Comments on Profile Post by meko

How does your scale work?

So do I!!!

Argh, rating inflation. : frustrated:

With only 5 possible stars, rating 4 stars may already feel like giving a smack in the face, hence one does not rate, rather than rate 4 or less. With me, I usually only rate 4 or 5 stars (lower threshold than meko), or "a like" if I think it's less but did appreciate it.

Therein lies the biggest shame, that average contributions - mostly by new members - don't get rated and they end up giving up because of no attention whatsoever. I'd much rather receive a 3-star rating for my creation than complete silence. Hint hint.

Furthermore, I know I can't compete with you guys in creation talent, but if I start giving only 5-stars to everyone, what do my ratings mean to you?

You are right, though part of it is also the large number of good levels. You can't play all levels and have to select. Ofcourse I'll then select levels of known high quality creators and/or levels with already high ratings. Not really encouraging for new creators, I know...

I think another reason for the rating inflation is that the overall quality of levels has been increasing and we haven't adapted our rating standards to it. I think it's because many creators gradually learned how to create good levels over the months.

Usually I rate 4, 5 stars or nothing (rarely 3 but it happened). I often think that rating scale to me works in the same way than Facebook: like, love or nothing.

That's a reasonable way to look at it. I'm just going to repeat myself and say that the majority of levels by definition should fit in the average category (3-stars). I feel that many people are just afraid to give 3-stars for some reason (FB analogy, playing only good levels now, rating inflation, or just plain fear of offending) and that this hurts rather than helps the community.

I know I am not a creator and my levels are probably viewed as average at best. But without any 3-star ratings I am now left wondering if it is because players haven't seen my level, that I have a crappy reputation, that the levels are too obtuse and people couldn't figure out how to finish them, or that they are just horrible and no one wants to offend me. I suspect I am not alone, eg @lichtfuerlau just gave up. :(

@nGord Yeah, I thought the same thing when I started. I then started to play and rate many levels, partly so others won't feel the same, partly to gain some attention, and of course, partly because it's fun. :D

I rarely do leave a rating and a comment lower than 5 stars as well, but if I do, it has to be because I found something I really thought could have been improved by the creator so I can leave that as part of the rating in the comments. I do think that having 3 stars and 4 stars ratings would be better than having no ratings at all since having any feedback may be better than having no feedback at all...