I was always a fan of Next Generation's five star scale (especially when they colored the rare five star rating red) before they went defunct and resurrected as Edge. The scale did not surive, I'm afraid.
 

I think I still have the premier issue of Next Generation around here somewhere. I think it was extolling the virtues of the upcoming Sega Saturn and Nintendo Ultra-64, with some hints and rumors about Sony's upcoming entry into the videogame arena.

Oh, yeah, and the GLINT chip for PCs that was going to revolutionize 3D graphics.

I didn't remember the review scale, but I always loved Next Generation magazine. It always seemed to assume that its readers were intelligent and discerning. I hate to think that this was the reason it failed, but who knows?
 

I hate all gaming review scales, especially mine ;).

Seriously though, I've run the arguments for and against different scales way too many times in my head. My biggest plus for a number scale is that it is marketing for the developer and can lead to more links to GameTunnel. For consumers a number scale is at best misleading and at worst an atrocity.

:)
 

Yeah, the argument keeps going 'round --- and while I don't like the labels, I really enjoy the three-level scale you now have.

You used to have a numerical rating IIRC (double-checking... yes! Void War, 8/10, and I didn't even have to bribe the reviewer!)... and I remember at first being kinda concerned about the loss of the ol' 10 point scale. But now I prefer it.

So what convinced you to go off of the 10-point scale?
 

The move away was done for a lot of reasons. Some good, some bad.
A partial list:
- The reviewers at GameTunnel come and go, getting consistency on a 10 point scale across games was very difficult. Sometimes with new reviewers I would trade emails over the score with me trying to move it up a point or down a point and the reviewer disagreeing. Is it the "reviewer's" score or the "website's" score on the review? (an interesting thought in light of Gamespotgate)
As the owner of the site I have to answer for reviews...so I think the website has to control the scores for consistency. Smaller scales are easier. I rarely discuss the scores given with reviewers anymore. (the down-side here is obvious)

- What is the difference between a 7 and an 8 and a 9 and a 10? I struggled with that question often as I tried to get consistency across the reviews. When I broke it down I came up with 3 levels that 'mattered' to me. Something that is suggested for me to get, something suggested for me to consider on my own and something that I shouldn't waste my time on. So for simplicity I went with Buy, Try, Pass.

- Developers don't like low review scores. We often would hand out a 6 or a 7 or an 8 and find the developer very upset and emailing me about it...as GT was the only place reviewing the game. I was tired of all the emails (and there were a LOT of them). I figured the 3 tier system wouldn't be as condemning (unfortunately it is also not as flattering ;).

It's not complete, but those are some of the main driving forces behind the change :).