Author Topic: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console  (Read 16938 times)

Necromancer

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #240 on: April 26, 2018, 05:31:22 AM »
The only failure I see is a forum mod, who should be impartial and unbiased....

Nowhere in my job description does it say that I can't express my opinions.  My job is to approve new registrations, move misplaced threads, and enforce the rules; anything else you think I should be doing is your own ignorant bias and wishful thinking.

.... making an authoritative-sounding accusation (including profanity) in an attempt to discredit a project which they admittedly do not have the experience or background to discredit.

Nobody needs direct personal experience to see what's been happening and recognize poor marketing.  It's a fact that you've been secretive about what the hardware is and what exactly it does (hybrid emulation, lulz), it's a fact that you've officially announced and missed several reveal dates and pre-order openings, and it's a fact that you went nearly a year without any news on your official site.  There's plenty of the same points being made on your own forum for crying out loud.

I understand the reason for being quiet (protecting yourself from potential competitors and having investors instead of crowdfunding), but that doesn't change the fact that you've left your audience hanging in the wind for over a year with nothing but "just wait, it'll be great, trust us!".  It's not hard to see why people are skeptical about it ever coming out, as there's little difference between the way you're acting and what was seen with various vaporware systems.

I've heard rumors that the mods here have really gotten bad here but to see it myself is a different story. At least on Atari-Age the hater brigade are just regular members and the mods largely stay out of it.

Yeah, no doubt the recent chatter about bad mods is all about me and not a certain canine.  :lol:

Full disclosure, I lead the Polymega team and have been a PCEFX member here since before the project started (and in PCEFX infancy on a separate account).

Good for you.  Maybe you'd have more support and less skepticism if you'd actually engage with us instead of dismissing legitimate concerns as 'trolling'.

Because when the referee starts throwing punches, you know the fight is fixed. So whats the point of trying to have a fair discussion in the first place? The actions of those in charge represent and warrant the credibility of the forum as a whole, and as someone who has used this forum as a source of good information and community for collecting over the years, its pretty sad to see this type of mud-slinging from someone in a position of power and authority. So I've called it out where normally I would pay such accusations no mind.

This isn't your forum.  I don't delete posts and threaten bans because of dissenting opinions and simple complaints.
« Last Edit: April 26, 2018, 08:13:22 AM by Necromancer »
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dangdang

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #241 on: April 26, 2018, 06:49:42 AM »
Quote
Nowhere in my job description does it say that I can't express my opinions.  My job is to approve new registrations, move misplaced threads, and enforce the rules; anything else you think I should be doing is your own ignorant bias and wishful thinking.


Then by all means continue to do what you're doing.

Quote
Nobody needs direct personal experience to see what's been happening and recognize poor marketing.  It's a fact that you've been secretive about what the hardware is and what exactly it does (hybrid emulation, lulz), it's a fact that you've officially announced and missed several reveal dates and pre-order openings, and it's a fact that you went nearly a year without any news on your official site.  There's plenty of the same points being made on your own forum for crying out loud.

I understand the reason for being quiet (protecting yourself from potential competitors and having investors instead of crowdfunding), but that doesn't change the fact that you've left your audience hanging in the wind for over a year with nothing but "just wait, it'll be great, trust us!".  It's not hard to see why people are skeptical about it ever coming out, as there's little difference between the way you're acting and what was seen with various vaporware systems.

Speaking for the project, it's not at all about the merits of what you said, which actually is open for healthy debate, instead that as a mod - you hold a position of authority which makes your comments hold sway above and beyond that of a standard forum member, and by using this forum / platform to comment, you express bias that potentially could prevent other members who might have otherwise been open to expressing a counterpoint from engaging in meaningful discussion. It's not surprising that many of the people who have seen / played / vouched for and reported back to this forum their experiences using the system are no longer around.

As a PCEFX forum member, I will happily debate the merits of what you actually said from an informed insider position, but it's so far off, it's not really even worth the time and effort.

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Yeah, no doubt the recent chatter about bad mods is all about me and not a certain canine.  :lol:

Misquoted me. I said I've heard rumors that the op situation here was bad, not that it was or wasn't fact. What is a fact, is to see smack talking directly from the mods shows that there's a serious lack of professionalism going on. The only thing seemingly idealistic on my side is the expectation that a popular forum mod would have some integrity.

Quote
Good for you.  Maybe you'd have more support and less skepticism if you'd actually engage with us instead of dismissing legitimate concerns as 'trolling'.

It's not our policy to engage "legitimate concerns" on forums that are not ours as it directs traffic to sites other than our own. The team answers every thread that is posted on Polymega's forums. The only reason I posted here is because as card-carrying PCE fan and member of this forum, I don't think the mods should be expressing bias that would prevent fair discussion from occurring. Which is what you're getting flack from me personally for.

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This isn't your forum.  I don't delete posts and threaten bans because of dissenting opinions and simple complaints.

Right, because if it was, you'd already be demoted.

Here's a nice image of the PCE.








« Last Edit: April 26, 2018, 06:54:11 AM by dangdang »

TheClash603

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #242 on: April 26, 2018, 08:15:48 AM »
As a public relations major who has worked in a sales role since I graduated, I will say Polymega's strategies are not by the book.

I am not a repro fan, I typically only play games on real hardware so I am not here to critique the quality of the Polymega.

dangdang

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #243 on: April 26, 2018, 08:30:52 AM »
As a public relations major who has worked in a sales role since I graduated, I will say Polymega's strategies are not by the book.

I am not a repro fan, I typically only play games on real hardware so I am not here to critique the quality of the Polymega.

Important not to confuse an in-market product that is being sold with an in-development product that has trade secrets and intellectual property to protect. People may call BS, but its true. Try patenting something in Taiwan if you disagree.  :wink:
« Last Edit: April 26, 2018, 01:46:41 PM by dangdang »

Necromancer

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #244 on: April 26, 2018, 09:08:28 AM »
Then by all means continue to do what you're doing.

Thanks, bro, I'll do that!

Speaking for the project, it's not at all about the merits of what you said, which actually is open for healthy debate, instead that as a mod - you hold a position of authority which makes your comments hold sway above and beyond that of a standard forum member, and by using this forum / platform to comment, you express bias that potentially could prevent other members who might have otherwise been open to expressing a counterpoint from engaging in meaningful discussion.
....
What is a fact, is to see smack talking directly from the mods shows that there's a serious lack of professionalism going on. The only thing seemingly idealistic on my side is the expectation that a popular forum mod would have some integrity.
....
The only reason I posted here is because as card-carrying PCE fan and member of this forum, I don't think the mods should be expressing bias that would prevent fair discussion from occurring. Which is what you're getting flack from me personally for.

You keep claiming I'm biased and lack integrity, yet nothing I've said is dishonest, unethical, dishonorable, or unfair; it's based entirely on what we (the general public) have seen in official statements.  What you're really claiming is that a mod shouldn't opine about anything, and that's simply horseshit.  I can't think of a single fan forum that requires or even expects their mods to never comment on anything (positive or negative) in fear that everyone else will follow suit.

Let's get real here: if I was being 100% positive about the polymega, you'd think I was the best mod evah! and doing god's work.  We both know you're not on douphile berating nully for being a amoral, biased jerk.  :lol:

It's not surprising that many of the people who have seen / played / vouched for and reported back to this forum their experiences using the system are no longer around.

Your (willful?) ignorance is showing again.  It's not because of me that nully and friends are gone.

As a PCEFX forum member, I will happily debate the merits of what you actually said from an informed insider position, but it's so far off, it's not really even worth the time and effort.

Since you can't debate facts, you're going to stick to telling us how this forum should be run?  Understood.  :lol:

Misquoted me. I said I've heard rumors that the op situation here was bad, not that it was or wasn't fact.

Yep, sorry about that.  I went back and removed my unintentionally added words.

It's not our policy to engage "legitimate concerns" on forums that are not ours as it directs traffic to sites other than our own. The team answers every thread that is posted on Polymega's forums.

Yes, but like I said, you answer it with "just wait, it'll be awesome, trust us!"
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DarkKobold

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #245 on: April 26, 2018, 09:18:01 AM »
I gotta agree with Necro. The PR on this hasn't been great.

 I like dangdang as a person. He's a great guy. However, he's definitely not winning the favor of the community by condescending to everyone. People who have actually seen the demo are impressed... but we live in the post-Coleco-Chameleon world. People are going to be skeptical, and very few people have actually seen the thing. Thus, it sounds like a bunch of marketing hype with very little substance.

That said, no one has asked for money for this project. The best PR move would be "We hear your concerns, we agree that we came out too early, and please be patient with us. We won't ask for money until we have a product ready to sell." Getting into the weeds with members of the community doesn't do anyone any good.
Hey, you.

esteban

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #246 on: April 26, 2018, 09:39:05 AM »
Hmmm.... interesting developments in this thread recently. 

I wasn’t expecting for there to be any life in this desiccated, leathery old sack of wondermega.

:)
  |    | 

Lost Monkey

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #247 on: April 26, 2018, 10:16:36 AM »
I gotta agree with Necro. The PR on this hasn't been great.

 I like dangdang as a person. He's a great guy. However, he's definitely not winning the favor of the community by condescending to everyone. People who have actually seen the demo are impressed... but we live in the post-Coleco-Chameleon world. People are going to be skeptical, and very few people have actually seen the thing. Thus, it sounds like a bunch of marketing hype with very little substance.

That said, no one has asked for money for this project. The best PR move would be "We hear your concerns, we agree that we came out too early, and please be patient with us. We won't ask for money until we have a product ready to sell." Getting into the weeds with members of the community doesn't do anyone any good.

Nice post.   I have no animosity towards Polymega, just 25+ years of internet experience.    Failed projects announced too early have been the butt of internet follies for a really long time, and they always seem to start out the same way...

It would be nice to suddenly wake up and hear about a previously unannounced console that is available for sale, but unfortunately no-one seems to want to follow that model.  Just remember - Mike Kennedy didn't ruin it for everyone else - that would be giving him too much credit as he was not the first - he just ruined it for the next couple guys.

I really wish Polymega luck - and I hope you are having fun doing this...

dangdang

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #248 on: April 26, 2018, 10:28:11 AM »
@DK I think you're showing exactly the kind of qualities that it takes to be a moderator -- which speaks exactly to my only real point in participating in this discussion. When the moderator is no longer mediating the discussion and is choosing a side, whats left? Your words are markedly clearer and more fair, while you still have an opinion of the subject at hand.

schweaty

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #249 on: April 26, 2018, 10:36:50 AM »
youre looking at this all wrong.  just because necro is a mod doesnt mean that anyone takes his opinion around here any more seriously than the next guy's.  in fact, no one really cares about anyone's opinion around here other than their own  :mrgreen:.  we're mostly middle-aged dad-types who are pretty set on our ways.  stick around for a while and you'll be just as crusty as the rest of us.

Necromancer

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #250 on: April 26, 2018, 11:11:16 AM »
DK only agrees with me because I'm a moderator.  He always agrees with me.

:derpcat:
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DarkKobold

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #251 on: April 26, 2018, 11:25:42 AM »
@DK I think you're showing exactly the kind of qualities that it takes to be a moderator -- which speaks exactly to my only real point in participating in this discussion. When the moderator is no longer mediating the discussion and is choosing a side, whats left? Your words are markedly clearer and more fair, while you still have an opinion of the subject at hand.

Um, you said it yourself, he's a moderator not a mediator. His job is only to prevent things from spiraling out of control, not to serve as an impartial referee. Necro's totally entitled to his opinion, and his foul-mouthed way of expressing it. I'd suggest dropping your feud with him, as your job (as a PR person) is to make Polymega look great.

Now, granted, you didn't ask for that video to be posted here, but it got posted. So, your best option isn't to get into a battle over what a moderator's responsibilities are, but instead to say something akin to:

"Hi everyone,

That video was posted to our personal blog so that those interested in following our progress can be kept up to date. We understand the concerns that we came out of the PR gate too early and to fast. We also understand everyone's cynicism. Seeing debacles like the Retron 5 stealing emulator code, and the fraudulent creations by the RetroVGS/ColecoChameleon left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. We hope, in the coming months, as we make more progress, we will be able to overcome this cynicism by providing real high quality demos. Those who are interested can continue to follow us at *address*. Those who are skeptical, we hope that we will change your mind when the time is right and we have a product ready. In the mean time, we appreciate your patience, and look forward to surprising you with our wonderful product. I personally believe everyone will love it.

Thank you, from everyone involved in the PolyMega Team."


The problem is, you haven't done that, and continue to not do that. Instead, you debate the merits of a moderator having an opinion.
Hey, you.

dangdang

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #252 on: April 26, 2018, 12:11:39 PM »
Quote
youre looking at this all wrong.  just because necro is a mod doesnt mean that anyone takes his opinion around here any more seriously than the next guy's.  in fact, no one really cares about anyone's opinion around here other than their own  :mrgreen:.  we're mostly middle-aged dad-types who are pretty set on our ways.  stick around for a while and you'll be just as crusty as the rest of us.

I totally understand the fraternal dad-vibe you're talking about, but let me provide a counterpoint from the perspective of a hypothetical new member of the forum.

As easy as it was for him to criticize the operational matters of my company, it was just as easy for me to volley complaints against him related to my perception of his quality as a moderator. Nobody got anywhere with either argument since neither of us were *actually* qualified to make such arguments -- he doesn't run a company making a game console, and I'm not a forum moderator. The only difference is that here on PCEFX, he is a known quantity in possession of a ban hammer, and I being Jerry Jelly, am an unknown. Were I not to disclose that I actually work on the project, I would have been instantly crushed by him and others backing him up, which nearly happened after my first post when someone said I was derailing the topic, which I assume to be coded language for "ban this guy".

Regardless of whether what he said was true or not, Jerry Jelly will lose 100% of the time in this situation if a defense is made or equal eye is taken in response to the mod. I'm fine taking that shot, because in the end I'm well enough known outside of PCEFX that I can substantiate an argument with a mod here, but anyone who isn't, and is really just a guy who is excited about the system (or whatever the argument is at hand), is basically DOA. So, if you aren't a long time poster I can't imagine how someone would ever make an argument in response without getting massively ganged up on.

Normally the moderator would do their job and make sure both sides can be heard - which was only done in this instance by DK. Therein lies the issue I've been railing on about and why, yes, I think mods here should demote themselves before deciding to make inflammatory remarks, at least on the forum which they run. Elsewhere, go for it.



TheClash603

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #253 on: April 26, 2018, 12:35:19 PM »
@DK I think you're showing exactly the kind of qualities that it takes to be a moderator -- which speaks exactly to my only real point in participating in this discussion. When the moderator is no longer mediating the discussion and is choosing a side, whats left? Your words are markedly clearer and more fair, while you still have an opinion of the subject at hand.

Um, you said it yourself, he's a moderator not a mediator. His job is only to prevent things from spiraling out of control, not to serve as an impartial referee. Necro's totally entitled to his opinion, and his foul-mouthed way of expressing it. I'd suggest dropping your feud with him, as your job (as a PR person) is to make Polymega look great.

Now, granted, you didn't ask for that video to be posted here, but it got posted. So, your best option isn't to get into a battle over what a moderator's responsibilities are, but instead to say something akin to:

"Hi everyone,

That video was posted to our personal blog so that those interested in following our progress can be kept up to date. We understand the concerns that we came out of the PR gate too early and to fast. We also understand everyone's cynicism. Seeing debacles like the Retron 5 stealing emulator code, and the fraudulent creations by the RetroVGS/ColecoChameleon left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. We hope, in the coming months, as we make more progress, we will be able to overcome this cynicism by providing real high quality demos. Those who are interested can continue to follow us at *address*. Those who are skeptical, we hope that we will change your mind when the time is right and we have a product ready. In the mean time, we appreciate your patience, and look forward to surprising you with our wonderful product. I personally believe everyone will love it.

Thank you, from everyone involved in the PolyMega Team."


The problem is, you haven't done that, and continue to not do that. Instead, you debate the merits of a moderator having an opinion.

+1

dangdang

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Re: RetroBlox : Another new Play-Everything "Retro" Console
« Reply #254 on: April 26, 2018, 01:22:34 PM »
@DK I think you're showing exactly the kind of qualities that it takes to be a moderator -- which speaks exactly to my only real point in participating in this discussion. When the moderator is no longer mediating the discussion and is choosing a side, whats left? Your words are markedly clearer and more fair, while you still have an opinion of the subject at hand.

Um, you said it yourself, he's a moderator not a mediator. His job is only to prevent things from spiraling out of control, not to serve as an impartial referee. Necro's totally entitled to his opinion, and his foul-mouthed way of expressing it. I'd suggest dropping your feud with him, as your job (as a PR person) is to make Polymega look great.

Now, granted, you didn't ask for that video to be posted here, but it got posted. So, your best option isn't to get into a battle over what a moderator's responsibilities are, but instead to say something akin to:

"Hi everyone,

That video was posted to our personal blog so that those interested in following our progress can be kept up to date. We understand the concerns that we came out of the PR gate too early and to fast. We also understand everyone's cynicism. Seeing debacles like the Retron 5 stealing emulator code, and the fraudulent creations by the RetroVGS/ColecoChameleon left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. We hope, in the coming months, as we make more progress, we will be able to overcome this cynicism by providing real high quality demos. Those who are interested can continue to follow us at *address*. Those who are skeptical, we hope that we will change your mind when the time is right and we have a product ready. In the mean time, we appreciate your patience, and look forward to surprising you with our wonderful product. I personally believe everyone will love it.

Thank you, from everyone involved in the PolyMega Team."


The problem is, you haven't done that, and continue to not do that. Instead, you debate the merits of a moderator having an opinion.

As a forum member, my opinion of how a forum moderator should act isn't going to change.

Speaking as the head of the project, the time for polite lip service and apologizing for other peoples failed projects passed long ago. We're far beyond that. Instead, I'd rather just extend beta invitations to people who are interested in testing the new PCE/TG16 emulator and Polymega's user interface. So, if you're actively following this thread right now and are interested, the first 5 people to PM me will get an invite. :mrgreen: