TGV previously reported that Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, the highly anticipated PSP title from Hideo Kojima, got the rare 40/40 score from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu. Now it seems this score possibly can’t be trusted.
After the score was announced, Kotaku‘s editor in Japan, Brian Ashcraft, reported that Famitsu may have a conflict of interest. Not only do they appear in the game’s in-game advertising, the president of Famitsu’s publishing company, and former editor of Famitsu, appear in magazine ads and on the website of the game. The review mentions nothing about this conflict of interest.
Further complications surfaced today, when both Konami and Famitsu contacted Kotaku Japan (who are owned by a different company, but republished the article in Japanese), disapproving of it. Konami also uninvited them from a press event about Peace Walker. Not a very professional reaction, in my opinion.
Not surprising in the slightest. Famitsu has been pumping out 40/40s far more regularly than they used to… if that’s not influenced by outside sources, I’ll eat my hat.
Crap magazine anyway.
@Michael O’Connor, Kotaku…. Or Famitsu?
<.<
@Herman S. Lilleng, Whoops. I meant Famitsu. =P *edits*
@Michael O’Connor I was going to write exactly that just after reading the title.
It seems like Famitsu’s been throwing 40/40′s around like candy lately.
This is what we call “Fellating Kojima.”
I guess Edge is the only gaming publication with any integrity left.
@Jens Erik Vaaler, GamesTM is also a great publication. Check it out.