PSA: Constructive feedback vs [mostly] useless complaints, and the "It's beta!" excuse.

Yep. See, I use the 'beta' reply. Often. But only to stupid complaints. I feel it is a perfectly valid response in that case - if the complainee isn't going to put the time or effort into being constructive, then I'm not going to extend them the same coutesy - but they do need to be reminded the current state of the game. So yeah, beta.

 

Firstly, I'd like to mention that if this game were in production by an established company, the current phase of this game would be "Tech Demo" and nearly into "Alpha". Not even close to a Beta ... but that's a discussion for some other time.

Why the "It's Beta" is a terrible excuse:

We have access to this game specifically to play it and test it out. If there are things that we feel need adjusting or some other concern regarding the game, it is our duty as testers to let the Developers know this via a feedback message (as well defined by Hexerin).

However, people who disagree / don't understand / don't care generally respond with a variation of "It's Beta". That does absolutely nothing to discuss the feedback the user posted. It does nothing to discuss the game at all, actually. In fact, that such a response qualifies as spam and should be removed.

But here is why that kind of response is detrimental to the community (and the game): It's a (generally) negative remark to put down the poster and doesn't further discuss the game, the idea, or anything. In effect, it shuts down the creative process which helps a game in such an early stage from evolving.

Replies with the generic "It's Beta" is basically saying that you are perfectly fine with the current state of the game and have absolutely no desire to see it progress beyond this point because you simply don't care and have no respect for the feedback of another user.

 

Don't make assumptions about how a dev is responding to the tone of your criticism. They may be thick-skinned enough not to care what your tone is, if your point is valid. Or maybe they're made of candy-glass and everything hurts their feelings. Predicting that isn't your responsibility. I'd say "don't be a dick because no one likes people who are dicks."

But if the devs didn't want feedback, they wouldn't ask for it. You don't need silly little solutions that work in your mind and have nothing to do with the programming. You don't need to heap praise on the game when you make a comment. Give feedback--it's what was asked for.

This entire "PSA" is horribly wrong-headed.

 

you are misinterpreting what this thread is about.

- it is in general discussion section
- title implies the subject of the thread

based on contextual information, logically this thread isn't talking about bug reports, but rather about general feedback. knowing this, everything i stated in the OP is factually correct.

 

You don't need to know what the back-end looks like, you need only offer a possible solution from the perspective of a player, which most people do.

As a developer myself, I dislike those who provide criticism without being "constructive". Things such as "It's broken", or "It's not working" with little to no detail at all, are not nearly as helpful as those that provide details. And when I say details, I don't mean "rants". I know just how well people can run off at the mouth without providing any details. :/
That said, most of the complaints I've seen that have upset other people (most, certainly not all) have provided details and how they felt the game should be, which is akin to possible solutions to their problem. Much of the time, other people disagree (passionately in some cases) but debating over solutions to a player's problem give devs feedback as to how people would like to see the game develop. Debating is a good thing IMO, especially concerning parts of the game that some people feel are flawed.

And some people should really learn to control their language, whether they're "passionate" about the subject or not. Yeah, we know what recent thread I'm talking that got closed.

 

No--what you're saying is just wrong, and you shouldn't be trying to discourage people from offering criticism unless they have a solution to offer. Solutions offered by non-savvy players are likely to be useless anyhow. I hope no one reads this thread and takes it seriously. If the devs didn't want feedback, they wouldn't have asked for it. And unless you're one of them? Please don't try to influence other users to conform to a standard that you've decided to set for what kind of feedback they're looking for.

 

Sorry, but that is not at all why I respond with "it's beta". It's a response to unconstructive comments, which, to alleviate your concern, shut down the creative process from the get-go. Some whiner complaining about something sucking with no positive or helpful suggestions immediately earns themselves an "it's beta". On the other hand, if the poster goes to the thought and effort to suggest ways of correcting said problem, then I'm all for that. It's not an implication that I'm fine with the current state of the game, just an acknowledgement and reminder of the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done, and that people should be constructive with their criticism, not ingracious little bitches.

 

I wasnt implying i know how a dev is responding to anything, i was merely stating _my_ opinion of how when using "its a beta" is applicable for _me_.
Also, i have this weird thinking, that everything you do and say can be done in a mostly friendly or neutral manner, without the need to insult people or raging, but thats just me, i guess ;D

 

Firstly, I wasn't talking about you.

Secondly, then obviously my post has nothing to do with your situation (as defined by my post).

Lastly, responding with "It's Beta" is never a good idea. If someone is being toxic or just straight up bitching about something without being constructive, the best thing for you to do is NOT to post, but to report and move on.

 

It's practically an open alpha. "It's beta" is applicable when people ask for things that are obviously coming - such as the ability to dye armor when dyes are in the game, but simply not yet functional. "It's beta" is, nine times out of ten, especially considering a ton of complaints are things like "IT'S NOT PROCEDURALLY GENERATE?d1!?" and the like.

 

except this isn't a standard i've created. this is basic definitions of the terms, which anyone with a proper education (sadly a very rare thing nowadays...) would understand.