Encouraging folks to do more reviews

Crothian · Jun 2, 2005

Well, reviews haven't been removed for years, so that problem is well in the past.

diaglo · Jun 2, 2005

Crothian said:
Well, reviews haven't been removed for years, so that problem is well in the past.

some of us have long memories...

diaglo "what was i saying" Ooi

Jdvn1 · Jun 2, 2005

RangerWickett said:
From my own recent work, there aren't any official reviews on either Chainmail Biknis or Lyceian Arcana.

I finished a review for Chainmail Bikini very recently -- I'll put it up today or tomorrow, depending on when I have time. I have to tell them to put the product up through the Meta forum, right?

While we're on the topic, if publishers want a review, send me a pdf. I might not get to it right away (I feel guilty because this first one took so long), but talk to me and I'll probably be interested in reviewing a product.

Crothian · Jun 2, 2005

diaglo said:
some of us have long memories...

I understand that, I'm just saying its been a while and things change.....

diaglo · Jun 2, 2005

Crothian said:
I understand that, I'm just saying its been a while and things change.....

in this case you have me saying more change. i like the changes made but still more is needed

RangerWickett · Jun 2, 2005

I was unaware that people's reviews were ever deleted, except in rare cases when the reviews were outright inflammatory or pointlessly short. If it's happened lately, I haven't heard about it. I would hope such problems would not go un-bi***ed about.

Well, would anyone here be interested in receiving a complimentary copy of Elements of Magic - Revised Edition and Elements of Magic - Lyceian Arcana, in exchange for reviews? Preferably someone who hasn't reviewed E.N. Pub materials before, just so I can spread the freebies around and get some diverse exposure.

If you're interested, post here and fire an email to me at RangerWickett@hotmail.com.

I wonder if we could get Russ to set up some sort of Reviewer Rewards program. Like, anyone who posts at least one review a month gets a free Community Supporter account for a year. How would that sound?

philreed · Jun 2, 2005

The problem I have with sending out comps is that it's reached the point where I have to send 5 comps to get 1 review. Many people that request to review something never write the review.

Crothian · Jun 2, 2005

diaglo said:
in this case you have me saying more change. i like the changes made but still more is needed

Like what? Now the only reviews that get deleted are the ones that are not up to par. We request them to be revamped by the reviewer first, but frankly I haven't seen any that needed revamped in quite a while.

As for the responses, there is nothing that can be done to generate them. Either people do or they don't. But you should not be writing reviews expecting respones.

Those are the two complaints that you have voiced, what else you got?

Crothian · Jun 2, 2005

philreed said:
The problem I have with sending out comps is that it's reached the point where I have to send 5 comps to get 1 review. Many people that request to review something never write the review.

That's a common complaint, and I'd be rather upset about that as well. I'm working of the ones you sent me though.

Ace · Jun 2, 2005

philreed said:
The problem I have with sending out comps is that it's reached the point where I have to send 5 comps to get 1 review. Many people that request to review something never write the review.

I am sorry to hear that. I am not surprised as a lot of folks think a "comp" is a freebie not a payment

IMO if you take "money" or in the case of a game product a "comp" for it you have made an agreement to review it. There is no guarantee the review will be favorable (the product could suck) but it should be unbiased (or slightly positivly biased) professional and timely

I figure if Phil sent me one of his excellent PDF's (for example) thats $5 or $10 worth of product -- Since the review will take 30 minutes to an hour thats a "mini job" for $10 an hour --

This gets into substantial hourly earning if you are sent a hardback -- If someone were to comp me say a $36 book it will take me a couple of hours to write the review -- thast $18 an hour -- its a decent sum of cash

Now I admit to being fully mercenary -- I won't write a review unless I am "paid" or I really really want to evangelize and there is no current review. OTOH if I am comp'd you will get your review

I will caveat that -- a publisher however cool and generous is best asking a reviewer if they can/are willing to review before sending -- I am sure that most do but it would be a slight imposition if say an unexpected PDF arrived in my E Mail with a little note "I'd appreciate if you would review this" as I might not have time and I would hate to feel obligated --

No matter how small the endaevor whether a review of a PDF or a small game company hard copy product professionalism is always a good thing