Game Designer's Worst Nightmare - the fans?

bayonetbrant · August 21, 2013, 12:54:29 PM

QuoteThe greatest threat to the video game industry may be some of its most impassioned fans. Increasingly, game developers are finding themselves under attack by some of the very people they devote their lives to entertaining. And this growing form of gamer-on-game-developer cyber harassment is starting to take its toll.

Developers, both named and those who wish to remain anonymous, tell Polygon that harassment by gamers is becoming an alarmingly regular expected element of game development. Some developers say the problem was among the reasons they left the industry, others tell Polygon that the problem is so ubiquitous that it distracts them from making games or that they're considering leaving the industry.

The problem has become so pronounced that International Game Developers Association executive director Kate Edwards tells Polygon that the organization is looking into starting support groups and that while the harassment isn't yet having a major impact on game development, "we're at the cusp of where it could."

Yskonyn · August 21, 2013, 01:05:18 PM

Yes its always amazing to see the common high amount of vitriol and hostility on many official forums.
It's not only there, its common all over the internet. From social sites to game forums. People just seem to think its ok because we have freedom of speech, the internet is for everyone, they can spew their filth anonymously or they feel entitled... whatever.
I just enjoy sites like Grogheads to have decent discussions and often stay away from any official forums.

bayonetbrant · August 21, 2013, 01:13:13 PM

very good quote from further down in the article, that fortunately I don't think applies to Grogs as a whole, and certainly not here

Quote"I could go on and on about this, but I'm just going to consider one example: the word 'noob.' If you decide to take up almost any other hobby in the world, you can find beginning classes teaching you how to do it. If you want to knit, you can go to a yarn store and meet fellow knitters who will help you get the basics. If you want to play basketball, you can join a rec center or community league at a beginner level. And generally, the people already involved in those hobbies are thrilled to have someone with whom they can share their passion. But if you want to get started as a gamer, you get told, 'go home noob,' because people in this hobby hate newcomers so much they turned the word itself into an insult. How are we supposed to thrive as an industry if we are actively hostile to growing our audience?"

MengJiao · August 21, 2013, 01:33:55 PM

Quote from: bayonetbrant on August 21, 2013, 12:54:29 PM
Interesting article in Polygon today

QuoteThe greatest threat to the video game industry may be some of its most impassioned fans. Increasingly, game developers are finding themselves under attack by some of the very people they devote their lives to entertaining. And this growing form of gamer-on-game-developer cyber harassment is starting to take its toll.

Developers, both named and those who wish to remain anonymous, tell Polygon that harassment by gamers is becoming an alarmingly regular expected element of game development. Some developers say the problem was among the reasons they left the industry, others tell Polygon that the problem is so ubiquitous that it distracts them from making games or that they're considering leaving the industry.

The problem has become so pronounced that International Game Developers Association executive director Kate Edwards tells Polygon that the organization is looking into starting support groups and that while the harassment isn't yet having a major impact on game development, "we're at the cusp of where it could."

I think this is a valid point. The strange resonances of episodes such as the release of CLOD certainly suggest a peculiar dynamic for the disappointed fanboi element out there. I'm sure I'm not rational about such things as WWII online or StormEagle Studios.

Some designers (such as the total War designers and Bohemia Interactive) seem to handle the horrors of feedback pretty well. I like the Bohemia Interactive solution to the disappointed fans of a realism that doesn't seem likely in the FPS environment -- they just set ARMAIII in an imaginary future world -- a realistic solution to fans who don't like your failures to live up to their need for realism.

I'm not sure what the problem is exactly -- I can of course sympathize with disappointed fans but I wonder about the need to go on and on projecting this disappointment on everything else (even if it is a valid expectation -- ie disappointment). I also wonder about the impact on design decisions since its clearly risky to promise more than you are absolutely certain of delivering, BUT that cramps design and probably has an impact on which projects get funded.

WallysWorld · August 21, 2013, 01:55:56 PM

As I head up the tiers of World of Tanks, I'm finding more and more jerks at the higher levels that get upset easily when their side doesn't do what they think they should do. They have declared themselves tank experts, everyone else are noobs and they don't seem to understand it's just a game. WoT is great fun to play, but the gamers are sometimes the turnoff.

Like the other day, some guy sending messages after messages calling his side all noobs and yet he was one of the first killed on the team. Or the guy that accused me of not finding cover with my Panther despite my tank being the last one left alive against four enemies and I did have two kills.

I can see why some new gamers and even some developers get turned off by the constant whiners.

Herman Hum · August 21, 2013, 02:08:35 PM

I think much of the snotty elitism comes from the age of the players and the type of games. For example, it rarely appears in games like War in the Pacific, where the average age of the players is probably 35+

Ask a question over there and someone is always around to help.

Steelgrave · August 21, 2013, 02:52:17 PM

Back when I played WoW, I made the statement in chat that I would gladly pay more for a server that was verified "30+". Naturally I got a lot of vitriol directed towards my comments along with lots of "you can be immature at 30 too" remarks, but there were also a lot of "yeah, I would pay as well" comments. When Fallen Earth went ftp, a game which had boasted one of the more mature and helpful gaming environments was lost as the griefing/whining/begging level shot up to the point that I dropped the game. This isn't meant as a diatribe against younger players, but as a customer base, a lack of maturity can ruin things for other customers quicker than flaws in the game design.

GDS_Starfury · August 21, 2013, 03:57:06 PM

that reminds me of a place..... hmmm

SgtRock · August 21, 2013, 04:05:50 PM

Quote from: WallysWorld on August 21, 2013, 01:55:56 PM
As I head up the tiers of World of Tanks, I'm finding more and more jerks at the higher levels that get upset easily when their side doesn't do what they think they should do. They have declared themselves tank experts, everyone else are noobs and they don't seem to understand it's just a game. WoT is great fun to play, but the gamers are sometimes the turnoff.

Like the other day, some guy sending messages after messages calling his side all noobs and yet he was one of the first killed on the team. Or the guy that accused me of not finding cover with my Panther despite my tank being the last one left alive against four enemies and I did have two kills.

I can see why some new gamers and even some developers get turned off by the constant whiners.

It's sad they don't moderate it, I gave up WOT but, even if banned, it's too easy just to create another free account and continue being a jerk. I'll say GuildWars 2 got this part right, players help each other and even say thank you during group events.

Steelgrave · August 21, 2013, 04:07:36 PM

Quote from: GDS_Starfury on August 21, 2013, 03:57:06 PM
that reminds me of a place..... hmmm

I think I know the place.....used to be nice, but nothing left there now but pinenuts and 32 sockpuppet variations.

SgtRock · August 21, 2013, 04:28:26 PM

I can see knocking a company but, the developers personally I don't get. I think part of it is, the I want it my way and I want it now generation. The internet breeds bad personal skills and too many seem to be raised with little or no manners. I think some Asian countries are starting to teach internet manners in schools.

jomni · August 21, 2013, 05:34:34 PM

In the civilian sim world, X-Plane users are very critical of Microsoft FS users. They always claim their sim is more superior and say the are the real pilots while MSFS guys are just playing with toys. I have both but I have my reasons for sticking with MSFS. And one of them is because of the X-Plane community.

jomni · August 21, 2013, 05:36:02 PM

Quote from: Herman Hum on August 21, 2013, 02:08:35 PM
I think much of the snotty elitism comes from the age of the players and the type of games. For example, it rarely appears in games like War in the Pacific, where the average age of the players is probably 35+

Ask a question over there and someone is always around to help.

Believe me, there are some rabid fans.

GDS_Starfury · August 21, 2013, 05:38:13 PM

Quote from: WallysWorld on August 21, 2013, 01:55:56 PM
As I head up the tiers of World of Tanks, I'm finding more and more jerks at the higher levels that get upset easily when their side doesn't do what they think they should do. They have declared themselves tank experts, everyone else are noobs and they don't seem to understand it's just a game. WoT is great fun to play, but the gamers are sometimes the turnoff.

I just ignore the idiots and play the game.
though I have to admit that sometimes when someone is just a complete idiot my finger slips on the mouse button. ::)
128mm of stfu. ;D

FarAway Sooner · August 21, 2013, 06:28:36 PM

The Internet introduces both anonymity and the depersonalization of other folks. Neither is conducive to civil dialogue.

Computer gaming is mostly a solo hobby, and while computer gamers have many traits to recommend themselves, abnormally high social skills generally isn't on that list.

It's obviously a huge generalization, and there are a million exceptions (both you and old), but invite computer gamers to post on the internet is a bit like inviting untreated cataract patients to a shooting range.