Bob Holtzman’s Post

Are you sick of players scrolling past your #indiegame trailer? Try the 3-second test! Look at just the first 3 seconds of your trailer. Would you stop scrolling? If not, try hooking the viewer in those first 3 seconds. Show the most stand-out moment of your game. Epic boss fight? Stunning visuals? Funny moment? These are all great to hook the viewer. Don't forget to look at your analytics. Many platforms show how long your video retains viewers. This can be handy to compare hooks across multiple trailers. Nail the hook, and you will be well on your way to earning more players and interest for your game!

Are you real...? Is this the first question you would ask your "clone" if it were just standing in front of you? And what next? Would the answers form a logical whole? You can easily find out because we've just dropped #TheAlters demo! https://lnkd.in/dNFhcVaB And of course check out my new trailer which I am extremely proud of! As always with special shout-out to my talented folks at 11 bit studios S.A. We do great! 🚀 #creativedirection #gametrailers #gamedev #gamesmarketing

Ever wondered about the timing of video game trailers? It's not all about building hype (although, obviously, that's a big part of it). From gauging community feedback to attracting top talent, there are some surprising reasons why game developers launch trailers early in the development process. This insightful article from Keywords Studios uncovers the secrets behind the strategy #gamedev #videogames #marketingstrategy Big Farmer

I don't wanna say that there's a lot to unpack here (because that's such a liberal-millenial combination of words BTW), but there is. IMHO, this is NOT how great games are made (those Market Research and Monetization parts lowkey make me wanna gouge my eyes out). I'd go the extra mile and say that this thinking towards making video games (or any form of entertainment) misses the point and rips away the soul. It's always ***very circumstantial***, since you can't really predict what people want like they're just statistics. People's preferences and tastes are NOT statistics. Additionally, the "perfect game idea" isn't guaranteed to translate well into an actual game. Though DEI and anti-consumerism are certainly what people DON'T want judging by how the last few years in gaming have gone by, that's for sure. Whatever you propose, NEVER have "Don't like it, don't buy it" in your vocabulary. Besides, even if you do plan out a game idea, you have to still actually CREATE the game. What matters at the end of the day are that the games, not the ideas. Also, the fact that live-service games that have lasted a long time and gacha games exist already prove the opposite of OP, that "successful games" aren't always made with "good game ideas." Not even making a game is a guarantee for success; it has to be a "good game" (either genuinely or at least with caveats that could be ignored until they're too late to fix, which by then you should have made your money).

Hello, take a look at the first teaser of a game I'm developing. I'm looking for investment to develop this horror game. if you're interest, please contact me and I will give you more information. #investment #opportunity #game #gamereveal #ue5 #blender #conceptart #videogame #partnership #indiegame #angelinvestor

I posted this yesterday, but I'm reposting a better, straight-to-the-source link. Surprisingly, for this time of the year (in my experience), I've been having some interviews here and there, and sometimes I have difficulty explaining the way I see my role to interviewers until now. This graphic translates beautifully to what I think should be our role as concept artists because, unlike what tons of people seem to believe, it's not only about creating cool art. That cool art, in my opinion, should be conceived considering what your team can actually and realistically produce, what players really want (and being able to future proof for time of release), which then would lead to future profit because, let's be honest, at the end of the day we all need a profit that would justify our fees, salaries, and raises. This is why having close conversations with the rest of the team, not only ADs and other supervisors, is most important. If we as creators don't have at least something close to a clear vision of the product, we risk creating content that won't be necessarily effective. Also, if you design what's already cool, then you're behind the curve. At this point you're following the market, and like with stocks, never follow the market. To achieve this, you need to create your own secret crystal ball sauce, and that takes both time and experience. I know, I know, I've said this before, but now I have this graphic that portrays really nicely the whole concept in a most efficient way! Have a fantastic way and keep on drawing! -H

Another very interesting article on the topic of validation and different approaches on how to do it. Ultimately it's your future players that will decide whether or not your game resonates well with them. So why not involve them in the process? We've experienced the upsides first-hand. There's so much untapped potential to be unlocked by working with continuous, unbiased, playtesting and market validation as a core part of your game projects. And this is not something you do a month before the game is about to be released but rather as soon as there's something to push play on. https://lnkd.in/dHC6YTkA

How to Find the Perfect Game Idea Spoiler: It's not just about having a 'cool concept'. It’s about aligning key areas: • Fun Concept – A 'toy' that’s enjoyable to play • Team Expertise – A project your team is capable of building successfully • Players' Demand – Gameplay that players want and are excited to play • Monetization Potential – A genre with the potential to generate profit True success lies at the intersection of all four. Hit that sweet spot, and you’ve got your next big game idea.

Some good insight here.