Coming up with a unique game idea can be challenging because the industry is extremely competitive, meaning that many ideas have already been explored. The pressure has intensified as the popularity of gaming has increased.
Still, it’s not impossible to try to make a game that hasn’t been done before. You can combine elements from different genres or add a unique twist to a familiar concept, developing a narrative that is thought-provoking as it’s entertaining. If it’s in your head, it’s just a dream, so put your idea to paper, even if you have no clue about how to write the requirements.
It’s difficult for someone outside the game industry to get their idea through a company’s front door, and there are a number of reasons for this. If you want to make your idea into a game, it’s never wise to push too hard. When pitching your work to publishers, the trick is to make them feel the same passion as you do, so you must feel comfortable with your proposal.
A pitch is your chance to sell the vision of your game to prospective investors, studios, and game journalists, to mention a few. It’s the first impression you make, so it should be clear, concise, and persuasive.
If you want to present your game to a publisher and do a great job out of it, please continue reading to discover some tips on how to create a killer pitch.
Give Your Game a Proper Introduction
Your game idea needs financing, which often comes from external sources, so you must be able to articulate your thoughts into words clearly and compellingly to get others excited about investing in your game. The most obvious route is to work with a publisher, i.e., a company that specializes in producing games from start to scratch.
They’ll fund the development, marketing, and distribution of the game, taking a share of the profits. A publisher may have its own game server, providing regular updates to players, so you don’t have to spend money buying the equipment required to run the server upfront.
Make your introduction simple and effective, as it will better help you deliver your message. A really good introduction will cover the elevator pitch, important details about the game and its features, and the project’s most notable innovations. You’re probably familiar with the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.
” A first impression is nearly impossible to undo, which is why the first few minutes are extremely important. Have a warm, open, friendly smile, make sure your attitude is contagious, and shake hands, but stay focused on eye contact.
Showcase The Game’s Value Without Bragging
Give the publisher what they expect – information about budget, features, unique selling points, modes, game engine, target platform, etc. Simply put, you must provide sufficient information about what the project is about, how it will work, how the resources will be used, and so on; you can include a few slides in a presentation.
If you have a particular niche, try to reach out to publishers operating on their own who represent that niche. Funding is often based on milestones, so demonstrate you have a strong awareness of each stage of the development to show you’re capable of building a project.
Referencing other games can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences. More exactly, it’s convenient to have points of reference for the publisher, yet you’ll want to avoid invoking comparisons to other games you can’t compete against. If you’re pitching via email, make an animated GIF to show off your game.
Contemplate the notable features of your game; perhaps it’s a unique feature that should be explored in more games or you want to explain the concept of the game. We recommend 8MB or less. If you insert the GIF into the email body, it will play automatically when checked via phone or desktop. You can either click Upload or drag-and-drop your GIF.
Do The Math
Self-publishing is fast and straightforward, so your game will be in front of a ready-made audience in no time. Nevertheless, a publisher can help increase funding for the project; their experience, time, and resources are all part of the package when signing with a publisher.
Given that the publisher will take an active role in the process, they must know more about the project’s status and the resources necessary to achieve your vision. They may not have their own game server hosting service, but delegate the hosting to a specialist. Anyway, don’t make the mistake of thinking that a publisher is easy to get.
A game budget comes down to one-time costs (equipment, software, contractors, and down payments) and recurring costs (salaries, taxes, and insurance). Manage your game production budget whether you’re working on a small project or a big AAA title.
Not only can it help you avoid overspending, but it can also help you deliver the game on time and within scope. The development timeline must include the particulars of your plan laid out in chronological order, mapping out all the details surrounding the game concept and strategy. The more detailed it is, the better.
Introduce Your Team
People mistakenly believe that games are the product of modern technology, but without people, there would be no games today. Working with a team of seasoned professionals is a fantastic approach to building a high-quality game.
Finally, yet importantly, introduce your team to influence public perception and highlight your strengths. Involving your team in the presentation highlights their competence, to say nothing of your skills as a leader. You can use a chart to add clarity and show how your team fits together; overloading it is counterproductive. Anything more than names can be distracting, so don’t go into greater detail.
Show all the important people in one slide. At times, it may be useful to introduce your team individually, in which case you must get all the important information in one slide. The roles and responsibilities of each person are different from one another, so you’re likely to have a project manager, writer, designer, and, of course, developers. Acknowledge which team member took on a significant role in what area to enable them to prepare for questions that might arise.
Closing Remarks
It goes without saying that pitching your game idea to a publisher isn’t a one-time occurrence but an iterative process that involves several negotiations and revisions, so be flexible and adaptable with regard to the feedback. There are risks the publisher will want to know beforehand, so determine what could impede game development and how exactly you’re going to proceed.
Just as importantly, ask for the right type of help. Prior to contacting the publisher, know what you need to bring the game to life (and make it a success). Your pitch deck can include financial investment, marketing and advertising, quality assurance testing, game localization, and so forth.
Don’t spend all your time and effort negotiating an advance. You need to develop an excellent game and don’t have a lot of time to do it, so have skilled people by your side. Be open-minded about compromising yourself, and don’t feel trapped in compromising with a publisher because you think your game doesn’t deserve a second chance.
