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Overall I agree but I think there’s a few layers to unpack here.
The first is why we currently don’t see major critiques imo.
The second is the purpose of critique and why I’m real hesistant about it when done improperly.
Let’s get into it. https://twitter.com/jdragsky/status/1285872835412594688
The first is why we currently don’t see major critiques imo.
The second is the purpose of critique and why I’m real hesistant about it when done improperly.
Let’s get into it. https://twitter.com/jdragsky/status/1285872835412594688
So to address the first point, I think it comes down to how small the scene is. This causes two consequences.
First, you can’t get away with critiquing big companies and big companies games without being seen as an agitator, problematic, or otherwise jeopardising your chances...
First, you can’t get away with critiquing big companies and big companies games without being seen as an agitator, problematic, or otherwise jeopardising your chances...
Of getting work. Everyone who spoke out about WotC burned that bridge and risked so many others. That’s also related to why problematic content remains unaddressed.
The second is that a lot of folks personally know game designers. I’ve given a lot of my friends...
The second is that a lot of folks personally know game designers. I’ve given a lot of my friends...
Critique and advice in private when solicited, but I want them to succeed and make money so in public I tend to word things positively as “this game will be for you if you want this thing” not as “this game sucks at this thing” and that’s part of the game unfortunately.
How do we address these? I mean the first one mostly comes from changes in corporate structures and hiring practice. Collective action can be a way to make pressure but unfortunately there’re enough mediocre white dudes willing to settle that it’s probably not gonna do much.
For example, despite everything, WotC still hasn’t taken a drop of tangible action.
As for dealing with wanting your friends to succeed; I think that comes down to expressing honest and useful critique, which leads me to....
As for dealing with wanting your friends to succeed; I think that comes down to expressing honest and useful critique, which leads me to....
I don’t think most people have learned how to express opinions. Let me explain; I think a ton of folks, especially on this hellsite, will portray their opinion as fact. “I don’t like this thing ergo it’s bad.” And that’s not just unhelpful, it can be hurtful to others.
Now how to get useful critique is a whole beast that requires a thread of its own but I think I hit pretty well on it in my intentionality thread. So check that out.
But in general, I feel like most critique that’s useful falls into 3 categories: https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1281287192518766595
But in general, I feel like most critique that’s useful falls into 3 categories: https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1281287192518766595
1) Telling folks what to expect, steering them towards games that support their needs.
2) Calling out problematic shit (our space is mostly good about doing this, bad about making it stick. Nature of the medium).
3) Helping other designers and players learn from the product.
2) Calling out problematic shit (our space is mostly good about doing this, bad about making it stick. Nature of the medium).
3) Helping other designers and players learn from the product.
The first two are straight forward, and the first is what good reviews on other media does. The third however is trickier. If you note my dice math threads, whenever I deconstruct what I don’t like about a certain die or probability model, I’m doing with two aims:
1) Make folks understand what I don’t like about it (and perhaps why others who share my view may feel the same way)
2) Provide a structure to build an alternative. My big PbtA thread was all about switching up the dice model in new and unique ways. https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1161047714232242177
2) Provide a structure to build an alternative. My big PbtA thread was all about switching up the dice model in new and unique ways. https://twitter.com/ammourazz/status/1161047714232242177
Two quick notes:
1) Oh wow huh that was actually a thread about intentionality that’s a recurring theme.
2) Even I’m not always perfect about this. The start of that thread was a little confrontational and it misled some folks on its purpose, even if it was a personal plea.
1) Oh wow huh that was actually a thread about intentionality that’s a recurring theme.
2) Even I’m not always perfect about this. The start of that thread was a little confrontational and it misled some folks on its purpose, even if it was a personal plea.
And that’s perhaps why I’m hesitant about critique in spaces. I think it’s super cool and useful when done right, with a ton of value. It can also cause a lot of harm to creators, and any centralised space for critiques would need strong moderation to prevent it from being...
A place for folks to just shit on those they don’t like, or to stop alt-right trolls from weaponising it, etc etc
That’s all I’ve got.
That’s all I’ve got.
Some post notes:
I think there are probably more aspects I may not have the perspective to see. Part of it could be for example that more folks are interested in creating than reviewing content. I know some critics exist but they’re mostly in trad spaces and a lot of them...
I think there are probably more aspects I may not have the perspective to see. Part of it could be for example that more folks are interested in creating than reviewing content. I know some critics exist but they’re mostly in trad spaces and a lot of them...
Just suck... really bad. Like racist level of suck sometimes.
There could also be other layers of folks not seeing the problems or not caring enough to talk about. Idk just my observations
There could also be other layers of folks not seeing the problems or not caring enough to talk about. Idk just my observations