I got several good reviews of my game. They’re not very high reviews, either. Two and three stars out of five. I wasn’t terribly happy about that but it was my first Twine game. I went through and read the reviews and discovered something interesting.
The people who reviewed my game left constructive criticism!
Imagine! On the internet, someone left a review and critique that was helpful. Both reviews made excellent points, pointed out things I could’ve done better, and complimented things I did well. I’m awestruck! I’m making note of what the reviewers said so I can improve next time. This makes me very happy! I’ve got some good, constructive criticism that will help me improve in the future with my next game (already in development).
I’ve been reading and playing a lot of Twine games and getting a feel for how the stories are laid out and written. I’m learning more about Twine and some of the additions out there to make my games better. I’m working on my next game, coming up with new ideas and working my way around my old limitations and failings. These reviews will help me get a good handle on what I need to improve as well as what I do well already. I never quite know what I do well at and what I need to improve upon. I tend to work in a vacuum where not a lot of outside opinion and critique enters. Getting good reviews of my work is a great stepping stone!
I guess I just expected nobody would play my game or review it if they did. I’ve had similar experiences with other creative endeavors. I know I shouldn’t depend on the opinions and views of others but it’s nice to hear something, even if it isn’t the greatest news. It’s good to know what I need to work on, how I can improve, what needs work. It’s nice to receive compliments, too. 😀