This is something I'd like some clarification on. I've come across mentions of "review copies" of games quite a bit recently. So I'm wondering in particular about review copies of more recent disc-based games. Are these different from the final release, or are they the final release given early to companies, groups, etc?
They're usually final builds given to the press, though rarely you'll get review copies that actually have debug menus or beta content.
I used to review games for a magazine. Generally we'd have to review a late beta, so there were perhaps minor bugs that would be removed before release - maybe now with most people writing for websites they can review more complete versions. We had lead times of a month or two so to get a review out at the same time as the game we often had to put up with unfinished code. I had to review some terribly unfinished games in my time. I hated having to play alpha versions for the magazine - so many glitches and missing features.
I used to review videogames (late 6th generation). It was usually a retail game in retail packaging with a hole punched through the UPC. Atlus would give "white label" type discs in a cardboard sleeve. They didn't seem to be different from retail & I didn't get them early, so I really doubt they were any different from retail. I also didn't write for a videogame magazine... Virt, when were you writing reviews? Before 2004?
That's funny considering how much people treasure those things on this forum, me included. I'll echo blotter12's curiosity in what area you were writing reviews for.
It depends on the game really, but many, especially this generation, have been final versions that are debug signed. But I have found plenty of review copies with fun stuff in them, especially tools to help the reviewer
Yeah, from the mid-90s to early 2000s. The Alpha versions used to bug me because I'd spend days playing them only to find I couldn't finish them, or couldn't do everything I wanted because features hadn't been added yet - and then when the game was finally finished, my saves from the Alpha often wouldn't work! There are plenty of games I played lots of preview copies of, then never got round to playing properly as by the time they were finished I couldn't bear to play them any more. Tomb Raider's one example of that. I ran around so many half-finished rooms shooting glitchy monsters I never played the final game.
I don't write for a big publication, so all my review copies are just regular copies with special review-copy or 'promotional only' packaging. The 360 ones always have faded covers for some reason, and my PS3 ones that aren't just normal retail copies come in those stupid cases CD singles used to come in. Nintendo just send normal retail versions. Most often I just get a PSN/XBL/Steam code, though.
