Responding after release.
WHAT REVIEWS DO
Determine whether others buy Reveal what players actually experienced
WHAT TO READ FOR
Recurring complaints Misunderstandings about what the game is Technical problems on specific configurations
WHY MISUNDERSTANDINGS MATTER
They indicate the store page promised the wrong thing.
WHAT TO FIX FIRST
Technical problems Anything preventing progress
WHAT TO RESPOND TO
Reports of problems, factually and briefly.
WHAT NOT TO RESPOND TO
Criticism of the game's design, argumentatively.
WHY
It reads badly to everyone else, whatever the merit.
WHAT TO DO WITH DESIGN CRITICISM
Consider it, and act where several players agree.
WHAT TO AVOID
Arguing publicly Responding while upset Treating negative reviews as attacks
WHAT NEGATIVE REVIEWS USUALLY CONTAIN
A real problem, expressed poorly.
WHAT TO COMMUNICATE
What you are fixing, and when.
WHAT TO UPDATE
The store page, if it misrepresents the game.
WHAT TO ACCEPT
That some players will not enjoy it, and that is not a failure.
WHAT TO PROTECT
Your capacity to keep working.
