only 12 downloads!!??

[donkeymilk]

Are all the downloads per game counted from just here or does it include agsarchives?
Sometimes i can't believe some of the great games on here might appear to have downloads in single figures.
I realise some of these games can be aquired from other places,i think AGS needs to advertise this great website abit more.
EDIT UPDATE:I'm a gamer and was thinking lots of people are missing out on a lot of fun.

[blueskirt]

Many people's vision of advertising is to upload their newly finished game on some relatively unknown (in the great picture that is the entire internet) database and then call it a day. This is not how it works. There are gaming sites out there that covers indie or adventure games, there are forums out there where people who are fan of those hang out at. If you truly and sincerely believe your game deserves to be played by as many people as possible, then do your part and go find your player base, because people have better things to do than search the nooks and crannies of the internet in search for non-played gems and word of mouth these games to viralness. And if one's brilliant plan is to get out of day job and make commercial games as a living, one should know that the game making part is only the first half of the job description.

[Andail]

What game are we talking about? A game that's been downloaded in single digit numbers after more than a week is either commercial or not very noteworthy. As blueskirt says, it's up to the game author to advertise their game, if they think it deserves it. This site and the database has lots of visits, just add all the weekly downloads of the top ten games or so and see for yourself.

[Fitz]

What Andail said. Marketing's the key -- though it's often tedious and disheartening. I wrote as many sites and individual reviewers as I could -- trying to keep it appropriately short, informative, funny, with pretty pictures and all -- and I haven't heard back from but one of them. All the while, I got some very nice reviews from people who simply happened to stumble upon my game. So I guess Gray doesn't suck -- but I'm forever left to wonder whether my self-promoting or social skills do

I've had more success with sites similar to AGS, where you simply upload your game -- and it reaches the players directly. I'd recommend GameJolt -- it's a bit complicated, but tends to guide you through the process of uploading your game quite smoothly (the actual file uploading app called quite obscurely Distribution). Tried IndieCity, too -- but that one is way more complicated, takes upwards of 7 days for the approval process, the site is confusing to navigate for you as a game creator and generates less traffic (probably because you're required to install their app to download games)

Also, the recent youtube review of Eternally Us shows just how important that medium is in popularizing games -- maybe even more so than written reviews, because you get to SEE the game in action? Another good thing is that in indie world even a game that's been released quite a while ago can get a second life. I don't know what Ben's approach to promoting his games is, all I see is he just keeps making games, a podcast, blogging, and generally being awesome. Maybe that's the right way?

[Adeel]

    Let's talk about the factors because of which many good quality games get neglected, i.e, modern games. The technology is gaining progress very fast. Today's powerful technology is becoming yesterday's souvenir at an extremely fast rate.

    Because of this, the games which include yesterday's technology are being neglected. Since now-a-days, motion gaming has been introduced and constantly evolving, many persons are not going to download "Point'n'Click" games.  Today, whenever the children or adult games are searching for a game to download. Most of them search for: GTA, Call of Duty etc. In that case, the odds of people stumbling upon your game through Google are very few.

    I have a suggestion. Why don't you submit your game to the download websites, such as: Softonic.com, CNET.com etc under the appropriates section?

    The reason is that I didn't know a single thing about Yahtzee or his games until I downloaded them from Softonic. Because of this, I came to know about the AGS Engine.

[Retro Wolf]

If you look at my game Reality Check 1, there's 193 from the AGS website. On Game Jolt I have 341, so almost half the downloads started on Game Jolt.
Softpedia seem to have stolen most of my games as well (not that I'm bothered)! So more people probably play your game than you realise.

EDIT: "Help Paul use some cool time travel powers and save the Yahtzeebrand Megastore from destruction." Just read that on Softpedia.....LOL! did they even play it?

[Adeel]

Softpedia seem to have stolen most of my games as well (not that I'm bothered)! So more people probably play your game than you realise.

Have Softpedia already stolen Gray or is it about to be stolen? BTW, why don't you email them to correct their text?

EDIT: "Help Paul use some cool time travel powers and save the Yahtzeebrand Megastore from destruction." Just read that on Softpedia.....LOL! did they even play it?

And I thought it was the other way around. To save the RON World from Evils of Yahzeebrand Megastore  . My whole teenage life is a lie  .

[kaput]

Today, whenever the children or adult games are searching for a game to download. Most of them search for: GTA, Call of Duty etc. In that case, the odds of people stumbling upon your game through Google are very few.

Not sure why anyone would search Google to download these games, but definitely for cheats or a walkthrough.

There's always going to be pc gamers looking for free games to download, coupled with the people who are in to the indie scene anyway. I found out about AGS years ago by searching for free point and click games to satisfy my nostalgia. Came across a few good freeware and abandonware websites. Ultimately finding out about Ben Jordan, the Trilby series and a few others.

So yeah, it's not a lost cause. Not by a long shot. But you certainly can't expect people to play your game without putting some elbow grease in to it.

Softpedia seem to have stolen most of my games as well

Yeah, they do that. I even got in touch with them to give them a new build with bug fixes - they complied happily. Softpedia are quite handy, actually.

[Adeel]

[..]coupled with the people who are in to the indie scene anyway. [...]

But that's the main problem is that very few of the new generations are going to be into the indie scene because of the modern/more interactive games pc and/or consoles are offering. Sadly, future seems not too bright in this case.

[...] not sure why anyone would search Google to download these games, but definitely for cheats or a walkthrough. [...]

Many of them search to download these commercial games for free (if you know what I mean ). I, myself, have downloaded GTA: Vice City - full and original version(without any mods) from a website.

[Andail]

But that's the main problem is that very few of the new generations are going to be into the indie scene because of the modern/more interactive games pc and/or consoles are offering. Sadly, future seems not too bright in this case.

The future isn't less bright now than what it's been for quite a while. In late '90s and early '00s, low-res, 2d graphics was super-dead; now at least we have some kind of revival of the genre going on, with some people preferring the retro style.

We also have to acknowledge that most of our game are tiny, made by amateurs, and have extremely low production values.

[ThreeOhFour]

I don't know what Ben's approach to promoting his games is, all I see is he just keeps making games, a podcast, blogging, and generally being awesome. Maybe that's the right way?

I've made friends with a bunch of game writers over the years, chat to them regularly, give them tips on other people's AGS games that have just come out, and keep them informed on what I'm doing. I post on Twitter a lot too. Best of all is to read sites and look at who plays/previews what - if someone plays lots of platformers, they probably won't be so interested in your adventure. If I write an email to Rock, Paper, Shotgun, for example, I know Richard Cobbett, John Walker are the two most appropriate guys to write to on that site, because they write about adventure games. Write them an email, put your 2-4 prettiest screenshots in, give them a build of the game before you release it so the second you release you can send them a kindly email and say "Hey, game's out " and they've had days to get screenshots, form an opinion and write that opinion down.

Also, it helps to build yourself a reputation. I seem to have a "makes a game every 6 seconds" reputation, thecatamites has a "Makes wonderfully bizarre mindwarps" reputation, Wadjet Eye have a "Moody, atmospheric low res adventures" reputation. This seems to help!

But yeah, talk to writers, get to know them, and then you'll feel comfortable plugging your games to them. I can talk to Richard Cobbett about weird old games for ages, invited Chris Priestman to my house to lay on the carpet and listen to music with me (despite him living in England ) and stuff like that. Twitter is a wonderful thing!

[Fitz]

Thanks for the great insights, Ben My problem is I'm not the most outgoing or sociable person, even online -- so I have a hard time contacting new people trying to plug my products. I can't REALLY complain -- I might be very poor at marketing, but even despite the lack of pre-promotion for Gray, it's got plenty of attention, and was even featured a couple of time And yes, including Softpedia, Adeel. They uploaded Gray soon after I released it -- but they e-mailed me about it, and I think they did a thorough job, with nice screenshots and everything.

Still, I will try to plug my next project extensively from the get-go

As far as retro games are concerned -- or anything retro, for that matter -- there's always going to some nostalgia-driven group that will keep the trend alive. Do any of you remember Little Big Adventure? It's an action-adventure game from almost twenty years ago - and there's STILL a lively community around it, not just talking about it, but making tribute games, short movies, quite impressively looking remakes AND constantly keeping in touch with the creators about a possible sequel.
Another example: consider vinyls. You'd think that thechnology would be dead and gone forever. It went underground, mostly to be seen in DJ scene -- and now it's back, with some mainstream releases premiering on CD and vinyl at the same time!
People love oldies -- old cars, old music, old movies. And old games. Hence the success of all those adventure game Kickstarters. It doesn't even have to be memories from their youth. Just like 60's music is still appreciated today -- and I don't mean just the Beatles. And so will adventure games in the 2040's, perhaps? Perhaps it won't be mainstream -- just like retro/cover bands aren't mainstream today -- but they exist, and there are people who go to their gigs. So I guess we don't need to worry. Adventure games got pushed back into a niche -- but it's a very colorful, creative niche

[kaput]

Do any of you remember Little Big Adventure?

I LOVE THAT GAME!!!

I've had a bit of experience in the past but I know I'm pretty much of a young face around here. All I would say is -

I think it's also best to remember:

1. Do not pigeon-hole yourself! Keep trying new things. It's good to get a reputation, but it's also good to surprise people.
2. If your game is good (coupled with correct marketing) your game will get either a review or written about. Sure, it's certainly good to make contacts, but it's certainly not impossible to do it by yourself. Knowledge is power, in all aspects of life.

I don't think there is really anything left to say except: 

If you are really baffled by the whole process, like other things in life, Google provides good answers.

[ThreeOhFour]

1. Do not pigeon-hole yourself! Keep trying new things. It's good to get a reputation, but it's also good to surprise people.

Believe me, once you've a reputation, no matter what new things you try, people will always talk about the stuff that forged your reputation! 

[Grundislav]

Yep, which means I'll always be known for my BJs...

[Ryan Timothy B]

Yep, which means I'll always be known for my BJs...

I'm sure those are fine too, but I personally think you'll always be known for your backdoor, man. 

[Jaffles]

I think something you just have to accept when you decide to make free games, or self publish, or anything of that sort is that you're just one fish in the sea, so to speak. Especially with a metric crapton of free content available online, and all sorts of other technological distractions, peoples' time is more valuable than ever.

That's actually one of the things I like so much about this community. You guys are willing to at least try most of the games I've seen posted, and give feedback.

[AGA]

Yep, which means I'll always be known for my BJs...

Sorry to break this to you, dude, but your BJs aren't that good.  Quite overrated, in fact.

[Gilbert]

Carver Island games are much, much better.

[Fitz]

Speaking of reputations... Ben, stop complaining and just bless us with yet another game featuring a hot/sexually neutral young lesbian/girl of unspecified sexual orientation and her quest for meaning in life/love/peace of mind, will ya?

Back on topic, though - Jaffles makes a good point there: too many games, too little time. It's not that I don't WANT to play all the wonderful games here. It's just that work, my own creative endeavors -- aaaand right also pollen allergy -- leave me pretty worn out and brain dead. Doesn't help in solving puzzles I'm not even going to check out the Steam discounts, not just yet, anyway -- because in the past 12 months there has been such a flood of great titles that I wouldn't know where to start: Dishonored or Hitman? Max Payne 3 or Bioshock 3? Mortal Kombat, maybe? Fez, definitely. It doesn't help that I'm a crazy completionist, either (maxed out on Just Cause 2, at 99.95%) And then, when I'm done, I kick myself for playing instead of doing something creative. Too many things to do, too few hours in a day!