TASTY DATA - 2nd Project Responses
Now that you've had a good chunk of time to read the new demo samples and share your thoughts and feelings, I wanted to share a few things from the feedback forms!
I got a lot of participation, and I really appreciate each and every response. I received 241! So many came in so quickly that I had to let these simmer with just some occasional glances before I could sit down and read all of them. I also appreciate all the asks, comments, and private messages I received. I tried to respond as much as I could, but again, your participation floored me, and I wasn't able to keep up!
Below, I’ll give some common conclusions that I saw in the feedback for each story. I will also provide you with my responses to some of the things I read that stuck out. Some of these responses may sound a little snarky or snappy, because they are! I’ve toned down some of what I wrote initially, but the sentiment remains, so enjoy that. A majority of people were respectful in their criticisms, and I appreciate that greatly and have taken to heart what you had to say.
So...what did we learn? (There's a lot down there, I tried to keep it toned down but I wanted to share as much as I could too.)
As for the general preference for each story, Lab Rat kept the lead, though there was quite the battle between Lost to Time and DWAK to the very end.
If I had it to redo, I would have changed the way this next question was set up. I offered a "fill in the blank" option and I did not expect SO MANY to use it. For the most part, it looks like we want to see more difficult personalities and tropes, but a shocking amount also just wanted to see all of the options. Many of the fill-in-the-blank responses were no preference, or some other variation of "this but not that."
Again with this next one, I will not be using a fill in the blank for such a question, lol. I was a little surprised to see so many votes for fewer ROs as long as they're gender selectable. However, many of the fill in the blanks were no preference, had specifics that I can't begin to cover here, or echoed the existing choices - but the trend was more in favor of having more options that were not Gen-selectable. So, overall, this one was nearly 50/50.
This question can be a very hot topic as I have learned. I don't want to leave anyone's preferences behind, but I may need to limit custom characters, I will just have to see how things shake out for me, but I will keep the results to this one and use them to construct the RO selection.
This next question was specifically about the sci-fi options. I tried to gauge which specific "type" of sci-fi you liked and if preferences were specific to a certain story or if you're just starved for this genre. Again, Lab Rat took the crown as a plot-favorite.
Now, let's go story to story for your write-in responses!
THE HOWL
General Conclusions:
too real/too dark, made it hard to stomach
tired of mafia trope
enjoy questionable morals and messy MCs
really, really liked specifically the sex worker job option
felt MC was either too blank or not customizable enough
readers liked Fisk and Blue, and I do too :D
My Notes on The Howl responses:
This is an "organized crime" theme; however, it's meant to go a little deeper than that. It would benefit from a longer demo so you can see how the "boss," Roz, really is. I think the point was missed on how she collects people and keeps them loyal to death. Contrary to other organized crime tropes where everyone lives under the fist, she uses a different method of control - more flies with honey, so to speak. (The responders who mentioned they want their MC to be a blind loyal dog to Roz understand her assignment.)
I had some comments about not liking how many times there was reassurance to the MC that they didn't need to do the sex work (but wasn't mentioned for the other jobs) - yeah, hi, that was me reassuring the reader that there was no pressure to be a sex worker because it's a pretty hellaciously sensitive topic for many people. This work would have no filter options, but I would still give agency in choosing certain things the MC did that can be optional (sex, drugs, rock n roll, etc).
Roz would be an RO, but with the understanding that she will never actually love the MC. Asher would be one as well, but would be very hard to romance, and his route would be dangerous if not done perfectly because his boss is quite possessive.
There would be more MC backgrounds, ideally, such as being from a rival gang, and such.
The back-and-forth with reviews gave me whiplash. The very things people loved, others hated. There was no winning or losing, at least, but there was zero consistency in several key areas.
This would be a fun project, and I think if I expanded the demo, it would gain more traction; however, I also feel like this project deserves a much, much bigger scope. It would benefit more from going bigger and deeper, and I don't think I quite have the time or energy right now for that since GC is my main baby. At the end of the day, it is also not my favorite of the bunch either.
Response Highlights:
DADDY WAS A KILLER (DWAK)
General Conclusions:
similar to The Howl - the toxicity was too much for some
not feeling the genre - too many similar IFs
therapy session cool/good/consistently popular - character creator was neat
lots of hate-love for the toxic ex
several didn't like it but couldn't quite explain why
My Notes on DWAK responses:
This demo was not asking for legal advice, police how-tos, or a forensics dissertation. Not that I didn't appreciate the shocking amount of insight from the *1, 2, 3, 4, 5.....18* of you who offered information, but this demo is far from the in-depth research that would be done to refine the situation. Also, saying it now, the fingerprint found does actually belong to MC, and the idiot officer is just that - an idiot. The purpose here was to create drama and a shit situation that was ridiculous but kicked things off.
My intent would be to have the Pizza Man as an RO! You would meet later. He's an older dude from a rough background and is probably one of the healthier ROs, other than Elora.
This one would also benefit from an expanded demo, as I think readers understandably read too much into it being just a crime drama, and there were points it just did not get to cover. The avenue it would take would be a little more off the books, so to speak.
I personally really enjoyed this way of creating a character through the therapy session, and I had several comments that agreed - aside from the cycling choice method (sorry, I was experimenting).
The mental health struggle is part of the point, and not even the MC knows where their issues stem from. This is intentional, to put you on the journey of discovery. Some readers understood this and loved it; some wildly missed the bus. Just like in GC, your MC isn't starting out totally okay, strong, and on top of things - the struggle is part of it.
Yes, there would be repercussions for the officers and fallout for the MC because of yet more trauma, but the demo literally only goes so far. -_-
Big kudos to the 1 person who actually figured out part of the plot with the showcased murder - that's using your noodle. I’d have posted it, but it was close enough to ruin the surprise, lol.
Response Highlights:
MOONLIGHT PROTOCOL
General Conclusions:
lots of love for the concept of defining humanity and exploring what it is
many appreciated the scenes with the autodriver being weird and creepy and/or on fire
there was both love and hate for the code bits and timed segments
readers loved the AI/Android concept a lot, particularly being able to play as the Android
several appreciated the uneasy tone
shocking number of readers looking forward to being a sexbot, lol (I'm not judging)
My Notes on Moonlight Responses:
A thank you to those who actually read the disclaimers on the character selection screens and appreciated the world-building through that not-so-obvious lens.
I'm so pleased that a few of you had patience for and also mentioned the hidden choices! I did see a couple say that they wanted a timer for these, but...they're meant to be hidden and the wait times were intentional, sorry! It was only the first one that was super long, though. Double kudos if you waited for it!
Since I saw a few questions about it, the code itself was mostly nonsense, but there were a few semi-obvious things in it that were relevant, such as when installations and boot-ups were hijacked. There was also a secret choice that led to another such interruption.
I noted some comments both in favor and not of the variety of customization options - note that there were many, not only to help some people really form the image of their Android, but also to help with the setting. Because you know, if this were a thing and you could custom-order what is essentially an entire person, most would be real picky about every little detail.
Some had zero patience for the timed segments. They were not that slow. I timed them myself carefully to find a happy medium for quick readers and slower readers. If you did not read their content, you missed key information. The setup for this story couldn't just be a click-through sort of deal, given how MC comes on the scene. This was a device to help set the framework up. I was shocked to see comments about just not reading the text simply because it was timed. You're doing yourself a disservice if you are that impatient when you read.
Some of you also had zero tolerance for the code scroll, and I've posted about it before, and I'll say again - it was only 43 seconds. Ironically, I also made an indirect joke a screen or two earlier about immediate gratification, and the comments I received about this taking "forever," along with the insistence that it needed a skip feature, supported my take on what the future holds for our patience, lol.
If you didn't catch it, the system apologizes for the inconvenience of waiting a whole 7 minutes for the creation of your multimillion-dollar, fully custom Android (including the download of massive amounts of data/knowledge). Tragedy.
That said, I would still shorten this segment a bit and add a skip option for multiple playthroughs; however, again, this was a small sample, and I wasn't going to waste time coding for things that wouldn't matter right now.
Overall, I like this setup for a story. I feel like my take on the MC's creation was pretty unique and executed in a fun way. The main issue I've had is that, to me, that is where this one peters out. Usually, when I have ideas, it's plot first, and then I fit things around it. This one, it was creation first with no plot. Sure, there are elements, but they were elements that I had no tie-in for, no route for them to flow. The options for this are nearly limitless, and I don't know if I have it in me to find the story and write it currently. That said, I will hang on to it, because you never know when inspiration may strike. I like the setup, and I'd hate to waste it, but I know that I can't force myself into this one if I'm not feeling it.
Response Highlights:
LAB RAT
General Conclusions:
multiple requests for aliens to be added, lol
3rd Floor Janitor!
lots of love for Winter, too
appreciation for getting some RO info at the start when choosing genders
tons of love for the MC's bond to the team
some fret about the team's proximity to MC as caretakers who become ROs
others liked that the ROs would have caretaking roles for the MC, these were split about 50/50
lots of comments about the crush "levels" you can choose for MC (including straight to marriage material, lol)
most resonated with the plot points, and were interested to continue
not a ton of negative or disinterested feedback for this one, though some were pretty neutral
My Notes on Lab Rat Responses:
(disclaimer - not actually offended) Someone compared this to Stranger Things, and I kinda saw it after the fact, but also don't insult me like that, lmao. I feel confident that I could have at least thought of and written a better follow-through and conclusion within 10 years!
Kudos to the few people who mentioned Akira! That took me way back, and I feel it too!
There were some mentions of wanting more interaction with the ROs before having their MC choose the "favorite." This was intentional on my part because the MC also had zero interaction with them, but still found one they were immediately drawn to. Each one, though, displays an aspect of their personality for the MC to make that knee-jerk choice. Soltis uses confidence/authority, Ev'ren is light-hearted and fun, and Winter is very empathetic and kind. You only get a brief highlight to see which person your MC felt was the best option to reach out to (or what they were drawn to).
I am saddened that no one seemed to get my IT Crowd reference, lol.
I am a complete sucker for a struggling MC and found family, so this ticks several boxes for me as well. That said, I would also try not to make it too similar to the MC from GC's plight, and I can easily see where I could get caught in an echo chamber of MC pain.
There were some very kind and quite long responses for this one. I wish I could post them and keep this segment a reasonable length. If you wrote me an essay, know that I read it and really appreciated it. <3
One avenue I would like to explore here is unhealthy attachments. A few responses also noted this as an angle, especially with the closeness of the ROs. The MC is perfectly primed for one and could add a nice flavor of struggle for the relationship.
I’ve already touched on it in Tumblr posts, but I do have an idea for creating distance with the team so they are not as close while still maintaining a partial caretaker-esk role. I think it will give the best of both worlds to those who liked the closeness and to those who saw it as a barrier to the potential romance. And just to clarify, the team's feelings towards the MC in the demo are not romantic yet. I saw a couple of comments about it being uncomfortable for them to have that caretaking role with romantic feelings towards the MC, but that wasn’t at all what was written. You are only choosing how your MC feels toward them, not the other way around.
Response Highlights:
LOST TO TIME
General Conclusions:
Non-human ROs are HIGHLY desired...highly
many readers who did not care for it, mostly just felt it was either too dark or that this type of sci-fi wasn't their thing (several noted specifically space or aliens were disliked)
More love for Mary than I expected, and I'm so thrilled for that!
several appreciated the language barrier aspect
multiple comments on appreciating the choice of age for the MC
My Notes on Lost to Time responses:
For the few complaints I got about "this being the same as Lab Rat," please note that was the point. They were intended to echo each other to some extent initially to find which "brand" of sci-fi people liked, so I could narrow down the desired elements and how futuristic we wanted to go, and also to help me determine how far I wanted to go into the sci-fi world. And, as needed, I did see that several of those who liked Lab Rat more disliked aliens and/or the space setting.
I knew Rholm would be a fan-favorite, but I was a little sad that Phthalo didn't receive much love, though they are a quiet sort, so they didn't get to really display as much personality as the captain did.
There were several mentions of the desire for additional hang-ups with language or culture creating barriers, as well as humor and drama between the MC and their new alien family. I do love that idea, and I would want to run with that.
I noted that there were quite a few comments from readers who are die-hard sci-fi consumers, and several specified that they are picky about the genre. There was a clear line between hardcore fans of the genre and casual fans. Casual connoisseurs tended to enjoy it, while self-proclaimed picky readers found it lackluster. I will consider it a win overall, since I have barely consumed much sci-fi entertainment, so if I can keep the casual consumer happy, that's what matters. This isn't a genre that I have historically had much interest in consuming, so I am also quite casual about it.
Some comments/essays left me wondering whether the responder actually read the demo, and others took this waaaay too seriously. Now I know how things work that I had no knowledge of previously, lol. That's all I'll say about that.
Response Highlights:
A few random takeaways:
You like:
MC with a vice/a fucked up MC
toxic relationships playing a role
sex
hilariously, tropes
ALIENS
You don't like:
if it's too real/too dark in the trauma-drama
cycle choices (sorry, everyone, I was playing with the mechanics for a reason, lol)
hilariously, also tropes
My notes overall:
I know some want something lighthearted, but I will not be writing plots that are terribly light because I just don't enjoy that as much. But anything I write will have lighter moments and humor to break up some of the darkness. I find a lot of motivation to write around heavier trauma - sorry!
Several responses didn't reflect an understanding that these were essentially pilot episodes for demos. You were not meant to glean everything from the characters and settings in part to hold the mystery, make you question it, and leave room for development. I wanted to present the concept, setting, and some possibilities. Not all of the characters are set in stone, the mechanics, personality and MC details were incomplete, and not all of the ROs were revealed, etc, etc, etc...
Also, going to point out because it did irk me that so many people did not apparently read the footnotes I left in each sample of things that would be expanded or changed, etc., but for the purpose of doing a simple rundown, I did not do wild customization on terms or selections that did not warrant it for the sample I was making. I was not keen to do tons of coding just for these at this stage.
Nobody was outright nasty in these reviews, which I appreciate greatly, but some came much too close. It's okay to share opinions (I literally asked for feedback, and I know not all of it will be positive, that’s part of the purpose for it). But you make your thoughts more digestible if you can write them 1. legibly and 2. respectfully. If your comments didn't meet those simple criteria, I completely disregarded them because you demonstrated an inability to communicate like a reasonable adult whom I could respect enough to listen to.
Many of you took the time to write me constructive feedback, and I really appreciate the work you put into it to help me know what works for you guys and what doesn’t.
There were also some very lovely compliments directed at me. A couple of you went well above and beyond and made me blush, so thanks for that, lol. And a couple of you literally got me all choked up. You are so kind and encouraging. Your sweet words have really fueled me. <3
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to read the new material and for sharing your thoughts with me, even if they were short, sweet, or funny. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve cooked up a lot of ideas to play with! At a later date, I will announce the next project, likely around the same time that I release Chapter 7 for early access.
