VGProfessional Review Policy

Products received free of charge and promotional products:

Numerous companies (publishers or developers) and independent studios usually send the VGProfessional staff games or other products at no charge, so that they can give a preview or a full review on the site. This product can also be given after the request of an editor or usually the editor in chief of the website to the developer’s PR agency or internal marketing & PR department. The “Reviewed on …” label at the end of the article tells the reader how the version of that precise game review or previewed in the website was obtained. In some cases, a full retail version of the game can be purchased by the writer or website for this need and will be specified.

Gifts, press kits and other promotional items received by editors at events or in addition to review product are never reused for profit, nor influence the score of a title. They may however be offered to readers as part of the organization of contests on the site.

Embargo conditions:

VGProfessional.com’s writers submit to the embargo conditions of companies (publishers or developers) and independent studios when publishing written content and / or videos. However, the editors never give a complete, definitive opinion on a product after a limited session during an event organized for that occasion, or with a code of the game still in development (such as alpha, beta, early access, demo during press tour / shows, hands-off, etc.). A review scores is never shared with the publisher or developers before its release, but some key quotes could be shared ahead of the embargo for marketing collateral needs such as the publisher’s promotional accolade trailers and such.

Review scores:

VGProfessional uses a 60-point review scale, with each category being a 1-10 rating with 0,1 point intervals, and the final score is an average of all scores. Each of the 6 categories consist of what we believe is an important review factor, starting with the following:

• Concept: this is the overall idea or base of the game. Was the idea new? Or is it a sequel in a franchise? How much novelty was added to a sequel? Or how much originality is there in the game?
• Graphics: this is both the artistic direction of the game and technical level in term of graphical engine and performance.
• Sound: Music is as important as anything else in a game, but it’s also the voice acting and sound effects that take a part of this score.
• Playability: This is a score that comes from game mechanics, playability, user interface, but also if it’s a game too hard to beat or too easy to finish.
• Entertainment: Putting it simply, is this game fun? Or does it become boring after a while because of a lack of variety or routine actions?
• Replay Value: These are usually three different scores. 9 being the highest which is when a game has a lot of multiplayer options like PVP modes, followed by 7 which is if the game has a coop or a sort of multiplayer and simple online mode that extend its lifespan. The last score is 5 which is when the game is a rather one-use experience with no need to go back to it due to a lack of collectibles or other sort of leaderboard rating.

Reviews from the 9 and above mark also are considered VGProfessional’s editor choice (as per the image below), and are praised as some of the best titles in their generations. You can find more of those editor choice by clicking here.

Finally our publication is a proud member of review aggregator OpenCritic and upload our score without any alteration to the site instantly. We are one of four regional media outlets from the MENA region that are on the platform, and support OpenCritic’s beliefs  about transparency and aggregate all reviews and not just numerical ones, as well as a commitment to build an aggregation space that engage with the gaming community.

Edited and published on the 4th of March 2018.