CA loves it some Metacritic

[TinCow]

I suppose I assumed that the Metacritic-focused-development bit discussed in the article was implemented after NTW but before TWS2, with implications then about how TWS2 was such a significant improvement. However, that really was an unfounded assumption. If they've been using the same development strategy for games prior to TWS2, it's utility is somewhat more questionable. I suppose I'll actually have to go listen to that whole interview now...

[econ21]

I suppose I assumed that the Metacritic-focused-development bit discussed in the article was implemented after NTW but before TWS2, with implications then about how TWS2 was such a significant improvement. However, that really was an unfounded assumption.

I am not sure about that. NTW was quite a polished product, certainly in comparison to ETW. The battle AI was pretty good and the campaign AI gave me a good dance. It was also rather pared down in features and scope compared to the absurdly ambitious ETW. In many ways I think it shares some of the virtues of STW2. Now, if you are talking about the Metacritic focused developmend applying to ETW and earlier, I would agree it would be more questionable.

Strangely, I find I have clocked up vastly more hours on the ambitious but buggy ETW than the more restricted but polished NTW and STW2. ETW, like RTW and MTW2, just has that amazing scale and freedom. It has also been patched to be quite servicable now.

[easytarget]

Game design decisions driven by metacritic makes me laugh. Cause and effect are reversed.

[edyzmedieval]

NTW is a much more polished and presented in a tight and efficient package, that's why it's much better than ETW. It lacks the scale of it though, but S2TW had a good influence I believe and hopefully the good Metacritic scores will guide them well.

[easytarget]

Yeah, and if they really want to take it to the next level, they can go smart mob on it and let us make all their design decisions for them.

[Tsavong]

I doubt it is just CA who aims high on Metacritic I would expect it is every big publisher / developer if that is right or wrong way to go about making games I do not know but I guess we will have to live with it or stop game reviewers giving games a random number to indicate how much they liked it.