sakurasoul In reply to ??? [2012-04-14 15:15:25 +0000 UTC]

You're right in that point: "As an artist/writer, you are the catalyst for creation and destruction."

If you want a good book to read, go to Borders, but if you want a game, go buy a Tetris game or play Clue. Your point in the target audience brings us to GTA, NeedForSpeed, Mass Effect and the rest of bloody games such as NoMoreHeroes, that are good games, but meant for adults and not teenagers. The reasons are simple to understand: the children that made what the game industry is today; they grew up and need other types of stimulations.

The controller's functions are biased by the WiiU (another Ipad) and the concept of gaming has somehow changed dramatically to a mental freakshow; when in the times of Atari, it was something so simple, it could be decided with 25 cents and really have some fun inside of the arcade.

The word "success" in the game industry is kind of hard to understand. It all depends on what they want: money, or a good story. If they keep changing the writer's influences on a story; they can lose material full of potential if they influence the author way too much by the audience and the big companies. There will always be exceptions, like J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter videogames?

The authors must be conscious and aware of what they want to do with their story and should resort to game companies only if the story is not linear or makes a perfect complement inside of a game related world; to feedback, if their story was made to be edited in the first place.

In The Sims; a life simulation and not a game, you create your own story. That cannot happen in linear games as the Final Fantasy series, for instance. Editors and companies change strategies in gaming in order to gain money and recognition and not necessarily a good product and writers sometimes fail to see the companies demands.

Some gaming companies expect the gamer to tighten their budgets and that the producer suffers the consequences of a good or a bad production with their team. They just want the guarantee that the game will sell on it's own; the same reason why some writers and work teams will create a comic and then develop story varieties and comic shorts, just to give everything popularity; or depend on previously made hits.

Still, people always identify themselves with the first product and rarely a second game (unless it is a fragmented game like Xenosaga). Mario is famous for the 6-bit version and Mario 64, not for Super Mario Galaxy. People lost respect for Final Fantasy after the 10th disc. Zelda's Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask were a wonder, not because they changed the story, but because of the 64's old graphics, that gave the game the precise and sometimes fake medieval aesthetic. Games demonstrated that by becoming one with art, they became part of the main masterpiece. Games are "interactive stories", but just that in the whole business.

Gain recognition for being a good writer, or be swallowed by the masses and create something they won't end up liking because they created the story in the first place? What to do?

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Griff496 In reply to sakurasoul [2012-04-15 08:25:18 +0000 UTC]

I agree with you on all of your mentioned topics, and I forgot to mention where inspiration and influences, as you mentioned, can affect the value and ultimately the success of a story, possibly games as well. It's nice to have something completely original and enjoyable, like a Miyazaki film.

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fuzi666 In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 03:27:40 +0000 UTC]

I loved. This article made me think about a lot of tihings and has changed the way I thought about a lot of things about this.

This is great.

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PsychoticHeart In reply to ??? [2012-04-13 03:14:32 +0000 UTC]

Well.
In a personal opinion, and as a wannabe writer, I believe that, yes, feedback is quite an important part of creating a story. However, sometimes the story is already set. The scenes are planned out in a general basis and plot. The characters have been developed. The beginning, middle, and end has already been decided. All these things has the author done at this point. It is what the writer intends it to go by. Sure, maybe making a few changes, such as minor details like more action in fight scenes or perhaps a tad more info on the characters backgrounds, maybe a little extra romance here and there between the two lovers.

HOWEVER, the author should not have to edit their entire plot simply because they would rather have Mr. Whatever be the one to activate the bomb, or having the hero be the ultra-super-powered hottie that every fangirl loves, or add in a sexual scene for the pervs, or a few fans wanting so-and-so to be with what's-his-face, when, instead, the writer still believes it best, in their mind, to leave it at sidekick pushing the button heroically, the couple just kissing to keep it toned down, or wishing for said so-and-so to really get with that-one-guy.

Sometimes, the author has a porpose in their work. Most of the time, there's a theme, a lesson, a message within. Always, there is the artist's desire, will, wish, dream of what they so passionately strive to do in what is soley THEIR work. So, yes, perhaps the one you are closest with in the story must be the one to die. You never want it to happen, but then the potagonist becomes a legend. Then it is revealed that sacrifices must be made. Then it shows what it means to be a hero.

It is important to understand what the creator was invisioning at that moment. The one who is playing the game, listening to the music, observing the painting, or reading the literature must be able to look at the viewpoint of the one who actually performed the work.

The opinions of consumers do matter, yes, but, in the end, all the great works in the world were made for self-satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment, a bit pride in oneself. The judge in the end is only the artist. Thier own critique is the one which matters most, for it was made for their own need, for their own purpose, for their own soul. It was penned and painted from their own blood, etched from their minds to their fingertips, beating with the life they intended to give it.

So, try to understand the artist's mindset behind the work. Do not critisize it because it is not personally liked, but for its quality based on what the creator wished it to be. If the world was able to do this very thing every day, then there would be less need for arguments as heated as these. Of course, I suppose now that it is unlikely for all to meet at the same agreement in complete acquiescence, but there can still be a few ties her and there for a connection that the comedy-lover, happy ending-romatic, anime-otaku, scifi-gamer, fantasy-imaginative, horror-fanatic, and action-packed can all meet on in one level of "we all love what we love because we simply do" type of wavelength.
Perhaps this was delving too deep, but this is what is my personal belief.
The future of storytelling has, and always will be, the artist's dream.

Sincerely Passionate,
Psychotic

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makepictures In reply to OriJuice [2012-04-13 03:52:26 +0000 UTC]

Where could people find the podcast?

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OriJuice In reply to makepictures [2012-04-20 16:47:55 +0000 UTC]

It's in its mastering stages and I am still working out the odds and ends. It will soon be available at www.kylelacelle.com however and on YouTube @ GreatBigMedia.

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theavatarhouse In reply to OriJuice [2012-04-13 01:50:12 +0000 UTC]

exactly how i feel about it. i dropped kingdom hearts for the reason you stated. i can no longer understand the story at all. i would keep following the story if square actually put forth some effort into giving it an understandable story.

they could have anyone browse kingdom hearts fan sites and see that it is split 50\50 of those that understand it and those that don't. and these guys made other awesome games and have the ability to make quality games, so why they don't is beyond me.

but yeah it may be art but it is also a mass produced product, most art pieces cannot be prefectly copied 100 or more times. but a game can be copied over and over and be the same every time.

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OriJuice In reply to theavatarhouse [2012-04-20 16:52:43 +0000 UTC]

The reality is that game companies are out there to make money, and once a franchise is created (ie. Kingdom Hearts)it then self-markets. Much like Halo, where the reputation for the game drove the franchise, and the FF series, as well. I find that Mass Effect semi went that way, in that they relied on the reputation of the game to proceed the commitment to their fans. Indie developed games are great in that most devs will work hand in hand with the community, seeking input; as they are an overall smaller community, with a smaller target base.

But with the advent of forums, online polling and the ability to have an online presence there is no reason why a game company shouldn't use the community base to help develop a product they'll ultimately buy into; it however is a matter of general value vs individual opinion. One person may want this, another this. You can never please everyone.

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theavatarhouse In reply to OriJuice [2012-04-23 03:38:27 +0000 UTC]

i know everyone can't like every feature in a game. but after i paid for da not once but twice, ps3 and pc.

it would have been nice if they wouldn't have ignored my cry for help. when i went on the forums to try and find some way to get the game stable for more then 10 mins. i wasn't asking for the world, just advice or some decency to listen when i asked over and over. 2 years later i got help from someone on youtube.

so bioware couldn't care enough to fix their game. i had no idea how it would run on my computer. and over 2 years i have pumped over 1,000$ into trying to fix this mess, and in between buying the game and getting help from youtube. bioware didn't give two shits. and i'm not ungrateful for the help, i nearly cried seeing the game run smoothly for the first time since i started playing it. i never thought i would see that game run decently ever on anything i owned.

it's good that software and mods exist but it shouldn't come to the consumer having no choice but to fix their product. and the bad thing is i do enjoy the game, and i was doing everything i could find to get it to run long enough to actually enjoy it. all that happened was i lost the better part of 2 years time.

as a result i don't give input to game companies, i don't ever expect them to listen, regardless of what company or how big the company is. i don't waste my time anymore. because i have no doubt i can solve a problem in a game before bioware would bother to reply to the topic.

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theavatarhouse In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 23:41:57 +0000 UTC]

honestly i never liked mass effect or tmnt. and i can see a game as an art form. but no artist can grow or improve without feedback, it is a general fact.

they don't need or should do everything a fan asks, but take critic into consideration at least. the way i see it to many companies seem like machines, like humanity no longer exists in them. because they don't respond to us 'i asked for help for a damn long time in the bioware forums to solve my dragon age issues never got help even once, the game still runs as crappy as day 1'. when they broadcast info they seem robotic in nature. and i'm not sure about anyone else but i often feel as i am just cannon fodder to keep the machines running.

like the gasoline in a car, it is only needed if a task is performed. so a company only gives a damn when you are buying their product, and they only care about getting paid. i stopped following the kingdom hearts story, but do you think square enix gives a shit that they bastardized one of my most loved games, the story in kh makes no sense anymore. but they couldn't give a shit, they have plenty of income from others to cover for me. so i often feel pointless and worthless on my own to any company.

the few companies i see as worth caring about are mohjang, the authors of minecraft, and the company that made eve online. and as a curtosy i don't give two shits about them unless it hinders progress on the next game i want. they want to treat us like cannon fodder, i say bring it.

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PhoenixArisen In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 17:18:34 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful article.

1. As a visual artist, have you ever experienced being pressured to alter an artwork?

Just over the past couple of months, I've been asked permission to use my artwork for some band t-shirts because they like the look of my fractals. I haven't felt the pressure or insistence to change my artwork. On a different note, though, when I was attempting to create some journal skins, the critiques and feedback which I received didn't give any different ideas but was found unacceptable for a group submission. I left that group but I know that my type of images and background with CSS or journal skins isn't exactly mainstream and I just prefer to make my own individual ideas and if people enjoy them I feel much more rewarded.

3. Personally, I am much more willing to accept whatever happens while reading or watching entertainment. There have been certain types of novels and movies which I felt were not to my liking, but I didn't feel that my own personal opinion should change the essence of the work. However, if I do invest a lot of time, energy, as well as emotional attachment into something like a story line within a video game or movies I feel that to ignore that or dismiss those feelings and investments will turn me off to the company for awhile. I am a firm believer in trying something first to see if it is something I enjoy. Once I have committed to a certain product and am let down, my chances of spending more money or time with that enterprise or products is much more difficult to overcome.

As a writer or visual artist, is the connection between you and your audience important enough for you to want to make a change pleasing to them?

This is a tough question because on one aspect, if they are asking for major alterations or plot points, my inclination is to say no. However, I have found that in order to become more successful as both a writer and artist I need to continually grow into uncomfortable areas. I would also seek to know what the motive behind making the change for them. I definitely feel that pleasing my fan and customer base is important but I also don't want to sacrifice my talent by trying to please everyone. If I start to acquiesce to all of the changes people want, I will lose sight of my talent and gifts by attempting to be everything for everyone. It is a fine line between growing in your craft, listening to your audience to keep them interested, and staying true to your artistic muse so that you don't get burnt out.

Does the ability to offer comments, suggestions, criticisms, and encouragement bond you creatively to a property in a way eclipsing passive fandom?

I think that using the ability to offer feedback in all of those forms does help bond me to the properties. However, I feel that in order to be taken most seriously, it should be intelligent, thoughtful, and non-aggressive because being taken seriously is more important than a statement like, "It sucks." Depending on my mood, I might ask them what about it upsets them but if they don't take the time to offer constructive feedback like "The blues tend to bleed into the yellows too much and should be crisper. Also, while overall the composition is interesting, it seems like there are too many strands which detract from the overall shape and emotive feel of the piece instead of unifying it." If that is a comment, I would most definitely spend the time to address those concerns and possibly resubmit something which might be more pleasing to the person who gave the feedback. Finally, I feel that being able to participate with the artists creation is respectful and a valuable tool if only because they know that you enjoy it enough to write something about it. I'm still amazed that some of my lesser known works maybe have 2 comments and I wonder what I did which nobody is willing to talk to me about.

If you played ME3, how did you feel about the ending?

I felt the ending was slightly weak, but I was satisfied with it. I wish that there had been some kind of integration with the main character besides what happened (trying not to spoil it for those that are still interested in playing it). There are few games where I give a perfect rating to and out of a 10 star rating, I would probably give it a 7.5 at this time. The combat was fun and I liked the integration of the previous characters DLC and actions from ME2 which carried into the game. I was slightly disappointed with the romance option. Overall, the graphics, gameplay, and integration with the previous game were definite improvements while the storyline floundered a bit but was overall acceptable.

I can understand people's frustration with the ending, but having played through a number of games where choices change the storyline it usually doesn't affect the main storyline but is rather intended to expand the understanding of the world. Having experience in programming, I know that to cater a game individually for every single consumer is an absolute nightmare of code so they tried to make as many people satisfied with the outcome as possible. In terms of mass production, this is just one of the necessary evils of product design and I believe that there is no real easy way to please everyone all of the time.

Please, bear in mind that these answers are my own personal opinion. I understand that this is a hot topic and one that I am paying close attention to since I am an avid video game fan. It could mean some major changes within the next decade, but for now I rely on my own opinion, reviews from established sources, and an open-mind to choose where and how I spend my time, money, and emotional connectedness. Once again, this is an awesome article and thank you for your eloquent views. I can see that this has garnered some serious comments and feedback already but I want my friends to see my views as well.

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DJNeonGlow In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 14:01:46 +0000 UTC]

1. any work i do is always for fun and for the pleasing of my friends and others who enjoy my work ( as average as it may be. ) If I am doing something for someone who either asked for something or is going to be paying for it, i take their personal input seriously and will work it into my art for THEIR satisfaction. Same goes with anything i write, wheather it be fanfic, song, essay, etc. So in short, the consumer has the right to give their opinion and the producer should take into consideration how their fans feel. Happy fans = more profit.

2. Both sides have reasonableness to them. I feel as a consumer i have the right to demand change wheater it be listened to or not. Its up to the creaters to take the heartfelt concern of their fans into consideration.

3. They have the right to give their opinions, of course, and i will always take them into consideration withen reasonableness. I also want to take into consideration of my own opinions and feeling. So in short, im willing to listen to my fans withen reasonableness and if anything have an intellegent discussion pointing out both sides opinions and work on a compromise that will make my fans and me happy.

4. yes, yes, and yes.

5. I can say that i was not satisfied with the ending because It completely disregards the idea of making either positive or negative choices that effects the outcome of the situation and gave us the same ending but with 3 different colors. In all honesty i dont see it as JUST Mass Effect 3 but for the entire company that calls themselves EA. They dont give a damn about their fans and is a money hungry company. Example, having to buy a seperate pass to play online while it should just come with it like EVERY other game out there.

As far as it goes with TMNT or TANT, that just completely outrages me. Its like flushing years of faithful fan bases down the toilet with complete disregard to... well EVERYTHING. Im not a fan of the series but i have respect for it nontheless and it still gives me a tingle on the back of my neck every time i read it. I really hope for the sake of everyone who loves TMNT, the director will listen and be reasonable.

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Chaosa In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 11:54:30 +0000 UTC]

ME3 - I was prepared for glorious death, failure, success or surprise at whatever the authors decided was the most dramatic ending. I would not have dreamed of asking them to change the end.

However say J.K. Rowling created an expectation - say telling the fans that one of the main characters was going to die. Then in the final book not a single character dies and then halfway through the book aliens arrive and you find out Harry is actually an Alien, The End.

Mass Effect promised the fans that their would be very different endings depending on their choices, there was not. The ending was also just strange, with niggling questions of... um how did those characters get to the other side of the universe, why I am no longer covered in my own blood, why does my gun have infinite ammo? ... in all asking what the heck happened and trying to make excuses for the glaring plot holes.

After a beautifully crafted story - would you not feel let down if the author suddenly became rushed, sloppy and produced work that was beneath their previously excellent standards? It felt like "Well you've already bought the product, were not going to get any more money off you so lets move onto a new product that will bring in money."

(Anyone remember the ending to KOTORII?)

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SkylaStar In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 08:21:52 +0000 UTC]

1.) As a writer, I've never felt the need to change any of my work because of something someone else said. However, as a viewer, I feel that if you remake something, such as TMNT, you should keep the same basic plotline/character basis. NOT change MUTANT TURTLES (which is even part of the title) to ALIENS. That just doesn't make sense. And I love the original TMNT. So I think that in that right, the viewers should get a say.

2.) Both.

3.) It depends on what I'm changing. If it's my own work, that's not based on anything, then no. There is/would have been a reason for writing whatever it is that I am writing or have written. But if it's based on something else, then depending on how drastically people want it changed and why, then it would definitely become a consideration.

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Koontah In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 08:01:02 +0000 UTC]

I think as a society we look at media as all the same, whether it's a novel or a movie or a comic book. The problem is that it's a sore misconception. You cannot judge a movie based on the experiences of a book. You cannot expect the same expeirence in a movie that you've had in a video game. It's all like comparing a fish to a bunch of grapes and then comparing them to a pork roast. And yet the public-mostly the fans, expect the same experience in each media. It's unrealistic.
As for the rights of artists and writers, I think, again, the rights should be talored according to the medium used. A novel, for example, is pretty much a one-person invention. WISIWYG-What You See Is What You Get. But a movie, written by one person, directed by someone else and produced by yet another individual and the characters interpreted by other people, is a broader domain. who owns that? the Studio who foots the bill, the director/producer/screenwriter-adaptor or the person who initially invented the story? How can you hold on to a vision and call it your very own once you've tossed it to John Q Public?
My answer is that you can't. If you've forfieted your work for money, then you've more or less forfeited the idea to others either via interpersonal interpretation or by crazed fans.
I am a big fan of the TV series Supernatural. Supernatural fans are known for their unbelievable obsession over this off-network TV series that started initially as a 3-season story. Eric Kripke developed the idea for television. He created it for money. Legally, Supernatural is still his. But socially, it's not his anymore, it belongs to the fans. They have voted Supernatural as the best SciFi series of all times, outdoing even the world-famous, long-lived Dr. Who. There are almost as much fanfiction written about Supernatural as there is of Harry Potter.
I am currently writing my own science fiction novel series. But I have no intention of publishing it tradtionally; I'm going to publish it independantly. I don't expect a huge turn over money-wise because what I do is not about money. Therefore, I retain the vision, the story as mine.
I see video games as instant 'public domain'. Video games are designed for entertainment. you buy it, you develop whatever is available for developing (such as orignial characters) and just like a movie, where there are a number of creators, a video game is also (pardon the expression) free game. I dont' think it's about entitlement but about profit. If you sell something, it's no longer yours. It's like selling your car. That car isn't yours anymore, but the person who purchased it from you.
Input from fans is there for a reason. If you want to sell something, then there is an unspoken obligation to listen to what's important to the people who pay you for the goods. I will buy your car and paint it pink. You cannot tell me I can't repaint it becasue it belongs to me.
Does that make any sense?

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koreycabra In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 07:51:56 +0000 UTC]

There is a difference between creativity and exploitation of the media for revenue.

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DJNeonGlow In reply to koreycabra [2012-04-12 15:44:21 +0000 UTC]

Love how simple but true your statement is.

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AIBoobPicsForSale In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 06:48:39 +0000 UTC]

I think it's a great idea to consider fan suggestions before a piece is finalized (no matter what form the piece takes, movie, game, writing), but once it is complete I believe technical or 'readability' improvements are all that should be done.

When most (reasonable) people give critique on an image, they focus on the technicals; what areas look 'off', composition adjustments, etc. They suggest how to enhance the impact of the work that is already there. I think this same thing is how we should approach other mediums as well. I almost never see someone make suggestions that a painting have entirely different subject matter that gives it a totally different essence; that's not what the artist intended to create. We should respect the decisions of the artist.

I do not believe it is beneficial for us to by-default start thinking of each creation as a democratic process that we the viewers have the authority to change. I believe this is more likely to result in a watered-down generalization of popular ideas than to encourage the memorable moments of 'genius' when a single person or small organized group creates something entirely unexpected, that goes against what people 'want'. What the collective wants to see is nearly inherently the most predictable things (even when it's predictably "unpredictable" things. i.e. when a lot of people come up with the same 'twist ending' we can't say it's that much of a twist). It is the things that are not trendy that set the stage for what will trend.

Of course there is nothing inherently wrong with taking suggestions, but I feel it is very important that the creator stick with his/her original gut direction and to not start 'giving in' to outside influences if they are not following a similar path as the one he set out on.

I do agree that there is a growing stench in the air of 'entitlement'; that people are starting to feel that buying a product means they 'deserve' something more than what they bought. Maybe it is a cultural case of newer generations feeling that they inherently deserve things; I don't know for sure. You buy stories (movies, games, books) to discover where the authors will take you; if you buy them expecting them to make you feel good or to end in a way that you deem fits in to your preconceived box of what is 'acceptable', then I'm not sure why you're even wasting your time with these things. If the author took a direction that was obviously not such a popular one, there's a very good chance he/she/they did it that way on purpose - that it's what they wanted to create, and that appealing to everyone wasn't a primary concern. They wanted to do something different; they didn't want to feed us what we've shown we like to eat.

If I make something that you don't like, and the pieces that you don't like are highly subjective (as opposed to more concrete, technical flaws), then accept that my creation was "bad" and move on; don't assume it's your duty to 'write to congress' to start changing it in to something you think is good. Be aware of the difference between a suggestion beneficial to the original intent, and an entirely new idea.

There's a reason that buying a game, movie, or book costs exponentially less than hiring a person to make said product for you - you are buying the end product, not an employee. Do not let your ego spiral out of control. You give money to experience the creator(s)' creation, and it's not always going to be exactly what you wanted - but the best things are those which introduce to you ideas you didn't even know you wanted, so we should learn to appreciate what doesn't adhere directly to what we think is 'good'.

Learn to appreciate what is "bad" if the bad parts are actually done fairly well but just aren't to your taste. I routinely run in to works that I don't like on deviantART, but I can recognize when they are crafted with skill regardless of that; I do not start telling the creators to stop what they are doing and make what I like. I am glad that they have a different pair of eyes, because for all I know they could lead to inspirations for other artists that in turn lead to unexpected inspirations for me. Even the stones we don't like can create ripples that we do.

I don't want to sound like I am totally against large-scale collaboration, though. Sometimes the intent of the creator is explicitly to create the product of a social recipe. That is entirely fine, too, because again: it's following the creator's intent.

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XxGameWiZxX In reply to ??? [2012-04-12 04:06:39 +0000 UTC]

I'm very sensitive about this subject since my dream is to become a graphic arts designer and lead game director. Gamers have the right to voice their opinions, giving reactions back to producers and companies' products. It is their duty to listen to their fans as they are the ones that give video games its popularity and profits.

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Madkill In reply to Madkill [2012-04-12 03:23:19 +0000 UTC]

Oh and some of the pretentious opinions of most people on DeviantART are laughable at best. xD

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Vintidora In reply to Esichs [2012-04-13 16:41:46 +0000 UTC]

Exactly! People who are hardcore fans or even if their not are disappointed when they don't like the newest addition, they are disappointed and therefore it becomes the destruction of their memories.

For example the Transformers question, I did not like it as much as the old one, but my younger cousin thinks it's the greatest thing ever.

Lucas and Bay are doing their jobs, they appeal to the younger generation which is what will keep them in employment, the older generation just needs to learn to step back for a bit and cherish their childhood memories.

Take it as what it is, it's not the continuation of childhood, it is in fact a new take on something old, and while we may think our younger counterparts only like it because they didn't live in the good old days the point is the things we consider our childhood are probably things that our parents had this same reaction to.

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yugijak In reply to anistasya [2012-04-11 23:20:46 +0000 UTC]

I applaud you for your thoroughness in your post and find multiple points in their I could very well, as a writer myself, put to good use. You have much wisdom, and deserve praise for not being blinded by fear and insecurity to accept critiques. All I can say is this, when it comes down to it, if you want to make a good story, and/or you want to start it over, it should be for your own decisions, with the thoughts of the reader in mind but not at the forefront, because in the end, the story is YOURS, and it always will be.

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anistasya In reply to yugijak [2012-04-14 10:09:31 +0000 UTC]

Hehe yeah, I totally agree. We need to own our story since we are ultimately responsible for what gets put on the page. At the same time, there's a lot you can learn from your audience. I don't pretend to know everything and I am hugely grateful to the people who have taken the time to think about my work and give me honest and useful feedback.

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yugijak In reply to anistasya [2012-04-14 18:02:30 +0000 UTC]

this much is true as well, but when it comes down to making changes, you shouldn't do it just because the fan's say so, you should do it because you want to. That being said, if one does want to make changes, the fans also have great ideas and tend to praise those which (as always, executed and developed properly) would often not only fit the world you create, but improve upon it in ways you didn't or wouldn't have dreamed of.

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anistasya In reply to yugijak [2012-04-15 12:33:12 +0000 UTC]

I totally agree. It's important to hold on to the author's right to decide the story, because only you understand all of the characters and their back stories and motivations. You can listen for feedback on what is not working - which characters are too shallow or don't make sense, but no one can tell you how the story should go. Only you can decide that.

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yugijak In reply to anistasya [2012-04-16 18:55:00 +0000 UTC]

It's good to see someone who understands this, but that being said, a writer is still under the thumb of the characters he creates, in more ways than one.

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