In a recent interview with MinnMax, Bruce Nesmith, the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, spoke about the challenges of game development and the importance of staying connected to the player base. He also warned against the dangers of “believing your own byline.”
During the interview, Nesmith explained that it can be very easy for game developers to lose touch with what players want, especially if they are working on a big team and have a string of successes. This is because it can be tempting to start believing your own hype and thinking that your ideas are always the best, even if they are not what players actually want. Nesmith also pointed to the importance of communication with your audience.
Here is a direct quote from Nesmith highlighting the importance of getting feedback from players early and often:
“It is essential for game developers to get feedback from players early and often, so that they can make changes to their game based on their input. This is where early access can be a valuable tool, but it is important to use it correctly. Early access should not be used as a way to simply release a beta version of your game to the public and hope for the best. Instead, it should be used as a way to engage with players and get their feedback on specific aspects of the game that you are working on.”
Nesmith also spoke about Todd Howard, the creative director of Bethesda Game Studios, and how he was able to avoid the dangers of believing his own byline. Nesmith said that Howard always put himself in the seat of the player and tried to see things from their perspective. This allowed him to understand what players wanted and to make games that they would enjoy.
Nesmith also said that Howard was a very good listener. He was always open to feedback from his team and from players, and he was willing to make changes to his games based on that feedback. It makes sense that Nesmith would say Todd Howard is good at separating himself from the grandiose nature of his role. When you see a Todd Howard-type meme, it’s normally about selling Skyrim to people in disguise.
Sure, there are lots of cases of Todd messing up, but he does change his games to fit what gamers in general tend to like. Ask anyone who loved Oblivion over Skyrim and anyone who thinks Morrowind is the best. On an unrelated note, memes of Todd trying to sell Skyrim in disguise are my favorite.
