Neglected WIP Threads

[Zatch]

Again, I don't know if this is where it should go but move it if it isn't.

Anyways, I notice that most of the comments are for gxb and I'm curious why the other threads that isn't gxb are getting over looked. I'm not trying to start a flame war or anything it is I'm just wondering.

As of writer I feel frustrated sometimes because my thread is getting overshadow by new gxb or bxb or whatever. I know I should focus on my game but I feel discourage when I get no response for months on in and gxb getting bump up like everyday. I know some others are feeling this way but let it go.(I think)

I know I got responses for my thread and stuff. I thank everyone that took the time to post there.

Without getting off topic.. I would like your input on this. :3 Don't want to offend anyone I just notice it..

[Camille]

I think the great majority of people lurk on LSF and don't comment or whatever. We didn't get a whole lot of actual comments on our BxB WIP thread, but then tons of people downloaded the demo. It just so happens that the GxB threads are updated more or people have more questions/comments. It doesn't mean nobody's interested in your game. (there's not that many BxB games in the first place, so I don't think it's weird that the few that exist get a little bit of attention, but perhaps I'm a bit biased)

Honestly, I don't think you should try to gauge interest based on comments... And if you're only making a game in order to get comments or attention, you will probably be disappointed most of the time. This whole GxB vs. the other genres thing comes up fairly frequently and there's not really a good answer for it.

[KomiTsuku]

This is part of the reason why Rising Angels pretty much commandeered Anton's Vacation's budget. They take place in the same universe, have a couple of the same characters even, written by the same person with the same overall objective, and both had talented artists behind them. One of them has a female lead, one has a male. I love both equally. The rest of the crowd... not so much. If anyone has learned anything about me, is that I will cave to the audience.

1. Even though I never post, I always take the time to review every single WIP. It may appear that nobody is paying attention, but I do at least give everything some of my limited attention.

2. Know the current trend. Unfortunately for us BxG writers, the trend is currently not in our favor. That being said, what is currently popular changes. I can't wait to see the shift that is likely to come from Katawa's release.

3. What is the main reason you are doing this? While I may be doing it for world domination, hence why I really care about popular opinion and the sometimes lack of it, that isn't everyone's reason. Do what you love, not what is popular.

4. Convert the current trend of otome by merging into BxG to create an entirely new genre that draws from both genders with story plots that don't revolve around romance... Wait, part of my evil plan with RA. Probably shouldn't say that out loud. IGNORE ME!!!

5. Remind yourself of this: How many of those WIPs make it to completion? It doesn't matter how many comments your WIP gets if it never makes it to release.

[Zatch]

Thanks for both your comments! I'm doing this because I want to. I will continue to do it even if i don't get another post at all. It just get discouraging alot of the time. :/ Oh well. You will be getting alot of bump from me in the future. Bummer for bxg people. I want to hear about your evil plan.

[Auro-Cyanide]

This has gone round quite a few times and it pretty much comes down to:

1. There is a lack of female games in the main stream market.
2. Girls are attracted to games that notice them as an audience. Therefore, they are likely to be attracted to otome games.
3. While girls are not an overwhelming proportion of the forums, they are more vocal. I could probably count on both hands the number of guys here that post often in the WIPs.

Also, I think everyone should think about how often they comment on projects that are outside of their own interests. Maybe that can help answer your question to. We are humans, it's natural for us to be biased.

[Mink]

...I realize I may be like the only girl who generally haaates anything for girls. 8| (And I'm okay with that)

Or how I see it: I don't want games(or anything) to target me as a girl, I'd just like for them to not actively offend me. Which is something DC comics can't seem to learn, how not to actively offend...humanity.

@Komi: You mean Katawa Shojo? Because saying 'Katawa's release' just sounds...awkward...(well, it does if you know what that can mean)

@Zatch: Hey, my game isn't romance at all, so I'm doomed to obscurity.

[Aleema]

I know Jack was saying how Spirited Heart: Girl's Love was mostly ignored by the press, because it was GxG, but he said that the sales were decent. It's probably true that both GxG and BxB get less attention all around. So if you compare yourself to GxB or BxG, you will almost always fall short.

Also, I want to note that with the rise of the GxB/female developers came a rise in conversation in the WIP forum. So much so, it was considered bad and the admins wanted to erase the subforum and start over. What was actually happening was just an influx of female posters, not "bad" posters. It is my belief that GxB followers, or more generally, girls, simply talk more. Way more. Especially when it's about cute boys. That's completely natural behavior, in my experience.

Lastly, make sure your threads are as appealing as other threads before you call bias on your content alone. Active threads have active developers, and often with a wealth of media to comment on. There's actual discussions going on, too. Get involved with users.

But again, you shouldn't let the behavior of GxB threads affect your esteem. Different audiences react differently.

P.S. Pox on to those who think GxB is a "trend" that will go away. Don't wade it out, it's not going to happen.

...I realize I may be like the only girl who generally haaates anything for girls. 8| (And I'm okay with that)

I wouldn't say that. I think we all hate to be pandered to and to be completely misunderstood or misrepresented. I wouldn't want a GameStop guy suggesting Barbie Pony World or something to me. The problem is what is defined as "for girls".

[Camille]

... What does "for girls" mean? >__> And what does "for guys" mean? I would find it hard-pressed to make something that I would be confident caters to ALL GIRLS or ALL GUYS. Or even MANY girls or guys. As a whole, your gender doesn't necessarily dictate what you will or will not like. :/ I think there are just as many young girls that like Barbie as there are that dislike it. Disliking things like Barbie or otome games doesn't make you a special snowflake. Judging something based on a label or what you perceive to be its intended audience is silly. I play otome games and enjoy them, sure. So what? I also like watching violent movies and reading horror manga, neither of which are thought of as being "for girls". Think about how many girls read shounen manga--a genre with a name that literally means "boys"! I'd never pass over a game just because it was a BxG game. D:

Anyway, I completely agree with Aleema and Auro. XD I think girls are just more chatty. And GxB games are not going away any time soon.

[Omnificent]

I don't think that it's even a bias along the lines of BxG vs GxB so much as a bias in favor of pretty art. For instance, I doubt that a lot of the BxG romance crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of Moe-desu-tans any more than a lot of the GxB crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of shoujo bishonen, which leaves a lot of, say, KN writers out of the loop.

For my part I look into a lot of different threads, but the projects with the most out of the box/ambitious scopes or dynamic characters are the most interesting to me. I don't care if it's BxG, GxB, BxBxB or even the shocking no romance at all as long as it's good.

[Zatch]

Not trying to be bias or anything.. I do agree that girls do chat alot and voice their opinions more. Thanks for your guys comments. I will try not to let it bring my self-esteem down. I do find it interesting that some wips that doesn't have any pictures get lot of comments too. xD I guess they like the descriptions or something.

[KomiTsuku]

P.S. Pox on to those who think GxB is a "trend" that will go away. Don't wade it out, it's not going to happen.

Oh, I never said it would go away, just that it will balance out in the end. Things are always shifting in popularity.

@Komi: You mean Katawa Shojo? Because saying 'Katawa's release' just sounds...awkward...(well, it does if you know what that can mean)

In retrospect... yes. That does sound a tad strange. Then again, that's how I do things. Awkward as hell.

I don't think that it's even a bias along the lines of BxG vs GxB so much as a bias in favor of pretty art. For instance, I doubt that a lot of the BxG romance crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of Moe-desu-tans any more than a lot of the GxB crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of shoujo bishonen, which leaves a lot of, say, KN writers out of the loop.

I would disagree with the second part of the statement, but pretty art does draw in the initial crowd. The plot and gameplay is what keeps them there.

[Mink]

... What does "for girls" mean? >__> And what does "for guys" mean? I would find it hard-pressed to make something that I would be confident caters to ALL GIRLS or ALL GUYS. Or even MANY girls or guys. As a whole, your gender doesn't necessarily dictate what you will or will not like. :/ I think there are just as many young girls that like Barbie as there are that dislike it. Disliking things like Barbie or otome games doesn't make you a special snowflake. Judging something based on a label or what you perceive to be its intended audience is silly. I play otome games and enjoy them, sure. So what? I also like watching violent movies and reading horror manga, neither of which are thought of as being "for girls". Think about how many girls read shounen manga--a genre with a name that literally means "boys"! I'd never pass over a game just because it was a BxG game. D:

Anyway, I completely agree with Aleema and Auro. XD I think girls are just more chatty. And GxB games are not going away any time soon.

Oh, I'm talking about when things explicitly say 'for girls' or some such which is probably stemming from childhood experiences. It's just that things targeted to girls/women I just generally don't like, but that's not an end-all-be-all or anything. I generally don't like turn-based games, but it's not like I NEVER play them.

And it's not like I thought it made me special (which WOULD be silly) or anything, but I seem to be one of few that just generally doesn't like such things. :/

[Desu_Cake]

...I realize I may be like the only girl who generally haaates anything for girls. 8| (And I'm okay with that)

Or how I see it: I don't want games(or anything) to target me as a girl, I'd just like for them to not actively offend me. Which is something DC comics can't seem to learn, how not to actively offend...humanity.

Mink... Are you me? I feel exactly the same way.
My main problem with the game market in general (and other markets too), is that there's stuff for girls, stuff for guys, and stuff in the middle, but the stuff in the middle tends to be for guys as well. Basically, there is almost no real "middle ground", which means the only stuff available for girls is the really girly stuff.
What does this have to do with here? Well, pretty much the same thing is happening, but there are more girls. Also, it seems many girls are perfectly happy with this state of affairs and only look at the stuff that's directly "For girls". (Whatever floats your boat) Now, here the middle-ground is a bit more middle-ish, but there's less of it, as most of the WIP threads focus on one or two types of pairings. Personally, I hate those.

[Auro-Cyanide]

Now, here the middle-ground is a bit more middle-ish, but there's less of it, as most of the WIP threads focus on one or two types of pairings. Personally, I hate those.

Though to be fair, there is a bit of a logistical issue with having more types of pairings because it exponentially increases the work load, but I get what you mean, somtimes it would be nice to get more mixture of things.

I don't think it's a huge surprise a great deal of things don't get commented on. We're all too busy making games! But seriously, a lot of people keep the plot and everything under wraps, so after saying 'Oh, this is interesting and I like the art' sometimes there isn't much left to say ^_^' Aleema is right in that if you are active in your thread with interesting content, people are more likely to have something to talk about.

[DaFool]

I don't think that it's even a bias along the lines of BxG vs GxB so much as a bias in favor of pretty art. For instance, I doubt that a lot of the BxG romance crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of Moe-desu-tans any more than a lot of the GxB crowd would give a second glance to a game that didn't have a bunch of shoujo bishonen, which leaves a lot of, say, KN writers out of the loop.

This. This. This. This. This.

I may be mostly doing art (and music) now, but I used to be in the writer-programmer crowd. Then the prospect of wanting to make an H-game came up (H in general requires even more emphasis on the art) so I took off my gloves and started tracing porn (hey, free nude study). Now I can draw without needing to trace at all.

To the original OP: At least be glad that you didn't release a complete game and there were no comments for months. Think how heartbreaking that would have been (was a good writer, too.)