released games in the USA. However, only 256 of those games had review scores available from both IGN and Gamespot.
References
Bomber man 64 (Hawelo92) youtube.com/watch?v=Brcn_1urTY8
Music:
"Delightful D" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
"Voltaic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
"How it Begins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
A statistical exploration of Nintendo 64 review score variations between IGN and Gamespot across a number of categories. I present an argument (along with statistical evidence) that there are fundamental differences in review philosophies between the two outlets.
Includes both a general analysis of review statistics and a close look at six specific games with massive differences in review scores. Also uses aggregated review score data from Game Rankings to complement the analysis.
Notes:
I had originally wanted to describe this as an analysis of bias in IGN and Gamespot reviews, but the scope of the study is more of an analysis of fundamental review philosophies (e.g. strict versus generous). A forthcoming analysis will make an attempt at measuring bias in game reviews (and has a dataset of nearly 9,000 games across 5 generations — much more robust).
This Nintendo 64 review dataset compiled by publicly available review scores on IGN, Gamespot, and Game Rankings websites. Additional information (genre, publisher, etc.) compiled from a variety of sources (e.g. Wikipedia).
The Nintendo 64 had 296 officially released games in the USA. However, only 256 of those games had review scores available from both IGN and Gamespot.
References
Bomber man 64 (Hawelo92) youtube.com/watch?v=Brcn_1urTY8
Music:
"Delightful D" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
"Voltaic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
"How it Begins" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
