Juiced GS does the IFComp
I really dislike having to post about this, but JuicedGS, the premier Apple ][ print mag, has got it entirely wrong with this endorsement. IF has moved beyond the limitations of the Z8 machine, which means that IF on the A2, C64, Atari, TRS-80 and other 8-bit machines is just about dead. Not only that, but JGS unnecessarily dipped a toe into the frothing waters of IF politics. Did they understand just how toxic the contest is? It's always been just a popularity contest for people to ooh and aah over others' works, and God help you if you're not popular. Then, no matter the quality of your work, you'll be flayed alive. Is endorsing such a shark-fest really in the best interests of the magazine?
I'm pretty sure they saw an overlap of interests and stopped there, without researching what lies beneath. I love the Apple ][ to death, have always respected JGS, and I really don't want to them mixed up with the toxic environment of the so-called "IF community". But it's their choice, not mine. I just hope that it doesn't come back to bite them, though I strongly suspect that it will.
Introcomp 2011 Reviews, In General
This experience is why I don’t care too much about reviews of my works. If I listened to these people or took what they said to heart, I shudder to think of what would become of me. Fortunately, such attacks no longer have the potency that they once had. And although I have given severe reviews of games in the past, I don’t recall ever making it a personal attack against the author.
Perhaps it is a juvenile mentality; perhaps it is just plain evil; perhaps both. In any case, I do find it interesting that this round of reviews includes full-scale profane/obscene attacks, and suggestions to kill myself. Yeah, I kid you not. Welcome to the world of IF. By the way, we seem to have a problem retaining authors — anyone know why? (I thought twice about linking to these people, but as I just posted about linking, I can at least be charitable.)
Now, if I had released a full game on the order of The Minimalist Game, such might be deserved. Of course, this was Introcomp and the game was an introduction, not a finished release. If the game was unplayable or unwinnable, again, I would expect some chagrin and angst. Or if the game was hideously offensive in some way, shape, or form, again, I would expect some hue and cry.
But haters will be haters, I suppose, and trying to intuit the reasons for such is probably futile. In any case, I haven’t found a listing for the winners/losers in the IntroComp, but even if I don’t place, my deadline starts now. I have one year to finish this.
IntroComp 2011 is Here!
IntroComp is open, and I entered a game in it. Go here if you want to download the games and vote. (The contest rules stipulate that we’re not allowed to canvas for votes, so that’s why I cannot identify which game is mine.) If you don’t have much time to play IF, this should be a great intro.
