With more than 250 five star ratings currently on the US App Store, PocketGamer.biz has received word that someone may be manipulating user reviews of Zynga's CastleVille Legends.
A contact working in the industry who wished to remain anonymous alerted us to claims that the majority of the game's five star reviews have been posted by users who have only ever reviewed Zynga games, or have made CastleVille Legends their debut review.
Indeed, on inspection, it appears that assessment has merit.
Of the five star reviews we looked through, a large number although not all have been made by users whose history is dominated by Zynga games, or who have never reviewed a game before.
Get to the numbers
Of the more than 50 user reviews added to CastleVille Legends' for iPhone page on the US App Store today Thursday 19 September almost 90 percent give the game a five star rating.
Of those five star ratings, around 40 percent were made by users who have only ever reviewed Zynga games, or for who Zynga games make up the vast majority of their reviews.
That's in no way a conclusive share given the way Zynga cross-promotes its games, there's every chance a large portion of its fanbase will have a prevalence for its games.
However, switching to the most favourable reviews does bring up a new of five star ratings from accounts such as the one captured below.
Interestingly, in the UK, the iPhone version of CastleVille Legends has only received two users reviews to date one five star review and a one star review, neither of which by a Zynga dominated reviewer.
Equally interesting is the fact that, despite said mass of positive ratings, CastleVille Legends hasn't yet cracked the US top grossing chart on iPhone. The game is #15 on the top free chart, however.
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Related Articles
News
Jun 9th, 2024
PocketGamer.biz Podcast Week in Mobile Games E15 - Star Wars: Hunters finally launches, the West's MOBA problem, and Xbox handheld rumours
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
Feature
Jun 7th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from RPG roguelikes to a Star Wars surprise
Top Stories
News
Jun 9th, 2024
PocketGamer.biz Podcast Week in Mobile Games E15 - Star Wars: Hunters finally launches, the West's MOBA problem, and Xbox handheld rumours
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Week in Views - The hunt for the new Star Wars game, Xbox goes handheld, and cats versus monsters…
News
Jun 7th, 2024
Metacore's Teppo Soininen: “Anybody who has put a game into soft launch knows there’s still plenty of space for f*ck ups.”
Events
Tribeca Games Festival 2024 | North America | Jun 5th |
Steam Next Fest: June 2024 Edition | Jun 10th | |
GamesForum Hamburg 2024 | Europe | Jun 11th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
ESI London 2024 | Europe | Jun 13th |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Game Con Canada (GCC) 2024 | North America | Jun 14th |
Indie Dev Play 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |