[request/rant] To all reviewers, amateur and pro...

[Psion]

Who has written something about Mouse's stuff lately...

Er, I wrote something about classic fey, but I thought I read it pretty good. If I missed something, let me know. I know I'm not perfect.

(The thing about not identifying a target is everyone feels like a target.)

Edit:

I'm talking about a very small group of people, none of whom are regular/frequent ENWorld reviewers.

/me wipes sweat off brow.

 

[Mouseferatu]

The thing about not identifying a target is everyone feels like a target.

I guess that's true, though it most certainly was not my intent. Frankly, I've calmed down enough that if I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't post this rant at all. Bit late for that now, though.

So let me simply reiterate that it is not any of the regular ENWorld reviewers.

 

[Mouseferatu]

In fact...

Mods, would you close this thread? I think whatever might have been accomplished by venting (if anything) has been accomplished. All that remains are doubts and recriminations that won't do anyone any good.

 

[DaveMage]

Mouse: Have you ever been "quoted" in a newspaper?

It's amazing how someone can claim to be quoting you and say something that is completely different from what you said.

My point is that I think that it may be best to reply to any such review with factual corrections (if they have a comments section) and then just let it go.

Personally, if I read a poor review of a product, and then look at comments which point out numerous factual flaws in that review, I think that it really makes the reviewer's opinions suspect, and I'm a lot less likely to read what that reviewer has to say in the future.

Just a thought - If you don't want to appear as a "sour grapes" author, then have someone else who you know post the factually correct info.

Of course, if there isn't a comment section, then, well, you should go vent somewhere.

 

[Mark CMG]

My point is that I think that it may be best to reply to any such review with factual corrections (if they have a comments section) and then just let it go.

And if there is no comment section where your factual corrections can be seen, an email to the webmaster asking to add the corrections, and if they will not, a general press release if you feel the site is well read and will have a negative impact due to the misinformation. Beyond that, it's best to ignore them and just spread the word among your peers. If they have a pipeline of free review copies and do that sort of thing often (bad reviews, misinformation etc.), it's best to make sure you do what you can to help dry up that pipeline. That's my only two cents . . .

 

[Li Shenron]

Before the thread is closed, I just want to say that I agree with the Mouse anytime.

Making reviews the best I can is my cross, and the reason why I only wrote 2 so far. And both times I even felt guilty that in practice I have read the whole damn book many times, but I have not played more than little of it yet...

 

[Eosin the Red]

Never reviewed any of Mouse's stuff but sometimes I gotta to admit that it is PAINFUL to read a very bad book for review... but I do it.

 

[diaglo]

In fact...

Mods, would you close this thread? I think whatever might have been accomplished by venting (if anything) has been accomplished. All that remains are doubts and recriminations that won't do anyone any good.

just b/c of this thread i might just have to review your latest release...

 

[Mouseferatu]

just b/c of this thread i might just have to review your latest release...

Long as ya read it first.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Personally, if I read a poor review of a product, and then look at comments which point out numerous factual flaws in that review, I think that it really makes the reviewer's opinions suspect, and I'm a lot less likely to read what that reviewer has to say in the future.

I hear what you're saying, but how many players reading the reviews are already well versed in the product enough to point out all the obvious errors? Its a bit of a catch-22.

I'm not a reviewer or a game designer/publisher, but I've always thought that the singlemost important thing a reviewer can do is point out that they are either
A: a professional game reviewer or game designer (and a link to something that will back that up) or
B: Simply a gamer with enough time and ego on his hands to write a review.

I mean, I lnow enough to take most reviews with a grain of salt...but not everyone does.
Right now, (to campare to movie reviewing) we have the Roger Eberts standing alongside the "Lord of the Rings sucked cuz they left out Tom Bombadil" reviewers, and the average Joe surfing the net has no means to know the difference between the two. I think the worst disservice to the industry is regular gamers carrying on as though they're professionals.

My opinion only.
Trev