Seasonal Markets ...

[Chigley]

Hello,

Coming from the mainstream, we tend to work very hard to get projects wrapped up for the Christmas sales time.

Is this the case in Indie games? Is there a marked increase in sales around the Christmas holidays? Do you, as a developer or publisher, time your games accordingly? Are there any other seasonal shifts in sales, in the downloadable market, that you've noticed?

Cheers!

[maksum]

I've wondered about this as well and will be interested to see people's responses. The only thought I had is that people will receive computers for Christmas. Often times it will be their first computer, or a computer that is significantly more capable than one they've been using. I wonder if these users will start downloading fun stuff to try it out.

If they hit some fun indie demos they may end up buying. ALL just thoughts and theories...

[Andy]

Well. Shortly. We had tripled our income on last year fall. But that was our first year selling online.

So, I'd like to but don't believe to get the same results this year. Otherwise we'd consider to acquire Microsoft or something. Do I need all their problems in addition to our own? :D

[Wayward]

An archived Dexterity thread named Seasonal variations (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-447.html) includes an extensive post/article by DavidRM. There's also November & December bad months? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-1720.html), What is your BEST month of sales during the 2nd half of the year? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-787.html) and Slump Season? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-3374.html)

[Tom Cain]

My Palm game sales have always been at least tripled from December 26 through the end of February. I suspect the surge may be caused by people getting new Palm handhelds as gifts.

[Chigley]

An archived Dexterity thread named Seasonal variations (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-447.html) includes an extensive post/article by DavidRM. There's also November & December bad months? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-1720.html), What is your BEST month of sales during the 2nd half of the year? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-787.html) and Slump Season? (http://www.indiegamer.com/archives/t-3374.html)
Thanks Wayward .. that's helpful :)

[lakibuk]

I will release a christmas themed freeware game in december. I am curious if this will have any effect on the number of downloads.

[Andy]

I would recommend a middle of November lakibuk...

[lakibuk]

@Andy: Why?

[Andy]

One time we were visiting Chicago at the beginning of November. :)

Looks like their stores want start Christmas season right after Halloween.
Plus download archives. Plus that always pre-holiday activity of new and old email viruses. Plus...my two cents. :)

[arcadetown]

Shoot we're about done applying rules. For prior years we saw dips in summer but this year sales were up 30% in July from prior month even though traffic slowed some. Go figure. If Christmas is a target would suggest getting it out there well before to get lots of exposure as right around Christmas our traffic always slows as people do family stuff.

[Andy]

...right around Christmas our traffic always slows as people do family stuff...

So, what the problem? If so we should consider TV ads - kind of:
"BUY INDIE GAMES!!!" :D

Seriously. When we were younger (by year ago ;) ) we were expecting drop in sales - but no, they are buying and pretty well. And amount is already waiting for discount prices on our games in this year - I know that specifically. So, hopefully should work not very bad again.