Thoughts on: Developer responding to negative reviews.

[NewYears1978]

Hey all. I know many people are loving this game, and many others are hating this game. Some are stuck in the middle.

Topic is not about whether the game is good or bad or whether you like it or not - obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion.

My question is about the Devs responding to negative reviews. I don't recall EVER seeing this in any other game before. I am not talking about reviews that are related to performance either, but rather legitimate reviews where people have issues with the game. The Devs are coming in and basically "defending" their game but the tone they are using is sort of the whole "git gud" tone or telling people they are playing the game wrong or just not good at the game.

I am just curious what everyone's thoughts are on this, should developers be doing this? Does it matter?

I don't care one way or the other, just thought it would be an interesting topic of converstaion.

[Air Raider *EDF EDF*]

Iv seen it on many games. Iv even been responded to on a few of my reviews by the devs.

[NewYears1978]

Originally posted by Air Raider *EDF EDF*:

Iv seen it on many games. Iv even been responded to on a few of my reviews by the devs.

Ah, guess maybe I just haven't read enough negative reviews on various games. I might go around and do that just to see what I can find. No point, just for research =D

Is it typical for them to come at the reviewers in that tone?

[Cryemore]

Originally posted by Air Raider *EDF EDF*:

Iv seen it on many games. Iv even been responded to on a few of my reviews by the devs.

I have as well. This isn't uncommon, and should happen more often in my opinion.

[NewYears1978]

Originally posted by Cryemore:

Originally posted by Air Raider *EDF EDF*:

Iv seen it on many games. Iv even been responded to on a few of my reviews by the devs.

I have as well. This isn't uncommon, and should happen more often in my opinion.

Okay cool.

I don't have anything against developers replying to reviews, obviously it's nice to have interaction. But it's just the tone I have seen so far which is basically the equivalent of "git gud" rather than responding to the reviews actual criticisms.

I myself am not complaining about it, was just curious what others thoughts were on it, or if they noticed the same thing, Etc.

[Cryemore]

Originally posted by NewYears1978:

Originally posted by Air Raider *EDF EDF*:

Iv seen it on many games. Iv even been responded to on a few of my reviews by the devs.

Ah, guess maybe I just haven't read enough negative reviews on various games. I might go around and do that just to see what I can find. No point, just for research =D

Is it typical for them to come at the reviewers in that tone?

I left a rather scathing (yet fair) review of a game once. After a dev responded I actually felt bad and changed my review. I'll check out the reviews for this to see what you're taking about.

[beefcake]

This was funny comment from devs:

Rest assured that our commitment to enabling as many people as possible to immerse themselves in our game world is what drives our passion.

"many people as possible"

If you have minimum spec PC you should be able to play the game..

Amazing game, will be 9/10 when they fix the game and PLEASE: Controller auto centering camera option toggle off. Its same button than lock on target.

[geryboy85]

obviously they should be able to give their own comments, the way some people here behaved they should have been beaten more as kids. I don't mind.

Are you an american? sucking up to people? You sound like a weirdo "always be nice".

[NewYears1978]

Originally posted by geryboy85:

obviously they should be able to give their own comments, the way some people here behaved they should have been beaten more as kids. I don't mind.

Are you an american? sucking up to people? You sound like a weirdo "always be nice".

Lol. Yes I am American and not sure what you mean about sucking up to people. I do tend to always be nice to people though.

But my point was that it felt weird for devs to respond in that tone to legitimate reviews. Again, not saying they were, just felt like it to me.

Also not saying that it is wrong at all - just wanted to open it for discussion. I honestly don't care one way or the other. I also posted a negative review, I am sure they'll say something snarky to me also.

[geryboy85]

the people trashed the game for the silliest reasons and review bombed it. It was behavior that was not tolerable. You can be silent and go on or you can bark back, I would prefer the later. You simply need to call out silly behavior, no matter if they are your customer. I just got out of hand quickly.

[Sage]

this makes me love this game so much more...... artists defending their ♥♥♥♥.....

time to go buy every upcoming dlc

[Cryemore]

I looked through the developer comments and they're actually not bad? They have a canned response to the negative reviews that focus on the co-op experience that just explains their intentions. They offer advice to those that left a negative review about the difficulty.

The main thing is that they are actively soliciting feedback from the reviewers in each dev comment. They've been patching pretty quickly and seem to genuinely want people to enjoy playing. I think the game will only improve going forward.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by Cryemore:

I looked through the developer comments and they're actually not bad? They have a canned response to the negative reviews that focus on the co-op experience that just explains their intentions. They offer advice to those that left a negative review about the difficulty.

The main thing is that they are actively soliciting feedback from the reviewers in each dev comment. They've been patching pretty quickly and seem to genuinely want people to enjoy playing. I think the game will only improve going forward.

I sincerely hope they don't pander to every complaint/review though. The game as it stands is fine, it could use some tweaking, but don't do like Lies of P did and nerf pretty much every boss for instance.

[Sage]

Originally posted by geryboy85:

the people trashed the game for the silliest reasons and review bombed it. It was behavior that was not tolerable. You can be silent and go on or you can bark back, I would prefer the later. You simply need to call out silly behavior, no matter if they are your customer. I just got out of hand quickly.

agreed. and this is the issue with people leaving reviews based off opinions that were told to them by streamers.... devs gotta sort through the feedback knowing that a good % is trash.

i really think steam needs to change their review process so that only people that own the game have their review counted or thrown out if they have less that 20 minutes.... how many games have you played that take more than the time you can play and still refund. how many troll buy the game simply to return it. its why steam reviews dont matter currently.

[Limp Squirrel]

Double edged sword. Responding directly to negative feedback can backfire quickly if the community as a whole perceives it as being trying to justify legitimate grievances they might have. On the flip side, acknowledgement of negative input can also encourage more people to stay informed and possible pick up the game eventually.

Generally speaking though, don't get into a fight with the Internet, you always lose.

[tuznecote]

Yeah, I have seen a few "well if you are having a bad time go back and farm" comments which may seem innocent but come off a little backhanded.