[Publisher Advice] Someone hates your game

[benlehman]

Part of a series of advice for game publishers.

It's going to happen. At least, you hope so, because the alternative is worse. Someone hates your game. Usually on the internet.

STOP.

Step 1: FUCK YOU.

Okay, that was just so you're more pissed at me than you are at that talking-smack-guy/girl.

But, also, seriously, humility. I totally say this to myself. "Fuck you, Ben."

Step 2: Decide on the appropriate response.

There are two appropriate responses. I'm sorry to say that neither of them involves defending your game.

A) Nothing. Seriously, consider this one.

B) Respond in the following manner.

i) Thank you for pointing that out. [not optional]

ii) [if there are fans of yours trashing the guy] Hi, fans. Thanks for your passionate defense of my game. But, seriously, different strokes for different folks.

iii) If you don't mind, could you please go into a little more depth about that? Understanding why people didn't like [game] is important to me, so that I can make future games better. [optional]

iv) [really strongly recommended don't do this, but if there's a glaring factual error, like the complaint is all about you not having rules for firing automatic weapons underwater, when they're clearly on a sidebar on page 335] I'm sorry that this wasn't clear enough from the text, but just so you know, the game actually does [thing]. Look at [page x, paragraph y]. Does that help clear things up?

v) If anyone has any questions about the game, I'm happy to answer them [here / in e-mail / both].

vi) If you feel like you wasted money on the game, I'm willing to buy the game back from you / provide a refund. [optional]

Those are your options. Not among your options: throwing a temper tantrum.

Choose. Choose wisely.

Comments

[funwithrage.livejournal.com]

Yep.

With a little adaptation, also good advice for published fiction authors. (Anne. Rice.)And anyone else.

I mean, sooner or later, someone on the Internet is going to hate you. Might as well get used to that.

[salda007.livejournal.com]

But, but... (http://xkcd.com/386/)

(Pulling out mini-Schlock only because he doesn't get enough use. Not calling anyone present fat. Except you, funwithrage...

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

Yeah, fiction too. This is partially inspired by the whole RaceFail thing. Any creative work really.

"Thank you for your criticism. If it's not too much trouble, can I ask you to elaborate about exactly what's wrong and how I might do better next time?" would have ... uh ... nipped RaceFail in the bud.

[funwithrage.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah.

And if the people throwing a fit *are* petty bastards, or insane, or whatever, and you really don't care...well, then, don't flip out and then make like you're the innocent party afterwards. Have some balls.

If ACKoG gets published and I get hate mail from clingy chicks because of it? I'm gonna be all "pfft, whatever, you actually do suck"--but I'm not going to claim that they misinterpreted it or whatever. "A gentleman is one who never harms another *unintentionally*" and all that.

[gillan.livejournal.com]

So why is defending your game and throwing a temper tantrum not an option?

I'm not being intentionally dense to start an argument because I agree with you, but I'm interested in what you have to say and I'm not sure I could pin down the answer myself.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

It's not an option for me. It's not an option I'd recommend to any of the new publishers I know.

There are other strategies here, which have worked for others in the past. But unless you're as cool as Jared S, I wouldn't try to pull them off.

yrs--
--Ben

[bar-sinister.livejournal.com]

This reaction prolongs the criticism, draws people in to defend the critic, and in general gives you a reputation as a thin-skinned hothead. If you want that reputation, get in scraps! But seriously, nobody can win an argument on the internet.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

brennan! remind me to get in touch about gencon. If I haven't gotten back to you in 24 hours, hurt me.

[redcrosse.livejournal.com]

I enjoy the fact that, when viewed in outline form, one half of the main steps of your regimen are "FUCK YOU." I think more inducements to nonviolent interpersonal problem solving should follow this mold, and salute your bold efforts in The Field.

[majcher.livejournal.com]

Excellent advice for publishers, writers, and pretty much everyone else on the Internet. Thank you.

[l-the-fangirl.livejournal.com]

This is Wisdom.

I find it a little sad that you felt the need to say this, though.