I check Board Game Geek frequently. It’s probably not healthy. Still, I want to know how my games are doing. Does someone have a rules question? Better answer it. Did someone upload a new photo? Cool, I love the modifications people do to Far Away. Did someone leave a nice review or rating? What a wonderful feeling. Did someone leave a terrible review? Time to obsess about it!
Playtesting - Feedback
Sharing a board game you are designing with other people is an intense experience. You are showing something personal, a piece of art, with the world. The inherent challenge is the need for critique. As we previously discussed, a game needs real players moving pieces and developing strategies for the designer to see how their ideas are interpreted. You need their feedback. However, playtesters have a different relationship with the game. They provide valuable insight, but filtered through their prior knowledge and biases. Refining your game based on these comments is as much of an art as the initial design.