Grief over a review

[Kichwas]

But actually, it’s with a surprisingly heavy heart that I am going to announce here that I will not be publishing any more books. It’s just far too difficult for me to take the criticism. It would be a lot easier if I wasn’t doing all of the work, but the emotional level involved in the creation process is just too intensive for me and I’m wrapped up in it far too much.

I'm looking at your reviews now, and you have an amazingly high score.

So I have to ask: What criticism?

 

[Kichwas]

Thanks for beating a dead horse (or dead Imp), Arcady. Bottled Imp is now out of business - any reason to further bash them?

It's a current thread.

Didn't see the part where the guy imploded at the time of my post.

I was commenting on the top post.

I've got a double bit of confusion though -

The publisher is highly rated, and yet feels under attack. I just don't understand that.

The publisher then attacks anyone who says anything but gushing praise, I just don't understand that as well.

If they have gone under, over nothing, then perhaps it is all for the best. Though it is frustrating that the worst of authors seem to be able to take any kind of crticism, and yet the better ones get defensive and are unable to stomach even minor quibles...

Ideally, Bottled Imp would grow a bit more fortitude, and stay around or come back, accepting that they will get criticism and that that can actually make their product stronger if they listen to it rather than implode over it.

If comment was over, the thread should have been closed.

 

[Mr_Nox]

I'd say this entire thread had been entirely critical of BIG, some just, for which they have apologised for and some quite harsh, which has been entirely unreasonable.

Your asking what criticism, arcady, a major part of it is right under your nose, but judging from your recent posts on this thread I suppose I should expect that kind of short-sightedness from you.

 

[Mr_Nox]

The publisher is highly rated, and yet feels under attack. I just don't understand that.

The publisher then attacks anyone who says anything but gushing praise, I just don't understand that as well.

If you dont understand arcady prolly better not to comment.

I think BIG felt frustrated over being criticised not over the integral content of their books, very creative and excellently written, but over the editing and some "crunch" errors. Of course when a publisher releases a book the whole presentation of it is judged. I think Stuart would agree that he is his own worst critic, and knowing you have put out a book with some errors in, when you pride yourself producing high quality work, must be quite hard to take.

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

Hmmm, I know, day late and a dollar short on the posting, but hey...

First, I'd like to offer apologies, in advance to those whose feelings I'm about to hurt, but then, you know me, you can scream at me at ralts@centurytel.net or on psionics.net.

You can even come into my company room and start yelling at me. #brood-liar

First, to the reviewer: This is a very public forum, and has about the same, if not more influence than wizards.com forums on the 3rd Party PDF market. To put this thread here, where everyone can read it, puts the publisher, who is obviously NOT a mental deficient like myself, on the defensive for everything.
Mistakes were made, but I'll tell you the truth...

If you worked for me, and aired dirty laundry in public like this, I'd bounce your ass. Psuedonymn or not. You need to remember the old line: "It's just biz, baby."

Now, to Stuart...

I've met you a few a times online, and talked to you. I like you, and find your products interesting, but I'm going to drop a few dimes on you here.

If you are going to disregard errors that playtester's find. Stop hiring them. That's thier job, and if you are going to ignore thier findings, then YOU get look like the jackass in the field.

Critics do just that. Criticize. Your work. My work. Hellhound's work. Movies. Food. Travel. A whole industry has spawned around professional bitching. You have to expect it.

So you got a 4 out of 5. OK, it hurt. Take a look at my products.

Gee, 1 out 5. 2 out of 5.
I think I got a 3 out of 5 somewhere, but I doubt it.

But the ones I pay attention are HONEST criticism. A FIVE out of 5 is for a PERFECT book. One with no errors, artwork by Vallejo, printed on gold leaf, and provides the buyer with sexual services.

I'm happy with threes, but that's me.

Was the review concise? If it is, then honestly, you should have kept your yap shut and been happy. You should have corrected the mistake in future print runs (Something I will admit, I know jack about) of the product.

Psion, Dana and a few other pointed out that my font was crap. So I'm changing it. Others have bitched about my artwork. What do you want for $5? Live with that. Layout and appearance is a common complaint. That will be adjusted.

It's just business, Stuart. Trust me on this. My heart siezed up partially over negotiations with artists and big time companies (Stress kicked off the virus, for those of you know the story) and if you want to get out, I can understand.

Personally, I think you're getting too worked up. I'll tell you the truth, something Dana thought was actually funny...

His 1 star review where he thought I'd probably gotten drunk and written them is referred to in my signature. Other parts of his reviews were mentioned in the advertisements for the next products...

Everything, even bad reviews, are tools. For improvement, for future advertising, to let people know you aren't perfect (Guess what, I have a 3.0 DMG with 2 places where the tables are missing, and one book has a picture outline with PICTURE HERE in it. I'm probably buying Indionesian sweatshop knockoffs from eBay, but hey) and thus, annoying and arrogant.

Don't quit because you got a few bad reviews. Quit because your bankrupt. Quit for your health. Quit because a Yeti clubbed you with your 3.5 books and know you have post tramautic stress syndrome and wet yourself every time you see the ARMOR CLASS!

Don't quit because of the reviews. Don't be a crybaby. Hell, EVERYONE wants to quit when things get tough. That's why they are tough times instead of Happy Singing Fairyland Times.

Stiffen up your upper lip, come into #brood-lair on psionics.net and scream at me for being an insensitive jerk, then go to your computer and think: "Crybaby? I'll show that butt-weasel!" and write another book.

But don't quit.

//my two cents

Oh, and don't bother flaming me, if you weren't addressed in this thread, don't bother getting your underwear in a bunch and getting all mad.

 

[RPGRealms]

I also get a lot of flak from the T20 people.

Oh please, some T20 fans give you grief over your review and you blame us. Grow up and learn how to take criticism over your own reviews Jeremy.

We (QLI - the 'T20 people'...) found your review useful enough to have had a link to the ENWorld copy since shortly after it was posted. Why would we do that if we were giving you 'a lot of flak' over it?

 

[Aristotle]

Oh please, some T20 fans give you grief over your review and you blame us. Grow up and learn how to take criticism over your own reviews Jeremy.

Uh... I don't know about other readers but I didn't take his comment to mean the creators of T20. He specified employees of one company but generalized 'T20 People' for the other game. As a reader I took that to mean people who are emotionally invested in the game (fans, freelancers, etc..), but not necessarily the producers of the game.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I'm sorry Stuart felt that he needed to get out due to bad reviews:

Average Review Scores
Bottled Imp Games: 4.75
Malhavoc: 4.18
Bad Axe Games: 4.15
Green Ronin: 4.11
Necromancer Games: 4.02
Wizards: 3.70
Mongoose: 3.61

 

[Ralts Bloodthorne]

The Brood: 1.8

 

[RPGRealms]

Uh... I don't know about other readers but I didn't take his comment to mean the creators of T20. He specified employees of one company but generalized 'T20 People' for the other game. As a reader I took that to mean people who are emotionally invested in the game (fans, freelancers, etc..), but not necessarily the producers of the game.

Actually this is a fairly regular spiel of his about us.

My apologies to everyone else in this thread for taking it off-topic.