Opinions requested (game related)

[Infovore]

Just want to get a few opinions on something I did recently.

Last year, I supported a particular Kickstarter for a game, at a rather high amount of money because I loved what they were planning and wanted to help out with it. One of the rewards at my backer level was that would get “my image” made into an NPC for the game. I asked them if I could use a character of mine rather than the actual me, because I had no desire to have my own image as an NPC. They said sure, that was fine.

So I sent them a basic description of the character. I won’t go into detail about it, but it included age, gender, hair/eye color, skin color, style of dress, and general “look.” I was a little afraid to start sending detailed instructions since I was technically kind of sidestepping their intent by asking for a character instead of my own image (which they could use a photo for).

Last week I finally got the image back. It was a lovely picture, very well done–but completely wrong for my character. They got most of the bits technically right, but even among the sketchy bits I gave them, a couple were off (the skin color, for example, was wrong).

I know the game is coming out soon and I definitely didn’t want to cause trouble (did I mention I love this game, the folks connected with it are great, and I’m involved in doing some work for another aspect of it?) so I didn’t feel comfortable asking them to change the pic, especially given the sketchy description I gave them. So I sent a note back and told them I thought the picture was great but it just wasn’t right for my character, of course I didn’t expect or ask that they change it, but could they just take my NPC name off the character (in other words, rename him to something else in the game)? Yeah, it’s that important to me that I’m willing to give up my shot at having an NPC in the game in order not to have him look that much unlike what he “should” look like. I’m cool with that. I’m happy to support the game even without that particular perk–I’m getting plenty of others.

Haven’t heard back from them yet. I really hope I didn’t offend them or piss them off with my request–I can’t really see how I could have, given that changing the name is an easy fix compared to re-doing the image.

My friend who’s also involved in the game thinks I should have asked them to change it, but I just feel like that’s way too nervy.

What do you guys think? Was my request reasonable, given the facts as I’ve presented them, or was I out of line?

[Omar_Little]

You sound kind of whiney and high maintenance.

[Infovore]

Well…I guess that is an opinion. :rolleyes:

[Lasciel]

I think that you are not alone in being very specific about how your character “looks” in your mind’s eye. I also think there are a lot of people who are either not gamers, or not visual people, and don’t understand how important that visual match can be.

I also think that the burden of making the NPC in the game match your mental image is on you, not on the game devs.

For future reference, I would highly suggest that anyone considering something like this shell out the tiny (in comparison) additional $$ to someone on deviant-art or a local comic/portrait artist, and have a commisioned artwork made to your specifications, in a process where you can work with the artist make the minute and detailed alterations so that the end product matches your mental image in a way that satisfies you. Then you have a “concept art” for your character that can be sent to the game devs for them to match the basic concept to their own game’s visual feel.

For now - you’re right, there’s not much you can do.

I think that asking them to change the name as a ***first ***response was probably not the most tactful way to address this.

If they are being professional about this, the artwork they sent you should be a “proof” and not yet inserted into the game itself. I would have sent a reply complimenting the image, the things they got right, and picked the TWO most glaring “wrong” areas and asked them to alter those to better match my mental image. I would also have apologised for not sending enough details for them to get a perfect match the first go-round (even if I didn’t feel like that was the case.)

Only if they indicated that it was impossible or not worthwhile for them to alter the image would I move on to asking them to use a new name, and even then, I’d most likely select a name myself, and ask them to use it instead (with the unspoken indication that this is a different character of yours and you feel that the artwork matches this person better than the initial character you supplied).

That way they feel like they’re still doing you a special favor for all your support, and you’re not just totally waving off what is really a very exclusive and limited reward that someone else would very likely have appreciated the chance to have.

Perhaps you can send another email and say you’ve reconsidered, and if they could just make some slight alterations to x and y, you would still love for the NPC to represent your character? Blame a stressful week at work or typing while drunk for your earlier email, and apologise for being inconsistent.

[Omar_Little]

How much money are we talking about? When you say “high amount” that’s relative each person’s situation. If it was more than $1,000, then maybe you could justify your pickiness, but anything less just comes across as whiney to the game developer.

[Drunky_Smurf]

I don’t think you were out of line but I also wouldn’t be offended if they ended up not changing the name.

Personally I never would have asked them to change the name. I would have just been happy to have any input of mine in the game and proudly pointed out the NPC to people and tell them that I “helped” design the NPC.

[Infovore]

Oh, I’m not going to be offended. I know that at this point I’m asking for a favor. If they grant it, great. If they don’t, I won’t be offended. I’ll be a little bummed, but not at them. More at myself for not giving them a more detailed description when this whole thing started.

[Infovore]

@Omar_Little

How much money are we talking about? When you say “high amount” that’s relative each person’s situation. If it was more than $1,000, then maybe you could justify your pickiness, but anything less just comes across as whiney to the game developer.

It’s exactly $1000, so I guess I fall right on your threshold.

[Infovore]

@Lasciel

For future reference, I would highly suggest that anyone considering something like this shell out the tiny (in comparison) additional $$ to someone on deviant-art or a local comic/portrait artist, and have a commisioned artwork made to your specifications, in a process where you can work with the artist make the minute and detailed alterations so that the end product matches your mental image in a way that satisfies you. Then you have a “concept art” for your character that can be sent to the game devs for them to match the basic concept to their own game’s visual feel.

That’s a great idea, and in retrospect I wish I’d done that. Live and learn.

I think that asking them to change the name as a ***first ***response was probably not the most tactful way to address this.

Well…in my defense, I was very tactful. Tact is one of the things I do well. I was extremely apologetic, I did compliment the image (in a purely aesthetic sense, it’s quite a nice image!), and I stated that I completely understand that there’s no way I would ever even ask them to change the image, especially given my sketchy description.

If they are being professional about this, the artwork they sent you should be a “proof” and not yet inserted into the game itself. I would have sent a reply complimenting the image, the things they got right, and picked the TWO most glaring “wrong” areas and asked them to alter those to better match my mental image. I would also have apologised for not sending enough details for them to get a perfect match the first go-round (even if I didn’t feel like that was the case.)

The artwork wasn’t a proof (or if it was, it was a very well-finished one).

Only if they indicated that it was impossible or not worthwhile for them to alter the image would I move on to asking them to use a new name, and even then, I’d most likely select a name myself, and ask them to use it instead (with the unspoken indication that this is a different character of yours and you feel that the artwork matches this person better than the initial character you supplied).

I figured if they change the name, they can just fit him in wherever they might need him in the story, so they could name him whatever they like. Other than the character I submitted the details for, I don’t really have a strong character in the game. This guy has been my go-to character for a very long time.

That way they feel like they’re still doing you a special favor for all your support, and you’re not just totally waving off what is really a very exclusive and limited reward that someone else would very likely have appreciated the chance to have.

Good point, although it’s not like I won the opportunity. I pledged a relatively significant amount of money for the privilege (although, as I said, my donation was more to support a game I love than for any rewards. The rewards are just gravy.) If I’d won it, I wouldn’t even consider asking for even the small change that I felt was reasonable.

Perhaps you can send another email and say you’ve reconsidered, and if they could just make some slight alterations to x and y, you would still love for the NPC to represent your character? Blame a stressful week at work or typing while drunk for your earlier email, and apologise for being inconsistent.

Heehee! I actually do think I’ll send another email, even though my last one was quite tactful and respectful. I tend to spin worst-case scenarios when I don’t hear back from people about things I’m not sure about–when the reality is probably just that they’re busy and haven’t gotten around to me yet!

[Drunky_Smurf]

Would you mind telling us what the game is or linking to it?

[Infovore]

@Drunky_Smurf

Would you mind telling us what the game is or linking to it?

Actually, I’d really rather not (and if anybody figures it out, I’d appreciate it if they didn’t mention it) just in case anybody happens upon the thread in a Google search. I don’t think the actual game is relevant, and I like to keep my Dope life separate from my gaming life as much as possible.

[Drunky_Smurf]

Ok, thats fine.

[Infovore]

Update: Got a reply to my follow-up email. They were very nice and said that they’d change the character’s name. They apologized that the image didn’t meet my expectations. I replied and said that there was no need for them to apologize–it was my fault for not being clear enough in what I specified. So, problem solved. They’re a great bunch, and hopefully they don’t think I’m too much of a twit.

[drewtwo99]

I don’t want to sound too rude here, but I think what you said and did was completely out of line, even having donated $1000.

[Shark_Sandwich]

I think you handled it the right way, OP. It would suck if they can’t accommodate you, but here’s hoping they do.

Oh, game designers (or any artists for that matter) can be a vindictive lot. How funny would it be if you bought the game, ran up to the NPC you helped create, and find out they changed the name to, “Crybaby McWhinesalot?”

[Infovore]

@drewtwo99

I don’t want to sound too rude here, but I think what you said and did was completely out of line, even having donated $1000.

Fair enough. Maybe it was. But it sounds like the folks involved are okay with it, and it’s resolved now.

[Infovore]

@Shark_Sandwich

I think you handled it the right way, OP. It would suck if they can’t accommodate you, but here’s hoping they do.

Oh, game designers (or any artists for that matter) can be a vindictive lot. How funny would it be if you bought the game, ran up to the NPC you helped create, and find out they changed the name to, “Crybaby McWhinesalot?”

Heehee! That would actually make me laugh, and I’d probably deserve it.

I don’t think they’ll do that, though.

…I hope not!

[Omar_Little]

@Infovore

Fair enough. Maybe it was. But it sounds like the folks involved are okay with it, and it’s resolved now.

Meh, they’re just being nice to you because you gave them a grand. They are actually joking amongst themselves about the fact that they changed your skin color!

[Infovore]

@Omar_Little

Meh, they’re just being nice to you because you gave them a grand. They are actually joking amongst themselves about the fact that they changed your skin color!

Given the fact that quite a few of my friends are game designers, I don’t doubt it in the slightest (the jokes, anyway–I’m pretty sure they are okay with making the change. Changing a name isn’t nearly as big a deal as altering art).

[Apollyon]

@drewtwo99

I don’t want to sound too rude here, but I think what you said and did was completely out of line, even having donated $1000.

Could you explain why you think that?

The KS pledge perk seems pretty unambiguous – send us an image of you (or a character description, since they agreed to that), and we’ll make you into a character in the game. The NPC they created wasn’t what Infovore was expecting / hoping for and asked them to alter the name, while accepting that because it had been a description rather than a photo the fault wasn’t really the designers’.

This is so far from unreasonable that I’m having trouble understanding why anyone might think it so. (And yeah, changing a character name probably means altering one string in a resource file… err… assuming it’s a video game).