29. LOG IN POLL

The log in poll. I am absolutely stunned that more game designers don't make use of this valuable tool. To correctly do a log in poll the first screen of the game should have two options:

Everything in this world is perfect. Take poll.

I love the developers.

Let me into the game NOW!

Given a choice between those two buttons, a surprising number of players will automatically push the first button. This provides a valuable statistic for the developers when whiners strike.

When the poll comes up (if that button is instead pushed) give the players multiple choice questions about things that either you as a developer are curious about or think is a hot topic of debate.

All of the answers then feed into a swell computer which calculates the information and gives the head of the team (or whoever he stuck with the job) the answers.

Here is a key: Nobody said that the development team has to use the answers. That is up to them. You are merely convincing the public that you do care by listening to them. That makes them feel better.

The hardest part about making a poll is to not have the questions or answers lead the players in any one direction. Example:

1. Do rogues suck?

a. They suck a lot

b. They really suck.

c. They don't suck too bad.

Clearly, this is an extreme example but illustrates the point. Most people have questions and answers that are just as leading but more subtle.