Feedback Festival

Themes through the feedback festival

Thank you to everyone who published their world early to get feedback! The Meta SMEs playtested a lot of projects and we wanted to share with everyone some key takeaways based on the 5 criteria in which all eligible submissions will be evaluated:

Technical: Overall level of technical expertise that can be seen in the world. 

  • Works Well, No Bugs: Everything worked smoothly without technical problems, which is key for happy users. Thats a big factor how we preceive a game.
  • Easy to Use and Responds Well: It was really encouraging to see games that were easy to interact with and responded quickly and naturally. When controls feel intuitive, players can jump right into the experience without fighting the interface.
  • Smoother Movement and Game Physics: We noticed quite a few games where the movement and physics needed some polish. Things like characters getting stuck or camera controls being tricky can really break the immersion. It's worth spending extra time on these fundamentals because smooth movement makes everything feel more professional.

Visuals and Sound: The art of the world or game should be visually appealing and enhance the overall experience. 

  • Great Look and Feel: We were genuinely impressed by some of the visual presentations! When the stage, characters, and overall atmosphere work together well, it really makes you feel like you're part of the game world. Those moments where everything clicks visually - that's what we're looking for.
  • Better Look and Theme Matching: This came up a lot in our discussions. Sometimes the visuals looked great individually, but didn't quite fit together as a cohesive theme. Like when the floor doesn't match the stage, or backgrounds feel disconnected from the main action. Think of it as making sure your whole world feels like it belongs in the same universe.

Experience Design: The world should consider the essence of the player’s experience from the moment they arrive in the world.

  • Clear Plans and Instructions: We really appreciated when creators gave us clear guidance on what to do next and what challenges to expect. It shows you're thinking about the player's journey, not just the mechanics.
  • Fresh Ideas and Moving Characters: Some of you brought genuinely exciting new concepts to the table! Games with characters that move and dance, or completely novel gameplay ideas - those really stood out and got us talking.
  • Clear Goals and Reasons to Keep Playing: This is crucial - players need to understand why they should come back tomorrow. What's their progression? How do they get better? What rewards are they working toward? Without clear motivation, even great games can feel empty.
  • Easier to Start and Understand: We saw several games where the core concept was solid, but new players would struggle to figure out how to begin. A smooth onboarding experience can make or break that critical first impression.

Social: The world should offer ways for people to connect and find shared moments together.

  • We're still seeing opportunities here for most creators
  • More Ways to Play with Others: This was probably our strongest recommendation across the board. Players want to connect! Whether it's real-time battles, leaderboards, team challenges, or just ways to show off to friends - social features can transform a good single-player experience into something people talk about and share.

GenAI Usage: Use at least one GenAI feature in building your world.

  • Master prompt engineering: Be specific, iterate on prompts for the AI, and use the "fast practices" approach—good enough to ship beats perfect.
  • Your creation still needs you and art direction: Gen AI is a powerful accelerator, but your unique vision, taste, and creative direction are what make your world stand out. Use AI as a tool, not a replacement for your artistic intent.