(In)Sanity Complex

nerdwire:

While I don’t support the idiocy of individuals, nor the companies who hire them without checking out internal fiascoes before they become public, I do support good products.  Many of you have heard about the douchebaggery of a certain ex-employee of Ocean Marketing, Paul Christoforo.  Many of you have lashed out against said individual and the company itself.  Also, you’ve lashed out against the product.

Note : I do not work for Ocean Marketing, iControl Enterprises or any other company who has any stake and claim in the Avenger Controller.  But I am asking that you guys consider giving this product back it’s four and a half star rating.  Now, this is the thing I have a problem with. 

The backlash on the Avenger Controller is a result of rage-trolling.  It has the capabilities of becoming a great product for the handicapable and people with disabilities.  It can enable many kids who wouldn’t have been able to play games before to be able to now.  And honestly, as a gamer, I can’t think of any better joy.

The only reasoning I can even think of behind making the product bomb is if you can make a controller similar to compete with this company.  Even then, I don’t know that I condone it.

Before you destroy this product, please do your research.  It seems that this whole situation is just because of poor management, bad PR against a single individual [not a whole company] and anger.  And it has pretty much been resolved.  Why punish the masses for the mistakes of one guy?

Will you guys be sure to give a better review on Amazon?  Links to them here, here and here.  I would hate to think that the world was still a sucky place because of jerks like Christoforo.

[photo cred :avengercontroller.com:]

@hexsteph

While there is some truth to this, there’s a few things nerdwire seems to misunderstand.

Firstly, Paul Christoforo isn’t an “ex-employee” of Ocean Marketing, he claims to OWN Ocean Marketing. The makers of the Avenger controller are a completely different company who severed all ties with him. Every single person this man has name-dropped has responded saying “We do not have, nor want, any affiliation with Mr. Christoforo.”

In recent updates on Penny Arcade, Gabe/Mike has mentioned the fact that Paul Christoforo even pretended to be some other guy from “The Hand Media” and basically stole his identity, masquerading as him (Brendan, I believe?).

Yes, this has all got to do with terrible PR by the company representing the makers of the controller, and yes, I think it SHOULD be released (especially after hearing that it was intended for handicapped/disabled gamers. That aspect is really cool to see, though when all the publicity and advertising for it is “THIS IS THE HARDCORE GAMER ACCESSORY” rather than focusing on that important demographic.. It.. Kinda falls flat. :/

I believe US Kotaku and some other sites have elaborated more, and most likely far better than I ever could..