Rein
Member
I wonder what the air hockey Minis game's like. I can't find any game trailer videos on the web. Does anyone have a link to a video that shows the air hockey game in action?
This is a common problem with many PSP titles released exclusively to the PSN Store. There's often no info on the games so customers have to search the web and find relevant info and videos themselves. Strange way of trying to sell a product.
volcane
Member
This is a common problem with many PSP titles released exclusively to the PSN Store. There's often no info on the games so customers have to search the web and find relevant info and videos themselves. Strange way of trying to sell a product.
Agreed. There are some publishing teams that bizzarely don't seem to put much effort into marketing their Mini games. Perhaps it's because they don't believe that the likely revenue returns would justify the marketing effort/costs. But surely investing in marketing helps to drive sales doesn't it? And how difficult is it to create a couple of trailer videos and post in a couple of forums anyway? <sigh>
Mind you, there are also plenty of great examples of the more switched on developers who do know what they are doing. FuturLab's awesome teaser campaigns and background development information/interviews, for instance. Or the weapon videos released for Flying Hamster prior to release. Or developers such as StormBASIC, Laughing Jackal, Black Lab Games and others who post details, videos and other information into forums such as this one.
You can tell that developers such as the above are truely committed because they seek input & feedback from the gaming community very early on the production process, which provides beneficial results to everyone.
I just wish all the developers/publishers were as committed to the platform.
volcane
Member
This is a common issue actually in the PC modding community (which reminds me considerably of the Mini platform for some reason). Mod creators tend to be gamers creating free playable content in their spare time, usually as a labour of love. The value of formal marketing isn't always seen as something appropriate (or even known about). Communities such as moddb.com provide help, support & publishing tools to mod makers which is helping to change this preception and to make it simpler for modders to market their creations.
Any homebrew/indie developers out there might want to take note regarding the how the development teams on pspminis.com use the power of marketing to increase sales of their games. I understand that it is hard to cover off everything when you work alone or in a small team, possibly in your spare time. However think of marketing as a way to maximise the sales of your game. By generating excitment prior to release, publicising the game, reaching out to your customers, then you will significantly increase your customer base and earn a respected reputation within the community.
Rein
Member
I never found a video showing the Air Hockey game which makes me wonder whether it's so terrible looking that the developer doesn't want me to see the game before I buy it. In the meantime, I discovered that the ball's power setting in the bowling game is definitely not to my liking (as in making me not want to play the game). It's the same as the default settings in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 where you need to push the analog stick up and down instead of pressing the good old X button in order to gain power. At least in TWPT2010 you could change the control scheme. In Arcade Bowling apparently you can't.
Hey guys - sorry about the lack of a video. To be honest we just never got round to it as we're a small team, and right now we're working on a lot of games.
I'll get a video created in the next couple of days and post details here when it is available.
@Rein - we wanted a nice, tactile control method to get a little closer to a bowling feel rather than the power guage type approach.
Agreed. There are some publishing teams that bizzarely don't seem to put much effort into marketing their Mini games. Perhaps it's because they don't believe that the likely revenue returns would justify the marketing effort/costs. But surely investing in marketing helps to drive sales doesn't it? And how difficult is it to create a couple of trailer videos and post in a couple of forums anyway? <sigh>
A good point. For us it is really early days with self-publishing, and I must admit that personally I am learning as I go along - so from now on I'll make sure we have videos for all games. Believe me that it isn't lack of commitment to the Minis, it is me being fairly clueless with marketing!
Rein
Member
Hi richicon and thanks for the response. It's much appreciated.
Yes, it most certainly helps when game footage and/or trailers are available. I personally feel much more inclined to pick up games when at least *some* kind of game footage is available to me. A game trailer however short might even strengthen the buzz surrounding an upcoming or newly released game. The few images of Arcade Air Hockey & Bowling I've come across actually look quite nice so I'm sure a trailer will only help increasing sales. :)
Speaking of which. After some contemplating I was thinking about the usage of the analog stick in the bowling game. Perhaps I was mixing things together and thinking too much about Tiger Woods PGA Tour gameplay where the analog stick was used for both aiming and shooting at the same time (which felt rather awkward). If the analog stick is only used for power in Arcade Bowling then I might just give this game a go.
You must log in to post.
