A SHILLING FOR YOUR THOUGHTS
“A penny for your thoughts” is a phrase that may be familiar to you. You might have heard it, you might have said it. Basically, it’s a friendly way of asking what someone is thinking, what’s on their mind. In Olde England, that penny might have been exchanged for a different currency value – a shilling. Unfortunately, such a benign saying has taken a more sinister meaning as it pertains to Kickstarter.
We often assume – and by that I mean that I always assume – that the thoughts expressed by reviewers in evaluating a game are always honest and sincere. I should know better and so should you!
On one of the Facebook groups I frequent, there was a lively discussion about some reviewers charging $400 FEES for their reviews, the concern being that these folks were raising their prices to as much as $600! One well known reviewer (who shall be nameless) has freely admitted charging for “preview reviews” and sometimes having to struggle to find something good to say to justify payments received. I may be naive but I find this appalling.
Gamers Alliance Report is the longest running English language game review publication in the world! We started publishing back in 1986 and throughout all these years, no one has ever seen ads in our pages (it has been our policy from the start to NOT accept paid advertising in our pages) and we have NEVER asked for a fee or charged for a review. (We do accept review copies of games but these are accepted with no strings attached. On some occasions – and I could tell you stories – we’ve had to resist pressure applied to us by game companies and others, overtly and covertly, to “modify” or quash reviews according to their notions.) It is our stance that any time there is some relationship to a game being reviewed and the contributor reviewing it, that relationship is clearly identified. Transparency is important so you know when you read the opinions and analysis in our pages, the thoughts shared are honest and not paid for.
A knowledgeable gamer needs to be able to know and TRUST his/her source. This disturbing trend of purchasing positive reviews is a trend gamers need to be aware of and guard against. A “penny for your thoughts” is one thing. A review bought and paid for is something else. Instead of a penny for your thoughts, you’re getting a shilling by a reviewer paid to promote. Unless that reviewer states that connection, that review is misleading, dishonest and totally unacceptable. The alternative? Gamers Alliance and GA Report! Whether you agree with our opinions or not, you can rest assured that NONE of them are bought for pennies, pounds, dollars or “shillings”!
In this issue of GA Report, you will receive more of the honest insightful reviews and analysis of games worthy of your attention as we run riot in a bunny kingdom, venture to the Planet of the Apes and cross the Atlantic! Kevin Whitmore goes on a quest, Chris Wray feels majestic and Chris Kovac gets “Hungary”. Andrea “Liga” Ligabue starts a project, Eric Brosius rides the rails, Frank Hamrick gets abstracted while Greg Schloesser find things brewing! And royalty is recognized as Joe Huber calls on the Emperor and Pevans visits the palace of the mad king! And, of course, much more!
Until next time, Good Gaming!
Herb Levy, President
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