How do I measure print and play

Years ago, I remember hearing Kevin Smith say that superhero films were no longer allowed to be B grade pictures or two hour commercials. That we could reach the point where they had to live up to the standards of other genres. That idea has stayed with me.

And I realize that I have held that standard for the past several years to micro games. Being small and having a short playing time isn't enough. A game needs to be a good game and being a micro game isn't an excuse.

But as I have been crafting a lot of print and play games, I find myself wondering if I hold them to that same standard.

Now, a lot of the files that actually make the cut of actually being made are ones I paid for and are from actual companies, which hopefully means that they have gone through rigorous development and play testing. And I do hold those games to the same standard that I would hold any other.

But what about the free stuff?

Well, if making games is your hobby and part of that is putting them out there as free PnP, you know what? I'm not going to be as rough on you. That might be part of the development process and I might be part of the play testing process. 

China Moon and Zombie in My Pocket started out this way. I have seen some Kickstarters start off as free prints and plays to both gauge interest and refine the game. 

What I am really saying is that these games do you end up getting treated differently because they are coming from a different place and, in fact, might be part of the process of developing a game that I am going to be much more rigorous in judging.

Although, having said that, I also have to admit that I am much less likely to make one of these games, although there are some gems, like Micropul, the super easy to make tile laying game that really could.

Which in turn, is a big step in my print and play experience. It started off as an amusing a little diversion but now I am looking for games that I will seriously play.