Critic Taxes and Rebates: Predicting Video Game Review Scores
Podcast Episode ยท Blowing Cartridges ยท 02/02/2026 ยท 2h 2m
On our latest episode we were joined by @jon32.bsky.social from the @hypefactor.bsky.social to talk all about critic taxes and rebates. Do indie games receive a 'tax' against their aggregate review score? Do AAA games automatically receive a rebate? Tune in to hear our thoughts!
#fantasycritic
02.02.2026 11:13 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 2
YouTube video by iDrewby
Blonde Blazer or Invisigal? - Dispatch Spoilercast w/ Zach
Thanks @idrewby.bsky.social for having me on to chat about #Dispatch
youtu.be/1YT3c9BLjGk?...
02.02.2026 01:37 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
22.01.2026 13:32 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
What this doesn't show is the dozens of games with 1 hour playtime or less....
13.01.2026 22:42 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
I wonder what happened in June...
13.01.2026 22:40 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
11.12.2025 13:54 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
I like puppets even when they don't use their puppet! @arlostuff.bsky.social
05.12.2025 10:00 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
@hypefactor.bsky.social Hey guys - big fan of the show.
Question for next episode - what is your preferred way of sorting out draft order? Random? Inverse of rankings last year? Some other method?
30.11.2025 02:55 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
What a finish
21.11.2025 12:32 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Kirby Air Ride was my first Kirby game
I remember buying it despite seeing scathing reviews in magazines
I admit when I tried Air Ride mode, I also wasn't a big fan
But City Trial captured me and my friends for dozens maybe even hundreds of hours
To see it back in such a grand way is incredible
20.11.2025 01:29 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Ahhh the Japanese RPG has always been celebrated for its excellence. There is a French RPG by Sandfall inspired by that same Japanese excellence...
18.11.2025 00:07 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
My wife walks in on me playing Kirby Air Riders - she isn't that knowledgeable about games. Her comments.
"Wow it is like Mario Kart but... Unhinged"
"Reminds me a lot of Smash Bros"
Needless to say I was impressed by how keen her eye is.
15.11.2025 12:11 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Calling it now, Mario and Luigi go here to find a spaceship because of the whole pyramids made by aliens thing
14.11.2025 22:04 โ ๐ 2 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
The other alternative of course, is they increase their development teams significantly - but that poses a material risk of losing control of the quality of the output or (as weird as this may sound) putting out too many games.
30.10.2025 14:05 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
And quite frankly - I am ok with this. The reality is games are taking longer to make, and I don't want teams stuck cycling between the big IP and limit the resource available for new ideas or revisiting smaller IP.
30.10.2025 14:02 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
To be clear, I am not suggesting we won't get a new AC or Pikmin 5 in the Switch generation - but I do think they know they can't pump them out as quickly as they want (and need) to keep the brands active - so they are achieving that in part with these updates. Basically the MK8DX model
30.10.2025 13:59 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
The ACNH & Pikmin 4 updates I feel really spell out the Nintendo approach going forward I feel. By giving out these updates, it will help keep these franchises relevant, while allowing development resources to go to other projects.
30.10.2025 13:56 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
@klobrille.bsky.social @klobrille.bsky.social any chance you would be open to being a guest on my podcast, Blowing Cartridges to talk about the history and future of Xbox.
28.10.2025 21:18 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Well this is awkward
16.10.2025 13:00 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Wrasslin time
15.10.2025 08:29 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
So #paxaus2025 is done, and I have to say it felt like it may have been the best one since the pandemic.
Lines felt well managed, merch well stocked, plenty of games to see and play, and some really fantastic panels.
12.10.2025 22:50 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
If you see me at #PAXAUS say hi!
09.10.2025 20:54 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Ooofff and the set is only around for a month...
29.09.2025 20:38 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Request sent
19.09.2025 11:26 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Gonna be honest... They had me at Virtual Boy
12.09.2025 14:40 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Soon
11.09.2025 11:26 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
YouTube video by RetroArchive
King Boo - A Night at Boo's Opera (Song Level) | Super Mario Bros. Wonder
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JFB...
07.09.2025 23:25 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
@brentalfloss.bsky.social I just want to say I rediscovered "What if CD had G Rated Lyrics?" To listen to in the car with my daughter, and it will now be part of our regular rotation.
But also man the Corey song really unlocks some core memories from a time gone bye...
07.09.2025 08:21 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
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