Friday, September 13, 2024

Ratings on DriveThruRPG Make Me Want To Cry


Take a look at the above image. Do you see at the bottom where it says, "As a publisher you cannot review non-publisher resources." That's me. I'm a publisher. Because of that I can't share my thoughts about games that I purchase on DriveThruRPG. I can't tell you how much that breaks my heart. I love this hobby and all I want to do is share that joy with others.

I even took down my publisher page in the hopes that this message might disappear. It hasn't. I could reach out to DriveThru to see if I could get my status changed, but lately I have been working on a new RPG. What if I want to sell Little Colony on DriveThru? So, I haven't pursued it further.

You want to know what's worse? Those ratings above? That average 2.5 out of 5 for 2 ratings? That's the rating listing for BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! It may be worth giving up any hope of ever selling a product on DriveThru just to give BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! a 5 star rating. 

BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! is so good!

A 1 star review? Really? Did this reviewer do their research to learn about the kinds of games that Spectrum Games publishes? Did they even read the product description before purchase? I get that someone probably bought this game expecting one thing while getting another.

But BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! is exactly what it claims to be, and like all of the publications by Spectrum Games the production quality is unequaled. This game should never get a 1 star review. (Gah! Now I'm sick to my stomach. Really. I'm so angry.)

BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! deserves more love.

If you read this, and you have a heart, buy BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! and give it a real review. Yes, I found a few typos. (When you make an item or power "low budget" it costs 1 budget token instead of 2. In at least 2 places in the rules it says "... costs 2 budget tokens instead of 2." Which yeah, it's a mistake and confusing, but I figured it out!) But, 1 Star?! Really??!

The art is beautiful, the layout is stellar, the design is inspired. BIFF! BAM! KAPOW! might be my favorite superhero RPG. This game deserves better than 2.5 stars! What's the matter with people?

DriveThru's Publisher Policy

I'd like to say that I disagree with DriveThru's policy regarding allowing publishers to write reviews. Publishers are also consumers. We are probably some of their biggest consumers. I'd like to think that this community is friendly and honest and that we would only review games fairly (and not review our own games at all.) But, then I see this pathetic 1 star review, and I realize that maybe I am giving our community too much credit.

This all just makes me want to cry.

It also hurts my heart that there are only 2 ratings for this game. Did only 2 people buy it? 

No. 

I bought it, but I can't leave a review. Is every person who buys games on DriveThru also a publisher? 

No. 

So, why only 2 ratings? And why is one of those ratings a 1?! Garrrgh!! 

  

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