Grogheads Gentlemen's Agreement - Free/Promo Copy disclaimer?

[Apocalypse 31]

Some time ago Steam added a feature to their review system that allows reviewers to publicly display if they received the reviewed game as a free copy. Although I can't say that everyone follows the rule, I have seen an increase in reviewers using this feature, and personally, it has allowed me to have a better understanding of their motive for reviewing the product. Overall, it separates to the paid fanboys from reviewers with unbiased opinions.

Grogheads is a gaming discussion forum for like-minded gamers, and I have always viewed this forum as a 'no shark zone'. I'm sure there are several users, like myself, that rely on the feedback and reviews from fellow users to influence their decision to purchase games that they may be contemplating. 

I'm not an admin here, nor do I make policy - I just follow the rules. However, I kindly propose a gentlemen's agreement on Grogheads. If you are promoting a game or discussing your views on a game, please state if you received the game as a free copy.

[Apocalypse 31]

Fortunately, there is action being taken against this sort of internet fraud on other sites.

http://www.webpronews.com/companies-pay-up-for-fake-yelp-reviews-2016-02/

Machinima agrees to pay $50,000 for failure to require disclosure of payments to gaming experts endorsing Xbox on YouTube, while the other three companies (Premier Retail Group, ESIOHInternet Marketing, and Rani Spa) are also forced to pay penalties and agree to stop posting fake reviews.

And I have seen these on Amazon - normally you can spot them, because the purchase dates will be the same, the review length will be the same, and depending on which country the reviewer is from (Russia or an Asian country) you will often see grammatical or punctuation errors.

http://fortune.com/2015/10/19/amazon-fake-reviews/

As the Amazon complaint explains, the fake reviewers ran their scheme through a work-for-site site called Fiverr. They allegedly used hundreds of fake Amazon account names and IP addresses in order to pepper the site with fake reviews. The text of the reviews are typically supplied by the people who hired them.

Of course, it has leaked over to Steam

https://mmos.com/editorials/otherland-has-hundreds-of-fake-paid-reviews-on-steam

Otherland, an early access buy to play MMORPG, based on the Tad Williams novels, is using paid fake reviews to spur interest for their game on Steam.

[Rayfer]

Interesting issue you raise A31....I hadn't thought of this before. Thanks.  And like you, I rely heavily on the grog posters opinions as I make game purchase decisions.

[jamus34]

I can honestly say that a) I have never been compensated to write a review of a game and b) any reviews I may post of a game will inherently be total garbage due to my mastery of the engrish language consisting of grunts and sighs.

[Steelgrave]

I haven't written a review in some time, but in the past I've been given a copy of a game in order to review it. That's not uncommon and it's the only compensation I've ever accepted. If it's a great game, hey, you write an honest review and you own a great new game to play. If the game sucks, you write an honest review and never play it again. I personally have never felt pressured to slant a review in any fashion, although another site (not Grogheads or anyone so affiliated) once told me my review would be "previewed" by the gaming company in question for possible "inaccuracies", to which I replied no review would be forthcoming under those circumstances and they backed off. My review and following reviews were published "as is", warts and all.

[Phantom]

Good post - I must admit I frequent sites like this to get honest reviews (not the slick advertorial one can see on some sites) and IMO Grogheads normally addresses things that I as a gamer are interested in in a balanced fashion. Long may unbiased commentary continue!

[Barthheart]

I haven't written a review in some time, but in the past I've been given a copy of a game in order to review it. That's not uncommon and it's the only compensation I've ever accepted. If it's a great game, hey, you write an honest review and you own a great new game to play. If the game sucks, you write an honest review and never play it again. I personally have never felt pressured to slant a review in any fashion, although another site (not Grogheads or anyone so affiliated) once told me my review would be "previewed" by the gaming company in question for possible "inaccuracies", to which I replied no review would be forthcoming under those circumstances and they backed off. My review and following reviews were published "as is", warts and all.

+1

I have written few reviews for this site. The games I have reviewed have been both ones that I have paid for and ones that were given to for the purpose of reviewing. I have always been completely honest in my reviews and have never been pressured by the site or game companies to write a good review for free copies given for review.
I'm also very careful about what I will take as a free review copy. If it's a game style/type I know I won't like I will not take the copy for review just to get a free game.

For this site I'm not sure what added info you get from one of the reviewers publicly stating if the game was bought or free review copy... It's a fairly tight community and it would stand out like a sore thumb if someone posted a gushing review about any game that lots of others had questioned.

PS Won't have to worry about my reviews fer awhile 'cause I've taken a break to play!

[DennisS]

Like many others, I appreciate the insights of other like-minded grognards, much more so than a reviewer that doesn't share our same passions for military-themed gaming.

Having said that, I like to share my views as well. I have never been compensated, nor would I seek to be. I agree with the OP. Any potential conflict of interest needs to be addressed up front, and a more critical eye used on the resulting evaluation.

[Apocalypse 31]

This thread wasnt intended to point fingers, so please don't take defensive postures.

It was driven by me reading a thread about an upcoming game, where a fellow user said he would wait to make his purchase based on the feedback from his fellow grogs.

It made me realize that we are an influential group, and that it would be easy for someone to misuse that influence.

[Steelgrave]

This thread wasnt intended to point fingers, so please don't take defensive postures.

It was driven by me reading a thread about an upcoming game, where a fellow user said he would wait to make his purchase based on the feedback from his fellow grogs.

It made me realize that we are an influential group, and that it would be easy for someone to misuse that influence.

I welcome your post and certainly don't take it as pointing fingers. It's a very valid question that I'm glad can be addressed openly. One of the many things I appreciate about Grogheads is that we are not strictly niche and when you've been around the same group of guys for awhile, you know who's taste mirrors yours. Gusington and Metaldog tend to enjoy the same games I do and Jarhead is a voice I always listen to when it comes to space sims. DennisS ferrets out games that I might not have considered and his reviews have led me to purchase quite a few of them. Cen and Barthheart are guys I always pay attention to when they post a review or even simply discuss a game. As a moderator, I guess I'm tooting our own horn here, but I love the non-corporate influenced nature of our game reviews....we are gamers first and foremost, we are fans, we are the target audience, we are the guys who shell out the bucks for the products.

We are Grogheads!!!    8)

[Barthheart]

This thread wasnt intended to point fingers, so please don't take defensive postures.

It was driven by me reading a thread about an upcoming game, where a fellow user said he would wait to make his purchase based on the feedback from his fellow grogs.

It made me realize that we are an influential group, and that it would be easy for someone to misuse that influence.

I welcome your post and certainly don't take it as pointing fingers. It's a very valid question that I'm glad can be addressed openly. One of the many things I appreciate about Grogheads is that we are not strictly niche and when you've been around the same group of guys for awhile, you know who's taste mirrors yours. Gusington and Metaldog tend to enjoy the same games I do and Jarhead is a voice I always listen to when it comes to space sims. DennisS ferrets out games that I might not have considered and his reviews have led me to purchase quite a few of them. Cen and Barthheart are guys I always pay attention to when they post a review or even simply discuss a game. As a moderator, I guess I'm tooting our own horn here, but I love the non-corporate influenced nature of our game reviews....we are gamers first and foremost, we are fans, we are the target audience, we are the guys who shell out the bucks for the products.

We are Grogheads!!!    8)

O0

This is the place I come to first for the real poop on games that might interest me. I like to read all the reviews here, even for games that I might not like, like Jim's fascination with all things Nappy... who knows maybe he can finally convince me to play something that doesn't have tanks in it.

[Apocalypse 31]

who knows maybe he can finally convince me to play something that doesn't have tanks in it.

There are games without tanks?

[Barthheart]

who knows maybe he can finally convince me to play something that doesn't have tanks in it.

There are games without tanks?

I know right!?!

[Steelgrave]

who knows maybe he can finally convince me to play something that doesn't have tanks in it.

There are games without tanks?

First I've heard of it!!!

Clank, clank, I'm a tank, baybee....

[bayonetbrant]

who knows maybe he can finally convince me to play something that doesn't have tanks in it.

There are games without tanks?

I know right!?!

Says the Wing Leader ::)