chisa-chan wrote:Moreover, I create VN because my heart loves it, not because of money
I like how you put that. That's why I do this too -- because my heart loves it. I like the challenge of programming, and learning new languages. And I like telling stories that other people can lose themselves in for a while. But, mostly, I just love it and it makes me happy.
While writing a VN, you have to wear lots of different hats -- writer, programmer, musical director, artistic director, producer -- and so there's always something for me to switch over to if I get bored with what I'm doing. Otherwise, I could just be writing short stories.
As far as "free" goes, well, I can't say I'm hugely idealistic or anything, but there's something very satisfying about taking a bunch of free resources and using them to create something that everyone can enjoy. Boy, that sounds dumb, but I don't care, I'm a sap and proud of it!
Oh, and I don't think it boils down to "free because I love it" or "commercial and it's drudge work". Writing a game (or any piece of software) is a lot of work, so why shouldn't the developers get paid for it if they want to be? I wouldn't look askance at someone selling homemade jam or baby afghans at my local Farmer's Market. And I do like the idea of making a commercial game "someday", I guess, but I don't think I'd want to go it alone.
DaFool wrote:* Free doesn't give you enough praise to bolster your e-penis points or whatever.
Awww, and I'm only like ten points away from being able to redeem my e-penis points for prizes, too...
DaFool wrote:So feeling good and happy because of praise from a wide audience? -- nope, the audience isn't that wide, and the praise isn't that much. Although, the occasional one or two comments of "This is the best game I have played." can be worth a 100 comments.
I have to say, I never realized what a sucker I am for praise before I released my first game. I like to think I'm fairly balanced about such things, but darned if it doesn't just feel really good to hear that other people like what you've created out of your brain.
And I like just about any feedback, from "I suppose this could have sucked more than it did" to "this was the best game ever!" I guess it's just really flattering that someone would take the time to write up their thoughts about something I made and actually hit the submit button -- it means that, for however long it took them to write up that comment, my game meant something to them. And that's an amazing feeling.
But if praise were the only reason I did this, I'd have been done a long time ago. Hearing feedback is definitely like eating a Snickers halfway through a long hike -- you get an energy surge and it keeps you going a little longer -- but it can't keep you going forever if you're not happy with what you're doing.
DaFool wrote:Not everyone in these forums even plays every free game that's been released. How does it feel when you praise peoples' project, but not get any return praise for yours?
For one thing, if I praise someone's project, I'm not doing it because they can do something for me, or so they'll reciprocate. That would be incredibly dishonest. And, more to the point, it'd be pointless; purchased praise means nothing, and, worse, devalues the honest feedback accompanying it.
I would hate for anyone to feel as if they had to comment on or praise my game just because I commented on their game. Or worse, as if they shouldn't comment because I haven't played their game, or don't post in the same areas of the forum as they do, or whatever.
I've seen attitudes like that on other free-content boards, but I haven't seen anything like that around here, and I'm glad of it.