Valve Shut Down Developer on Steam for Reviewing Its Own Games
Guardians of Ember, Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan and the rest of Insel Games’ catalogue have all been removed from sale on Steam. Although Steam users who already own these games will continue to have access, the developer won’t be making any new sales through the store.
Valve said that developer Insel Games was caught manipulating the review score for its games by creating many fake Steam accounts and posting positive reviews. This practice is not uncommon, but it’s nonetheless against Steam’s terms, hence the ban.
Valve was forced to investigate after a Reddit post first reported that Insel Games CEO asked employees to buy Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan – the studio’s most recent project – on Steam and write a Steam review in order to improve the game’s search rankings.
In an email – which you can see a screenshot of above – the studio’s CEO lightly threatened employees that they may lose their jobs if they do not comply. The CEO did offer to reimburse them for the expense, amusingly.
Wild Buster: Heroes of Titan was released in Steam Early Access in December last year. Wild Buster, and the studio’s previous game Guardians of Ember, are both isometric action RPGs. Wild Buster features more modern weaponry and mechanics, and doesn’t actually look half bad.
Both games can still be bought on the Humble Store (Wild Buster, Guardians of Ember), and you’ll be even sent a Steam key.
It’s not clear if Humble, which seems to be the only place (outside of the developer’s own store) to buy a Steam key at the time of writing, will too pull the games, though that’s unlikely given that it may already have a stock of Steam keys.
Insel Games is a studio based in Malta. Its other games include Trinium Wars, and World of Fishing, both of which were available on Steam.
Posted:
Related Forum: PC Gaming Forum
Source: https://www.vg247.com/2018/02/14/game-developer-games-removed-steam-manipulating-review-score/
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Comments
GhostPosted:
CraigTomDevil Making false reviews is why I don't trust most places, on Xbox it seems so much more legitimate. (Spelling errors, bad grammar etc)
I only read reviews from higher end companies like IGN. I usually never read the reviews off Steam or from the community.
I always find video reviews are best to go by, better to see what they mean rather than using imagination.
Creating a review is suppose to be there own opinion showing others pros & cons. Faking them is a **** move
CraigPosted:
TomDevil Making false reviews is why I don't trust most places, on Xbox it seems so much more legitimate. (Spelling errors, bad grammar etc)
I only read reviews from higher end companies like IGN. I usually never read the reviews off Steam or from the community.
I always find video reviews are best to go by, better to see what they mean rather than using imagination.
QTPosted:
TomDevil Making false reviews is why I don't trust most places, on Xbox it seems so much more legitimate. (Spelling errors, bad grammar etc)
I only read reviews from higher end companies like IGN. I usually never read the reviews off Steam or from the community.
On steam I usually look at he star rating. Just a quick glance and I start looking for gameplay of the game. But alot of people do look at the steam reviews and it could make people buy a game that is actually trash thinking it is good because it has good reviews.
TomPosted:
Devil Making false reviews is why I don't trust most places, on Xbox it seems so much more legitimate. (Spelling errors, bad grammar etc)
I only read reviews from higher end companies like IGN. I usually never read the reviews off Steam or from the community.
QTPosted:
MikeyMike That's kinda a silly reason to be shut down
How so lol, the guys a complete idiot, how is it even possible to review a game you have made? You cant give an honest opinion on the game if you made it, cuz of coruse your gonna big it up to get more hits. I just think this is dumb asf.
Exactly. If you start reviewing your own games you will have really high rated games but when people get it.. its really trash.. you see the problem??
GhostPosted:
Making false reviews is why I don't trust most places, on Xbox it seems so much more legitimate. (Spelling errors, bad grammar etc)
TOXICPosted:
Mike That's kinda a silly reason to be shut down
How so lol, the guys a complete idiot, how is it even possible to review a game you have made? You cant give an honest opinion on the game if you made it, cuz of coruse your gonna big it up to get more hits. I just think this is dumb asf.
TomPosted:
Craig Lmao. Now the CEO is crying in the car park. What a moron. Honestly.
Probably, although Ive personally never heard of these games. All his fault though.
ZydrinPosted:
What an idiot. Not like his games were any good. Such a stupid thing to do. I can't get people to review my game so I'll mass review it myself! Lmao.
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