In light of recent events by Avalanche Press (Company bashing not desired)

[Khan the Warlord]

In case you haven't already heard the news about the situation with Avalanche Press, click here.

I knew before today that Avalanche was indeed the company in question and I can't help but be dissappointed with them. In fact, I'm disappointed to such a degree that I probably won't be purchasing anything from them in the future.

This is a moral/loyalty issue for me, and I'm curious how everyone here feels about the Avalanche situation. Now, I realize that internet boycotts won't break a company like Avalanche and I'm not even suggesting that people do this -- I'm really wanting to know how you, the customers "in the know" will act with your money regarding Avalanche Press.

No bashing, trashing, immature finger-pointing, or what have you. Just honest votes and honest, polite-as-possible opinions.

Thanks.

 

[Mistwell]

I will continue to buy products from them, if those products are good enough to get me interested enough to buy them.

I don't understand those who would refuse to buy from them based on their new reviews policy. Do you investigate the review-policy of other products you buy? Does your computer company have such a policy? It isn't an uncommon policy by the way. How about the novels you buy with all those glowing reviews on them? Yes, same exact policy for all sci-fi publishers. Giving out free copies of your product is a public relations activity, not an act of fostering free speech.

 

[NeoMunchkin]

So you shouldn't take action or change your behavior when you see it? Thats unreasonable.

I dont have time in my day to investigate everyone that I encounter to judge their behavior, but when I see things I think are wrong, I pay attention.

-Neomunchkin

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Giving out free copies of your product is a public relations activity, not an act of fostering free speech.

Of course it is a PR activity.

However, if you refuse to send product to "bad reviewers" then you throw into question the validity of any good review of your product.

They compounded the problem by casting aspersions on several other review sites, with the implication that their good reviews are bought and paid for.


Wulf

 

[Oni]

It would make me leary to buy their products. If they only send review copies to reviewers that give them favorable reviews, how can I trust that I'm getting a legitamate unbiased description of the product when I read a given review.

 

[Khan the Warlord]

I figure this will probably sound anal and nit-picky, but could a moderator please insert "be" after "to" in my poll question?

Thanks.

 

[novyet]

That's pretty disturbing. I rely on reviews for a lot of products, and the thought that some of these reviews could be bought, doesn't sit well with me at all.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Doesn't change much for me. I started boycotting Avalanche for the covers, which I found distasteful, and which my wife found offensive. We don't want that on our bookshelves.

If I hadn't already done so, I would in all likelyhood boycott for the stance on reviews.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

I'm sure I won't pay a dime for any of their products. Not giving away free copies to websites (or anything else) is one thing (if it's a small company who can't quite afford to send printed material, it's even understandable), but saying that you can't give bad critics on something they sent you for free is about the most rediculous thing I've ever heard about a company (And I'm from Germany and must endure the Deutsche Telekom!). I must assume they make poor products but expect others to rate them better than they are.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Speaking unofficialy, I haven't been impressed with Avalance to this point in game terms. I like some of their material but... it's been over a year since their first product and they're still making some basic mistakes. Page layout is bad, interior art is bad. I'll do reviews for 'em when I get it from other companies (who I won't mention for fear of Avalance dropping them from the list... oh wait, some of those companies buy the products to avoid exactly this type of nonsense.)