We need a rating system for those selling/buying services

jigglybean

The pitch -

If a developer uses an artist registered here, we can post a star rating for feed back(much like Amazon does) where users can leave comments and replies can be left.

The same can apply for artists who were paid on time by a developer.

This all came about with a discussion with a few artists who have been burnt and myself as a developer(work in progress!) who has also been burnt.

I understand the legal so GS may not want to get involved but we are all grown up around here and I think it would really benefit everyone and stop those clowns stealing other peoples art and passing off as theirs and/or developers who simply don't pay their bills.


Thoughts?

The_Gamesalad_Guru

I've been preaching that around here for a while. But I get labeled as a tight a$$ yet I hear all the horror stories from my clients of all the people on these forums who fail to do the work or honor their obligations mostly because they really don't have the real skills needed. Lots of pretenders who know nothing about business who slap a name ending in studio and think that makes them a professional or a business. Beware who you hire and who you choose to work for. Remember if some says the'll do it cheap there is no incentive to finish it. I know this goes on a lot around here and it shameful and immoral.

RP

"but we are all grown up around here"

Actually that's kind of a problem. We are not all grown ups here. There are quite a few folks/studios that portrait themselves a business minded adults and until the topic of age come up, things get ugly, or when they have unrealistic expectations on services or costs. I think that is something that is going to require an age restriction (some form of governing registration) as we don't want someone who's having a tantrum, improperly rating or leaving negative comments because they don't understand ethics.

I'm not saying it's a bad idea. Fry brings up the same point above. I think it just may be more than GS wants to focus on or have some type of expected responsibility due to association. Who's going to be held accountable when a highly rated/regarded member burns someone? That kinda thing.

Hopscotch

I think that everyone should be alert to that fact that although this industry is not young, the proliferation of easy entry development tools that have come out in recent years, has thrown us into an, albeit belated, gold-rush situation. This unfortunately attracts all kinds (age unrelated).

Unfortunately, a rating system would be good, although I also don't think that the GS-Forum is the place for it.

goliath

That's actually a great idea..... Maybe somehow list it on our profile?

jonmulcahy

I'm sure the folks at GS have better things to focus on that managing a community review for 3rd party providers However this is something that is greatly needed.

I think first thing that ANY professional should have is a testimonials page where they can direct prospective clients to comments from previous clients. Even better, have contact information (and permission) so that prospective clients can contact them direct (on a big job or something).

For people looking to hire someone, you should all be requesting this information when requesting bids.

The_Gamesalad_Guru

I always interview my clients as they interview me via Skype. If a client won't video conference with me or voice chat I won't work for them. I screen my clients as well as they screen me and this leads me to say NO thanks to 90% of the requests I get. I expect my clients to be professional people who understand the creative process and have realistic expectations and budgets. I game develop full time. People always ask how do I get to the place of doing this full time. The answer is be a good business person. That means, customer service, be knowledgable, have recognizable talent, be hard working and deliver your services and communications on time. In business your name and reputation is everything!

RP

Yeah, good coms (equipment and skills) is an absolute if you are working remotely. It works for some and not for others. Dumping an email of data and expecting someone to read your mind is going to end up in tragedy. If you have an inability to speak up or accurately express your needs, wants and expectations, you will run into similar circumstances. Being timely and productive, not procrastinating (getting to it when you feel like it) and not letting personal matters interfere are essential. Knowing when to pass up projects or works when you are bitting off more than you can chew (via resources, ability or time) Having a talent and the ability of providing a service is just a small portion of it.

KnightStar

Having a ratings system or at least a Review system, like YELP or Angie's List sounds like isn't a bad idea.. That said, I totally agree with the comment on how the GS folks should NOT be handling such a thing - let them continue brewing good stuff for development.

This actually sounds like it'd be a nice service that a group like the folks at @GSHelper or @DeepBlueApps could spearhead, since they already have an established service and niche of trusted followers / customers. Granted, such a service would need to come with a cost, like Angie's List, since there is a cost involved with managing this, but it'd likely be low enough as to not drive potential users off..

That said, there's also the CAVEAT EMPTOR element as well, as Fry mentioned - anyone that's looking to spend money to hire someone / buy a service had also better do their homework and verify (i.e. asking around, looking at samples, etc.) what they're getting.

- KS

GOG_Games

Seems interesting. Yes, it seems like a good idea. But I agree with @RP, there should be at least an age restriction of some sort.

HalfBakedProductions

Just like what everybody was saying, I think it would be a good idea to have a rating feature as well as a feature that shows your age.

I totally empathize with the GS Users who have been 'ripped off' from younger users, like myself, which is why I have specified my age right of the bat and don't purchase assets, etc. from 3rd party vendors in GameSalad

The only problem I see with a feature that shows your age is that people could lie. The rating system seems like a 'bug-free' idea, though :P

The_Gamesalad_Guru

It's not so much age it's bad ethics on the part of even adults. Although game creation might be for everyone conducting business is not.