Red Tide

[Jaybot]

[Paul]

[randall]

[Mike Wagstaff]

Wow. What a mess. <br><br>First, let me state that I had no idea that the score was politically-enhanced until recently. As Jaybot says, when I found out, I obviously wasn't best pleased.<br><br>The one thing I always want PocketGamer.org reviews to be is honest. You may get less eye-candy in the reviews than on other sites, but I wanted to put the emphasis on the quality of the review rather than the quality of the screenshots. That's why there's a 600-word minimum length that has to be adhered to with reviews - it's to try and ensure that you get to know as much about every aspect of the game as possible, not just what it looks like.<br><br>I'll be honest and upfront in what I think of the whole situation. I think that it's obvious Jason made a mistake. Perhaps I made a mistake too in not emphasizing to him that I certainly didn't want him to alter his reviewing standards just because I happened to have a role in the game.<br><br>I was also stupid because I forgot to add a disclaimer to the review mentioning my involvement, which I'll discuss below. I've since added a disclaimer, although of course, many may consider it the equivalent of shutting the stable door after the horse has well and truly bolted.<br><br>However, as you may remember, for the vast majority of the Fade news items that I posted, I did put a disclaimer at the end of each mentioning my involvement in the game's development.<br><br>As for my involvement in the game, I did most of the French-English translating. I was paid a fixed sum which was determined way back when I first started working on it, certainly a long time before a release.<br><br>Therefore, and just to make it perfectly clear, the number of sales Fade achieves has no impact on the amount of money I make whatsoever. Whether it sells 2,000,000 copies or just 200, I've already taken my money - which was paid to me before the review was published.<br><br>So, what about Jaybot? Well, to be honest with you, I'm not all that annoyed. He made a mistake. So what? We all make mistakes. As long as we're honest enough to admit to them and try and repair the damage, that's fine.<br><br>I consider Jason to be an absolute top-quality writer and, from what I can tell from our online conversations, he's a really nice guy, too. Did he do wrong? Yes. Is it the crime of the century? No.<br><br>But as for what I'm going to post up on the site about the updated review... well, your guess is good as mine! Any suggestions as to how I can word it tactfully...? <br><br>Also, if you have any further questions on this matter, please don't hesitate to speak up. I hope I've cleared most things up, but if you want something answered, please post.

[jongjungbu]

That was long, Mike.

[CARPEDIEM]

Come on mike, it's not big deal, don't even worry about updating the review.

[Matt Keys]

I dont feel as though PocketGamer has lost any integrity. I trust you guys, although I liked fade alot more than jay:) Perhaps it is because I played it at long periods of time so it was easier to understand the story?

[Jaybot]

No Matt, I basically played it straight through.  It took me longer to write the review than to beat the game  I understood the story completely it sucked.. come on, aliens?!

[RICoder]

I'm not exactly shocked.  Plus, who really cares?  Not the first time this stuff has happened in the world.<br><br>Jaybot, I found your review (word-wise) very in-depth, and very good.  It's obvious that you put the time in.  As for the score, to be honest, whether you flubbed it or not, I doubt anyone would care, since you slammed it verbally.  So, no harm, no foul.

[Jay_Mattis]

Haha, alright Jaybot.  I reviewed Fade for Pocketnow and loved it.  First of all, you must have misinterpreted the story because indeed, there are no aliens in the game.  If you would like me to explain it to you, you can contact me on AIM or ICQ.  The game was great, the story was great, and plus, it played on my Jornada.  What more could you ask for, except for a little better translations?

[Jaybot]

I consider anyone, even if they are super advanced humans from this same world, in the distant future, who just happen to speak the same language but write it down in a different language than french english or chinese, or any other modern or ancient language character set; to be aliens; especially from the lame story that was trying to be told.  It's not even them that I mind as much as the way they were used as a total copout at the end, because they didnt know how to end the story themselves.  It's like those lame stories where the guy wakes up and says, "Oh, it was all just a dream!  Thanks God!"  The End.

[randall]

lol. yeah, that would constitute a lame ending.

[randall]

Oh Christ. That is just as bad as "it was all a dream". If any sense could be made of it at all.<br><br>The programs are responsible if anything goes wrong? Yeah, that's what we need: Software with accountability for its actions. I think that is next on Microsofts "to do" list.<br><br>Matt, since you reviewed the game, what's your take on it? I'm not too worried about spoiled endings, since I have no urge to actually play the game. If it sounds like something even remotely interesting, I might actually give it a whirl and boost Fades sales to 201.<br><br><br>

[Jay_Mattis]

The game's great, and the story is actually a lot better than my quick summary made it sound.  Check out the demo and/or my review at pocketnow.com.

[Jaybot]

Yeah Jay Mattis, I sat through that long, drawn out, 30 minute lame explanation at the end of the game (how could you not?); which is probably how long it took them to come up with it.  People have different opinions, and that's wonderful.  I'll respect yours.  My taste is just a bit different.