21 replies to this topic

[rolenta]

Ugh! He's selling Midnight Tiger?????

[Random Terrain]

Quote

Ugh! He's selling Midnight Tiger?????

Is that a horrible book? The writer of it asked me to put it on my own web site a while ago. Should I take it down?

[rolenta]

Unfortunately, it is. Here's what we had to say about it on the DP forum:

http://www.digitpres...=midnight tiger

[rolenta]

and here:

http://www.digitpres...=midnight tiger

[Random Terrain]

rolenta said:

Unfortunately, it is. Here's what we had to say about it on the DP forum:
http://www.digitpres...=midnight tiger

OK, thanks. I'll take it off my web site today. I wish everyone who has read the book would review it at Amazon.com so people know how bad it is:

http://www.amazon.co...8618083-0425719

[Albert]

Random Terrain said:

rolenta said:

Ugh! He's selling Midnight Tiger?????

Is that a horrible book? The writer of it asked me to put it on my own web site a while ago. Should I take it down?

This is off topic, but..

I had a bad experience with the author, Ben Coulson, with regards to the Midnight Tiger. A while back he wanted me to carry the book in the AtariAge Store. He sent me a copy of the book, and I looked through it briefly as I was busy at the time. In my initial browse through the book I saw MANY mistakes, as has been pointed out previously. I'm not talking just a typo here or there, but mistakes on nearly every page, with many factual errors. I told Ben I would go through the book in more detail when I had time and give him additional information on the mistakes I found.

Well, some time passes, and Ben periodically emailed me asking when I would carry the book, and he was getting somewhat anxious. Then something strange happened. Out of the blue on February 12th I received several emails from different people inquiring about the book. I quote,

David Walker said:

Hello.  First time I have done this, not quite sure what to say?  I am looking for a book, an atari review guide called The Midnight Tiger Guide to Atari 2600 games.  I was told that you might be stocking it but I searched your store and could not find it.  I am trying to get a copy of it so could you please let me know if you are stocking said item or where I could find it.  My thanks to you

Next,

Angel Barlow said:

I was wondering if you have heard of a book called MidnightTigers Guide to Atari Games? and if so, is it available to buy through your website?  I have been looking to buy it and other atari type books.  If you know how they can be purchased, please contact me.  

And then,

John Carter said:

Hi have you any plans to stock a review guide called the Midnight Tiger Guide to Atari 2600 games?  I was told that you might sell them cheaper than amazon.com.  Could you please advise if you have any in stock or if you are going to get any in stock?

These messages were received within a few hours of one another and came from different AOL accounts. Not 34 minutes after receiving the last email (from "John Carter"), I received another message from Ben inquiring again as to when I would start selling the book. I thought this was somewhat suspicious, but I didn't say anything. Then a week later I received an email from Ben using a different email account that MATCHED the email address that "David Walker" used.

I confronted Ben about this and he denied it all, claiming David Walker was a "co-worker" and that this was a work email address they shared. Right. Needless to say, I won't be adding this book to the AtariAge Store, not just because of the book's less than stellar quality, but also because of this attempt to manipulate me into thinking there is interest in the book.

..Al

[bjk7382]

Albert said:

I confronted Ben about this and he denied it all, claiming David Walker was a "co-worker" and that this was a work email address they shared.  Right.  Needless to say, I won't be adding this book to the AtariAge Store, not just because of the book's less than stellar quality, but also because of this attempt to manipulate me into thinking there is interest in the book.

That is pretty sad if someone tries to spur intrest in their book by sending fake emails and then lying about it when it is obvious there was no other people. (Like what are the chances of him and a "co-worker" sending emails to the same person about the same subject on the same day? Most likely about a million to one)

I would have been quite irate with him if he tried to pull that crap on me.

Thanks for the heads up from everyone about this book, I will be sure to NEVER pick up a copy of it.

[Random Terrain]

Albert said:

I had a bad experience with the author, Ben Coulson, with regards to the Midnight Tiger.

Thanks for the extra anti-Midnight Tiger information. I already took the links off my web site and I hope all of those who have read it and didn't like it will go to Amazon.com and write a negative review so that others will be warned. I haven't read it, so I can't review it.

[oesii]

Random Terrain said:

Albert said:

I had a bad experience with the author, Ben Coulson, with regards to the Midnight Tiger.

Thanks for the extra anti-Midnight Tiger information. I already took the links off my web site and I hope all of those who have read it and didn't like it will go to Amazon.com and write a negative review so that others will be warned. I haven't read it, so I can't review it.

In one of those links over at DP, the author of Midnight Tiger obviously did the same thing by posting with a made up name, his support of the book and trying to discredit Leonard's review. Pretty sad shilling and don't these guys figure out that shilling through the internet is usually seen easily with all the electronic tracking?

[Albert]

oesii said:

In one of those links over at DP, the author of Midnight Tiger obviously did the same thing by posting with a made up name, his support of the book and trying to discredit Leonard's review.  Pretty sad shilling and don't these guys figure out that shilling through the internet is usually seen easily with all the electronic tracking?

LMFAO!

I just went back and looked at that post, you can see it here. The first time I read this message I didn't think much about the username foxbatslayer, but then it clicked!! The guy's main email address is foxbatslayer1989@aol.com. This address was listed as contact information for an article on the book in Retro Magazin (appears to be the April issue, but I don't have the magazine, only found a PDF of that single page here.)

That certainly sheds any doubts I might have had about what Ben was attempting to do to me. The many errors in the book don't seem very surprising in hindsight, as this guy doesn't appear to be too bright.

..Al

[Big Player]

Now if Ben had only spend that much time writing his book, think of where we would be.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Albert said:

I just went back and looked at that post, you can see it here.  The first time I read this message I didn't think much about the username foxbatslayer, but then it clicked!!  The guy's main email address is foxbatslayer1989@aol.com.  This address was listed as contact information for an article on the book in Retro Magazin (appears to be the April issue, but I don't have the magazine, only found a PDF of that single page here.)

BTW: I didn't know that you are reading(? ) German magazines.

[rolenta]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

BTW: I didn't know that you are reading(? ) German magazines.

Thomas, can you translate this for us?

[Thomas Jentzsch]

rolenta said:

Thomas, can you translate this for us?

With a "little" help from Bablefish:

Quote

Literature for Atari of 2600 friends
A new, remarkable book for all Atari
2600-Fans is recently in Great Britain
appeared, which we absolutely present you
want:
Ben Coulson: The Midnight tiger - Complete
Guide ton of Atari 2600 video Games
Midnight tiger?! Clearly: the first question, those
emerges! Calling the book has one
very special background. Ben Coulson, author
the book, only Atari is notfan but
full-time writers. In one its
Novels at which it straight, is called those writes
Main figure "Midnight tiger". There Ben besides
Fable for tigers does not have and it straight anything better
, he broke in for this title decided.
Whether this title and the pertinent frontispiece
itself absolutely salespromoting on its book
affect are times undecided, but possible
It has law cases thereby already in
Apron impossible... That would hereby be
clarified; -) In the age of the Internets are
New publications on the book market surely
rather the exception. Usually bring up for discussion
these books then also usually history
the video game industry or those describe
Variety of the historical geraetschaften. Here
however it exclusively concerns for that
VCS Atari 2600 published plays.
Ben Coulson, the author, collects after own
Data, since 1981 plays for Atari 2600 and
have accordingly all plays, those before
and appeared also afterwards in its
Book taken up. One sees times of
"regional" rare pieces and approve of Taiwan
Pirat copies off, in addition count also in
Germany von Quelle and other department stores
sold plays, the sub-title meets "Complete
Guide ton of Atari 2600 video Games "the nail
on the head!
All plays of the well-known and unknown
Manufacturers do not only become here on 180 sides
mentioned, no - all plays become
Comments delivered.
The comments contain personal in each case
Evaluations of the author whether the play value,
in addition, interesting background informations,
Rare piece estimates etc..
Even plays of "unofficial" manufacturers (Hozer,
Ebivision, Atariage) and prototypes are missing here
not! The plays are in alphabetical
Sequence arranged. At the end of the book
the author gives information to the individual manufacturers
(historical, information, number of programmed
...) and it also, numerous does not forget plays
To abandon InterNet addresses. This (unfortunately
only) into English paperback appeared can
I each collecting tank of Atari 2600 plays
recommend - the book pleases me really much
well! If one can live thereby, not always
with the estimates of the author conformal too
go doing and without pictures and Screenshots
can (then would be safe from the paperback
a thick expensive book become) and one not
collecting tank of pirat copies is absolute: BUY!
Appeared the book 2003 in the Upfront
P u b l i s h i n g VE r l A g (L e i C e s t e r s h i r e)
(www.upfrontpublishing.com).
ISBN: 1-84426-265-0
Momentary is me an order only over
AMAZON.de admits. Who a marked copy
of the author wishes, which has me Ben insured,
gladly personally, with the reference Retro can
To be magazine reader, with it contact
aufnehmen:Foxbatslayer1989@aol.com
It offers the book for 11,50 Pound (inclusive dispatch)
on, those are approx.. 16 euro. Ben puts still CD
for the PC von Hozer Hozer-Video in addition!
And still something: Ben Coulson works at present
at a "Arcade Review Guide (1975-2000),
the date of publication stands however still
not firmly.

[Spirantho]

Random Terrain said:

OK, thanks. I'll take it off my web site today. I wish everyone who has read the book would review it at Amazon.com so people know how bad it is:
http://www.amazon.co...8618083-0425719

This is classic.. check out the user comments, and compare comment no. 3 with comment no. 5.

It would appear, that the people of Cranfield, Bedford (UK) are really into Atari 2600 gaming, or something... who'd have thought it?

[rolenta]

Thomas Jentzsch said:

Ben Coulson works at present at a "Arcade Review Guide (1975-2000), the date of publication stands however still
not firmly.

Egads!!!!

Thanks for the translation Thomas.

[Thomas Jentzsch]

Spirantho said:

This is classic..  check out the user comments, and compare comment no. 3 with comment no. 5.

It would appear, that the people of Cranfield, Bedford (UK) are really into Atari 2600 gaming, or something... who'd have thought it?

At least there are now two (very recent) bad reviews too.

[oesii]

Spirantho said:

Random Terrain said:

OK, thanks. I'll take it off my web site today. I wish everyone who has read the book would review it at Amazon.com so people know how bad it is:
http://www.amazon.co...8618083-0425719

This is classic.. check out the user comments, and compare comment no. 3 with comment no. 5.

It would appear, that the people of Cranfield, Bedford (UK) are really into Atari 2600 gaming, or something... who'd have thought it?

Unbelievable, he uses most of the same text in both reviews and pretends to be an impartial reviewer at first. I guess his second review he signed it as the author but at least he was kind enough to leave a 5-star rating. What an enormous shill this guy is, must be from a family of snake oil salesmen or travelling con artists.

Talk about trying too hard, fix the errors next time and let the book sell itself.

[oesii]

Oh, and I would but some money down that the other 5-star rating on Amazon is also a shill from Ben. He's fixated on having reviewed exactly over 600 games, way to tip your hat.

[Random Terrain]

Spirantho said:

Random Terrain said:

OK, thanks. I'll take it off my web site today. I wish everyone who has read the book would review it at Amazon.com so people know how bad it is:
http://www.amazon.co...8618083-0425719

This is classic.. check out the user comments, and compare comment no. 3 with comment no. 5.

It would appear, that the people of Cranfield, Bedford (UK) are really into Atari 2600 gaming, or something... who'd have thought it?

Thanks to those who are reviewing the book at Amazon.com. It's nice to see some real reviews. I hate fake book reviews. Some books at Amazon.com have fake negative reviews just because people don't like the subject. You can tell that some of them haven't even read the book, but a real negative review is very helpful.

For anyone else who has read the book and hates it, please keep those negative reviews coming:

http://www.amazon.co...8618083-0425719

[rolenta]

Albert said:

The guy's main email address is foxbatslayer1989@aol.com

1989? I wonder if that was the year this guy was born. Does anyone know him? Is it possibe that he's only 15 years old?

[deathtrappomegranate]

Albert said:

This address was listed as contact information for an article on the book in Retro Magazin (appears to be the April issue, but I don't have the magazine, only found a PDF of that single page here.)

I wonder if the reviewer is the same guy who sells signed copies of the book on ebay.de ?