EA Cheating To Get Five Star Reviews For Critically Panned Dungeon Keeper Mobile (Update)

Update: EA Mythic has responded to criticism of their review system from fans and gaming sites. Speaking to Gamasutra, they replied that they designed the internal "Rate This App" system into Dungeon Keeper Mobile to get better feedback on the game. They also claim that players can go through the Google Play Store itself to post reviews of any score that they would like.

Original Story Below:

EA’s hands were caught in the cookie jar again, so to speak, this time in relation to Dungeon Keeper Mobile. Amid criticisms of the game’s design, a Mythic dev lied about the five star reviews the game has been receiving – or rather, misrepresented how the game got those reviews.

To start, we have to actually look at a review of the game to discuss what’s wrong with it. We’ll look at Jim Sterling, a prominent game reviewer and pundit from the Escapist. Jim makes criticisms about how Dungeon Keeper Mobile has taken its free to pay model too far. Actions take too long to really enjoy if players attempt to play them for free, and the game constantly intrudes, even insults you via the game text, while it prods you for microtransactions. Furthermore, the game is a considerable shrinking of the scope and ambition of its original. The map is smaller, actions are linear, and battles are unenjoyably brief.

Now, EA Mythic’s Senior Producer Jeff Skalski came up to bat to defend the studio’s game. He states that he is a fan of the original, and that the team took the time to play the game. Jeff claims that the game has been designed to fit playing patterns of most mobile gamers. He promises that the game will be adapted to include more ways to acquire gems (thus far only available via microtransaction) and that they do and will continue to listen to feedback.

However, he also said something that was revealed to be a barefaced lie. In addressing a question about criticism, he confirms that the company is aware of what game reviewers say, but he props up the five star reviews from fans as proof that some people like it.

What Jeff does not say, but has been corroborated by other sources, is that the game cheated to get those five star scores. Specifically, it asks for a review before you make your first in-app purchase. If you try to rate it four or below, it won’t accept the score and will direct you to the feedback page.