Seven Scoring Criteria
Every game on CPD648 is scored on seven criteria, each rated 0 to 10. The final score is a weighted average.
| Criterion | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | 22% | Combat feel, decision density, mechanical depth |
| World & Design | 15% | Art direction, level design, atmosphere |
| Progression | 15% | Leveling pace, endgame depth, build expression |
| Monetisation | 18% | Cash shop pressure, gacha rates, fairness |
| Social Systems | 10% | Guilds, parties, community moderation |
| Performance | 10% | Frame rate, stability, platform parity |
| Update Support | 10% | Patch cadence, expansion quality, communication |
Score cap: if a game’s monetisation crosses our editorial line – hard pay-to-win, predatory gacha or locked progression – the final score is capped at 7 regardless of the weighted total. This is a deliberate constraint that protects readers from misleading recommendations.
The Six-Step Review Process
- Initial play: 30 hours minimum hands-on. Long-term MMOs get 80-150 hours of coverage.
- Draft and self-score: Reviewer scores each criterion with written justification.
- Peer review: A second team member who has played the game checks the draft.
- Copy edit: Our copy editor passes for clarity, structure and house style.
- Disclosure check: Free keys, affiliate links and prior coverage relationships are flagged.
- Publication and follow-up: Review goes live; a reminder is set for the next major patch.
Conflict of Interest and Disclosure
CPD648 reviewers disclose:
- Any review key, beta access or platform access received from a publisher.
- Any prior employment, contract or freelance relationship with the publisher within the past 36 months.
- Any direct financial interest in the publisher (stockholding, family relationship, partnership).
If a conflict cannot be eliminated through disclosure, we hand the review off to a different team member. We have done this five times since 2018 and we will do it every time it becomes necessary.
Affiliate Revenue Policy
Some outbound links to game storefronts are affiliate links. CPD648 earns a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. The price you pay is identical with or without the affiliate link.
Affiliate links are added after a review is locked. The reviewer does not know which links will be affiliate-tagged at the time they assign a score. This is a deliberate firewall between editorial and revenue.
We never carry affiliate links to keysite resellers, account-resale marketplaces, gold-buying services or boosting services – regardless of the commission rate.
Revisions and Re-Scoring
Online games change. We re-score a review whenever:
- A major expansion launches.
- Monetisation mechanics shift meaningfully (new cash shop tier, removed gacha pity, new pay-to-progress system).
- Server consolidations or shutdowns change the experience.
- A persistent technical issue is resolved or introduced.
Each revision is dated at the top of the review with a one-paragraph note explaining what changed. We never silently overwrite an old verdict.
Corrections Policy
If you spot a factual error in a CPD648 review, email corrections @ cpd648 . com. We respond within 72 hours, update the page within the same window and add a dated correction note to the revision log.
For our broader player-welfare position, see the disclaimer on monetisation and in-game spending on the Disclaimer page.
Editorial Standards – FAQs
Quick answers about this title, system requirements, payment models and where it stands in 2026.
Why is monetisation weighted so heavily?
Because monetisation pressure determines whether a game is fun on day 200 as well as day 2. We weight it at 18% – the second-largest single weight after gameplay – and apply a score cap when it crosses the line.
Why cap scores instead of just weighting harder?
A score cap is a clearer signal to readers. “Capped at 7 due to monetisation” tells you something a weighted average cannot communicate as clearly.
How are reviewers paid?
CPD648 contributors are paid a flat per-review fee out of affiliate revenue, plus annual editorial bonuses. No reviewer’s pay is tied to the score they assign or to any specific affiliate link’s performance.
Can publishers buy a higher score?
No. We have never accepted payment, free in-game currency or paid trips in exchange for a score. We have turned down several offers over the years.
How often do you update your editorial standards?
When our process or scoring changes, we update this page and announce the change in the home page footer for 30 days.
More Editorial Standards Coverage
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