However, talent will never be enough; one should actively develop one�s design skills, and there is only one true way to do that � implementing a design and then listening to user feedback.

Designers need to be humble listeners, not persuasive orators.

Disagree to an extent. Part of the job of a designer is to give gamers what will want, not what they ask for. You keep giving them what they ask for, and you can lose sharpness of design by overly smoothing rough edges that are what give a design character. 

But typically you're not talking or listening to the audience directly. I think the above quote is for within the team structure itself.

Definitely agree that catering for all gives you bland food though. 

I think the articles is trying to say, listen and let people get involved. A designer does not need to implement all feedback but listening is big part of the process. Just like reading a book, watching a movie or going somewhere can inspire you, so can feedback. A designer still needs to filter feedback but they should never stop listening.

Ijed, it sounds like you need more feedback to confirm if your priorities are right. If you want some fresh eyes to check out what you are doing, drop me a mail. 

But that'd breach my NDA :)

In any case, already solved the issue - by getting everyone involved and listening, pretty much. 

thanks, wakey. those are beautiful. :) 

abandoned places and modern ruins 

 

This guy's backdrop art is amazing
http://albertomielgo.blogspot.be 

Some great environmental conceptart
http://crayonboxofdoom.blogspot.com/ 

Some of it reminds me of that Q3 map by Lunaran. 

That's more for the painting style than anything. 

Even though it is painting style, it warmed-up my imagination and gave me some cool ideas for my (completely stalled) current Sci-Fi Quake map project.

Great find ! 

http://www.reddit.com/r/castles/ 

http://pics.fefoo.com/#!/r/castles 

I would love to play this in a game...

http://andreasrocha.deviantart.com/art/Medieval-Town-304050019