After years of doling out reviews scored on gameplay, graphics, sound, value, and "tilt"--a summation of the overall game experience--GameSpot is changing its ways. Starting June 25--roughly a month after the site's 11th birthday--GameSpot will overhaul its rating system. "In our quest to make our reviews as straightforward and easy to understand...we've simplified the overall rating process," said editorial director Jeff Gerstmann.

　　As of next Monday, GameSpot will continue to rate games on a 1-to-10 scale. From then on, though, scores will be awarded solely in half-point increments (i.e. 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, etc.). The five aforementioned review components will be retired, although they will remain with reviews issued prior to June 25. In their place, GameSpot reviewers will award medals and demerits to each game based on said title's high points and shortcomings. The awards will come from a standardized pool akin to GameSpot Emblems, and will not be game-specific a la Xbox 360 Achievements. Examples of demerits include "Slideshow" for poor frame rate and the self-explanatory "Blatant In-Game Advertising."

　　For more on the new GameSpot review system, check out the Letter from the Editor on Jeff Gerstmann's blog.