Does an ENWorld poll correlate to the Amazon rating?

[der_kluge]

I was noticing today that the Amazon average review for the PHB is a 3-star review. But what I found more interesting were the large number of 1-star and 5-star reviews. Actually, slightly more 1-star than 5-star, but basically the same.

See for yourself.

I thought it might be interesting to create a similar rating here. I'd like to see if these match, or if Amazon reviewers are more one-sided over another.

So, here's the poll. Rate the 4th Edition PHB.

I don't need any editorial comments, though you can give them if you like. Just keep it civil.

 

[Mark]

Actually, slightly more 1-star than 5-star, but basically the same.

I find that system to be odd, at the least, but if your paycheck were reduced by the same percentage as the difference between one star and five star reviews on Amazon, would you call your income "basically the same?"

 

[doctorhook]

I find that system to be odd, at the least, but if your paycheck were reduced by the same percentage as the difference between one star and five star reviews on Amazon, would you call your income "basically the same?"

Well, opinion polls always fluctuate based upon who's taken an opportunity to respond.

...Your paycheck probably shouldn't.

 

[Mark]

Well, opinion polls always fluctuate based upon who's taken an opportunity to respond.

...Your paycheck probably shouldn't.

It kinda does for small business owners.

 

[ppaladin123]

Well, opinion polls always fluctuate based upon who's taken an opportunity to respond.

...Your paycheck probably shouldn't.

And that is exactly why there are so many 5-star and 1-star ratings. People with strong emotional responses to a product, whether positive or negative, are more likely to take the time to review that product.

 

[Nifft]

Heh, right now EN World looks a lot like the Amazon chart, but with some moderation and second-guessing. We've got a huge clump of "4" votes and another spike in "2" votes.

We're just like them, but more moderate in our extremism.

Cheers, -- N

 

[jdrakeh]

People with strong emotional responses to a product, whether positive or negative, are more likely to take the time to review that product.

Except that many Amazon 'reviews' don't actually review products, they just offer up the unsolicited 'wisdom' of a given poster who, in some cases, hasn't read or even thumbed through the product that they are 'reviewing'. A lot of the extremeist 'reviews' (i.e., 1-Star and 5-Star reviews) on Amazon are worthless insofar as objective evaluation of a product is concerned.

 

[der_kluge]

Heh, right now EN World looks a lot like the Amazon chart, but with some moderation and second-guessing. We've got a huge clump of "4" votes and another spike in "2" votes.

We're just like them, but more moderate in our extremism.

Cheers, -- N

I noticed that as well. But here, at least, it seems to be trending towards more favorable. I guess I should expect that - all the people here love the hobby enough to seek out a D&D-themed messageboard. Amazon strikes me as a more "population-at-large" audience.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I noticed that as well. But here, at least, it seems to be trending towards more favorable. I guess I should expect that - all the people here love the hobby enough to seek out a D&D-themed messageboard. Amazon strikes me as a more "population-at-large" audience.

I don't know - who would bother rating a RPG product if not an RPG player?
Jack Chick?

 

[FalcWP]

I noticed that as well. But here, at least, it seems to be trending towards more favorable. I guess I should expect that - all the people here love the hobby enough to seek out a D&D-themed messageboard. Amazon strikes me as a more "population-at-large" audience.

Amazon may have a broad market, but I wouldn't expect there to be a significant number of people who aren't interested in D&D reviewing the PHB. Unless they're really, really bored.

I'm also not surprised that the response here is more 4s and 2s than 5s and 1s, for a couple reasons. As mentioned, people who go review a product (on any site, and any product, not just D&D books on Amazon) tend to have something they want to say, which is generally highly positive or highly negative - more often negative, in my experience. Otherwise, why bother.

Second, a lot of the people here have not only read the PHB, but they've been exposed to numerous discussions and viewpoints about it. For a lot of people, I think this means that, even if you're pretty solidly on one side of the fence, you might lean a little bit to the other side, enough to temper your rating to a 4 or a 2. You may love the product, but people have pointed out enough shortcomings that you can't give it a 5, or you may hate it, but you've seen enough useful bits that you won't give it a 1.