FastForwardGames & Reviews: The Confrontation
- Thread starter Cergorach
- Start date
d20Dwarf
Explorer
HellHound said:
I didn't post this in the General thread, but I'll post it here. If the etiquette is for publishers and authors not to respond either positively or negatively to reviews, then should reviewers bite their tongues when they think they've been criticized (fairly or unfairly)? Seems of all people reviewers should be able to take being reviewed!
Ghostwind
First Post
I think the lines of communication between publisher and reviewer should always remain open and cordial. As we have seen with this thread and in other similar threads over the past several months, it is only when either or both parties are quick to react emotionally that accusations fly. If both make every attempt to remain professional and not "air the dirty laundry" in an open forum, threads like this would never need occur. Obviously, this requires a certain amount of maturity on both parties and sadly, this isn't always possible depending on the personalities involved. However, professionalism should remain a top priority at all times.
By the way, I have always been of the belief that publishers and writers should be encouraged to speak up about product reviews (whether they are positive or negative). Responses from these parties would go a long way towards correcting errors or misconceptions in reviews that exist today.
By the way, I have always been of the belief that publishers and writers should be encouraged to speak up about product reviews (whether they are positive or negative). Responses from these parties would go a long way towards correcting errors or misconceptions in reviews that exist today.
TheAuldGrump
First Post
Hmmm, James Ward's reaction to criticism does seem a tad unprofessional, taking it very personally indeed. I gather from his reaction to other reviews (the line 'we know what we're doing' springs to mind, but can't recall what review that was their response to, just that the critique was that they were misusing the OGL.) I suspect that Mr. Ward is not a professional, that part of the reason that he becomes so upset is that he has attached FF to his personal identity, that attacks on his products are attacks upon his integrity. In other words FF's faults are in his blind spot. What he needs to do is take a deep breath and reevauate the books and their reviews. Certainly claiming that a publisher should not be held responsible for making sure its products follow agreed upon licenses was, at best, silly.
However it may also be fair to state that Mr. Ward has given himself a lot of bad press with reviewers, that because of his stance that 'the products are perfect, it's the reviews that are wrong', reviewers are less likely to look upon a products shortcomings in a kindly light. Forgiving him less than they might a more congenial and/or professional publisher. (Goodness knows I have seen this process more than once...)
I have not purchased any FF books, largely because of reviews, but also because I feel that there was no reason for a goodly number of their books to be hardcover, driving up the price. (Rings of Power for example had only one item that interested me, I might have bought the book for $10, but no way was I going to spend $25.) However the most damning reason I have not purchased any FF product has been the reaction the company has shown to criticism. I feel that this attitude means that the company's products are going to be slow to improve in quality, if they improve at all.
I really hope that Mr. Ward can get himself out of the corner he is painting himself into, but I fear that his latest 900 words indicates that he just bought a bigger brush....
The Auld Grump
However it may also be fair to state that Mr. Ward has given himself a lot of bad press with reviewers, that because of his stance that 'the products are perfect, it's the reviews that are wrong', reviewers are less likely to look upon a products shortcomings in a kindly light. Forgiving him less than they might a more congenial and/or professional publisher. (Goodness knows I have seen this process more than once...)
I have not purchased any FF books, largely because of reviews, but also because I feel that there was no reason for a goodly number of their books to be hardcover, driving up the price. (Rings of Power for example had only one item that interested me, I might have bought the book for $10, but no way was I going to spend $25.) However the most damning reason I have not purchased any FF product has been the reaction the company has shown to criticism. I feel that this attitude means that the company's products are going to be slow to improve in quality, if they improve at all.
I really hope that Mr. Ward can get himself out of the corner he is painting himself into, but I fear that his latest 900 words indicates that he just bought a bigger brush....
The Auld Grump
Krug
Newshound
And the saga continues...
It's NOT a bad method to do a review of course:
http://fastforwardgames.com/900/900_30.htm
It's NOT a bad method to do a review of course:
http://fastforwardgames.com/900/900_30.htm
TheAuldGrump
First Post
Hmmm, Lester Smith seems to have been more informative , less confrontational and a good deal more coherent. While his 900 Words says much the same thing as his partner it is not an attack, nor does he take other folks words out of context.
It is in fact a fairly helpful article, with a good deal going for it. He gives a good description of how (in his opinion) a good review might be written and does not come across as complaining that people are not giving good reviews of his products.
All in all I think it is as close to conciliation as we are likely to see. I just wish that Lester Smith had written the previous 900 words, it would have left the world a slightly saner place. The horse appears to be fairly dead, let's bury it.
The Auld Grump
It is in fact a fairly helpful article, with a good deal going for it. He gives a good description of how (in his opinion) a good review might be written and does not come across as complaining that people are not giving good reviews of his products.
All in all I think it is as close to conciliation as we are likely to see. I just wish that Lester Smith had written the previous 900 words, it would have left the world a slightly saner place. The horse appears to be fairly dead, let's bury it.
The Auld Grump
Psion
Adventurer
d20Dwarf said:
Well, Wil, Monte probably has spelled out this stance the most clearly on his website. The one thing that Monte says is kosher is to correct something that is factually incorrect. All I ask is license to do the same when a factually incorrect assertion is made about one of my reviews.
That said, if that's the standard, Jim certainly isn't living up to it.
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