Pimp My Game

[Snarky]

What's the best ways to promote an AGS game?

How far can you go before you start annoying people and creating a backlash? Are there any mistakes some people make that cause a game to get less attention than it deserves? Is there something obvious that could be done but no one has done yet? Have any AGS game releases had an actual strategy for publicity? Or tried any dirty tricks guerilla marketing tactics to get more attention?

Speaking as an AGS "consumer", I think the #1 mistake made by game creators is to not post any screenshots in the announcement thread. I'm much more likely to download a game with horrible graphics than a game where I have no idea what to expect.

[Peter Thomas]

I agree 100% that the biggest foul is not to include screenshots. I guess it's often because the artwork isn't completely finished or whatever, and people don't want to post anything until it's reached the final stage. But - as you say - I am far more likely to download a game with a couple of not-quite-perfected screenshots than I am to download a game with an ambitious plot and no pictures at all.

And I also think people rely too much on the plot to sell the game for them. Yeah - it's true that a game can be really popular and only have mediocre graphics, but somehow that often seems to translate into a complete lack of respect for all other aspects. I get this impression of "wow - my plot is great, so great, in fact, that you can ignore my shocking graphics which are so shocking I'm too embarrassed to post them here, however should you comment on them I will totally attack you for being only interested in visuals and ignoring the depth and meaning behind my story." And more often than not, in trying to tell the plot, they do everything but. They describe scenery, they talk about how much beer the pub sells etc, but the entire plot synopsis could be covered in 2 sentences, which don't even get a mention until the 3rd paragraph.

Because of this, I'm really pleased the way the ATC has been organized. Each team has submitted a brief synopsis (cutting out the crap) along with a test screenshot or two. If all game-releases had that kind of thought and production, I'd be downloading ten times the amount of games, I imagine .

That said - I think there are a lot of examples of super-good-game-posting on AGS. I was thinking largely of another forum...

[Kinoko]

Yep, agree 100% also ^_^. We all get so used to saying "graphics don't matter" because of our interest in adventure games that some people seem to take that to mean, "You don't even have to try". I'm instantly turned off by someone not including screenshots of their game, or showing absolutely no sign of effort graphically. It doesn't have to be amazing, it just needs to show signs that you cared. Even though I don't expect super duper graphics, I hate seieng MS Paint slap-together jobs too, or games made out of all ripped graphics.

I've always think the best way to promote an AGS game is to include a nicely put together thread about it, including screenshots and a breakdown of the story, in the Completed Game Announcements forum, plus add it to the main ames page. Nothing works like word of mouth - if your game is truly enjoyable, everyone'll know about it in no time. Mind you, it doesn't hurt if you know some other gaming forums to pimp it on. I always think having a webpage for the game is a good idea (even though I never got off my ass and did one for Cirque) but one thing I hate is when the game's thread just points you to the webpage and doesn't just give you a straight up link to the zip file. I don't really know why, but I just hate having to read about a game in it's thread, THEN go through another webpage, possibly following several links and rummaging through several bits of info I either already knw or don't care about just to get to the game file.

A game speaks for itself, really.

[edmundito]

This might help: http://grumpygamer.com/1230269

A picture is worth 1000 words, or so they say. You have to realize that you're not just writing a story. If you really want that, then go write a text adventure or write a damn book. This is a VIDEO game, with graphics all over the place. People want to see what the game looks like, so you gotta offer some screenshots.

Also, there's other places you can show your game... you can send it to Just Adventure, who are awfully generous of any review towards something that points+clicks. Or adventure gamers... or even your favorite forum, even if it's about puppies and not about adventure games.

[MillsJROSS]

I think provided a screenshot/website(with screen shot) is a good thing. For the most part, though. I won't download the game, now that I don't have the free time I used to, until it get many positive reviews.  So part of pimping is getting people to review your games and post about it. Don't get your friends to get on just to give a review, if they aren't a member of AGS and never intend doing anything with it. It's better if you get a few established members reviews. I'm much more apt to download a game if someone who's here on a regular basis gives a review on the thread vs. someone new.

A lot of pimping should be done before the game is even finished. If you get people excited about playing your game early, you have a better chance of getting more people to play the game when it is released. The announcement forum should be utilized for that. Everytime you do some significant work in your game and you feel it's that much more further, update your announcement thread. The more it's seen, the more people will see it.  By significant, I mean more than just one room, or if you've compeletel made some changes to the game.

It's outside these two forums where pimping could work against you.  If you're making a whole thread outside of these two threads, completely about your game, to me, you've already started to annoy me, that is, unless you're asking what people would prefer in your game. But if your game is already released, there is no reason to make a thread about it elsewhere. People will find it in the announement forum.

There are more pimping rules, I'm sure but it's late and my brain isn't working so well. But I think one of the best pimping techniques, is simple to make a series of games. Using Ben Jordan as an example. People new to AGS will see BJ4, and then if it looks like it's good game(Which it is), they'll want to play the previous ones. You don't have to work on a series, though, since making a good game will naturally already give you an audience.

Remember, there are many great games that don't get the attention they should. Whether this reflects on the author's ability to pimp or not, its out there. Most of the time it happens, the person who submitted the game isn't an established member, and almost no one recognized that person. It's important to be recognized. If you want the community to accept your game more easily, you should become a part of that community. It's not a rule that always applies, because if a game is great enough, we will come.

-MillsJROSS

[Scummbuddy]

you can pimp your game best with controversy. Just pay off one of us, ( I nominate myself) to start a thread, possibly several, in which I claim that no one should play the game. I spout lame comments, but try to prove my point. Others will try to see what all the fuss is about, and will play the game. It's simple, and I accept paypal.

[Dave Gilbert]

I started a thread on this topic late last year:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=17202.0

The consensus was that, for most people, the game marketed itself.  Folks would upload the game on the AGS site and within months it would appear on dozens of other sites.  I suppose people are very hungry for these types of games.  Word gets around this scene pretty quickly.  If you want to take some direct action, there are a couple of other things you can do that won't cost you a dime. 

-You can write emails to some of the major sites that review adventure games and hope one of them answers.  Something like, “Hey, I wrote this game.  You might be interested. etc.” 

-Go to every freeware/shareware game site you can find and upload your game.

-Try finding a community that shares a common interest with your game.  If your game is about a fisherman, post a thread in an internet fishing group.  This can be construed as borderline spam, but you do have to start somewhere.  I know this can work because it once worked on me.  I used to frequent a Woody Allen usenet group, and I once came across a post pimping a series of flash cartoons.   The cartoons had nothing to do with Woody Allen, but the creator felt they might appeal to Woody Allen fans.  In my case, he was right. 

[alkis21]

Well, what I did was to announce the game in some adventure games forums as soon as it was released, with a short description, one screenshot and a link to my homepage where people could see more graphics. I also took a CD and manual to a Greek magazine, not really hoping for a review as I'd never seen them review an amateur title before, but suggesting that they included it in the mag's CD if they thought it was worth it.

[Mr Flibble]

Well, a Monkey Island game demo I made (which I took down cos I've restarted the project) somehow found its way onto 3 Spanish game sites and 2 Italian ones.
Even though the (truly terrible) demo was in English.
Hmm.

if you're interested, a different demo (a new one, which is worth your effort of downloading) is available Here.

[/accidental game pimp]

[Reptile]

This idea is simply wicked, I'd be willing to help out if we ever form a team for pimping games. I do sierra style VGA graphics, AGI/Picedit Graphics and am very good with making logos.

[Trumgottist]

Nobody has mentioned Adventure Developers or The Crow's Nest yet  :o, so I'll do so. Be sure to get your game included in those game databases, since that's where where many potential players will look for games.

TCN now also has a news feed (RSS/XML) for its news section, so posting a piece of news there when releasing a game is a good idea that just got even better.