paying for reviewer attendance

The problem of paying for reviewer attendance to events by hosts is a constantly hot topic, in games especially, it seems. Capcom are the latest to throw light onto the subject, hosting an event in Hawaii and paying for some to attend. This is such an irritating practice, because the skeptic in me will always think the reviewer is communicating something entirely separate from their review score when they're reviewing. A low score says nothing about the game, but instead that even if someone else is paying, they haven't been bought. A good score says either "I've been influenced by this awesome trip, and I'm giving a good review so the freebies keep coming" or "This was a great game, buy it!", making the score completely untrustworthy!

As a (relatively) normal person, I don't see why games companies have these events. I mean sure, a great willy-wave is fitting every now and again (especially when you're knocking out an awesome game soon) but you're making it impossible for reviewers to effectively communicate to their audience. You're subsequently breaking the review process and cheapening your release!

I, therefore, propose that if a company has a game to review they send a copy to the reviewer and have them review it in the way they would normally play a video game (if you're from Hawaii, and you usually play on a beach with hula girls and piña coladas, lucky you! (nationalist stereotyping aside)). Using this method removes peer and corporate pressure, as well as the temptation to be greedy from the review process. If you're a reviewer, either pay for your own ticket and disclose that even though this could've been a subsidised event, you've integrity. Your review will serve your audience much better!

Thanks.