And now I'm pissed.
Apr. 3rd, 2010 08:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Back when Kirsten and I had our dinner with Steve Jackson, he encouraged me to get back into writing. I've been dealing with health issues and work, so haven't had the chance. But today's Daily Illuminator announced a playtest for a product called Tactical Shooting. They want playtesters with real-world gun experience, preferably police and military. Sounds perfect, right? A chance to get back into the GURPS-mode of thinking, look at the current state of writing, and get into the flow again.
The problem? From the announcement:
In case y'all missed it, Kirsten got laid off from her good-paying job just over a year ago. She was out of work for ten months and her new job pays significantly less than what she was bringing in before. Since we're sort of addicted to food, shelter, and car payments, my purchases of RPG material has dropped off significantly. I doubt I've spent $50 on games in the past year anywhere. Dark Heresy and GURPS Character Assistant 4 are about it.
So because I'm broke, I can't contribute.
Very frustrating.
The problem? From the announcement:
Playtesters must be registered e23 customers who have spent more than $50 at e23 in the past 12 months.
In case y'all missed it, Kirsten got laid off from her good-paying job just over a year ago. She was out of work for ten months and her new job pays significantly less than what she was bringing in before. Since we're sort of addicted to food, shelter, and car payments, my purchases of RPG material has dropped off significantly. I doubt I've spent $50 on games in the past year anywhere. Dark Heresy and GURPS Character Assistant 4 are about it.
So because I'm broke, I can't contribute.
Very frustrating.
Apply anyway
Date: 3 Apr 2010 16:04 (UTC)Re: Apply anyway
Date: 3 Apr 2010 16:17 (UTC)if you are familliar enough with the SJ in SJ Games, I'm certain he'll inform the proper parties that you *will* be a playtester.
And now I'm pissed.
Date: 3 Apr 2010 17:41 (UTC)How many of their prospective playtesters can start a blog entry with "Back when Kirsten and I had dinner with (loosely paraphrasing with my own take on how I perceive that event) ZOMG STEVE FUCK*NG JACKSON!!!!!"
Re: And now I'm pissed.
Date: 3 Apr 2010 18:21 (UTC)Re: And now I'm pissed.
Date: 3 Apr 2010 18:39 (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 Apr 2010 21:56 (UTC)no subject
Date: 3 Apr 2010 22:25 (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Apr 2010 04:00 (UTC)no subject
Date: 4 Apr 2010 12:20 (UTC)This also reinforces my impression of SJ Games playtesting: it's mostly done by fans. Of course that's the usual case, but from a very small sample of games I've played (mostly Chez Geek and Munchkin) and which have apparently been playtested, I got the impression that the playtesters probably didn't give that much criticism.
That is, from playing a couple of games of each I had multiple things to say how they could be better games and what annoying parts they could improve. Of course, they're good enough games now, apparently, but I'm still annoyed at Chez Geek that the random dice roll of a nookie card is a very big part in winning the game.
GURPS sourcebooks, on the other hand, are usually excellent. I buy those.