Submitting Freeware Games?

[Sybixsus]

I have a good list of sites, along with Shareware Tracker as a backup, but I'd appreciate any good tips and sites on submitting freeware games. For me, it's really quite different from submitting shareware, because you're not interested in large traffic of people who won't buy when you've got shareware. Quality traffic can be better. But with freeware, you just want the traffic. The bigger the better. I'm planning to use it to really build up my mailing list, so quality traffic still has some value, but it's abstract enough that almost any traffic can be good traffic here.

Obviously there's all the normal stuff like press release, even ads, etc, but I'm thinking specifically of how submission will vary and what sites will drive the biggest traffic for freeware that either won't take shareware or aren't much help for shareware.

[terin]

Game Hippo still commands a high traffic volume, but that is falling every month and getting on Game Hippo seems rather difficult, as nobody seems to be putting a lot of effort into it anymore.

Download.com moves a ton of freeware downloads.

I would also aim for trade CDs (like PC Gamer). They are often interested in freeware. If you take the combined effect of all the CDs worldwide distributed through magazines it is a fair chunk of traffic.

Beyond that... I can't thing of freeware specific outlets that are going to make huge differences.

-Joe

[Sybixsus]

Thanks Joe, I've submitted to Game Hippo and resubmitted to Download, but the CD's angle is a good idea. I'll get onto that. Thanks.

[ProgrammingFreak]

You could make your own site and put your freeware games on your own site, but I guess it depends on the size of the game though

[svero]

I use promosoft for submissions, but generally speaking download sites provide almost no traffice nowdays for free games or shareware games etc... Submitting to hundreds of sites doesnt produce a blip. A few years ago sales would noticeably spike. People are going staight to the portals for games now.

[steve bisson]

I'm planning to use it to really build up my mailing list, so quality traffic still has some value, but it's abstract enough that almost any traffic can be good traffic here.


if i have one tip to give is try to have the mailing list building tool in the game. Have people enter their email ingame because your game will spread into the internet and will be re-distributated on tons of websites. If you only ask for emails on your webpage you will miss on 95% of the players.

Our game made it on many websites and was released on 4 magazine's cd but i can only reach the few thounsands of people who downloaded from my webpage. I feel we dropped the ball on this one :(

[AnthemAudio]

I did the audio (http://www.anthem-audio.com/portfolio2.html) for a game called Balls To The Wall (http://www.litteratus.net)They have submitted a version of their game to FlexArcade (http://www.flexarcade.com) and will most likely see their game in arcades all over the country.

Remember those things? Arcades?

We have one of the machines where I work and it's great. The controls are setup for any game imaginable, there's two joysticks, enough buttons and a trackball for mouse emulation or whatever.

And people play them!

Just an idea

Tony

[Savant]

Arcades are all but dead and I doubt that anyone is really making any money running one. The games are all out dated and your console at home has WAY more impressive graphics and sound - plus, you can play in your underwear while sitting on the couch. Win.

[AnthemAudio]

Oh I wasn't trying to say Arcades are viable mediums anymore...we ALL know they're not. But every bar I know has a version of Golden Tee and some casual games games peppered around that get played tons.

Heck it's the only time my wife will play some games. You know that Police 911 game where you stand on the mat and motion detectors relay how you're moving while shooting baddies on the screen? She is addicted to that game and is convinced that when she plays it she gets a good workout. I once got real drunk and then sobered up waiting for her to finish her game.

As for your second point...the cool bars let you hang out in your underwear.

The idea is novel to me. I admit that it is just that, a novelty. Doesn't compete with the vast array of distribution the intertron offers in the least. I don't know, I'm a pinball addict as well. I hope the sentiment never leaves me.

AND I'M NOT THAT OLD!