I’ve noticed it myself but I’ve seen a few posts about it and seen a few authors feel dejected at the lack of engagement lately.
So this is a general request if you play a choicescript game and you enjoy it, please engage with the relevant thread. Let the author know you’re enjoying it. Feedback isn’t always about pointing out issues and mistakes, it is also letting the author know what they are doing right.
A lot of effort goes into making these games and when newer authors see a lot of views but hardly any feedback it makes them worry their story isn’t good enough. Which can increase the chances of feeling dejected and whether it is worth the time and effort.
So please let’s increase our engagement and continue helping our authors grow and expand their world.
That’s something I have noticed too, as a reader. It seems that people flock to the most popular threads, and the other up-and-coming WIPs don’t get so much attention.
Thank you for the reminder, since I, too, fall into this trap of thinking, ‘I liked the game, but I don’t have any suggestions/noticed any typos so maybe I shouldn’t post.’ so I just end up giving a heart to the topic and stalking the thread. Yes, we all should encourage new authors to keep writing and we can only do that by showing visible support!
I tend to end up in “I’ll read this later” situation myself, which… isn’t something I’d think the authors would want to hear, unless I’m already interested before reading the demo, in which case I do believe it’s important to tell so.
(…I also have very bad experiences from giving comments to authors whose work I’m “meh” about.)
I believe that it’s not so much that some popular threads take over, but more like a lot of readers think (like you mention in your post), “I didn’t see anything wrong, so I’ve got nothing to post”.
I am sorry to hear that, personally I’ve always been appreciative of all feedback both good and bad.
Authors need to understand that unless it is bad feedback
“This sucks”
negative feedback such as
“I didn’t enjoy this game because I felt I had little control over my character.”
Need to be listened to as the reader has still taken time to write the post about your game.
Especially when the only reason I’m commenting is because they personally asked me to… but on their defence, I think they were twelve or something in that ballpark.
While that would be nice I don’t think it will happen. Someone might like a game but mb they just don’t feel like it is worth commenting on, mb it doesn’t grab their interest like other games around, mb they find it too short, mb they not really into it, mb there are many other reasons. And that is okay. You can’t force anyone to do smth they don’t wanna.
Some games will get big with thousand of replies while some only have around two or three or ten. It’s just the way it is.
It is true tho that it affects your thoughts about the game you’re making. I’ve been trying to justify to myself whether it’s worth spending a year or 2 writing my game only for it to be dead on arrival cuz of the low interest in it. But I also try to remind myself that I’m making this game for me and my close friends. That I’m doing it cuz I find it fun.
He’s not trying to force anyone to do anything. He’s making a request of people who are already involved in the ChoiceScript game community to consider engaging in a new way. He’s reminding us that positive feedback is important. He’s suggesting a simple yet concrete way that those of us who care about supporting authors can do so.
Of course everyone isn’t going to do it, but if some do after reading this post who wouldn’t have otherwise, he’ll have accomplished exactly what he set out to do.
Sure we can’t force anybody to do anything and I never said people had to. It is merely a request as I’m saddened to see authors second-guess themselves because of a lack of interaction.
While it is true what you say, in the end, the “safest” way is to write to yourself first, you shouldn’t also put your writing down, I quite find it lovely!
I was planning to write detailed feedback for your game, but I haven’t found the time. Now that you are planning to release chapter 2 soon, I feel like its best until I can read it too. Good luck with writing.
I used to do this last year and kind of fell into a loop of making new things and finding that sweet spot of interest and to be fair, I did a couple times. But at some point, around January this year I just stopped caring.
Make the idea you have and hunker down to complete it. Easier if you like making the game you’re making. If you get no feedback from it, then it is what it is. You’re probably a sleeper hit.
Or, hear me out, you got more lurkers than vocals. Everyone is just waiting for more of what you’re making. They just eat and leave. I would recommend you keep track of your view count on cogdemos.
Number go up, you do good. No comment on your page? Doing even better. I’d be anxious to GET a comment with that mindset.
Point being, there are different metrics on determining how well you’re doing. Feedback is just the most hands-on way of knowing.
While that is true there are writers who are new to this they see the lack of feedback and only see people don’t like my work.
It’s a mentality that a lot of new writers need to lose. But at the same time more feedback does help a writer improve and imo would be priceless especially for those authors who just need that little push to continue.
Agreed. There’s this one person who likes my tumblr posts and it gives me so much motivation. A reader gave me a detailed review and it made me quite happy lol. I was thinking about it the whole day.
Sometimes as a writer, it can be so hard to see the overall product you made because your hyper fixating on all the details you don’t like about it, that it can actually be really helpful to hear “I really enjoyed this demo” as a reminder that you’re still making something worthwhile.
Oh, that too. I’m in a phase where everything I write feels stupid (on the plus side, 99% of what I read feels stupid too so it’s not just me) and it would be really helpful to have readers point out whether or not it is actually enjoyable to read or not. Because I know I can’t trust my own brain on that.
Hello @Nocturnal_Stillness
I agree with you. Authors deserved engagement and suppord. Feedbacks and commends are important. Engagement encourages authors.
I can see both sides. As a reader, I try to remember that the author put in a lot of hours and hard work, and that even a simple “I liked the game” is really meaningful. As an author, I try to remember that readers’ time is valuable, and they have many games to choose from, and they don’t owe me anything, and I should be respectful of their choices.
