How to insure success (getting lots of registrations)

tungprc · Post by **tungprc** » November 20th, 2007, 8:50 am

I've seen a lot of good indie games get made and then never get a sequel because the developer didn't know how to promote his game. The answer is by working harder than you did when making the game. What does it take? Tireless promotion via forums and Usenet. Jeff Vogel is about the only successful indie developer to make it long-term. He did this in two ways. Constant game-promotion and quick turn-arounds on sequels. This is the only proven way to win. I'm hoping BasiliskWrangler will read this and then start posting like mad on the forums that deal with crpgs. Here is a small list of MUST forums. Some of these I've seen BW visit already. RPGWatch, RPG Codex, Celestial Heavens, NMA, Usenet at comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.rpg, Quarter to Three, etc. Other registered users can really help the cause too. If you want to see Eschalon: Book II, you'll need to help BW or he won't make it. I've been registering shareware for 20 years and it is very rare to see a second game, much less a series. Spiderweb has the formula. I think you're making Mac versions too. If so, the game announce forum for Macs on usenet could be lucrative. Mac-gamers are starving.

screeg · Post by **screeg** » November 20th, 2007, 9:45 am

My only argument with this would be that Spiderweb's games haven't actually improved substantially over the years, or at least not as much as one would expect over such a long term. He just generates loads and loads of content.

You also forgot the third and also very important element of his success: catering to Mac gamers. Basilisk luckily has this covered.

macdude22 · Post by **macdude22** » November 20th, 2007, 9:56 am

I don't know, Avernum 4 and 5 have really refined the style of engine they use to a point that I'm quite happy with them. The basilisk engine looks a little more detailed which is nice, but overall I think Spiderweb's current engine works well for me. Combine that with Spiderweb's ability to craft entertaining story and success. I like these style of games, updated with some modern niceties. Kind of like Castlevania:SOTN did, 2D with modern particle effects.

As a Mac user, and fan of this style of game, give me a good game and I'll reward you with fat sacks of cash gratuitously provided by my credit card company

P.S. make sure to get some press on http://insidemacgames.com, I think thats where I originally heard about this game anyway several months ago but they are the premier source for Mac game info both commercial and indie, big and small, hardcore and casual.

nerelas · Post by **nerelas** » November 20th, 2007, 9:58 am

screeg wrote:My only argument with this would be that Spiderweb's games haven't actually improved substantially over the years, or at least not as much as one would expect over such a long term. He just generates loads and loads of content.

You also forgot the third and also very important element of his success: catering to Mac gamers. Basilisk luckily has this covered.

He changes just enough I think, he makes it so it feels like you are in fact playing the same game while on the same hand making numerous improvements all around. Play a bit of one and then go back an iteration of it or two and you can really feel the difference. It's what makes it popular, it's familiar yet still different rather than giving each iteration a complete facelift and change of direction (which could wreck havoc on his business). He does his big changes by doing something different, whether it's re-making the exiles into something new (Avernum) or trying out a new type of setting like with Geneforge.

While massive changes may be necessary or wanted in the mainstream, for an indie developer setting a trend and delivering on one specific slice of gaming pie is what gamers want from them. I don't want spiderweb to suddenly do a 3d first person rpg with heavy combat, I'm glad he sticks with what works.