I watched my adoring husband do a 3.5 hour playtest over the weekend, and in the process filled a 2' by 4' white board with things to fix or change. It was a bit overwhelming, recognizing all the work I unexpectedly needed to do. It was also a little deflating, experiencing my game through someone else's eyes - seeing it for exactly what it is instead of the ivory tower I've worked up in my mind. I am only where I am, and can only do what I can do. (There's also only so much a player will experience. They won't find every easter egg and engage every dialogue option.)
No, Rorasuketo is not going to be the most incredible video game of all time, but I would like to think I still have something special and unique. The people in my corner agree, which is nice.
Though my list of fixes was long, I was able to knock out many of them quickly. (Some are anal-retentive things like "change the line break in this one piece of dialogue" and some are fundamental, how-did-I-not-do-this-the-first-time things like "check affection scores and unlock bonuses on first interaction, not the second.") A few very minor story details are being added. And some mechanics are getting tweaks.
So it's saddening that I didn't have a perfect game, but it's a relief that I am catching all of these items so that I can make a better game - because it's not going to be perfect.
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