Disappointed in the Community

#1 I suppose it takes a curious kind of courage to make a post like yours, but you need to move on.

Jeff's made many posts about what it takes to get a project off the ground and to succeed here. Ideas are fundamental, but also a dime a dozen.

I've posted two, what I like to think of as, pretty cool ideas and aside from some token head-butting with Matt Webster and a few responses from people who eitehr know me or our company from other communities, I think I've had less than 5 responses.

I've asked directly, in the appropriate forums, for feedback on particular ideas we're introducing into the game that our team is building and gotten not a single response to any of them.

In the end you still need to fill out your profile, build a webiste, doggedly pusue the development of the very cool idea you have, and eventually gather people around you by hook or crook. If you don't have code monkey skills, then work on what you can.

There are people here eager to encourage you, and help you, but you have to meet them more than half way. I for one hadn't heard of your idea until I saw this post, which I probably only noticed becasue I figured the thread would be Car-Wreck fascinating.

Mychal McCabe
Badlands Games

#2 I know I wasn't the only person who gave you input in IRC. I didn't say much, but then again it's a niche game that I know nothing about nor do I really care to learn about.

I don't like train conductor games, but there is a market for them. If there wasn't, Railroad Tycoon and Trainz and the other 2 or 3 games wouldn't have been made.

If it's your idea, work with it. If no one wants to provide input, then work with it. Train simulation is a very strange genre, so it's not like everyone would even have an idea for a game they don't understand or don't like.

You can't give up or complain when you don't recieve many ideas. If you do, then it might not look good for your reputation. Complaining that others won't make your game idea for your game? Isn't it your game? Shouldn't you already know where you want to go?

Just be patient, and learn that when it's your idea you don't need constant praise or response from the community. We're here for the important things like figuring out how to fix a problem or addressing some design issue or critiquing your newest model.

Bouncing ideas off of the community is fine, and I believe that's what you've recieved. Maybe I don't understand your complaint, but did you mistake us for a think-tank that can help design games for you with whatever genre you tell us?

#3 Keep in mind that just because fellow developers don't like an idea, it doesn't mean it isn't a good one or won't succeed. Look at games like Deer Hunter. If I'd pitched that idea to my friends years ago, they'd have shrugged and changed the subject. But look how successful it was.

I for one think games like a train simulator are ones that would appeal to the masses, and outsell the typical niche games.

#4 I'm sorry I didn't post in your model train thread...I did read it, and think that such a game could be fun...But it SOUNDED to me like the game wouldn't be all that different then existing train baised games like "Railroad Tycoon" but with the 'novelty' of model trains instead of full size ones...alas I wrote SOUNDED as I'm getting old and can sometimes misinterpret things :P...I'll post there shortly as I've got some ideas that could work :)

I agree 100% with you about the community being pretty lax in supporting games other then mainstream basied ones..but this seems about par for the course as most indy game related sites are like that...I don't think I'm all that original or creative...but I post my "magnet" idea and nobody responds, but if I post about some cliched D&D style RPG, RTS or FPS and my mailbox would be full of people wanting to know more :P

I had long thought that professional game developers had run out of ideas long ago...that is until I read Jeff's plan inquireing about the apparent lack of innovative game ideas...Jeff, if even a quarter of the game industry thinks like you do, then all these RPGs, RTS, and FPS games are HOLDING THE INDUSTRY BACK!...That bird flight simulator sounds really cool!

#5 Robert,

Please don't let the lack of response to your post hold you back. Keep going. I have been lax in helping along the Game Ideas forums because I have been so busy on Realm Wars and other issues.

I think the community of GarageGames is its biggest asset. It is great that we can all be so honest with each other that you can post a thread like the one we are responding to now. I have noticed a distinct change in the community's receptiveness to "off the wall" ideas since my .plan on creativity. Keep in mind though, we are trying to change the course of a battleship, and it will take time.

If you can get a team together to make the train game, I would love to see it happen. It would go so well with the type of games taht I love to make, and I can assure you that you will see many other games in the genre and GarageGames will be giving them big support.

BTW, I'm going to go out on a limb here soon. I have made up a list of 25 "game" ideas. Some should definitely be done and others are kind of out there. I just need to get time to write it up.

Jeff Tunnell GG

#6 Nothing is holding anything up.

Do it, and live with the fact you won't get hourly "you rock dude, i love duke nukem-like games!" emails, and make the game!

You should be making a good game to make a good game. Not to get constant praise from people who know (or care) very little about whatever you're wanting to make.

The reason I don't tend to post in most "hey look at my cool idea" posts is because they seem to be asking for praise. Asking for praise when all you have is an idea makes me think you're not serious. If you're not serious, then my suggestions would be wasted.

#7 There are a few things I'd like to comment quickly. I don't mean this to come out negative, just constructive to the community:

- Your post gathered a positive and enhancing responses, as well as 'take a look at...' responses. If you were looking for someone to 'take up the charge', well, many people already have ideas they are working on.

- Your post is only 2 days old! I sometimes can end up going a week without reading the forums. You have to give things some time to get responses. I've seen threads that ping-pong every 4-5 days, and some that get responses in minutes.

- Also, you may need to have at least the body of your post, if not your title, have a 'call to action'. You don't necessarily ask for feedback, or say "I think this would be really cool, and I'd love to try to build a group around it", or anything, other than suggesting ideas around a project.

- Most importantly, for the many members of the community with their hands full, thread titles that aren't of immediate interest just get skipped. On an average evening, I log on to find 7+ pages of threads, 250+ new posts. If it doesn't call out to me quickly, I >have< to skip it, as I have very little time to get through reading, and responding. I think many in the community are up against the same issue.

Just some thoughts for everyone....

-d

#8 Really, I've noticed the same thing. A lot of the idea threads I've seen aren't marked by "you could do this too" or "a good idea but needs work." Rather, most of the ones I see get responses such as "that won't work," or "there are better ways to do things out there."

It's quite negative to throw away ideas without backpeddling and taking things into consideration, but that's usually what I've seen here so far: a lot of criticism but no support.

#9 I'd say look at the ideas before you say it's unwarranted criticism.

There are so many "I don't have torque yet, but here's my idea so tell me if you like it" threads that writing up an explanation to help the person really can get annoying.

We don't know if the person is even going to stick with the project, or if they're just going to lose interest 10 minutes down the line. Personally, the majority of the "here's my idea" posts seem like the latter kind of person.

Guess what? I avoid them. I don't like the mindless flak I get for critiquing ideas, so I usually don't post on things that are just asking for it. That's what you get when some of your audience is "delicate".

#10 Maybe I expressed my self wrong, only Eli seems to have gotten my point.

I am not looking for people to blow smoke up my butt, nor am I asking everyone to say what a great idea it is.

I am simply disappointed in the people who do go in and say won't work, no one will lke it etc...

Input is appreciated from people who say "change this or that" etc...

I guess I just don't like doom sayers.

They will be the end of indie developers (I am joking on this last line)

#11 Well, I didn't have any ideas or modifications to note, which is why I was silent in the first place. If you don't want my opinion, that's fine.

This is like some "Does this dress make my butt look big?" situation...

#12 I dont like trains. I am not interested in a train simulator. So no matter how cool the idea is/was, I wasnt going to go post or take the time to think of ideas. I read every post about fighting, action and strategy games, as they directly pertain to my game and what I am interested in. So dont take it as a personal offense.

Many developers here are probably more of teh hardcore gamer type, not the main stream folks who will buy your game (if it is ever finished). So they probably arent as interested in it. Perhaps a better place to post for ideas would be some forum for some kind of train game. Just a suggestion. ;)

#13 lotta wasted energy here =( *a single tear falls*