The beta is live! If you're fortunate enough to have received a code, enter it below to register.
Please login with your existing username and password.
If you've met up with our crew at a recent event, then you've likely received a postcard with a personal beta code attached. That's your ticket in.
For those not so fortunate, every few weeks we send out a new batch of beta codes to a random selection of e-mail addresses from our list.
Enter your e-mail address below, and we’ll add you to the list.
We're looking for feedback, and want to reward you for your time.Simply provide your thoughts (positive or negative but please be constructive), and you'll have a chance to win a great video game prize pack, including a copy of the recently released Legends of WrestleMania for the Xbox 360.
Each piece of feedback will be reviewed by a member of our team, and the most insightful piece as voted on by our team will take home the prize pack. We'll start accepting submissions mid-June once the beta goes live.
The Squirrel Has Landed.
Introducing A New Way to Think About Games
With only a few clicks, discover some of the most detailed and informative statistics on your favorite games, publishers, developers, media outlets, and game critics.
Our beta period has begun, and we want to you be part of it.
If you've already received a beta code through our E3 program, pre-register using this code to the left and you'll be the first to check out a new dimension of game statistics. If you don't have a beta code but want to get in on the action, don't fret. Although the beta is by invitation only, we will be sending out batches of new beta codes to those interested during the second phase of the beta at the end of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Does the GameSquirrel Beta Go Live?
The preview beta is live right now. If you're among the fortunate few to have received a beta code, register using the code at the left and experience a new way to think about games.
Why is the GameSquirrel Beta Invitation Only?
There's a few reasons for this. We're still fine tuning our statistical algorithms, and thus we want to connect with the most qualified people to help us make these adjustments based on their feedback. As well, GameSquirrel offers extremely powerful analytical and personalization tools, and we wanted to ensure good performance across a small group of users before opening it up to the world.
What Sort of Statistics Can I Expect To Find?
GameSquirrel offers some of the most detailed statistical tools for comparing video games in the industry. Not only can you compare games, but also publishers, developers, media outlets, and even individual game critics across a variety of criteria. Apply filters such as genre, release date, and platform, or customize your results by adding and removing review sources. Plus, we use an extremely balanced averaging algorithm to eliminate errors in scoring systems across various publications.
How Do Your Averaging Algorithms Work?
Effectively, we don't use the actual score assigned to a game by a media outlet, only how it compares to all other games that outlet has reviewed. We then adjust these averages to consider an average score of 7.0. This significantly reduces the variation across scoring systems used in the many media publications?
How Does This Help The Average Gamer?
It'll help you discover new games that you may not have considered. By using a personalized profile, you're able to identify which critics and outlets you typically agree with, and make a good prediction of games you'll likely enjoy.
Why Isn't the Database Complete?
For the first few weeks of our beta, we're using a subset of our entire database to ensure good performance. We'll introduce the entire database by the end of June, with all newly released games and the automated database update enabled.
How Is the Database Updated?
Our database grows organically, we provide a list of media outlets we believe should be included and our search technology is able to retrieve that data and add it to the database. This means that whenever new reviews are posted across various media outlets, you'll find it here first. The automatic database update is disabled for the first few weeks of the beta until the entire database is published.
Are Beta Subscriptions Free? How About After The End of the Beta Period?
Beta subscriptions are completely free. We want to give you a chance to check out the website and give us your thoughts. After the official launch, we'll have three tiers of subscriptions, on the consumer level we'll offer a basic subscription at no charge, and GameSquirrel Plus which will provide the customization currently being previewed in the beta. As well, we'll offer GameSquirrel Pro, a subscription model intended for retailers, marketers, public relations, and sales staff, which includes a full reporting engine and analysis tools.
As a beta subscriber, not only do you get an exclusive early preview of the next generation of game statistics, you'll also get to experience our GameSquirrel Plus features on your complimentary subscription during the beta period. As well, we'll be offering a discount on subscriptions to our beta subscribers after full launch, as a special thank you for being part of the community. Keep in mind that we will always offer a free subscription tier as well.
When Will GameSquirrel Be Fully Released?
We're aiming for a mid-summer 2009 release, but to quote a handful of industry veterans, it's done when it's done. Our goal is to produce the best ranking system available to you, and if that means tweaking it to suit your needs, then we'll take the time and make it right.
