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

[panzerde]

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

There are games without tanks?

Cuirassier = tank
Hussar = light tank
Dragoon = apc

You just have to have the right perspective, Barth.

That's an important question and one I think is worth examining. It's been awhile since I've done any actual reviews on the site, but like Barth, sometimes I've received a review copy and sometimes not. If I'm just posting in the forums though, that's a game I've bought. Certainly no one has ever pressured me to say other than what I think, or offered me any inducement to slant my opinion.

Having hung out around here a few years I've come to know a lot of the crew here personally. Believe me, these are people that will straight up tell you, the developer, and possibly random passers-by if they don't like a game or something in a game. They'll do the same if they like it. They're all gamers/grogs first and foremost, and games are too important a thing to them to not be honest about their opinions.

I think one thing that really makes this community special in terms of it being a great place to get honest opinions about games is that it isn't just about reviews, but about forum discussions, AARs, videos people have made of game play, and just about anything else you can think of that lets people see and understand the game being played. I think that diversity of opinion and resources makes it nigh on impossible for any sort of shenanigans to go on.

[Boggit]

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!

Pretty much the same perspective as me. O0

I'll say upfront that the majority of reviews I do (but certainly not all) are based on review copies, which is the normal practice for most gaming writers. Like Barthheart, I tend to pick games I think I will like, and in most cases I am rarely disappointed. In those circumstances, reviews tend to be upbeat, although nothing is perfect. However, if it's a genre that I'm an admitted fanboy of, like Combat mission, or AGEOD games then I tend to be picky over even small issues. If I'm already a fanboy of the game, then the Dev has already set the bar high for themselves, and the game needs to reflect that. So if they've been even a bit sloppy and I spot it, it usually gets a mention. Here's a good example of a game I love, but got picky with... http://grogheads.com/?p=1451#more-1451 .

If it's a game that I'm not enthusiastic about, then you will know from the language used - e.g. "the game isn't my cup of tea", or similar.

I can honestly say that I have never been put under any pressure to write anything other than what I've thought about a game. If I gush over a particular game it is because I love it, and if I don't then draw your own conclusions. I've learnt over time to be careful with the language I use because even if I don't like a game for various reasons, it doesn't mean someone else will not love it.

[Gusington]

In the distant past...10+ years ago...I occasionally received payment of ~25.00 and a copy of the game I was reviewing. More recently [and I haven't wrote a review in a LONG time] I haven't received compensation other than a copy of the game, if that. And more than half the time I would already have bought it myself.

All that said...why would anyone want to play a game without tanks of some kind?

[Steelgrave]

All that said...why would anyone want to play a game without tanks of some kind?

Which is why you joined the infantry, right?   

[Gusington]

^No I did that to clean latrines, direct traffic, get yelled at, become constipated and clean latrines.

[Steelgrave]

^No I did that to clean latrines, direct traffic, get yelled at, become constipated and clean latrines.

I should have known you had a plan.   O0

[Barthheart]

Always have a plan.... even if it's a crappy one..... ;)