The importance of Steam reviews

[Eldacar]

Maybe if someone running a 200 people studio explains this, it's way better than me :)

This is exactly why we always ask to consider to drop a review here if you are enjoying the game. If you had a good time in Plamen and you didn't review the game yet, think about it. Reviews are the best way to support us and the development. Thank you!

https://forum.norestforthewicked.com/t/updates-and-discussions-from-the-official-discord/14175/218

[Joss]

I made a review when the game came out, it was not good, but the review was "recommended".

NRFTW is pretty good, even better now, but I didn't like it when it came out.

If I saw the dev asking for a positive review, when I left that review, it probably would have been negative, because I left a positive review, thinking the game could be GREAT with time, not because it was, and asking for a positive review under those circumstances would feel like slight manipulation.

I get that indie games need those to be noticed, but asking on the other side of the coin, if I don't like the game that much, should I leave no review at all, or a negative one in your opinion?

[Eldacar]

Good question. I think it really comes down to the game, the team, and the way a player approaches games. We started asking for support when we realized that the people who are quick to throw hate at devs or games tend to be far more active than those who simply enjoy and support what we’re doing. These people usually don’t read any of the updates, roadmaps, or explanations about issues.

We’ve received bad reviews for problems that were already known and addressed in upcoming patches, and we usually fixed things at lightning speed during Early Access, just like we do now if needed. But those negative reviews count just as much as detailed, well-thought-out 80-hour positive reviews. And still, the Steam algorithm is the key, and it makes all the difference when it comes to sales, which in turn means more resources to invest in development.

There are tons of people who leave bad reviews just to be heard, as Moon said, but it doesn’t really work like that. Personally, I’ve always trusted the Early Access games I bought, giving a thumbs up to help with the algorithm, and then pointing out issues constructively. I’ve only edited a review later on if promises weren’t kept, which happened very rarely. Apparently, though, 90% of people think the opposite approach is fine: “I’ll leave a thumbs down now, and change it if things improve.” What they don’t realize is that in order for things to improve, the game needs to make sales, and thumbs down kill sales.

It’s a really intricate topic, honestly. But I can't find anything wrong with Moon's post, except for the fact that they’re at risk of shutting down with 33,000 reviews, which is wild to us, considering we’ve managed to pay our bills with a fraction of their sales. And to be honest, Alaloth in Early Access was way more complete, it was already 90% done, and we spent most of our time adding content, not just fixing things.

We’ll continue to kindly ask players who enjoyed the game to consider dropping a review :)

It really helps.

[Joss]

Originally posted by Eldacar:

Good question. I think it really comes down to the game, the team, and the way a player approaches games. We started asking for support when we realized that the people who are quick to throw hate at devs or games tend to be far more active than those who simply enjoy and support what we’re doing. These people usually don’t read any of the updates, roadmaps, or explanations about issues.

We’ve received bad reviews for problems that were already known and addressed in upcoming patches, and we usually fixed things at lightning speed during Early Access, just like we do now if needed. But those negative reviews count just as much as detailed, well-thought-out 80-hour positive reviews. And still, the Steam algorithm is the key, and it makes all the difference when it comes to sales, which in turn means more resources to invest in development.

There are tons of people who leave bad reviews just to be heard, as Moon said, but it doesn’t really work like that. Personally, I’ve always trusted the Early Access games I bought, giving a thumbs up to help with the algorithm, and then pointing out issues constructively. I’ve only edited a review later on if promises weren’t kept, which happened very rarely. Apparently, though, 90% of people think the opposite approach is fine: “I’ll leave a thumbs down now, and change it if things improve.” What they don’t realize is that in order for things to improve, the game needs to make sales, and thumbs down kill sales.

It’s a really intricate topic, honestly. But I can't find anything wrong with Moon's post, except for the fact that they’re at risk of shutting down with 33,000 reviews, which is wild to us, considering we’ve managed to pay our bills with a fraction of their sales. And to be honest, Alaloth in Early Access was way more complete, it was already 90% done, and we spent most of our time adding content, not just fixing things.

We’ll continue to kindly ask players who enjoyed the game to consider dropping a review :)

It really helps.

I see, thanks for your answer, yeah my only issue with their post is the "shutting down thing", which rhey backtracked on their server too

I too like to leave reviews positive, even if I disagree with designs decisions and what not, becuase indies need those big time.

I'll take it than than no review is better than a negative, but a positive, which explains the parts that you don't like about the game would be "the ideal scenario" in situations like these.

I don't mind the asking for positive review, it's better sometimes to remind some people yeah, the issue I had with it, it's that Moon Studios is not THAT small, and they already have 2 great games that are super well regarded in the community, so the mixed reviews that No Rest got were not necessary unwarranted you know.

Anyway, thanks for the perspective and lengthy answer, very detailed, can't wait for alaloths next update :)

[Eldacar]

Originally posted by Joss:

Originally posted by Eldacar:

Good question. I think it really comes down to the game, the team, and the way a player approaches games. We started asking for support when we realized that the people who are quick to throw hate at devs or games tend to be far more active than those who simply enjoy and support what we’re doing. These people usually don’t read any of the updates, roadmaps, or explanations about issues.

We’ve received bad reviews for problems that were already known and addressed in upcoming patches, and we usually fixed things at lightning speed during Early Access, just like we do now if needed. But those negative reviews count just as much as detailed, well-thought-out 80-hour positive reviews. And still, the Steam algorithm is the key, and it makes all the difference when it comes to sales, which in turn means more resources to invest in development.

There are tons of people who leave bad reviews just to be heard, as Moon said, but it doesn’t really work like that. Personally, I’ve always trusted the Early Access games I bought, giving a thumbs up to help with the algorithm, and then pointing out issues constructively. I’ve only edited a review later on if promises weren’t kept, which happened very rarely. Apparently, though, 90% of people think the opposite approach is fine: “I’ll leave a thumbs down now, and change it if things improve.” What they don’t realize is that in order for things to improve, the game needs to make sales, and thumbs down kill sales.

It’s a really intricate topic, honestly. But I can't find anything wrong with Moon's post, except for the fact that they’re at risk of shutting down with 33,000 reviews, which is wild to us, considering we’ve managed to pay our bills with a fraction of their sales. And to be honest, Alaloth in Early Access was way more complete, it was already 90% done, and we spent most of our time adding content, not just fixing things.

We’ll continue to kindly ask players who enjoyed the game to consider dropping a review :)

It really helps.

I see, thanks for your answer, yeah my only issue with their post is the "shutting down thing", which rhey backtracked on their server too

I too like to leave reviews positive, even if I disagree with designs decisions and what not, becuase indies need those big time.

I'll take it than than no review is better than a negative, but a positive, which explains the parts that you don't like about the game would be "the ideal scenario" in situations like these.

I don't mind the asking for positive review, it's better sometimes to remind some people yeah, the issue I had with it, it's that Moon Studios is not THAT small, and they already have 2 great games that are super well regarded in the community, so the mixed reviews that No Rest got were not necessary unwarranted you know.

Anyway, thanks for the perspective and lengthy answer, very detailed, can't wait for alaloths next update :)

Meanwhile: clown awards and topic reported, just to confirm what I was saying and how toxic ♥♥♥♥ works and how people brain process things 😄

[Joss]

Originally posted by Eldacar:

Originally posted by Joss:

I see, thanks for your answer, yeah my only issue with their post is the "shutting down thing", which rhey backtracked on their server too

I too like to leave reviews positive, even if I disagree with designs decisions and what not, becuase indies need those big time.

I'll take it than than no review is better than a negative, but a positive, which explains the parts that you don't like about the game would be "the ideal scenario" in situations like these.

I don't mind the asking for positive review, it's better sometimes to remind some people yeah, the issue I had with it, it's that Moon Studios is not THAT small, and they already have 2 great games that are super well regarded in the community, so the mixed reviews that No Rest got were not necessary unwarranted you know.

Anyway, thanks for the perspective and lengthy answer, very detailed, can't wait for alaloths next update :)

Meanwhile: clown awards and topic reported, just to confirm what I was saying and how toxic ♥♥♥♥ works and how people brain process things 😄

Dudes do be annoying sometimes lel