¶ The Game Pre-Release Checklist
As game developers we know you just want to make the cool, creative and exciting games that you do, however this is, and has always been, just one part of the game dev equation.
To maximise your games success, driving awareness and visibilty by building an audience has never been a more important part of the process.
¶ Share your Game Dev Journey
Building fans and an audience outside the platform is a great way for potential players to get excited about your next game. Imagine teasing video's of what your game will be about and why people will want to play it the moment it's released. The goal is to make them care enough to come and play.
Ever seen a trailer for a new game or movie that got you excited for the release? Well, this is no different for your games!
Why not share some screenshots for your upcoming game to generate a buzz and excitement.
Just imagine 1000+ players coming in your game to moment it goes live!
¶ Share your Work in Progress
PRO TIP: Share some "work in progress" teasers on our Discord Server.
Video's typically perform best and attract more engagement.
In the sea of games and social media fighting for peoples attention, it's the game developers who put the effort into this that will typically rise to the top, coupled with a great game of course!
You want to players to come to your games and play, for them to have fun in the experience you've created for them. It will be hard in the beginning, but every Social Media Influencer, every Youtube Star and every Game Company all started out with 0 followers.
¶ In Game Opportunities
¶ Using the Social Action Node
The Social Action Node can be a super powerful for social engagement with your games.
The Social Action node allows you to show a popup that encourages the players to share the game or follow the creator.
You can also prompt them to leave a comment or can even show your games leaderboard during game play.
But this is just the beginning. If you really want to take this to the next level, consider gifting some of your in-game currency for the various sharing options now available, aka rewarding players to be your marketing machine.
Here's some ideas:
- Earn "X" in-game currency for sharing this game.
- Get "X" in-game currency for following me!
- Receive "X" in-game currency for leaving a comment.
- Join the Game Group to get "X" in-game currency.
Remember, all of this can be done without leaving your game so there's no friction and need for your players to do these actions from the feed view.
¶ Use the Visibility Node
The Visibility node in essence can be used to show or hide objects in your game. This allows you to create custom “views” in your game and create bespoke “scenes” or “logo’s” that are shown to potential players in the game feed.
¶ How to Use the Visibility Node
When hiding an object, you can also choose to disable its physics which also means its visibility can be based on different gameplay states.
For example, this allows you to create objects that can only be visible during the game preview, making it a fantastic solution for custom or when the game ends.
¶ Visibility Node Example
Here’s a really good example of the visibility node in action using custom scenes to sell the games appeal.
¶ Mastering the HypeHype Basics
We know how exciting it is to finally finish the initial version of your game however, before your press that post button, here's some things to remember before and look at.
To put your best foot forward and have your game found and discovered by players. Here are some tips for gaining maximun visibility on the HypeHype platform.
¶ Game Name
Choosing the perfect name for your game can go a long way to set the tone and expectations for your players. It can also impact its visibility and discoverability.
Your game's name is often the first thing potential players see. It creates an initial impression that can either entice them to learn more or cause them to scroll past.
Including relevant keywords in your name can also help your game rank higher in search results, making it easier for players to find.
Lastly, a catchy, descriptive and memorable name makes it easier for players to remember your game and recommend it to others. This is essential for organic growth and word-of-mouth marketing.
Most of all, your game's name contributes to its overall brand identity and should reflect the game's theme, genre. Exact and partial matches in your game titles is also given more weight in platform searches.
¶ Game Description
In your games description, write a short and clear explanation of what your game is and why potential players might want to play. Consider some fancy marketing strapline too that really sells the experience
For instance, a game about fishing could look something like this:
Hook, line, and victory: become the ultimate angler.
A game about adventuring could look something like this:
Your journey begins now, where your choices shape the world.
Relevant Keywords in the description also receive higher relevance scores in platform searches.
¶ Use relevant hashtags
As with most other social media platforms, we use hashtags to categorize your games, making it easier for users to find games related to a specific game theme or mechanic they are searching for.
Some examples of this could be #obby, #racing or #adventure.
When players are searching for a particular game, make sure you’re in with a chance of catching the audience that will be best suited to your game.
On social media specifically, this can be especially important.
¶ Create Converting Thumbnails
Your game's thumbnail will be displayed inside HypeHype in several different ways. You’ll see them in the "For You feed", on the "Explore page", in your "Profile" or by "Searching".
¶ Thumbnail Examples
Here's 3 different styles of thumbnails that are currently performing well:
- Custom Logo for Branding
- Instructional providing context
- Sense of Movement
It will of course depend on the type of game, but think about how you can best convey your games vibe and feel.
Currently, there’s a trend of using AI tools to generate thumbnails. These do tend to be high quality and look nice, however, there's a danger that players will be confused, even disappointed, when your game looks nothing like the image, so please be cautious when using this method.
We typically recommend using HypeHype's in app tools to capture an screenshot with your in-game content. This ensures it's clear to see an accurate representation of your game. However, there's no need to stop there.
It's easy to upload your own custom thumbnails and add some extras to enhance the appeal to your thumbnail.
¶ Choosing Categories
Choosing categories is a way to ensure players can find your game in the relevant sections of HypeHype.
You can select only 3 so it's best to think about what is the most logical category that your game should appear in and how that matches to your games expectations.
¶ Related Topics
Appeal and Marketability Creator Digest Stats Page Playtime Stats Retention Page Performance Stats