Questions about publishing a game...

[KLiK-iT]

I'm going to be publishing a game with King-Cool soon and want to know what's the best way to handle this. I'm going to put it out as a Flash game and for iPhone iPad and PC. What are some good sites where we can possibly profit from the game. No extensions were used in game and it's in HWA mode with 6 layers and it's scrolling. Also, what is the best way to release the game as a try before you buy. King-Cool mentioned that a one day trial full version. I think that's a great idea. What do you think?
Thank you,


John

[happygreenfrog]

I'd say a demo with a few levels. Like if the full game had 20 levels, then the demo could have about 3 or so. If the full version had 75 levels, then the demo could have more like 15 or 20 levels. I haven't published any paid games of my own (yet), but I personally prefer the level-limited demos myself (when trying game), so it might be better. Just my opinion (Angry Birds for PC uses this approach, however, which encourages me that it works quite nicely).

[KLiK-iT]

Thank you for that. I'm sorry, but It's a one level shooter that scrolls back and forth,.so that wouldn't work,.lol. I think the best choice for a game like this, would be a one or two day limit,.then you have to purchase it to continue to play it.

[happygreenfrog]

You could also make less tanks/cannons/whatever is firing available. You know, limited content. Or make it so that the demo has a shot limit, making the game only last so long. My point is, limit the things available, then make a nag screen that asks the user to buy the full game whenever the user finishes one play. E.G make the demo so that after 2 minutes of playing the game (after clicking play), then the game would bring up the nag screen, giving the player the option to either:

1. Buy the full game (opens the website or whatever you need to open up to allow the player to buy the game).
2. Play again (back to the menu).
3. Exit.

You could also make it so that the graphics are worse on purpose, so that you can advertise "Enhanced graphics", or you could make graphics settings available in the full version, and make them at the lowest settings in the demo.

[KLiK-iT]

They are all great ideas happygreenfrog. ( I like youe name) LOL
I like the nag screen,.but sometimes that will make a potential costumer get upset seeing those. I know it bothers me when I see those nag screens. I also like the options limit. Great idea!!

[happygreenfrog]

Make the nag screen show up after playing a certain number of times in one run (let's say 15). After the 2 minute time limit, the game would say "Game over! Press any key to return to the main menu", except for after 15 times of doing it, when it will show the nag screen. In other words, make the nag screen show up when the player is clearly interested in the game.

[KLiK-iT]

I like it,..thank you very much. Now what about some sites to get the game played and sold?

[happygreenfrog]

If it's good enough, you might be able to get it on Steam, though that is a very low chance. I don't know about anywhere else, someone else would be better for that. You will almost certainly need to have it so that someone can buy it from your own website. And yes, that also means you probably need your own website (unless, of course, King-Cool has his own website, in which case that one would work).

[KLiK-iT]

Thanks a lot for all the information. I'll start to look around...

[SolarB]

My plan is to send out a demo to all the indie review sites such as rockpapershotgun, tigsource, indiegamereviewer, indiedb, indiepubsource, etc and submitting a cut-down version as flash to armorgames, newgrounds, kongregate and the like - that's for marketing.

Personally I agree with hgfrog, host it/sell it on your own website and get other sites to link back to it (some will agree to do so).

Steam of course is the holy grail, I know of two MMF games on there currently (night sky by nifflas, really big sky by bossbaddie).