Here are some tips, FAQs, and rules for developers:

How Long Will My Game Take To Review?

In General 1-2 playtests plus a peer review can take UP TO 4 weeks to complete the process if you get and respond to feedback.
Yes, some games will go through much quicker but that's the exception. We see people all the time claiming they have a deadline. If that is the case then make sure to factor this 4 weeks into your schedule. Don't show up 2 days before your self imposed end date and complain that you are going to miss it.

Why is my game taking so long to review?

• Games can take from 3-10 days to get through peer review (or more but that seems about average) so there's no need to worry unless its been well over a week. Remember people are doing this in their spare time.
• If you FAIL or PULL your game from peer review (not playtest) you will now have a 7 day waiting period. That's 7 days EVERY TIME. It can really slow things down.
• Many people dont like to review updates to games - dont put an update in a week after you got approved - well unless you are a very popular game in which case you might be one of the speedy exceptions.
• Speed really depends on how many folk are interested in reviewing - from experience over the past few weeks reviews seem go slower in the following circumstances:
  • if you are not a game or look like a bad game or you have a reskinned starter kit some folk are choosing to abstain
  • if you have repeated submissions due to bugs or updates then the more times you do it the less people are interested in playing over again especially if you avoided playtest with an excuse such as:
    • I'm pretty sure there are no bugs
    • I've tested this locally and its in great shape
    • I'm the smartest guy here why should I go to playtest.
  • if you are trying to get updates to an already released game
  • if you pick fights with/insult the reviewers or continually complain about 'the process' but only while your game is in the system
• Having a great game and being active with the reviewers or in the community seems to pick things up.
• Multiple languages require reviewers from each language. We often see games held up for lack of non english reviewers
  • Read the language review FAQ http://forums.xna.com/forums/t/26198.aspx
  • Make sure you are on Abels list http://forums.xna.com/forums/t/26091.aspx
  • Consider an English only release - yes it sucks to try to support other languages but those other language communities are not being active in community games yet even though Abel is doing an admirable job.
  • Consider an English only release and then an update to other languages - that way you don't have to wait for the 1st release
  • If you live in France, Italy or Spain then start rallying some developer spirit within your own country. If you want to see localised games then it means localised reviewers.

So how do you get your game reviewed as it drops towards the bottom of the list?

1. Ask yourself "Did I leave it in playtest long enough?", "Did I even bother playtesting". Nothing puts people off reviewing more than multiple submissions. Its fine to go back into playtest.
2. Ask yourself - am I part of the community? Have you reviewed other peoples games? Helped beginners? Or are you expecting others to do what you could not be bothered to do?
3. Ask yourself - did I use the evil checklist and best practises? If not people get fed up of reviewing badly tested games or games that dont follow good standards.
4. Ask yourself "Did I really test this properly or am I rushing to try to get up on day 1". If you've had 20 submissions to playtest and review then maybe its time to take a break until the service passes the initial rush - its OK to admit your game wasn't ready. Review/Playtest fatigue is a real problem right now.
5. Go to the IRC channel #xna on eftnet.org and ask nicely there.
6. Twitter about it.
7. Post on your blog.
8. Start reviewing other games - as they pass or fail the queue will shrink. This does NOT mean pass as many games as fast as you can as that will be considered gaming the system. You are still required to fail games that need it and spend a reasonable time reviewing games.

No Review or Playtest Requests in the Forums

The forums are NOT to be used to request reviews or feedback (aka 'Review pimping'). A post is automatically made when you submit a game for review or playtest and that is sufficient. If everyone did this then the forums would have far too many requests therefore we don't allow anyone to do it.
Asking for reviews, offering up reviews in return for those who review you, or as a reward for reviewing your game after the fact can be seen as gaming the system and Microsoft have a whole list of bad things that can happen for people who game the system starting with temporary bans and ending with creators club cancellation, Xbox live cancellation and in the worst cases a full on xbox ban.

Exceptions: 

1. We allow a SINGLE post to the Non-English review thread to NOTIFY Abel of your game if your game has non english languages and its not currently on the list. Once its on the list any further notifications will be treated as review pimping.
2. You may provide a single short link to your game in your signature. No begging or anything beyond this or this exception will be removed. e.g.
   "My Cool Game : In review/playtest"

The following will be deleted (or edited)

1. Threads/posts that are created to get people to review your game will also be deleted even if its in the thread for your game.
2. Adding 'please review my game' on other threads.
3. Requests for review bartering e.g. "Hey I just reviewed your game please review mine" or (even worse) "I promise a review in return for everyone who reviews my game". This a a community - if you can't be bothered to review other peoples games without getting something in return then please go elsewhere.
4. Telling people you will review their games as thanks for reviewing yours  "Thanks for reviewing my game, do you have any you need help with"
5. Requests for review in signatures. By all means link to your game page but no begging for reviews.
6. Any post seen as only existing to draw attention to one's own game rather than the game or topic in focus.
7. General 'Let all review some games' posts when its pretty obvious that the poster means 'how about you review *my* game'. Yes guys we notice that when you are waiting for a review yourself you suddenly get all community minded....

No Incentives For Peer Reviewing Allowed

Its not within the spirit of a volunteer review panel to offer incentives in any form (bribes, competitions prizes, credit etc) to help get your game through PEER REVIEW. Any posts in the forums that indicate this will be removed and passed to Microsoft to see if they consider it abuse of the review system.

We can't control what people post on their own sites but if you see any indication of incentives being offered for reviews then notify creators@microsoft.com and let Microsoft deal with it.

If you want to offer play test incentives for finding bugs (e.g. most bugs, best bugs, first to complete) during PLAY TEST, then unless/until it gets out of hand feel free to do that.

In the words of a wise woman who likes unicorns
"It is important to keep that part of this process as pristine as possible. Alliteration FTW."

Don't Forget Your Xbox.com Forum

If your game has been approved then head off to the xbox.com forums to see what the end users are saying about your games. http://forums.xbox.com/29314430/ShowPost.aspx