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.

I feel like most of the criticisms are about the little plot inconsistencies, and I think that these criticisms are valid because sometimes the plot line feels a little all over the place.

Valid, but I think people underestimate the complexity of the issue. We’re taking about a game where you can be with one of several dudes at different times and in different orders, where all your relationships are variable, and where we have to plan narratives for the NPCs...

...for when the player’s not coupled up with them, in the knowledge that the player could decide to switch to them (and back), and without just making the entire cast in permanent friendship couples so they’re free for the player.