News and rants at Mystic Eye

[enrious]

I'd like to throw in my thoughts on the idea of a "professional reviewer."

I don't like the definition to include someone who recieved a product for free in exchange for a review.

I recieved two products by being one of the first 10 people to email a company, but would be considered a pro by that definition alone. Ha!

How about someone who recieves unsolicited a free product in exchange for a review? Someone perhaps like the Enworld reviewers how from time to time have a company contact them? In my eyes, that means that they've reached the stage where companies are knocking on their doors.

Of course, it means it would include some fanboys. Oh well.

 

[Mystic Eye]

As far as release dates go, I think that its better for companies to give a quarter than an actuall month unless they actually have the product in hand. I've seen too many companies, d20 and otherwise, blow dates for many reasons, some of them very good and out of their control.

That is probably a good idea Joe. We always seem to have many things derail a portion of a project. So many variables can screw up even the most generous project plan.
We DO have to issue a formal release date to distributors down to the month to make solicitations but we can give only a quarterly shedule to the public.

How about someone who recieves unsolicited a free product in exchange for a review? Someone perhaps like the Enworld reviewers how from time to time have a company contact them? In my eyes, that means that they've reached the stage where companies are knocking on their doors.

Ya know, honestly, I don't really care if the reviewer is officially a pro or not. I care mainly that a reviewer who is out there getting reivews up in a semi-official capacity be an example to the community.
Publishers should, of course, do the same. There is often far to little professional courtesy ( some one is going to flame me here I think) in the RPG market place in my opinion. Publishers and reviewers alike should never berate fan opinions (within reason, of course) or slam people for their thoughts.
The thing that offended me most over the whole POLD review issue was that the reviewer chose to attack En World's review process in a nasty way and in turn attacked MEG who has never done wrong by him in any way. We cannot help how fans vote. I would never want to dicate to a fan, as a publisher or a reviewer, how I think they should rate anything.

My point is, even a novice reviewer can be a pro if they act like one in their review writing and in their actions.

 

[enrious]

Ya know, honestly, I don't really care if the reviewer is officially a pro or not. I care mainly that a reviewer who is out there getting reivews up in a semi-official capacity be an example to the community.
Publishers should, of course, do the same. There is often far to little professional courtesy ( some one is going to flame me here I think) in the RPG market place in my opinion. Publishers and reviewers alike should never berate fan opinions (within reason, of course) or slam people for their thoughts.
The thing that offended me most over the whole POLD review issue was that the reviewer chose to attack En World's review process in a nasty way and in turn attacked MEG who has never done wrong by him in any way. We cannot help how fans vote. I would never want to dicate to a fan, as a publisher or a reviewer, how I think they should rate anything.

My point is, even a novice reviewer can be a pro if they act like one in their review writing and in their actions.

So if I understand you correctly, you view conduct as a barometer of professionalism.

No argument from me.

 

[Mystic Eye]

So if I understand you correctly, you view conduct as a barometer of professionalism.

I would definately consider it A big factor. Not THE
factor but a big part of the whole.