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

[Vrylakos]

What's especially bad about all this is that Avalanche had been improving in its content quality. The last few books, like I, Mordred, is actually pretty good, with an interesting premise.

Interesting story from the RPGFreelance list: Short version - one of the authors of I, Mordred is owed $2000 for two projects he wrote for Avalanche Press (I, Mordred being one of them). He was told by the publisher that his work was amateurish, yet was surprised to see that they printed it anyway. The publisher does not reply to his emails, and has not paid him for the project.

He is currently trying to work something out, before seeking legal action.

 

[Morrus]

Important update: Avalanche have now responded as folows (also posted on the news page and on the other thread in meta):

Gentlemen,

I tried to send this shortly after I replied "no comment" to your past e-mail but have had e-mail trouble most of this day.

Having recovered from a tremendous bout of stupidity, I owe you a tremendous apology. The result of our recent conversations regarding reviews of our product on your web site was driven to this point by a ridiculous case of coincidence & mistaken identity. I take full responsibility, and you have my sincerest apologies. Please allow me to explain:

Back in March of this year, there was posted to a d20 review web site (off the top of my head I forget, but I will find the URL for you as proof of my statement) that we supported with review copies, a review of Black Flags. This review was quite unfavorable, and even went so far as to suggest to the reader to not purchase this product unless they could get it heavily discounted on e-bay or in a game store bargain bin. I am afraid that this is where I had to draw the line. A bad review is one thing, basically telling people not to buy our product is ridiculous - especially since we were of the opinion that this was our very best d20 product to date. The mistaken identity stems from the fact that this reviewer's name is also Simon, and his last name also begins with the letter "C." This is made worse by the fact that this reviewer also uses a 1-5 scale of grading a product, and gave Black Flags a 2, as well. I was foolish to immediately associate this bad review with Simon's review, without first going back to read what you said about Black Flags. I write this letter today, because I did go back to re-read your review, and apologize for my error.

Simon, while I may not always agree with the opinions you have expressed in your reviews, you have never told your readers to not buy our product. While I may not always agree with your opinion of our books, your reviews have always been objective, balanced in their criticism, and fair in judgement. I apologize that I associated your name with this other reviewer.


Furthermore, I apologize to all of the staff at ENWorld for making unwarranted statements about your review practices. I do not in any way perceive a complimentary review copy as a bribe for a favorable review. I began my career in this industry as a reviewer for Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer Magazine, and Shadis Magazine, so I am angry with myself that I even made such a statement in the first place. With so many products out there to review, we do appreciate that you take the time to review our products so thoroughly.

Gentlemen, this situation has been an unfortunate accident (misidentification of the reviewer & web site), and a lesson in poor research on my part. Again, I do apologize for the inconvenience. Avalanche Press is totally in favor of re-establishing our relationship with ENWorld. I do realize that we are currently at the mercy of your good graces, but if you are still interested supporting Avalanche Press products, we are still in favor of supporting ENWorld.

I thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter, and look forward to hearing from you very soon. If there is anything else I can do for you, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Sincerely,

Marcelo A. Figueroa
Sales Manager
Avalanche Press, Limited
"Walk with heroes."

 

[Crothian]

I'm confused. I have posted a review here, and I didn't get the product for free. In fact, I always assumed that most reviews here did not involve the reviewer getting the product for free. Am I mistaken?

I've written 14 reviews so far, two of those products I was lucky enough to get as review copies. I have one other review copy product that I have yet to review. If my review comes from a review copy, I say that up front. However, I think if I review any of my Avalanche books I'll be say "This is not from a review copy."

 

[Buttercup]

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.

Actually, this is incorrect. I've been receiving review copies from major publishing houses for almost a decade, and never once has it even been hinted that I had to write a positive review in exchange.

What does happen is that publishers sometimes hack apart a block quote and use elipsis to make a negative comment look good.

 

[Buttercup]

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?

Yeah. I would be really sad that I could no longer buy products from one of my favorite companies. But I would still boycott them. As it is, I was already boycotting Avalanche for the tawdry covers, so it really makes no difference.

 

[Dragongirl]

What does happen is that publishers sometimes hack apart a block quote and use elipsis to make a negative comment look good.

hehe

Review : Well if you are a moron then you should see this movie.

Ad : And soandso claims ". . . you should see this movie."

 

[Khan the Warlord]

Important update: Avalanche have now responded as folows (also posted on the news page and on the other thread in meta):

Well, while I'm glad that an official apology was given to Simon Collins and the rest of EN World, I'm still kinda miffed.

1. How can anyone in the industry confuse EN World for any other site?

2. If this was indeed a hastily-made e-mail intended for another reviews site, so what? The only thing that has changed is that EN World is being placed with the other "favorable" review sites that he mentioned in the original e-mail. Just because he says now that "good reviews for free product" isn't what AP desires, doesn't excuse or explain why he says the complete opposite in the first e-mail.

3. I don't like or agree with the statement he made about how reviews suggesting *not* to purchase a particular AP product are bad. If I were given a free review copy of a product and I honestly thought it rated a "1" (Appalling), then why shouldn't I state in my review that the product isn't worth a gamer's hard-earned cash? Once again, we're seeing a mentality that says "you're ok to say you don't like it, but since it was free, we're limiting HOW you state your feelings about it".

If anything, this second e-mail just dug them a bigger hole in my eyes.

But what do I know.

 

[Mistwell]

Actually, this is incorrect. I've been receiving review copies from major publishing houses for almost a decade, and never once has it even been hinted that I had to write a positive review in exchange.

What does happen is that publishers sometimes hack apart a block quote and use elipsis to make a negative comment look good.

If you consistently give bad reviews to an author, that cannot be warped into good reviews, you will find your review copies will dry up from that author's publicity folks. It isn't a stated policy (though it is usually known by people in the industry). Usually, requests for review copies just go unanswered after a couple of bad reviews. It's never meant as an explicit bribe to give a good review, just an after-the-fact attempt to reduce the money going out the door in review copies to reviewers perceived as "bad".

 

[Magestrike]

My Opinion

I'll admit that I dont post that much on these boards, but I do follow them daily for news and info. But I had to chime in on this topic, for what it is worth.

It all boils down to this for me. Avalanche seemed to strongly infer in their email/post that they expected favorable reviews in exchange for free products. Since they thought they werent getting that here, they would no longer send free stuff to the "staff reviewers". Thats sad.

I would personally want unbiased unwavering opinions of my products from reviewers that A LOT of people feel are fair. That way, I would know, or at least have a good idea whether or not my products are "measuring up". Not all the reviews I saw were "bad". Average...yes. Bad...no. This would tell me that maybe I needed to look at something in my products that needed to be fixed and not jump on the unbiased reviewers as the problem. Just my opnion though.

I will say this in closing. I have never bought any of thier products, as I have found them, as the reviewers did, average and filled with potential problems. Is this the fault of the reviewers or the company that produces the product?

Mage

 

[Fast Learner]

There's nothing unethical about having an expectation.

It is unethical to attempt to buy a good review, yes. But Avalance did not actually take any action not taken by other publishers. They sent out free copies of materials for review, just like the others. They didn't ask for preferential treatment. So what have they done that is unethical?

Yes, there is something unethical about having an expectation. If a company expects you to give their product a good review because they gave you a free copy of it then the company is expecting you to lie, to give a dishonest review in exchange for the product How is that ethical in any way?

And again to Mistwell: where do you get your information about sf&f book reviews working this way? I and one other person have told you from direct firsthand experience that you are wrong. If it was true then I would have been boycotted. In fact some of my reviewers where known for their snide remarks, and still we received advance copies week after week. Unless you have some firsthand experience that counters this then your opinion about how this works has no bearing on the discussion.