My response to the "review" at AGN

Ken Beard wrote :-) Im pretty happy about the website decision. They were really correct with dealing with the whole thing... Actually, the same thing is mostly repeated at other communities on the Internet. Air simulations mostly, but you can also include hard-core RPG's and at some point sports simulation. The general market is as we all know made for casual gamers, with a more arcade style to racing games. That's why titles such as Need4speed and such have been great hits. Not taking anything off arcade racing titles. I mean we lived with them since years and will continue to live with them for years in the future. I mean.. Im just not into all those FPS shooters who it seems are out each 2-3weeks, but if those gamers would realise that there is more technical achievements in the *** industry than those Doom-wannabe games, we wouldn't have such stupid guy flaming about what is clearly the most anticipate and at 100% the greatest racing simulator of all time. Even if it fails to the mass *** market, it's the greatest. - Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> Good race at the Brickyard! - Official Mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. - Excuse me for my English (I'm French speaking) - Sponsored by http://www.awpss.com/ - "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."--

Gee, maybe your response worked...I couldn't find the review anywhere... Mike (TEN ID:mpete) http://www.mnworld.com Mike's Nascar World

Please accept my thank you for sending the site the e-mail! > Still, some email letting the guy know to not post irresponsible reviews > like this can't hurt.... Cheers! Marc -- Marc J. Nelson The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com/ Extinct Track Archive - http://www.simproject.com/eta/ * Switch confused.net with concentric.net to reply...Confused-yet? *

Sorry for the triple-posts...dang it! =P

First off, it wasn't a review from the site, but some "d00d" who emailed the guy who runs it. So I sent an email to the site guy: ***************** Subject: GPL "Review" Date: Sunday, September 27, 1998 11:03 PM You really need to inform the guy that did that "review" that he is clueless. The game isn't out yet, except for a WAREZ version - which from what I've heard is a buggy beta version that wasn't even shipped to the core beta-test team. Even given that, I've seen nothing mentioned about the problems he mentions. First off, even the several, several months old DEMO runs at 1024x768 on my single Creative 12 mb V2, and when this was in my K6/200 I was getting well 1024x768. The wheel response is a bit touchy in the demo, but it calibrates fine, AND all the functions are easily selected. The reason for having a seperate calibration (you CAN select to use the DirectX routine) is to have MORE control over the calibration, if you're having trouble with DirectX. So I think this guy is playing the warez version, his machine is screwed up if he can't run over 640x480 and he can't get the joystick to work, AND he doesn't know ***about realistic simulations. Nothing wrong with liking more arcadish games, but if one does than one shouldn't slam on realistic simulations in a "review". First clue, if he was serious at all about racing sims, he'd have a WHEEL and wouldn't be trying to use buttons for his gas and "break" (brake), he'd have pedals. This isn't NFS3, wasn't meant to be - it's a serious sim - just like F15 or Longbow 2 are for a different audience than Jetfighter. The game will be out later this week, hopefully we'll see a real review by someone who knows what the hell is going on on your site, or maybe we're just going to have another arcade gamer slamming it. Ken ********* I wouldn't worry about this too much, really - all these guys running these "3D news" sites have no clue about realistic sims - they're geared for the Quake 2 and "gee whiz, lookit the graphics" gamers. I hope this "review" doesn't put off anybody to GPL, but I'd think those with interest know about it already, and those who aren't interested probably won't be regardless. Still, some email letting the guy know to not post irresponsible reviews like this can't hurt.... Ken

Jeremy at allgames isn't exactly the brightest bulb on the tree. I really have to wonder why he would post a so called review, when the game hasnt been released. I don't agree with anything in the "review", but still everyone has a right to their opinion

>Jeremy at allgames isn't exactly the brightest bulb on the tree. I really have >to wonder why he would post a so called review, when the game hasnt been >released. I don't agree with anything in the "review", but still everyone has >a right to their opinion I'm imagining he got a decent amount of flames, as the site now has the link to the screenshots but has deleted the "review" portion. I often cringe reading info on a lot of these sites, they have some good info and are pretty quick to get stuff - BUT, are usually laden with juvenile writing and a "Quake 2 kicks ass, d00d, it RULZ" mentality covering games. I'll give him some credit, he did pull the ***quickly - but some thought would've prevented it totally. Ken

Marc, there's a shove to stop the broken record syndrome! :)

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> Please accept my thank you for sending the site the e-mail! > > Still, some email letting the guy know to not post irresponsible reviews > > like this can't hurt.... > Cheers! > Marc > -- > Marc J. Nelson > The Sim Project - http://www.simproject.com/ > Extinct Track Archive - http://www.simproject.com/eta/ > * Switch confused.net with concentric.net to reply...Confused-yet? *

-- Byron Forbes Captain of Team Lightning Bolt http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS and http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm

The host of the review also has a responsibility to check the facts as submitted to him.....or, at the very least, to check the credentials of the person doing the so-called "review". > Jeremy at allgames isn't exactly the brightest bulb on the tree. I really have > to wonder why he would post a so called review, when the game hasnt been > released. I don't agree with anything in the "review", but still everyone has > a right to their opinion -- Regards, Bruce. ---------- The GP Legends Historic Motor Racing Club is located at:- http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/

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>The host of the review also has a responsibility to check the facts as >submitted to him.....or, at the very least, to check the credentials of >the person doing the so-called "review". >> Jeremy at allgames isn't exactly the brightest bulb on the tree. I really > have >> to wonder why he would post a so called review, when the game hasnt been >> released. I don't agree with anything in the "review", but still everyone > has >> a right to their opinion

No reflection on any person in this thread in particular, but "grow up" and "get a life". If a title receives any kind of review anywhere, the reviewee doesn't have to jusitfy themselves to you or anyone. It's up to you to determine which reviews to follow and trust or not. Or decide for yourself. Jeez. Z.

"Reviewer", shurely...? Anyway, no-one asked the reviewer to justify himself, it was the guy running the site. If he wants to keep his clientele then he needs to consider the quality of the content, especially if it is being pointed out to him as sub-standard. Cheers! John

>No reflection on any person in this thread in particular, but "grow up" and >"get a life". Hmmm, you obviously didn't read the review. The point is, organisations such as AGN _are_ responsible for the messages they put out, and the sales figures that they influence. The worst weapon of all can be word of mouth which at its most influential can make or break a product. Mike.

Zonk, you don't happen to be the one who wrote that review do you?

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> No reflection on any person in this thread in particular, but "grow up" and > "get a life". > If a title receives any kind of review anywhere, the reviewee doesn't have to > jusitfy themselves to you or anyone. It's up to you to determine which reviews > to follow and trust or not. Or decide for yourself. > Jeez. > Z.

-- Byron Forbes Captain of Team Lightning Bolt http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS and http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm

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>>No reflection on any person in this thread in particular, but "grow up" and >>"get a life". >Hmmm, you obviously didn't read the review. The point is, organisations >such as AGN _are_ responsible for the messages they put out, and the sales >figures that they influence. The worst weapon of all can be word of mouth >which at its most influential can make or break a product. >Mike.

er... they have a responsibility to do what exactly? A review is very much a personal thing, it invariably gives one person's point of view. Likewise, some people may find one game to be greatly above what the masses consider it to be. It's the nature of the best. AGN have no responsibility other to print reviews based on their own experience of the product. If you disgaree with them, that's your problem, not there's. Z.

>Hmmm, you obviously didn't read the review. The point is, organisations >such as AGN _are_ responsible for the messages they put out, and the sales >figures that they influence. The worst weapon of all can be word of mouth >which at its most influential can make or break a product. >Mike. Incidentally, how do you feel about Magzines who give good reviews based on advertising spend?

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>Zonk, you don't happen to be the one who wrote that review do you? >> No reflection on any person in this thread in particular, but "grow up" and >> "get a life". >> If a title receives any kind of review anywhere, the reviewee doesn't have to >> jusitfy themselves to you or anyone. It's up to you to determine which > reviews >> to follow and trust or not. Or decide for yourself. >> Jeez. >> Z.

Nope, can't say i did. I coudl have spent considerably more pages on why GPL is good but not great. But then again, that's purely my opinion. Z.

You sure? :o) > But then again, that's purely my opinion. -- Regards, Bruce. ----------

Bullshit! The publisher of ANY article in ANY publication has total responsibility to check the credentials of the author of ANY submission. If he/she does not care to take that responsibility then he/she should not be "publishing" anything in the first place and he/she could, one day, face a hefty libel suit! > er... they have a responsibility to do what exactly? > AGN have no responsibility other to print reviews based on their own > experience of the product. > If you disgaree with them, that's your problem, not there's. -- Regards, Bruce. ---------- The GP Legends Historic Motor Racing Club is located at:- http://www.netspeed.com.au/brucek/legends/

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>Bullshit! >The publisher of ANY article in ANY publication has total responsibility >to check the credentials of the author of ANY submission. >If he/she does not care to take that responsibility then he/she should >not be "publishing" anything in the first place and he/she could, one >day, face a hefty libel suit!

Er... If something factually incorrect was printed, then yes, there is a case, however, a software package, where features are not properly or well documented, and as a result a person reports their experience truthly- and they may not find or use all features as a result of that documentation, then that's part of a review as such, and there is no way someone could be held liable for what is there, likewise a bad review. And i think you'd find that few publishers would risk going in and pissing off other magazines by suing.... Z.

Worthy of contempt. Of course they're free to do what they like with their magazine, but I would hope that they see their job as reporting upon and improving the standard of software by maximising sales of good products rather than accepting bribes to lie to their customers and prop up sub-standard products. Eventually I'd like to think that their customers would vote with their feet and go elsewhere. Cheers! John

No, that's their problem. The point of AGN being there is to generate advertising revenue and line their pockets - if people stop coming to their site because of poor or inconsistent reviewing then the advertising money will follow the hit counter. For that reason the management of AGN have a responsibility to themselves to ensure that their site remains viable long term - nothing to do with owing us anything, but we ultimately get what we put up with. Cheers! John

>Incidentally, how do you feel about Magzines who give good reviews based on >advertising spend? I am aware of such publications and do not buy them. Mike.

>A review is very much a personal thing, it invariably gives one person's point >of view. Likewise, some people may find one game to be greatly above what the >masses consider it to be. It's the nature of the best. For a start, a review featured on an official games site should be of a minimum high standard. This involves somebody sitting down, spending quality time with the software they're about to tell everyone about, and putting together an intelligently written document about the product that has been supplied to them. I've been a reviewer in the past and have been tasked with many of the more complex entertainment software such as Microsoft's Flight Simulator Flight Shop product which is a massive FS98 plug-in creation tool. In order to perform a quality review, I had to learn how to design the 3d models in the aircraft builder, to learn about the physics that FS98 employs, to comprehensively learn the programming language that is provided and discover the great features and also the bugs within it. Fortunately I had a reasonable amount of time for this particular assignment (3 weeks), but I doubt very much that the AGN "reviewer" in this particular case has ANY time constraints. I know what is required, and common sense covers most of that... if something is good about a product, say WHY it is good - if it has deficiencies, explain clearly AND ACCURATELY what they are. Professional reviewers take pride in their work and I'm certain that an organisation such as AGN realises that reviews _are_ influential when it comes to games sales and of course for this reason and for that of their own reputation, the article in question was removed _particularly_ quickly. Mike.

>Nope, can't say i did. I coudl have spent considerably more pages on why GPL >is good but not great. In that case, you cannot have spent long enough on GPL, and how could you - it hasn't been released yet. Mike.

>>Incidentally, how do you feel about Magzines who give good reviews based on >>advertising spend? >I am aware of such publications and do not buy them. >Mike. hehehhe, any chance you'd let me in on which ones you do buy, so i can but laugh at your naivety? Z.

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>>Nope, can't say i did. I coudl have spent considerably more pages on why >GPL >>is good but not great. >In that case, you cannot have spent long enough on GPL, and how could you - >it hasn't been released yet. >Mike.

Did you ever wonder how Magazines have reviews before a product ships? Z.

You would honestly be unable to find a more profitable use of your time? Cheers! John

>any chance you'd let me in on which ones you do buy, so i can but laugh at >your naivety? I do not buy any computer *** magazines. Laugh at that. Mike.

Then you should feel obliged to communicate to your readers that you are using an unfinished version that may not be representative of the final product. mike.

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>>hehehhe, >>any chance you'd let me in on which ones you do buy, so i can but laugh at >>your naivety? >You imply that you work for a magazine. You imply that all magazine >reviewers are influenced by their advertsiers. Doesn't that imply that you >have zero credibility...? >....either way! >Cheers, >Richard

i never implied that i do. Z.

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>>Did you ever wonder how Magazines have reviews before a product ships? >Previews & betas. Surely you're not that naive to believe that you've been >using the real version? >Cheers, >Richard

I never said i was playing GMC code.

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>Path: >>Did you ever wonder how Magazines have reviews before a product ships? >Previews & betas. Surely you're not that naive to believe that you've been >using the real version? >Cheers, >Richard

Still, no magazine's review on such as i'm sure you are probably aware.

>>any chance you'd let me in on which ones you do buy, so i can but laugh at >>your naivety? >I do not buy any computer *** magazines. Laugh at that. >Mike. Glad to hear. You're only wasting your money. Z.

Why am I not surprised this guy would say something like this? :) Loves shooting himself in the foot!

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> You imply that you work for a magazine. You imply that all magazine > reviewers are influenced by their advertsiers. Doesn't that imply that you > have zero credibility...? > ...either way! > Cheers, > Richard > -- > We all bump into each other every day of our lives, and we render our opinions > whether we know anything or not, and if anybody catches us out we lie...

-- Byron Forbes Captain of Team Lightning Bolt http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS and http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm

Too bad he hasn't made up his mind whether he's a reviewer or not, hehehehehe.

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> >Did you ever wonder how Magazines have reviews before a product ships? > Then you should feel obliged to communicate to your readers that you are > using an unfinished version that may not be representative of the final > product. > mike.

-- Byron Forbes Captain of Team Lightning Bolt http://members.tripod.com/~HOSHUMUNGUS and http://www.frontiernet.net/~godsoe/bolt/home.htm