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

[Greatwyrm]

Well, I voted for "I don't care", but that isn't entirely correct.

If Avalance doesn't want to provide free stuff for people who don't provide the reviews they want, they're well within their rights. Nobody likes bad press. I think they could have gone about this decision in a more diplomatic fashion.

This does, however, make me less likely to buy their stuff. Why? I actually put a fair amount of stock in the reviews here. Not so much the number values (which I don't always agree with) but the items the reviewer specifically did and didn't like.

If the reviewer mentions something I'm specifically looking for as a strong point, but trashes the number score, I might still pick it up. If the reviewer says something I really want from the book falls short, I might pass even if it gets a good overall grade.

Numbers aside, the fact that I may not see specific commentary on Avalanche products' highs and lows will make me less likely to buy from them.

 

[Morrus]

I wouldn't want people to make the mistake that this has any implication on the quality of the products themselves. If you see an Avalanche product in the shop, look through it and like what you see - then go for it!

What it does mean, and what I felt it important to let people know, is that every time you read a good review of an Avalanche Press product, you should think carefully about that review before making a decision based on it. I would strongly recommend that people not make a purchasing decision solely based on a good review of their products.

I also felt it important that it be made clear that Alan's, Simon's and Joe's reviews here at EN World are impartial, and that you can trust them.

 

[Lordnightshade]

I have never liked Avalanche Press due to their blatant use of T&A to sell their products.
It makes me think that instead of relying on the content of their products to sell their books they slap some picture of a scantily clad woman on the cover thinking they can fool us gamer geeks into buying their stuff.

Now, I like T&A as much as the next guy (just look at my own art, it’s full of it) but they are just so obvious about it.

It’s insulting really.

This latest development has really given me a bad opinion of this company.

I went from “Not Interested” to “Completely Opposed” to ever buying anything from them.

 

[kenjib]

Think about it differently. What if this were your favorite d20 company? What if Sword & Sorcery, Green Ronin, FFG, or Kenzer (insert your favorite company here) had done this? Would your reaction be different?

 

[drnuncheon]

Heh. I don't buy their stuff anyway, between the 'sex sells' covers and the uninspiring quality of the one my wife picked up, so it doesn't really bother me.

Basically, it sounds like a case of sour grapes to me, and it certainly doesn't encourage me to change my mind. On the other hand, I'm not exactly thrilled about the fact that this dirty laundry is being aired in public - I hope that Morrus would have kept it quiet if they hadn't taken the tone they did.

J

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

Here's a copy of the email I sent to them. I think it sums up my position nicely.

I was quite dismayed to learn of your recent policy towards product reviews and your immature, unprofessional reaction towards the reviews on EN World. It is indeed a sad day when a company feels that sending a free copy of a product to a reviewer entitles them to a biased review.

The entire integrity of the EN World review system is based on the concept of objective, unbiased reviews. If I ever had any suspicion that a product recieved high marks on a review simply because the reviewer recieved a free copy, then the reviews would serve no purpose whatsoever.

Apparently, the fine folks at Avalanche would rather have a corrupt, mutual-back-scratching arrangement than subject their products to objective review based on merits alone. You would think a company whose website besmirches "rapacious capitalists" would have more integrity than that. After all, "rapacious capitalists" like Sony invented fake reviewers for their movies, behaviour which isn't far removed from Avalanche's reaction. Surely a small d20 company such as Avalanche would want a system where its products were judged on equal footing with those of a larger company who could afford to send out more free review copies. Would you really want to see Wizards of the Coast products consistently recieve the highest ratings?

I had previously been interested in Avalanche Press products because I was led to believe that they carried a high level of quality and attention to historical research. I was led to believe this from the so-called "disturbingly unfavorable" EN World reviews. I was willing to look past your tacky T&A covers and buy a product which could be useful in my historical gaming sessions. Luckily, I never wasted any money supporting such an unprofessional company.

I know the loss of one customer probably won't make you reconsider your business practices, but I now know that I can't lend my support to Avalanche Press. I also know that I can never trust a review on GamingReport.com, BeyondAdventure.com, or Games Unplugged Magazine. I'm sure the owners of those websites will be pleased to hear how your pettiness has cost them a reader.

To throw your words back at you, Avalanche, "Thank you, but no thank."

 

[Crothian]

If you look hard enough, I'm sure you'll find soemthing negative about every company. They have some good stuff out there, and really no one else seems to be filling the void of Historical Fantasy that they are. Before this review situation I never had any problem with this comapny.

Also, I had a feeling it was these guys so I started another thread a few days ago talking about the Historical Fantasy nitch they do.

http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27475

 

[psionotic]

Think about it differently. What if this were your favorite d20 company? What if Sword & Sorcery, Green Ronin, FFG, or Kenzer (insert your favorite company here) had done this? Would your reaction be different?

Like the "Have you investigated other d20 companies" comment,
this is a 'Chicken and the Egg' argument: I'm going to inherently trust that publishers are made up of reasonable people who can take bad reviews. Only when they prove themselves unworthy of that assumption will I show my displeasure.

If I had an unlimited amount of time and resources, I guess I could check everyone's review policies to see if they are as ridiculous as Avalanche's new policy, but why should I? As soon as another publisher wishes to disassociate themselves from ENworld's review process, we will hear about it from Morrus, and that company will also be rightly derided.

 

[JoeBlank]

I did not vote, as I do still allow for the possibility that I will buy one of their products. However, I buy most of my stuff sight-unseen, and rely heavily on the reviews here. That obviously affects the chances of my buying from someone with such a review policy.

My comments in the thread in Meta address my feelings in greater detail, and how one publisher handles negative reviews the right way (leading me to buy both of this products so far, and probably whatever he publishes in the future).

 

[Psion]

I really don't intend to let it affect me either way. I never received product from them in the first place (although I did receive some as an author promotion). Though I do think they have a bit of a "persecution complex*" and think they are wrong about any negative bias among the staff reviewers, it is up to them how they spend their money, and it is their call whether their company is well served by having reviews here. Other companies have stopped sending me stuff, but I don't get bent out of shape over it. It's their money, after all.

I will say that if I had been receiving review products from them, I certainly wouldn't now considering their "products for good reviews" attitude. That just sounds like they are begging for a conflict of interest, and could not maintain the appearance of objectivity under such an arrangement.

I would still buy an Avalanche product if it looked good and thought I would use it.

* - See the thread in the meta forum for more of why I don't think Avalanche is picked-on, at least by me. Incidentally, this is not the first time something like this has happened. Another publisher complained to me that I was fawning over/kissing up to one of their rivals, despite the fact that the average of the reviews I had given them was HIGHER than the rival they they felt I had shown favoritism towards!