EA filters Google Play ratings to give Dungeon Keeper good reviews

Posted on Tuesday, February 11 2014 @ 11:44 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
EA recently published a mobile version of Dungeon Keeper, a popular strategy game from 1997 that received a single sequel in 1999. While these two games offered lots of hours of good gameplay, the mobile version is such a steaming pile of turd that it should be avoided at all cost.

Even Peter Molyneux, the creator of the original Dungeon Keeper, called the game ridiculous due to its time consuming resource farming. 'I felt myself turning round saying "What? This is ridiculous. I just want to make a dungeon. I don't want to schedule it on my alarm clock for six days to come back for a block to be chipped,"' said Molyneux, talking to the BBC.

Despite the poor reviews from the game industry the game has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on the Google Play store. How is this possible? Well, EA uses a filtering method that gives users a menu with two options: a 5-star rating that takes you to the actual Google Play store or a 1-4 star rating that redirects you to a feedback screen that asks 'what would it take to make Dungeon Keeper a 5-star game?'. The latter menu only contains the options to e-mail EA or to skip the rating process.
Talking to Eurogamer, EA Mobile defended the system, claiming that it was designed to make it easier to send feedback to the company.

'We wanted to make it easier for more players to send us feedback directly from the game if they weren't having the best experience,' said an EA Mobile spokesperson. 'Players can always continue to leave any rating they want on the Google Play Store.'

Whilst it is true that users can leave whatever rating they want on the Google Play store, it does mean they have to say that they will leave a 5 star rating first and then change their mind when they get there.
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About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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