Should developers "listen to the fans"?

[Brown Cap]

Probably. Even though like 60% of fans of anything are total idiots that talk out of their asses, thats how a free market economy works. If people want something and you don't/can't give it to them, then some form of failure is inevitable.

 

[squid5580]

NO!!!!

Games, especially sequels, should be made by fans.

 

[Filiecs]

Yes and no.
If a game developer creates a well thought out sequel for a game but most people hate the new design, concept, mechanics, or story and such then it's not going to sell well even if by a technical standpoint it's a masterpiece.

On the other hand if you try and please the fans and not yourself you're going to end up with a piled on mish-mash of everything but the kitchen sink. That won't sell well either.

This a valuable lesson I learned from Rarity.