Recently I have been doing some thinking about the various dynamics of making fangames in our community. Sometimes I get discouraged when I think about this stuff. I think this discouragement comes from neither me personally nor the community having clear answers to these questions. These are like murky waters in my mind I would like to try and clear up.
- How much appreciation and support (if any) do fangame creators deserve, and are they currently getting enough?
- Is it okay to heavily criticize people’s fangames that they made on their own time for everyone to enjoy?
- How much patience and forgiveness (if any) should fangame streamers and players be expected to have?
- What is the right balance of encouraging quality fangames while not scaring off potentially good creators?
- To what extent can you be proud of a fangame that heavily uses other people’s content? (spook jam, medleys, and in general using music+sprites+sounds made by others)
- Is it okay to use the self-made assets of other people’s fangames?
- To what extent (if any) are quality fangames not getting attention they deserve?
- To what extent (if any) are fangame creators limiting their creative growth as opposed to making freeware games for a bigger, more general audience?
I want to hear what everyone thinks about these kind of topics.
My 2cents on these questions:
- How much appreciation and support (if any) do fangame creators deserve, and are they currently getting enough?
I do not like using the word 'deserve' for this question, since this implies a sense of entitlement. Appreciation and support is never owed, it is given. That being said, I think this varies from player to player and what they feel is the right amount of praise and support. Everyone has different ways of expressing their own.
- Is it okay to heavily criticize people’s fangames that they made on their own time for everyone to enjoy?
Yes - criticism is not necessarily negative, and can be used as a talking point instead. The ultimate goal is to better the fangame creator. Any other form of criticism meant to demean, insult, or otherwise not help a creator is not good criticism, nor would I define it as such.
- How much patience and forgiveness (if any) should fangame streamers and players be expected to have?
Varies from player to player - expectation should be 0 patience and 0 forgiveness. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
- What is the right balance of encouraging quality fangames while not scaring off potentially good creators?
As stated above, healthy criticism through talking points and brainstorming is the best way to encourage higher-quality fangames.
- To what extent can you be proud of a fangame that heavily uses other people’s content? (spook jam, medleys, and in general using music+sprites+sounds made by others)
This is a question left to the creator. You can be as proud as you want, regardless of what others think.
- Is it okay to use the self-made assets of other people’s fangames?
As long as credit is given where it is due. This is one of the main themes of fangames.
- To what extent (if any) are quality fangames not getting attention they deserve?
Again, 'deserve' is a loaded word and implies entitlement. If you believe your game is "good" but is getting 0 attention, you may want to take a second look at your fangame.
- To what extent (if any) are fangame creators limiting their creative growth as opposed to making freeware games for a bigger, more general audience?
Up to the individual maker. I don't know of many bigger, more general audiences for freeware games as large as the fangame community. Also add in the support of the community through guides, the pre-built engines, and more, fangames are very appealing to make for some.
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