Advice for my first product launch?

[bignobody]

Hello,

I've very close to releasing my first product ( my ToDo list is down to some level tweaking, playtesting, etc. ) and I was hoping to get some advice from some other indies who have released titles aready. Things that you wish you had known/done before release, hard lessons learned, etc. Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

[BrutoMemo]

Release it to the target audience and promote it at maximum

just my 2 cents :)

[bignobody]

Thanks. It's just about time for me to take off the developer hat and put on the marketing hat. :)

Regards,

[Narnach]

Congratulations on getting this far and good luck on selling the game.

I hope you will like the new hat ;)

[bignobody]

Thanks, it has been a long time coming. I started this project over 4 years ago ( :eek: ) with the only goal being to finish a complete game. There were times I wanted to give up on it (and times I did for weeks/months at a time) but the drive in me to create never really dies. A little over a year ago I decided to get serious about it (started my company, bought a lap-top so I can work during my commute to my day job, etc.) and now it's really exciting to see the "light at the end of the tunnel". Now, I just need to get over my cynical, generation X attitude of "marketing people are evil" ;)

Regards,

[UnknownGuy]

So I was missing the hat. That explains a lot.

[bignobody]

So I was missing the hat. That explains a lot.

You can make one easily enough from some tinfoil :D (just don't wear it outside during a thunderstorm).

[dntoll]

To finish a game can be hard! We often joke about the first 90% of development and the second 90% and the 3rd 90%... There is always something to improve! But somewhere you have to draw the line and start marketing :-)

I believe the hard part is to find a portal or distribution with the right audience for a game. Our game sells well in one portal and does not sell at all in many others...

Long live the shlongg ;)

[Polycount Productions]

Hello,

I've very close to releasing my first product ( my ToDo list is down to some level tweaking, playtesting, etc. ) and I was hoping to get some advice from some other indies who have released titles aready. Things that you wish you had known/done before release, hard lessons learned, etc. Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

Lesson #1:
Put download link on first page.

Now it takes 3-4 clicks before I get there. Good luck with the sales!:)

[bignobody]

To finish a game can be hard! We often joke about the first 90% of development and the second 90% and the 3rd 90%... There is always something to improve! But somewhere you have to draw the line and start marketing :-)


Heh, tell me about it! According to my site, Shlongg has been 90% complete for, oh, well over a year now! I've also heard it phrased "the last 10% is 90% of the work". Absolutely true.

Thanks for the advice and the kind words!


Lesson #1:
Put download link on first page.

Now it takes 3-4 clicks before I get there. Good luck with the sales!:)

Yep, I do plan on doing this. I just grabbed Shlongg.com a couple of weeks ago (was most pleased to see there was noone squatting on it since various beta versions have been publicly available for over a year now) but so far it's just a title page that links back to my company site. It will be filled with content (and big shiny Download Demo and Buy Now buttons everywhere) by the time I go live. Thanks for the advice and the well wishes!


Regards,

[Fost]

Don't proof read the game after 48 hours uninterrupted work finishing off with a celebration at the pub :)
Try to put in place some methods to measure marketing efforts. I.e. if you run any adverts, then some method to track that add through to a sale using a cookie is particularly important. (Implementing this a year into selling was a real eye-opener for us)
If you've been sensible, you've already been collecting a large database of names for your press list, if not, then it's probably worth spending some money on a press release service.
If you want to advertise with a site, and they use an external marketing company to handle their advertising, don't bother.
All advertising prices can be haggled - boring to have to do it, but if you don't want to haggle then you might aswell not bother.
If you are trying to advertise with a site, and a marketing person asks to ring you about it, then don't bother.


Now, I just need to get over my cynical, generation X attitude of "marketing people are evil"
No need to get over it, it's not cynicism, it's the truth. :)

[bignobody]

Thanks Fost, some good tips here to stick in my marketing hat.



All advertising prices can be haggled - boring to have to do it, but if you don't want to haggle then you might aswell not bother.

* visions of Life Of Brian *

"Burt! This bloke won't haggle!"

"Won't haggle?!"

"Look at it. Feel the quality. That's none of your goat."

... And so forth :D

Regards,

[TimS]

Change the name... ?

[bignobody]

A Shlongg by any other name would smell as... uh, nevermind ;)

Many have suggested this in my threads regarding beta releases, but I am as committed as ever. It's one of the great things about being indie - total creative control.

Regards,

[TimS]

Many have suggested this in my threads regarding beta releases, but I am as committed as ever. It's one of the great things about being indie - total creative control.
Just remember what a name does for your game. I presume you're not aiming for portal distribution? :rolleyes:

[bignobody]

Just remember what a name does for your game. I presume you're not aiming for portal distribution? :rolleyes:

It's a double edged sword, but the name does get people talking (though they're not always saying nice things ;) ).

You're correct, I'm not aiming for portal distribution. It's my first independent product, so this is all more of a learning experience and to "test the waters" than a serious attempt to make some hard cash. Let's just say I have no plans to quit my day job any time soon ;)

Regards,