thread: 2006-08-27 : Kerflufflizing
On 2006-08-27, Ben Lehman wrote:
PEOPLE! You are missing the point.
Read the original linked post and the post that comes before it.
A good game can sell no copies because the designer failed to think about how the game fits into society as a whole. This is a failure of the game and a failure of the game's designer, but it doesn't mean the game is gee-whiz or fun or satisfying to play, but it means it fails as a social thing.
The missing ingredient for the games that are awesome but don't sell well is social context, which has crap all to do with your social connections.
I guess it's easier to blame your doubt and insecurity on connections, though.
yrs—
—Ben
P.S. I will not comment negatively on other published games in public, similarly how I will not "call people out" or other such juvenile behavior (I remember there was a long call for me to "name names" at some point about some other kerfluffle—won't happen). I will freely and joyfully tear apart non-published games either here or in the first thoughts forum as my time allows. This has to do with the culture of creativity that I was raised in (novelists) and it's not changing any time soon.
P.P.S. Getting a social group that will treat your game properly and roughly is not hard. I'll post a guide in a couple of days.
