Discussion on Game giveaway rules for posting

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Discussion on Game giveaway rules for posting

(10 posts) (7 voices)

Started 14 years ago by Whiterabbit-uk
Latest reply from MercuryPDX

Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

I've posted some tenative rules for the game giveaway comments section. Chip made some very valid points a few months ago with respect to what I should allow through moderation as well as reviewing my own posts in the comments section.

I'd really appreciate the communities thoughs on the matter.

I do think that comments should be restricted to the game and then only constructive comments be they positive or negative should be allowed through. That way game developers may come to regard the project as something worth supporting because they are getting worthwhile feed back. I do think this is the only way the game giveaway is going to survive. I will no longer be allowing many of the comments that I've previously let through; but that said I do want your feed back as I don't want to be looked upon as a dictatorial moderator, lol

Posted 14 years ago #
sukibabe
Games Junkie

Whabbit

Did I miss something, have the thumbs up and thumbs down buttons been disabled???

Thanks, Suki

Posted 14 years ago #
notblocklox
retired

I don't want to be looked upon as a dictatorial moderator, lol

...that's my role...

Posted 14 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

lol Graylox; nah! you're just doing what a moderator is supposed to be doing. :)

Posted 14 years ago #
Whiterabbit-uk
Games Guru

A few community members have asked for clarification after misreading what I was trying to say in the comments section. I was going to post the following in answer to the comment made by Sam, but decided it wasn't appropriate to post it in the forums otherwise I'd be breaking the new rules myself.

firstly let me say that I'm not saying you can't post a comment like I don't like this game. what I'm asking for is that you qualify that statement with reasons why you don't like the game, and give suggestion to try and overcome the problems.

The following is what I was going to post:

If you don't like the game tell the community why. Saying I don't like this game isn't very constructive. What we are looking for are comments with substance to them. Anything off topic about the game can be posted in the forums. I will be creating a post each time there's a game giveaway specifically for this.

If developers come to see what’s been said about their game and are confronted with phrases like this game is c*** or s*** or I like this game, it's not really saying much, but if you tell the developer why you don't like the game , for example you may think the graphics are too amateurish, or they are not colorful. Maybe there aren't enough tile sets or you can't understand how to play the game because there are no help files. Also giving positive comments about why you like the game can also be useful to the developer. the more comments of that caliber, the more likely we are to get that developer returning with more games. The reputation of the site may grow and bring with it more developers.

It really doesn't take that much effort to post such comments, and in the end they not only benefit the developer but us too because we will get more games for free.

Of course all of this is academic at the moment; I’m trying to do a better job of moderating and I’m accepting suggestions from the community to help do this. Unfortunately the owners of this site don’t want anyone else moderating, so I’ve got to try and improve things somehow and I feel that the ideas I’ve outlined above will help towards achieving that goal.

All I ask is that everyone who likes to get free games from this site put in a little effort to comment constructively. If this is achieved we could see quality improving and regular games again. The recession is slowly lifting and maybe we’re just around the corner from something good. I really don’t know, but if we don’t make the effort we will never know.

regards

W.R.

Posted 14 years ago #
marcycn
Member

New Rules: Absolutely right on. It's not only the developers who are turned off by all the stupidity that shows up here and on GOTD but the 'customers' also. I have turned away a lot of times from programs that are probably good just because it was hard to get through all the BS that was being posted just to get to real people giving relevant comments. I also don't post comments because people don't wade through enough of them to get to the good ones, so why bother. :-(

I have found quite a few programs here and on GOTD that were given away free that I later updated and paid for. Games of late have been pretty lame (although today's looks good) so I haven't downloaded much and GOTD is going in the same direction of late.

So, when is GOTD going to implement the same rules and draw the better developers????

Marcy...

Posted 14 years ago #
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
Blocked

Can I still post hacks?

Edit: Never mind. I saw the answer on the original announcement thread.

Posted 14 years ago #
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
Blocked

I figured out why the thumbs up/down system doesn't work: They somehow lost their javascript files. Along with the thumbs not working, I also seem unable able to see additional comments.

Posted 14 years ago #
watcher13
Member

I have mixed feelings. Have the GGOTD folks told you that they feel that the negative comments have driven away developers? Even if they have, I might take that with a grain of salt. I'm 100% certain that you don't fall into this category, WR, but I'm also certain they're are some here who let themselves get aggravated by ANY dissent. I'm sure some here are convinced that all negative comments - no matter how constructive - drive away developers. Understand, I'm DEFINITELY NOT accusing these folks of censorship. I think they mostly do a very fine job. But I think they're not always completely honest with themselves and don't notice the hairs standing up on the back of their necks when they see any criticism on a GOTD page. Only genuflecting at the altar pleases some (a Catholic reference for Prostestants and other folks). Plus, as I say, I'm not sure even the most worthless criticism has significantly hurt the project. Contrary to some opinions about the nature of my opinions, I still feel the project is reasonably healthy.

Having said that, I would do exactly the same thing your doing in exactly the same way. Not because the non-screening way is bad for the project, but because your way is better for the users. I really don't care if some clown thinks that something s**cks or that they don't have any use for it. Only allowing posts that have some actual content not only makes it easier for the developers to read the page, it makes it easier for US to read the page. I wish they'd consider doing the same thing on the main page. As I write this, there's almost 50 comments on today's game, and all of them have useful content. The main page frequently has 100 comments, and often half are crap. So, as they say in basketball, no harm - no foul.

So my opinion on your intentions: Bravo! Full speed ahead! The moderation is in capable hands.

Posted 14 years ago #
MercuryPDX
Member

I'm also "with you" on the value of quality comments and offer up this as a suggestion: Allow the comments themselves to be rated. A good example of this can be found on Joystiq posts and in Amazon.com Reviews (ie. Was this review helpful to you?).

"Employing" commenters as "extra" moderators in this way takes some of the workload off, and allows people to separate the helpful comments from the not so helpful.

In the interest of fairness: Developers should not expect GOTD users to supplement their QA departments and document every bug and typo found in the software they offer here and should expect to be criticized harshly when they do.

I can recall some major gameplay flaws in "Robbie. Unforgettable Adventures" which allowed you to cheat your way through the entire game, but I cannot access the rest of the comments section for that giveaway to recall what the specific trick was.

If a developer gives you (and by extension us) a poor quality product, expect users to vent their frustrations and rip it apart in the comments section. THAT will never change.

Posted 14 years ago #

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