Promoting Games

[DevilWithaHalo]

Many places, like the Escapist, frown on self promotion of development. Most developers don't have the funds to buy advertising for their product. This could potentially bury good projects because interested parties never learn about the game.

We know contacting family and friends and asking them to help spread the word is a good start. What would others suggest? Getting someone they know to promote the game in places like the Escapist since it's not self promotion? Posting fliers locally? Screaming in the middle of town square with a megaphone?

How do you think games get featured in places like the Escapist?

 

[Eleuthera]

You could send out press-releases to the Escapist or other relevant media. Or become news worthy in some other way. Those are my best guesses anyway...

 

[Dark5tar1]

I'm sure if it's good enough it'll get exposure or games can get attention by doing something like Game Dev Tycoon or stir up controversy like Dragon's Crown.

 

[Fappy]

I really have no idea. Considering I am working a tiny side project myself, I suppose I should probably know this as well >.>

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

I've been thinking about this recently. At the suggestion of someone here (who's name escapes me at the moment), I'm currently working on a let's play/diary detailing the road from System Shock to Bioshock: Infinite. I initially thought that I would do it as a thread on here with Susan's/the corporate overlords permission, but I've thought it might be better to "upgrade" from forum dweller to dedicated content creator.

In that instance, do I make a blog website? A Youtube channel? If I do that then apparently I can't tell the people I know here about it. I don't use Facebook/Twitter, but that might be a reason to start. I know that making something legitimately great should be the best way for it to be found and spread like wildfire, but I've seen a lot of great games, youtube channels, and music that is wonderful but missing the audience it deserves.

If I find out an answer to this conundrum I might post it here.

 

[Henrik Knudsen]

Get them greenlighted for Steam.

 

[Calibanbutcher]

Just make the female characters completely weak but hopelessly oversexualised and objectified as all hell, whilst creating completely sensible male characters.

Also, make sure to react to critics in a way that could be interpreted as malicious towards any of the following:
Cats
Homosexuals
Transsexuals
Women
Children
Members of a specific religion.

Doing so is sure to get you free publicity, a Jimquisition episode (or even several), several articles on most gaming sites and several forum threads.


BONUS ROUND:
If you truly want to shine, put a great big TWIST in your game and have your sensible-proportioned male characters be completely weirded out / afraid of / repulsed by your oversexualised exaggerated female characters because of their unnatural physique and posture and include some genuinely good, sensibly designed female characters, who were never shown in any promotional material whatsoever.

 

[Dark5tar1]

Just make the female characters completely weak but hopelessly oversexualised and objectified as all hell, whilst creating completely sensible male characters.

Also, make sure to react to critics in a way that could be interpreted as malicious towards any of the following:
Cats
Homosexuals
Transsexuals
Women
Children
Members of a specific religion.

Doing so is sure to get you free publicity, a Jimquisition episode (or even several), several articles on most gaming sites and several forum threads.


BONUS ROUND:
If you truly want to shine, put a great big TWIST in your game and have your sensible-proportioned male characters be completely weirded out / afraid of / repulsed by your oversexualised exaggerated female characters because of their unnatural physique and posture and include some genuinely good, sensibly designed female characters, who were never shown in any promotional material whatsoever.

This, I died from laughter.

 

[Dark5tar1]

For real, some suggestions.
1.If you have a youtube channel, record gameplay and post updates often. Some indie devs do that and get followers.
2.Steam Greenlight is a very useful tool and can get some well-needed exposure.
3.A thread for developers to show work and progress of their game with some demos, videos, and constructive criticism.
4.A dangerous thing could also be to stir up controversy but is not recommended.

 

[Angie7F]

This, I find is quite a problem.
I also think its teenagers and gays that spread the word. lol

 

[Guffe]

well getting the people who play the game to tell people about it would be a good start.
we often have threads here asking for new games so that way some people might find new games