In case you don't know Keith, I run a company that writes press releases and do the releases for Matrix Games. Keep in mind that WRITING a press release is the easy part, finding the contacts to release it to is the hard part. Lucky for you we have already done that, E-mail me at
webmaster@vgsmart.com or visit our website at
www.vgsmart.com for information on our PR service. I'm sure someone on this forum will vouch for how successful our PR service is.
Here's my critique:
Fix that title, it has to be catchy and brief. Most editors are only going to read your title and maybe your first sentence, make it tighter.
Add a URL as early as posible. Mycompany (
www.mycompany.com) has release mygame.
Standard Press format is something like this:
Smallville, Alabama, December 10th, 2004- as the first "sentence" of the release.
You use the term casual gamers. Don't. A) Most editors don't think people care about casual games and B) Most PEOPLE don't know the term and those that DO are NOT casual gamers!
Last sentences of the first paragraph are boarderline too promotional. I'm not saying I suggest changing it, but I am saying to be cautious and to maybe rethink how that reads. Asking questions is a great tool in a press release but I misread it the first time and didnt realize they were questions. Maybe "It IS a movie, it IS a book, and it IS an interactive entertainment experience. Discover it now!"
Specs are ok, but I would leave it at available for Mac and Windows systems. Why tell people what systems? Casual gamers may not even KNOW their OS but I don't think many people are going to have Windows95.
Don't post price. I never understood people's obsession with posting price... you are a game that is trying to sell by creating a cliffhanger (god I hope that was your objective). By saying price you are risking turning someone away before they sit down and get wrapped up in your storyline.
Don't quote other sites. We all love gametunnel and I would gladly deliver them as much publicity as I could, but no editor wants to put a competitor into a post on their own site!
Good job with re-posting a link to the site. The about section is fine also.
After the ### you should really use the name of the person to contact. Its just a matter of making it as easy as possible for editors to contact you.
For More Information Contact Joe Joe at Mousechief Company at ...
The focus of this press release is on the game, the game information should come first.
The order should be:
For more info
game site
game screenshots
game logo
PC Download
Mac Download
Main Company Site
Main Company Logo
Best of luck, hopeyou consider using VGsmart for all your press release and writing needs... and we could have written your press release for 25 dollars... saved you a lot of trouble :-) but hey! Life is a learning experience and I am happy to spread knowledge like the plague... no wait, that didn't sound right.
Sincerely,