So easy mode/story mode/etc are not for reviewers. Are there anything game developers due specifically for reviewers to get a better score (barring trying to best game possible under time/monetary/technical restraints)?
Kind of. The marketing department will sometimes hold press junkets/events where we invite the press to play preview builds of our game and do other fun stuff - eat good food, participate in events and activities, meet celebrities and devs, etc. This isn't necessarily for a better review score since most of these events happen before the final builds of the game and are primarily for favorable preview coverage. That said, from the actual development side - no, we generally don't actually add special reviewer-favoring features in the game or anything.
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