Ask & Answer: How Do You Collect Player Feedback?
Player feedback and game development goes hand in hand. Most people create games with the intention of being enjoyed by others. Defining player enjoyment varies depending on the kind of game you’re making and your target audience. Some enjoy an nearly impossible challenge, like defeating Malenia with no armour in Elden Ring. Others want to be immersed in a story, such as the award winning game Venba. The best way to know if your game is going to be enjoyed by players is to collect player feedback.
At GDC 2024, we asked conference goers how they collect player feedback. We were happy to see that playtesting was most frequently used! Playtesting is a great way to gather feedback at any stage of game development. When planning a playtest, make sure you keep your objective clear, concise, and with an end goal in mind. You could also consider consulting the experts… like us!
Utilizing social media and relying on community managers was also high on the list. Having open betas with open communication channels can instil a feeling of transparency, a refreshing take on the general secrecy of game development at large. We heard though that the volume of player feedback through social channels can be hard to handle. Players can, unfortunately, also be quite cruel. When leaving any kind of feedback, keep in mind that the creators are people who are trying their best, just like everyone else.
One of the most unique answers to how creators collect player feedback was nursing homes! This particular developer was keen to test out tutorials with people who have either never or have very little experience playing video games. Therefore, they decided to visit their local nursing homes to recruit players. The benefits are mutual: developers get vital feedback, and nursing home residents get to have fun and try something new.
So now we turn to you, how do you collect player feedback? Please tell us on our socials.
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Laura Donohue
Senior Design Researcher
Sutherland Labs
Laura Donohue
Senior Design Researcher
Laura is a researcher with a background in psychology and social work. She brings to the table a unique problem solving skill set which she utilises daily to come up with the best solutions for the right problems. She has honed her skills in empathy building and identifying user’s goals to achieve the best outcomes. In her spare time, she loves playing board games, video games, really any kind of game!