SJ Longthorne

If you don’t like a creative decision, consider this before attacking: We want to make the best game possible. Your cool ideas? We had them, too. We try to make them real. Sometimes we can, sometimes we can’t, and sometimes we just give it our best shot.

When you dislike something in a game, it’s rarely ever down to incompetence, and I can guarantee there will be other factors at play which you’re unaware of. So before getting angry, ask yourself: Under what circumstances was this the best, most viable option?

Because, for whatever reason, it probably WAS the best available, viable option. We devs are hired because we’re good at what we do; we’re often gamers too, and we passionately want to make games we and others will enjoy. If we can do it, we will. But sometimes we can’t.

If you haven’t worked on a game like the one you’re planning to criticise, realise that you’re gonna be making a lot of (probably unfair and incorrect) assumptions about something you know absolutely nothing about.

That doesn’t mean feedback and constructive criticism is a bad thing. We need you to tell us what you do and don’t like, what you want instead. What I’m saying is, please don’t make assumptions about why you didn’t get it unless you have the insight and experience to back it up.