[MUD-Dev2] Ways for Indie Devs to Announce their Game Release?

[Jeff Kesselman]

hmm interesting web page.

Id suggest you first make a really honest assessment of your game.  What niches do you cater to.  Is this really on the production values level of a WoW?  If you really believe that then Id go after the mainstream press.  Write a short press release that eschews hyperbole and says in shirt and concise form what makes you unique and include with it a PR logon.  Make yourself a list of all the editors of game magazines that cater to your market and reviewers from those magazines that seem to have a particular bent towards your sort of product and send it out to them.  Include some kind of "quick play" guide to let them quickly see the high points of the game that you want them ti be aware of.

OTOH if this is a more humble project there is no reason you can't be a successful niche product.  In order to do that you need to identify your niche and how to reach people who fit that niche market.  That may well mean promotion outside of the "mainstream"  game press.

Whatever you do however, start by being honest with yourself about the products strengths and weaknesses.  If you invite comparison with 60 million dollar projects you will get compared with them, no holds barred.  One of the most common complaints I hear from indy devloerps is grumbles about such comparisons, but if you don't make the distinction and make it clear what it is about you thats different or better, thats the imprison you will get.

I have to say your game web page DID leave me a little concerned.  It seemed to be trying to argue that you were better then any other MMO for every kind of player.  Thats not really very likely.  And some kidsn of players in particular don't mix well (ie hardcore PvP players and GOPers don't tend toy mis with hardcore RPers.)

It actually mad eit harder for me to judge why I might be drawn to or repelled from your game.  A clearer pitch to a smaller audience might do you better....

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 15, 2010, at 8:48 PM, Threshold <mlist at thresholdrpg.com> wrote:

> What would some of you recommend as a way for an indie game developer to 
> announce the release of their game?
> 
> My company released a new game, Primordiax (http://www.primordiax.com) 
> on April 22. It was a "soft open", where basically we opened for people 
> that had been following the game for the last few years.
> 
> We are finally ready for a full opening, but we are wondering what some 
> of the best ways are to get the word out about a new game.
> 
> 
> -- 
> Michael A. Hartman, J.D.
> President and CEO, Frogdice, Inc.
> http://www.frogdice.com
> 
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