Wednesday, January 31, 2007

LIVE BLOGGING THE FOCUS TEST

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EDIT/UPDATE: Just a quick note...I've been real bothered by folks assuming I am not greatful or appreciative of the play testers we use at Sony. I realize this is 100% my fault as I wanted to post without editing so you all could get a real sense of where my head is during focus tests...so no time to think or edit before I hit the PUBLISH button.

So please allow me to briefly explain:

Play tests are of key importance for all of the games we do in Santa Monica. They save our asses time and again and make our games better and a good play tester is worth his weight in free pizza (as well as the cash and free games they get paid for participating in our little play tests).

So for 95% of these guys/gals, I am thrilled and appreciative that they take time out to help us out. And to the poster- think his name was Brian- who felt that we are too arrogant to learn from these guys, and that we think we know it all, that could not be farther from the truth. We play test like crazy because we KNOW there is tons we do not know about how users will interact with our procuts.

THAT SAID

anyone who has participated in focus groups knows two things:

1- you tend to get 1 to 2 real stinkers/play test group. Guys/Gals who show up only for the cash and to fuck with your results and who have no interest in doing their job- and it is a job, since we do pay for it. Plus 1-2 of the guys we had in this group were insulting to the guy who was running the group (calling him idiot, etc). and put answers on the questionaire that were totally useless (in an intentional way).

2- Watching folks play a game you have labored over is like watching the final seconds of a heated sports game...you are shouting at the screen, pulling out your hair, throwing you hands up in triumph when something you worked your ass on works...I was trying to share that with the readers of the blog...sorry if it came off as disrespectful of 95% of the tesers we had...that was not my intent.

So there ya go...

And for the self rightous fucks who are posting comments like: I would never run a focus test that way or 'in OUR focus test we respect EVERYONE'S ideas..."...please go FUCK yourself. I wish I was as perfect as you...I really, really do. Man, I've been doing this for 13 years and I KNOW the value of play tests, you ass. I KNOW how important the play testers are and hell, in the original blog post I said so! But that does not mean I'm gonna be all flowers and kisses to some stoned asshole who we are paying to help us out and who shows up and just fucks off.

Ok, back to the post :)

Take it easy ya'll!

David

prob. will post more tonite as my wife got a new laptop and we may head to the local coffe shop to play around with it...see ya'll!
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Focus tests are starting for the game; prob. the last focus/play tests we will have. I will try to live blog it cause...well why not...maybe it will be interesting...or suck. This will be more stream of consciousness than usual...and the spelling lots worse as I'm gonna be focused on the test but trying to blog too...so here we go...

Here's me at 9:15 LA time:



We are waiting for the last player to show up...we are looking- for this first session- there are 3 today- at 30 to 40 year olds who are semi-hardcore gamers.

Sitting here with Scott Campbell and Kellan Hatch from Incognito and waiting to start...let you guys know when we are underway...

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9:22- Still waiting for this motherfucker to show...that's the thing with focus tests...you pay these companies a good amount of cash to go out and find inbiased people to come play stuff, and they get paid, and you usually have like an 80% show rate...there's always a few who sign up to come but do not...one of these focus companies would do well to charge a bit more and then have back up testers to promise you get the number of people you want even if the first picks have a few no shows....fuck tards....and yeah, since I am typing fast, prep for lots more cursing cause I got not time to edit :)

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9:27- Ok, we're gonna start without the fuck...whatever. Dammit! But yeah, here come the butterflies...will they like it, will they make fun of it, will they LOVE it?!? HATE IT?!?! Shit, here we go...they are all sitting down at the ps3's....here we go...

Oh, here's the sheet they fill out at the end...praying for 10's! But would be happy with 8's! :)



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9:36- Jesus...this one guy on the right screen is so fucking stoned...he's like 40 and at a focus test on a wed morning....he prob is a stoner...cause he has NO CLUE how to play this game!

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9:44- Going from single player to multiplayer....split screen first, then we go to online...we can see player's faces in a picture in picture window so we see when they smile, yawn, get mad...it's really nerve wracking when they make faces that look either like they don't dig your game or are taking a shit...hate to be so disrespectful sounding of these guys...I really do appreciate them giving us their time...I am just nervous....

Ok, multiplayer, here we come:

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9:50- FUCK! The dev kits upstairs are not accepting 3rd player input...so we are going to switch from 3player split to 2 player split! FUCK! 3-4 player split is where it's at! Ah well, we'll see how it goes!

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9:54- Scott just said: Stoner is prob. getting freaked out form all the sirens sound fx in the game...that makes me laugh :)

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10:02- Watching some really fun 2 player games going...but you NEVER know...lots of times they look like they are fucking LOVING IT! And then they give you a score of like 4/10! In GOD OF WAR, we had guys who seemed to hate the game, kept dying all the time...and they gave us 10/10!!! So you never know...I've learned not to get my hopes up when watching this stuff.

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10:10- Switching to net play....really cool to watch people play the game and understand what to do...that never gets old as 4 months ago at a focus test players had NO CLUE how to play this game and what to do...it was great watching people use all the weapons, steal the crim with magnet right as other players were about to score....shit, online looks like it's crashing...fuck! What is going on?

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10:15- Upstairs machines crashing because they are not signed onto the Playstation Network! FUCK! You'd think that would be done already...ah well, Adam- one of the designers- is now setting up accounts on all the machines upstairs...so there will be a bit of a delay...which sucks as the scores we get from these guys will not be the result of an experience that has been broken in half by this delay....but ah well, prob. more a realistic representation of how many folks will play the game anyway...in spurts here and there....so what the hell....I feel bad for Adam as setting up the accounts will take him a bit...but I don't wanna go up and help as if these gamers recognize me from the net and interviews and stuff I don't want them to have any idea I am watching them play,etc...don't want to taint the thing...sorry Adam! I know it's a pain!

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10:30- We're gonna have the guys start filling out paper work now....hope by the time they are done, we get the online issue solved...NEVER had an online issue before...it may be the way these dev kits are set up...sheesh! Ah well, at least we can get scores for singleplay and split screen....man, I am sitting here with an unopened bag of cookies and a diet coke...I am SO not hungry...just stressed...I can see it in my mind, I SO want to eat these to dull the stress....fuck it tho...I ain't gonna! Fuck stress eating! Ok, talk to ya sooN!

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10:37-Ok, I had 2.5 cookies from a bag of Knott's Berry Farm BoysenBerry Coookies...and a SIP of diet coke...now I am done...I WAS looking for something sweet...but not gonna stress eat....so there :)



Still setting up the online shit...I think we are gonna send group #1 home without having played any online....shit man, I bet this shit never happens to Cliffy B!

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11:16- Focus group #1 done; no multiplay :(.....

major feedback issue was turn rate of cars is too wide...so we've just gone and tweaked that and getting a new build sent from Utah...the hope is the next group will not have that issue to complain about :)

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11:36- Talking to Kellan and he feels we need to announce to the players at the start that this game is a downloadable title on PS Store to sell between 5 and 10 bucks...otherwise, we are getting feedback from these folks where they go in feeling they are playing a game that can- in scope- be compared to HALO 3 and GOD OF WAR 2. And when they get CALLING ALL CARS, there's a knee jerk of like: this is too small a game to pay 60 bucks for. And when you tell them AT THE END it's a download game, they get it but they've already had that negative impulse....so I think- since the way the player will experience the actual title- via a download interface and tossing 5-10 bucks into the till- we SHOULD let them know that upfront so they know what they are getting into. Next group starts in 20 min...breaking for now...will be back online after...

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12:40- Oh my God! We have 2o min till the next group...where is the FOOD?!?! We are so hungry :(

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12:59- Za is here!





Ok, new group is here too! So now I get to eat, watch the test, and blog all at the same time! FUCK!!!!! Here we go! Gonna head up and tell the new group- casual and hardcore in 20's- that this is a download game...not full retail. I am dying to see what that does to the response...

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1:30- there was a delay...about to start...Adam says these guys all look like testers and wanna be testers who are ready to tear the shit out of this game...he's says they are out in the lobby talking GEARS OF WAR...this was the one group I did not have timeto cherry pick to make sure we were not getting ultra hard core...turns out I shoulda made the time as these are looking to be the hard corest motherfuckers out there...ah well...

and fucking Adam is at it again:



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1:34- Players are taking their seats...here we fucking go! Single player starting out in the city level...fingers crossed! And yes it is cheese pizza! And now it's gone! But Iwas actually hungry, not stress eating!

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1:49- Moving to split screen...man tester #5 is a fucking dolt!!! What the hell?!?! He is just driving in circles...not even playing the game...is that fucking spit drooling out of his stupid fucking mouth!?!?! Ahem,well...anyway.... :)

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1:56- IM comment from Adam on player #5...who seems to be unable to do anything but sit upright and not fall over:

adamorth (1:53:11 PM): should i put 5 into split next game or let him drive in circles on his own?

:)

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2:04- Online game starting...going to do 3 player online first...have to decide if 3 player is best default or 4 player is....4 player may be too chaotic for default mode....but we will see in a sec....lots of laughing and cursing going on upstairs....don't mean shit, they could still hate it...but it's always nice to see people smiling from something you've been involved with...

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2:18- Network crash...trying to get them back into net play....it was clear something was odd when Player one had a score of 12 to 2 to 2 on his screen and the guys he was playing had a score of 3 to 9 to 7! Fucking internet! :)

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2:28- Just had a great series of net games...doing a few more right now....some very close games, some that went to overtime....man I hope they give us a good score...
And Mike B, shit yeah, at least I THINK I recall...isn't that odd that I may not?!? So you are making games in BHAM?!?! THat is very cool! And shit yeah,I TOTALLY remember the computer being down...and EVERYTHING ELSE! Let's chat next week?

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2:37- going into our last game with this group...and Arnoldo, it's not the code, it's the fact that these machines in the test room have been used to test PS3 games from Santa Monica and none of them till this one have had net play....so we're just not getting the machines set up in that room and there were a few mistakes in how they were hooked up....all seems well now...

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2:53- Watching them on the monitors filling out score cards...man, they are taking a long, long time...writing alot....cool, one just finished.....now a second one....SHIT! I am nervous!!! What will they say? Sad I get so nervous, but MAN I do!

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4:30- sorry for the delay. Needed a break! Going well! Last group coming in soon...12-17 year olds!!!

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4:55- new group about to start....new IM from ADAM:

adamorth (4:52:36 PM): my prediction for the next group:adamorth (4:52:42 PM): #5 is an idiot.

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5:02- last group of the day...12-17 year olds...they are starting now...hope it goes well...last group was great and the change we made from this morning (making cars turn sharper) seemed to really help...hope these new kids dig that as well...

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5:28- Kellan watches the players thru our super sneaky tv...so we can hear them hootin, holleran, and bitchen about the game! :)




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5:33- So fucking strange to watch kids play this game; a game inspired by games that were long since forgotten by many by the time these kids were fucking born!!!

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5:41-The kids faces are so funny...they are either really focused or really bored...hard to tell...Kellan says they look like they are in math class :)

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6:03- From IM between me and Adam:

adamorth (6:00:57 PM): GOD DAMMIOT!!!!!
spdrmn375 (6:01:06 PM): what?
adamorth (6:01:13 PM): not only is #4 stupid, but he's a fucking asshole
spdrmn375 (6:01:18 PM): y?
adamorth (6:01:23 PM): jesus!
adamorth (6:01:27 PM): what a fucking snot
spdrmn375 (6:01:29 PM): what?!?
adamorth (6:01:39 PM): no swag!
spdrmn375 (6:01:49 PM): lame
adamorth (6:01:55 PM): he called me an idiot
spdrmn375 (6:02:01 PM): why?!?
adamorth (6:02:18 PM): becuase i told him not to keep pressing the buttons
spdrmn375 (6:02:24 PM): for what reason?
adamorth (6:02:46 PM): because he kept rushing through the menu to create game ahead of the host
spdrmn375 (6:03:07 PM): ah...sweet! BLOG TIME!!!

HAHAHAHAHH!!!

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6:30- tHAT'S A wrap! Thanks for sticking with me thru the day and keeping me company! I will be posting some of the best of the best comments later this week! Gotta catch a cab to head back to San Diego for now....talk to you guys soon!

David!

79 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is going to be cool to watch.

-Arnaldo

PlayStation Museum said...

Damn. I would love to be part of the focus test. This will be interesting to read. Here's hoping all works well.

Anonymous said...

LOL at the stoner. Well you wanted different kinds of people, now you know how stoners will play the game. lol

-Arnaldo

PlayStation Museum said...

Jesus. Jaffe is one of the most creative individuals ever. I'm glued to this blog now but I have to go back to work. wtf.

Anonymous said...

I'm working on demo reel stuff and I keep hitting F5. LOL

-Arnaldo

Neil said...

This is hilarious!

I'd like to see more live blogging from Jaffe.

Tapion440 said...

Sounds nerve wrecking.......yeah.......so did you make a game based off the 3 Ninjas movie?

*regrets that he didn't showing up at the playtest*

-tapion440

Chris.Antilles said...

This is flippin awesome! Keep it coming man!

Brice Gilbert said...

I've had the "pleasure" it be involved in one focus test so far in school and I must say it's just like you described. It's frustrating trying to decide if people not being able to play your game is stupidity, them not trying (because they didnt buy the game) or if there truly is a problem.

Anonymous said...

yeah...setting up those accounts was a pain the ass.

where's lunch...we only have 10 minutes before the next group shows. 18 - 25 age group...should be interesting...

Anonymous said...

18-25? This is going to be interesting...

-Arnaldo

Anonymous said...

Is that an ALL CHEESE Pizza? I'm terribly disappointed if that's the case. :)

Chris.Antilles said...

Refresh Refresh! Whats happening!!? Do they love it?

Anonymous said...

Damn getting people to test your game out must be fustrating, you have to know how people dig your game whether it's postive or negative feedback.

Hang in there Dave you'll pull through in the end I know it.

Anonymous said...

LOL! Emma Watson is participating??? You lucky dog, Dave! LOL!

-Arnaldo

Chris.Antilles said...

omg that pic is hillarious...

Anonymous said...

David - You may or may not remember me, but I went to jr high and high school school w/ you, and possibly elementary school...if you went to Crestline. Anyway, my name is Ben Miller, and I recently relocated back to Birmingham after living in San Jose for several years. I was in a hotel lobby in San Jose during Baycon a year or two ago, and got into a discussion with one of the characters about the whole scene. When I mentioned I was from Birmingham, he asked if I knew you - I said I did, and the guy flipped out asking me all sorts of questions I couldn't answer; apparently you are a legend. Congratulations on that! At any rate, I work with a startup here in Birmingham and our chief developer/president is also a big fan of GOW, and I wanted to touch base w/ you. My email addy is kombi45@yahoo.com - I'd like to catch up if you have a minute.

Regards,

Ben

PS - Remember this one: "The computers are _down_"?? You, me and John Hackney got a little too much mileage out of that one...

Anonymous said...

As for that idiot driving in circles just give him his damn check and kick him out.

Anonymous said...

Is it the internet connection that's causing all these crashes?

-Arnaldo

Chris.Antilles said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chris.Antilles said...

dude....you have every right to be nervous....spent time on something and now you are getting feedback from gamers...but I dont even know you...i just play the games you make...and i'm nervous as @#%@#....haha! now THAT is sad...heh.

Anonymous said...

Maybe your not as nervous as you are anxious. ;)

-Arnaldo

PlayStation Museum said...

OK, so will WE get to hear the verdict? Will we hear the overall impression? This is like American Idol, getting to the last show and not knowing who wins.

Anonymous said...

Haha, it would be interesting to read what the 13 year olds would have to say - they might even be the toughest critics.

Laquer said...

yes please give us the verdict, and how much would i have to pay you to become one of you full time testers?

Anonymous said...

There's one more group? Awesome! I'm curious as to how 13 year olds might react to a game like this.

-Arnaldo

Anonymous said...

Wow, I can't wait for the next update. I am currently a programmer in a game that like CAC could very well go to either the casual or hardcore side, and we are trying to balance it out well so that casual gamers can have fun but the hardcore gamers will have enough depth to please them. When we get approval to talk about it, maybe I'll post in a comment in a future blog of yours.

Anonymous said...

Really neat stuff, David. It was fun to watch this evolve throughout the work day... coming back to my desk after meetings and refreshing to see the latest info.

I'm glad to see the swearing we've grown so fond of start trickling back in! :) Have a good one.

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, poor number 5 just can't get a break.

Anonymous said...

The playtest is f*cking funny

Anonymous said...

LOL! So now #4 is a stupid AND an asshole. You guys must be having a ball watching these kids play.

-Arnaldo

Anonymous said...

Oh hey Dave you think you can add me to your AIM for when I have a question about design I could ask you?

It'll also be helpful for me to expand my contacts in the industry.

My AIM: arnaldo42v3

-Arnaldo

Anonymous said...

It's been cool seeing how this all played out. Hope we get to see the results from the different groups. Your blog is always a good read. Good luck with the game.

Anonymous said...

Freakin' nice blog! I beg of you all one thing... please insure that this game functions properly from day one online.

I was pissed to find Go Sudoku!(yeah you read right)not functioning online until the recent release of a patch.

Sorry for bitching...keep up the good work dudes.:)

grasshopper said...

That guy is pretty quick sticking that Harry Potter girl in every picture your in! Anyway that was one of the most entertaining things I have read in a quite a while. Good luck on the feedback results.

Anonymous said...

you should see the ones he doesn't post...

also, i feel kind of bad about ragging on that one kid...he was being a jerk, but who isn't a jerk at that age, right?

in any case, this was a really fun way to go through a playtest. good idea, dave.

Unknown said...

Wow, cool to see. So what did they say!?!?!?

Charles said...

I used to sign up for these things when I lived in the Bay Area. You are definitely not getting the most screened testers you could. A lot of the people at some of the focus groups I attended were just there for the pizza and the $100 at the end of the test. Others (myself included) were bored at the crap we were playing (Eidos, cir. 2002-2003).

There really must be a better way. Many developers go through the same focus group firms that will do a group taste testing sandwiches or some shit in the next room. Perhaps screeners that are more specialized in digital entertainment would help. Maybe I just stumbled on my next career move ;)

Anonymous said...

God, you are SO boring. And pretentious.

Unknown said...

This is some pretty "arresting" stuff for a gaming blog, although the overuse of cursing is a bit of a turnoff.

Marcus said...

Hello!

Reading this was hilarious! and I feel you, I work in the online business where we have testers on the game for years. Sometimes they are just so full of shit =)

But in the end it's for the better right?

I'll deffy check this blog out alot!

btw, Twisted Metal was one of the games that really opened my eyes for games. Good job there!

Take care and good luck!

Unknown said...

Thanks for this one. I thought only our game company gets stupid game testers. Good to see it's not just us.

This is just proof that no developer should ever watch anyone play their game... ever.

Anonymous said...

More game development info and less Tourettes/ADHD/Crank fueled tester bashing drivel would be nice. You sound like a 14yr old you forgot to take his ritalin. Settle down and try again.

Anonymous said...

S'a good commentary, but please don't give people the idea that it is ok to refer to pizza as "Za". People look up to you... what kind of impression are you making on them?

Anonymous said...

I have a huge craving for cheese pizza now =(

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should have some more respect for the "fucking stoners" and
other people that test your shitty fucking game.

Anonymous said...

Nomad,

I don't know who the 48th anonymous guy is but game development is alot of hard work and it takes years to make a good game, so please when your here don't insult Dave's game because you sound pathetic fanboy when you say "shitty fucking game" considering your not an developer.

Not trying to start anything but I get sick of that kinda of shit because I used to go on forums and when I hear people insulting a video game no what console it's on I get pissed.

Anonymous said...

Nomad,

" You sound like an pathetic fanboy when you say "shitty fucking game" considering your not an developer."

Just needed to fix my mistake

Anonymous said...

Hey Dave, did you have a hand in "flow". i just saw the trailer and it looked pretty cool.
just wondering what your thoughts are on it.

cheers

Laquer said...

Hey, just wanted to tell everyone who has shit to say about this blog(bad that is), ITS A BLOG WICH MEANS THAT HE CAN WRITE WHAT HE WANTS WITHOUT BEING JUDGED FOR IT and secondly if you mind his vulgarity and un-sugar coated way of talking THEN I SUJEST YOU STOP READING BECAUSE I FOR ONE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT #5 :P by the way on a lighter side did you guys end up giving him some swag?

Zodiak said...

A very good look into the focus test, amazing work Dave.

P.S. Knott's Berry Farm cookies fuckin rock!

Godflesh said...

Hey Dave, dude took me forever to find your blog again. I trolled typepad almost every week when it was up but just one day it was gone =(. So i am back to leaving comments and enjoying the blog. Later dude and by the way whats up with this god of war movies stuff I am hearing?

Anonymous said...

I was #5.
I tried my best man..
Buttholes!
L-

Anonymous said...

Classic shit David. We were so disapointed in our last couple of focus groups that we just posted a sign-up sheet at a local EB and ended up by-passing the 3rd party coordinator all together. Only catch was it was more work and we had to reserve a couple spots in the test for some of the employees. Had legal known what we were up to, they would've had a hissy, but we got what we needed from it.

Thanks again for sharing this stuff man. You continue to entertain, teach, and inspire. Can't wait to check out CAC.

Hope things are well,
Trey

Anonymous said...

You seem rather negative on the focus test. I'm assuming you wanted valid info to make the best game possible. Either that or you wanted to gage the players excitement level to determine marketing spend, although being a dl game I'd imagine the spend is not much to begin with.

Making fun of people who don't know how to play your game is lame. If they have problems with the controls or objectives, it's most likely your fault for not presenting them in a compelling way.

Why did you even conduct the focus test if you didn't want honest, fresh eyed feedback. Was the marketing dept pushing for this? Why didn't you have the machines working BEFORE the focus test? Why didn't you tell them anything (cost) about the game before they came in? Did you not think they would have high expectations given the game is running on a PS3 which Sony has hyped as the holy grail of gaming?

At our shop we run focus tests weekly and value the information. None of us know everything and we use everything as another data point that we factor in to make decisions on game progression, design, controls, etc...

You should spend more time taking interest in the focus test and learning how to improve your game and less time blogging about what you ate for lunch.


Brian

Anonymous said...

First let me say I'm fucked up on some pretty good Cabernet Sauvignon, so please forgive the rant.

Dave your a funny guy, even when your stressing. I use humor too... some don't understand when you have a $50,000 decision fall in your lap, how can you joke around? Easy, it's a matter of personal survival. Your post was good so i'm not slamming you...just what you wrote about.

Focus tests...please! Sounds like Fuck-us tests. You mean SCEA pays a company to gather "demograpic specific gamers' to give a market impression analysis.

Fuck man just stop right there! Let me ask you...WHAT THE FUCK DO I HAVE IN COMMON WITH SOME STONER IN CALI. WHEN I'M SNOWBOARDING IN NEW HAPSHIRE!

Yes, I was shouting... let me spell it out. You have at your (SCEA) disposal thousands of people from all over the country willing to test games for FREE!

Not only can SCEA get target specific age and play style, they can also get people from all over the country.

Use the PSN user data base and the Gamer Advisory Panel. You (SCEA) have an army of testers able and willing to play the shot out of the game an answer a survey of your (SCEA) choosing.

All I can say is why Dave...why?

P.S. Don't take my rant personal, it has nothing to do with your post, I found that entertaining, and enlightening.

CorranThorn said...

Hey, just added you to make link list! Keep up the awesome work, we love your shit!

Anonymous said...

I think it's time to either not allow the comments from Anonymous users, or to do away with comments all together. People need to get a life. Whoever thought David was being arrogant is a loser (Brian?). Just read his blog and enjoy it. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it.

-Anonymous on purpose

Anonymous said...

Note to self: DO NOT READ Jaffe's blog before bed. I woke up this morning NOT dreaming about Jessica Biel or Alba, but ABOUT JAFFE! I dreamt David visited me at my parent's old house. I was giddy as a school boy in the dream. Even a Smurf house appeared in the dream. Jesus. Suffice to say, I wasn't excited when I woke up. I must have a sad sad life.

Anonymous said...

Don't feel the need to apologize David. What makes this blog so damn entertaining is your candour. It's refreshing to see real insight into the gaming industry. I'm a grad student in history and I can see how a videogame is much like a thesis - when you spend hours on end working on it you're bound to get caught up in how other people perceive it and be a little on edge. I know that if people read my work and we're just joking around and not taking it seriously I would find it pretty insulting, especially when they're getting PAID to do so. So once again, there is no need for this disclaimer. In any event, your live blogging was highly entertaining :)

Anonymous said...

yeah dude, i totally agree with what "no fear" said..

I would've loved to test this game, and not just so i could be an ass but because i am a gamer, and i will be a gamer for life, and if there's any way i can have a hand in letting you guys know what i like in a game i would love to take that chance.

i mean that's basically what the focus test is, its your opportunity to give advice.
how many times have i been playing a game (even a really good one) and then there's this one part that i'm like.. oh man, why didn't they just do it this way??..

i think with the online network at ps3 you've got a great opportunity here to get free game testers who would actually love to do the job.

anyways, that's my 2 cents.
peace

ps. love the rants, love the swearing, love everything you do David, don't ever bother apologizing to some oversensative winky

Anonymous said...

Hey David,

Any chance that a demo for CAC might be released early on the PSN. That would go a long ways in building some hype for the game.

Anonymous said...

"Why didn't you have the machines working BEFORE the focus test? "

it was a simple error on my part. when setting up the machines the night before, i tested each one online using my own account. it simply slipped my mind that each would need it's own unique account to use the network for online play.

yes, it was unprofessional and i take full responsibility for the error. this was the 1st time we had used the PS3 devkits online for a focus test here at the studio and it got by not only me, but out IT department as well. it's a small bump in the road that took maybe 15 minutes out of the playtest.

learning from mistakes is a big part of game development...many of the cool things that you get to play in games are born out of them.

Anonymous said...

Its obvious that Mr. Jaffe is content and excited in working on this game and that's great but i have to admit as a person that wants to see the PS3 do well and establish itself as a must have system i wish this play test had been for GOW3 for the PS3...or something of the like.
It will be nice when the system has that type of experience. It seems strange for Sony to be wiling to exhaust such talent on a downloadable game when its clear the system is in dire straits for some in your face kick ass shit!! No disrespect to J and CaC but i don't think its gonna move systems. It would be great if he were the one to bring that epic got to have title to the PS3. To show what the system can really do. Sony's Miyamoto..
L-

Anonymous said...

Hey David!

That was a great blog and love your attitude! And F*** those morons who just cant take things for what they are.

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