Incentives and motives

Published on January 25, 2013 By Frogboy In PC Gaming

I’m missing the link now but a indie developer once posted that he had to stop reading his own forums or else he’d never work on his game.

I know how that is. I don’t think most forum users have any inkling how demotivational carping on the forums can be. I can’t even count the number of times where I was geared up to work on a new update to a given game over the weekend only to have all desire to open up the compiler snuffed out when I went onto the forums to see what things people wanted me to put in.

It’s not that developers have a problem with criticism. In fact, we crave constructive feedback. What we really don’t like is hyperbole. Even though we can say to ourselves “this guy is just speaking for effect” it still takes a toll.

Comments

Mr_Book

on Jan 25, 2013

Often people lack tact, but take heart Frogboy, the motivation for the comments/complaints/insane rantings comes from a desire perhaps as strong as yours to see the game grow in positive ways! That someone takes the time to write anything (good or bad) regarding a game you have produced it means they care.

You guys have an amazing product in Sins and I certainly would love to see the franchise continue to grow and SD to be successful well into the future. I assume based on some of your other comments you have looked at the suggestions thread for the next patch. I urge you to strongly consider the suggestions there, as most/all of them come from extensive experience in a multiplayer setting, which ultimately is the truest test for balance. People can find ways to use ships and abilities to their maximum (but perhaps not always intended) uses that the AI never could.

To your credit, SD does a wonderful job of updating their games, particularly SoaSE.

sjaminei

on Jan 25, 2013

Hey, as far as I'm concerned you guys are doing a good job. Don't take to heart everything that gets said on forums, they are just passionate if they complain

Consider making an archive of threads like this when you feel down. They should probably make you feel better after reading a bad post.

Major Stress

on Jan 25, 2013

As a semi-retired modder i can totally relate. Working on SoA 2 was a challenge at times just to open 3dsmax after reading some of the "hate mail" i got. Which at one point caused me to have a total meltdown. However, There are a few out there who do inspire, and motivate you. Plus the love of the project itself makes it all worth it. Despite all of the negativity.

So yes take heart. Just ignore (or ban) the "obvious trolls" posting garbage just to get a rise out of you, or cause a pointless flame war. Unfortunately there are haters that you can't please no matter how hard you try. Listen to the people that really do give a damn, and make constructive comments. Even if they say what you don't want to hear. You may not agree with everything, but sometimes you will find problems that which you didn't before, and fix them. Which benefits everyone in the end.

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