Fallout creator Tim Cain explains why developers often don’t know what players really want – and why players themselves are to blame.
Tim Cain, one of the creative minds behind the legendary role-playing game Fallout, is causing a stir with a statement on his YouTube channel:
”You don’t know what you want either.” A statement that seems provocative at first, but on closer inspection contains many truths.
“You don’t know what you want either”
Video game development is a lengthy process – often significantly more complex and time-consuming than the production of films or books. It is therefore difficult to follow trends in order to meet the tastes of the community.
Cain illustrates this with an example: If Warner Bros. had not patented the celebrated Nemesis system from Middle-earth: Mordor’s Shadow, he says, numerous games would have adopted this system years later. But by that time, the mechanics might no longer have been exciting.
The problem is obvious to Cain: What players love today could be irrelevant in a few years.
Cain therefore goes one step further and turns the tables: “You don’t know what you want either.” Many players express what they hate about games, but specific wishes are usually lacking. “You say what you don’t want – great. But what do you want instead?” Cain asks challengingly.
Whether it’s about unpopular character types or annoying game elements: According to Cain, criticism is often expressed in far too vague terms.
Cain provides an example with the desire for “better opponent AI” or “better UI.” But what exactly is annoying? What could a solution look like? Cain comments sarcastically: “I’ll just slide the better slider from OK to great.”
Cain therefore pleads for more precise feedback: Players should explain more precisely what bothers them – for example, which element of a user interface is annoying or why an AI is perceived as bad. This is the only way developers can work on targeted improvements.
In the comments section below Tim Cains YouTube video, however, his statement is not met with universal approval. Some viewers accuse him of developers should actually be gamers themselves and therefore actually know what players like.
Cain therefore advocates for more precise feedback: Players should explain more precisely what bothers them – for example, which element of a user interface is disturbing or why an AI is perceived as bad. Only in this way can developers work specifically on improvements.
In the comments section below Tim Cains YouTube video, however, his statement is not met with universal approval. Some viewers accuse him of the fact that developers should actually be gamers themselves and therefore actually know what gamers like.
