Taking criticism...

[veryweirdguy]

It's simultaneously extremely liberating/satisfying and frustrating when someone swoops in and makes your point better than you did. Thanks Snarky!

[kconan]

It doesn't matter whether the criticism is nasty and unfair. If you want to get back at a critic (usually a pointless exercise in any case), challenging them by asking what they've created is a bad way to go about it because 1) it's based on a fundamentally flawed premise: that you have to be able to create in order to be able to evaluate; and 2) it invariably comes off as defensive whining.

In those examples the critics didn't have a bodies of work outside of critiques to be critiqued.  Plus, they were unfair (and incorrect reviews) but not really nasty or personal.  Agreed that they were good responses.

I disagree that it is a completely flawed premise.  It doesn't disqualify anyone from having an opinion, but experience helps when evaluating.  For example, the AGS panel is made up of people who have experience with AGS games.  And unless I'm wrong, many of whom have created. 

[m0ds]

I'm not even sure responding to criticism vocally does any good. Listen to it, be honest with yourself, accept the parts that make sense and move forward.

That's it. Just grit your teeth, and move on. Respond if you think it's thoughtful critique. Don't get embroiled in an argument, just keep on keeping on! You may well remember what was said at a later date (perhaps when you're working on your next game something suddenly reminds you of a previous critique) and that IMO is healthy. But don't carry around the burden of other people's views on a day by day basis. Read it, take it in, if it was powerful enough you'll remember it at a later, relevant date. Luckily the internet is probably the easiest place to do that. The real world can be tougher

[Oliwerko]

I'm used to some serious criticism when I release songs that I've composed. What made the biggest difference in accepting it was when I realized the value of such criticism. Constructive criticism from people who went through the same process you are getting through, who know what you should and shouldn't do and have tips for you to try out, is invaluable. I am grateful for any bit of it.

The key is to differ valuable criticism from not-so valuable one. But almost everything gives you something. I.e. if I know the music tastes of a few people, I send them my song, and they (without knowing anything about music) say whether they like it or not (and perhaps why), it tells me something. Combined with the criticism I get from musicians and composers, it's all I need.

Is it harsh? Do I think it's better than that? OK, whatever.

I think that the most important thing is to spot, recognize, understand, and accept the flaws of your work. That, and to remind yourself of your success at times of failure. Doing mistakes is the way to learn

[Andail]

I agree that critics must be allowed to do their jobs without being asked what they've accomplished in their lives. I think the entire of idea of criticism is extremely important. I really hate when people go "can't they just enjoy the book for what it is", or "if you don't enjoy action movies, watch something else!" or "this critic is just reading way too much into this work" etc etc. No! The critic's job is to theorise and analyse, to put something in a broader context, to compare and to juxtapose.

When it comes to taking criticism, it's always hard if you really cared for what you've done. If it's not very hard, it probably means you didn't put so much time or effort into doing it.

However, some people seem completely incapable of accepting even the tiniest piece of criticsm, aimed at even the quickest doodle they ever drew and showed someone. These people will have to learn, maybe the hard way, how to turn criticism into something constructive.

Just as many other people here, I've been creating things ever since I was a child, and have always been quick to ask for feedback. I've only ever learnt something useful when I've published something I thought was really good, which some other artist then completely ripped apart. To learn hurts a bit, because it means something you held for true undergoes changes. Sometimes a rude awakening is simply the only remedy.

[Ghost]

However, some people seem completely incapable of accepting even the tiniest piece of criticsm, aimed at even the quickest doodle they ever drew and showed someone. These people will have to learn, maybe the hard way, how to turn criticism into something constructive.

DeviantArt is full of that. 

And maybe one reason is the way a community works. I think a lot of crit made here is made on a "hey, I've been there too, let's look at the good things" basis. I would feel hard pressed to nitpick on a game for being "too short" because I know how hard it is to make a good small game. The average gamer, however, will probably point that out as a "bad thing". That's almost culture clash- you release your first few games, learn and improve and then try to make it "out there". And bam*, all of a sudden crits can get that much harsher.

_____
*Yes, "BAM!"

[Darth Mandarb]

Yeah I've noticed that the type of crit varies from place to place.  I find the crits I've gotten here to be mostly constructive and helpful.  While other places, like Pixel Joint, tend to be rude/harsh (which I don't consider helpful).

I remember specifically the work I'd done on a background for Amulet of Kings that I thought was so amazing!!  Then loominous showed me just how much I still had to learn!  Rather than getting offended at my suckiness I dove in head first with his technique and made the background(s) just that much better! 

I can't understand why people post something and get all offended at the little critiques.  Especially when they posted asking for it!  If you can't stand the heat...

[JSH]

I love being criticized, I'm masochistic in that way. But in all seriousness you always learn something from it. Even if it's really, really bad taste, and not constructive in any way, you still learn that one more person actually cares. They actually care enough about your work to let you know just how much they think you stink.

And as strange as that sounds, in a weird and twisted way it's a beautiful thing to me at least. Isn't evoking emotion in others what all of us strive for? We all want to mean something to somebody, and we want our work to be remembered. But the further you stretch the limits, the more you stand out and produce something truly unique, the more the group of "haters" will grow. It's just the nature of different things appealing to different people. I'm sure even the greatest pieces of art in the world has a dedicated group of haters who want nothing more than seeing it burned.

So you can follow all the conventions in the book, create something bland and unoriginal that nobody either loves or hates, or you can create something different, cool and unique that will be loved as well as hated. I'll pick the latter, any day of the week, taking the criticism like a man and hopefully learning from it.