Poll: How much should Developers listen to their audience?

[SageRuffin]

I said a lot. I deas are always, and criticism can make good points great and bad points nonexistent in a future installment.

I'm not saying that developers should always heed to those ideas, just take some of the really good ones at least into consideration.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

i think they should keep a definite open mind, but check all the angles before implementing fan ideas, maybe do more beta testing or see what fans are doing the most/liking, or what strategies they use, and try and implement that better or see how you can turn that into a positive in the game or the next game, possibly with a new mode or new maps revolving around that.

if a company listens too much then we just turn into a bunch of whiners and its no longer *developers* game, its the whiney fan made game basically. so i think with checks and balances they should definitly listen, as they are making this game for US to enjoy and for US to feed them, but if they purely listen to us that magic can get lost in the process.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

I think that they should listen, but only to a degree. I've heard some ideas for plots for games that are pretty atrocious. Like "this makes Michael Bay's plots look like Tarantino's" kind of bad. If they listened to that, most games would be pretty shitty. Plus, they have been hired because they are best at what they do (but what they do isn't very nice...sorry...), so why listen to people who have no idea what they are talking about?

They should listen to criticisms and maybe some potential ideas, but they should manly focus on criticisms.

 

[Jake0fTrades]

The problem isn't that they don't hear our demands, the problem is they don't hear our complaints.

Exhibit A: Modern Warfare 2

 

[DarkWarrior45]

The problem isn't that they don't hear our demands, the problem is they don't hear our complaints.

Exhibit A: Modern Warfare 2

Amen to that.

 

[Something Amyss]

Long as you can filter the BS, a lot. So I put somewhat, because there's so much of it.

 

[SimuLord]

People are idiots... so listening to their audience completely would result is crap. But they do need to make something that appeals to their audience so I answered "somewhat"

I answered "not at all" because people are idiots. Developers make games knowing what makes games good. The vocal gamer is spouting brain-dead mouth spew. I trust the developers.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

If Nintendo took onboard the outcry caused by LoZ: Wind Waker's cel-shaded graphics, no one would have seen that they are actually pretty awesome (I thought they looked too Disney, but once I played I was blown away).

Wind Waker is still a controversial game and in some way marks a decline for the Zelda series. I wouldn't want it to have been cancelled or changed too much but Nintendo could have done a lot more to satisfy Zelda fans.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Developers should listen to their audience when they notice problems, never listen to their opinions, only listen to the problems in your plan that have been noted by the community.

If you listen to an entire fan-base's selection of opinions, prepare go back to scratch with your game every week.

 

[MisterM2402]

If Nintendo took onboard the outcry caused by LoZ: Wind Waker's cel-shaded graphics, no one would have seen that they are actually pretty awesome (I thought they looked too Disney, but once I played I was blown away).

Wind Waker is still a controversial game and in some way marks a decline for the Zelda series. I wouldn't want it to have been cancelled or changed too much but Nintendo could have done a lot more to satisfy Zelda fans.

I'm not sure what you mean by marking a decline - I thought both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were critically acclaimed, so rather than any decline they have maintained a high standard.

What else do you think they could have done to satisfy the fans? I am a big Zelda fan and I felt the games were perfect.

I'm not trying to say you are wrong, I'm just wondering why you think those things.

 

[Shock and Awe]

They should listen to everything, then test ideas that seem good, and go ahead with those that are.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I'm not sure what you mean by marking a decline - I thought both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were critically acclaimed, so rather than any decline they have maintained a high standard.

What else do you think they could have done to satisfy the fans? I am a big Zelda fan and I felt the games were perfect.

I'm not trying to say you are wrong, I'm just wondering why you think those things.

Sales were not as high as before. The opinion of the series is now more mixed than it used to be. For everyone who gets what they were trying to do there are two who either have complaints about it or are still outright angry and bitter.

It's hard to say what they could have done. They could have changed it so it wasn't a Zelda game, or at least a spin off, and promised that they were listening and had another game in the works. Depends on how early they found out what people thought of the changes and how reluctant they are to spend real money on a game with new title and noticeably different gameplay. They could of noticed the attitudes of people and created an "adult link" version of the character for half of the game and made the dungeons bigger and combat harder.

 

[StriderShinryu]

How much should they listen? Completely, no question about it.

How much should they bend their design to every demand their audience makes? Not at all.

Developers should always listen to what their fans have to say about a specific title as sometimes they do bring forward good suggestions/ideas or do point out things that are down right broken. Developers, however, should only incorporate the best ideas and only in a way that fits their original vision and design for the title.

Basically, yes, always listen because the players might have something really good to say but, no, don't just go with everything they whine about.

 

[ALuckyChance]

I think they shoud listen to the audience as much as possible; yet they should also be able to sift the good ideas from the bad and go from there.

 

[MisterM2402]

I'm not sure what you mean by marking a decline - I thought both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were critically acclaimed, so rather than any decline they have maintained a high standard.

What else do you think they could have done to satisfy the fans? I am a big Zelda fan and I felt the games were perfect.

I'm not trying to say you are wrong, I'm just wondering why you think those things.

Sales were not as high as before. The opinion of the series is now more mixed than it used to be. For everyone who gets what they were trying to do there are two who either have complaints about it or are still outright angry and bitter.

It's hard to say what they could have done. They could have changed it so it wasn't a Zelda game, or at least a spin off, and promised that they were listening and had another game in the works. Depends on how early they found out what people thought of the changes and how reluctant they are to spend real money on a game with new title and noticeably different gameplay. They could of noticed the attitudes of people and created an "adult link" version of the character for half of the game and made the dungeons bigger and combat harder.

I think it would cost too much money to scrap what they had and started again - they would have already had the story and such done. And I doubt they would throw it all away (or make a non-Zelda game out of all the Zelda-y things they had created already) on the basis of negative opinions of just one aspect of the game.

I don't think they could have implemented an adult Link, at least not without a story re-write. They would have to have some sort of time-travel mechanic which would just lead to complaints of unoriginality. Any other method would probably seem contrived. Although... you could have him start as adult Link, Ganon casts a spell, BOOM!, you're a kid and halfway through you reverse it or something. But they kinda did that (sort of) with Wolf Link. Maybe the combat could have been harder, but anyone who wants it harder has the Cave of Ordeals (which tbh wasnt that hard in WW haha). Dungeon length was never really an issue with me, though I felt they could have done with more of them (but that would also need a story re-write possibly).

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I think it would cost too much money to scrap what they had and started again - they would have already had the story and such done. And I doubt they would throw it all away (or make a non-Zelda game out of all the Zelda-y things they had created already) on the basis of negative opinions of just one aspect of the game.

I don't think they could have implemented an adult Link, at least not without a story re-write. They would have to have some sort of time-travel mechanic which would just lead to complaints of unoriginality. Any other method would probably seem contrived. Although... you could have him start as adult Link, Ganon casts a spell, BOOM!, you're a kid and halfway through you reverse it or something. But they kinda did that (sort of) with Wolf Link. Maybe the combat could have been harder, but anyone who wants it harder has the Cave of Ordeals (which tbh wasnt that hard in WW haha). Dungeon length was never really an issue with me, though I felt they could have done with more of them (but that would also need a story re-write possibly).

I don't think that rewriting the story would be one of the largest costs for the game. The largest part is coming up with the art assets and technology. Not saying it would have been easy.

Just for the sake of it, instead of the Triforce hunt, which wasn't popular, after Zelda was rescued, they could of had a time skip. Then Teenage Link, who looked more like the original art, revisits the islands where a new set of dungeons have opened. The combat could also change at this point.

 

[MisterM2402]

I don't think that rewriting the story would be one of the largest costs for the game. The largest part is coming up with the art assets and technology. Not saying it would have been easy.

Just for the sake of it, instead of the Triforce hunt, which wasn't popular, after Zelda was rescued, they could of had a time skip. Then Teenage Link, who looked more like the original art, revisits the islands where a new set of dungeons have opened. The combat could also change at this point.

Yeah, I meant to say not just the story ("and such" haha).

I see what you mean about the Triforce hunt - it wasn't exactly the best bit of the game. However, if you haven't bothered with exploring before and just stuck solely to the story, I suppose it could be a nice chance to see what all the small islands have to offer (although personally I systematically went to every section collecting all the map pieces, I imagine not many people bothered since they didn't like the sailing - it was well worth it, though).

Hmm... I'm not sure about a time skip either. As much as two different (but sort of similar) art styles for young and teen Link would be awesome, it'd be far too expensive methinks (since art assets would probably be the most costly part of development, like you said). Also, I don't know how a time skip would work into the story - I don't think Link would want to wait several years just for the Great Sea to be ravaged by Ganon (as in OoT); he is working to a tight time schedule as it is. Even though *I* would take any plot device to make a longer Zelda game, many people would laugh at how unoriginal it would be (again, OoT already did it). And yes, the *general* storyline of Zelda games are all the same anyway (Ganon appears, kidnaps Zelda, you have to rescue her), besides a handful (one stellar example would be Majora's Mask), the way you go about fulfilling this role as Link is always original. I don't mind how same-y the story has gotten over the years, but it's the differences in every game that make each one a masterpiece in my eyes.

As you can see, I love discussing Zelda games with people haha ^^

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Hmm... I'm not sure about a time skip either. As much as two different (but sort of similar) art styles for young and teen Link would be awesome, it'd be far too expensive methinks (since art assets would probably be the most costly part of development, like you said). Also, I don't know how a time skip would work into the story - I don't think Link would want to wait several years just for the Great Sea to be ravaged by Ganon (as in OoT); he is working to a tight time schedule as it is. Even though *I* would take any plot device to make a longer Zelda game, many people would laugh at how unoriginal it would be (again, OoT already did it). And yes, the *general* storyline of Zelda games are all the same anyway (Ganon appears, kidnaps Zelda, you have to rescue her), besides a handful (one stellar example would be Majora's Mask), the way you go about fulfilling this role as Link is always original. I don't mind how same-y the story has gotten over the years, but it's the differences in every game that make each one a masterpiece in my eyes.

Nintendo had money. In fact, the question should have been can they afford to tarnish a name like Zelda by releasing games that disappoint many people.

How about this as a plot device. It's revealed that to beat Gannon you need the Triforce of courage but the pieces are in sunken Hyrule. The completed triforce of Wisdom allows Zelda to complete a ritual that creates a pocket of air there but the ritual would take years to complete. Link can explore the islands and explore before, I don't know, finding someone to train him for the final fight. He returns to the sunken land then ritual completes and the barrier opens to Hyrule and closes to the surface, like an air lock or something.

 

[imaloony]

Completely might be a bit too strong, but the developers should always have an ear to the fans. After all, look how much of an improvement that made Assassin's Creed 2!