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Whenever I find something interesting on steam I don't even watch steam videos/screenshots. 90% of the time they are just cinematic trailers and promotional images, many games don't feature actual gameplay videos or even actual in-game screenshots with visible UI, there no reason to read steam store page except for reviews. I instantly alt-tab into youtube and search for raw gameplay video of a game.
That's what the video explain actually...
People don't want to see beautiful scenery and CG, they want to see UI, gameplay, they want to know exactly what kind of game is this and if it's similar to the kind of games they like.
The video also explains that NOBODY reads the long description, and people skim through the short description.
Indie developers underestimate the importance of out of game art in selling and promoting a game.
To exemplify, I'll compare two relatively unknown Metroidvania indies on Steam. One got 211 reviews, the other one got 8 reviews. So one is clearly a total flop, the other one got at least some attention.
This is Citadale The Legends Trilogy:
Look at that beautiful pixel art. The game looks really nice!
BUT here's the image the Steam user is greeted by when browsing the Metroidvania tags:
It's ugly, it's unappealing. It's not representative of the game's art direction. But most importantly it doesn't evoke Castlevania. The character art style, the font on the name, it all screams shitty low effort RPG Maker game.
Now lets have a look at Skautfold Usurper:
Pixel art characters (probably generated from low poly 3D models) are ugly and clash with the background art style. Doesn't look look like Castlevania nearly as much as Citadale.
BUT check out the game's header icon:
You have one look at this and you know what the game is going for. This is Castlevania. It's a Castlevania type game. You like Castlevania? You like SotN? Click HERE.
Which one do you think got 8 reviews and which one got 211? Is the total flop the game that looks just like Castlevania but has a shitty looking header icon or is it the one that has a cool header icon but is a worse looking game?
If the user doesn't click on the header, they won't even see a screenshot.
PompiPompi you should show what appeals to the audience that would want to buy your game.
I took a quick look at the Steam page you liked and it seems to me like your game is a Mystery Dungeon style roguelike. Now, the first trailer on the page shows character creation, then dialogue with a NPC, then dungeon exploration, then combat. This to me is completely backwards.
The meat of this kind of game is combat, so that is what you should show first. It's the Mystery Dungeon style combat that immediately informs the user what kind of game this is. I would make sure to show 2 or 3 combat moments with different enemies in different levels of the game, making sure to showcase different combat actions (melee, magic, ranged, for example). Then show exploration, then NPC dialogue, then character creation, then more combat to drive home the point.
Protagonist, treasure chest, lava pit, npcs, enemy. It's covering a bunch of game elements.
Two playable characters? Co op? Fantasy setting (sword, strange magic looking jewel). Pixel art logo, probably pixel art game.
Cast of playable characters all get the same screen real estate. Japanese setting. Japanese Artstyle. Japanese name. Weabo magnet right here.
PompiPompi your header has a logo and a dungeon seen in first person, no enemies or protagonist on sight. Add a hero with a sword and a few monsters (skeleton and blob?) behind the logo. Also, the logo doesn't need that much space and doesn't need to be in the middle. It's not like your game has brand recognition, so the name is far less important than the theme (fantasy, dungeon, monsters, sword, magic, etc.).
Indie developers underestimate the importance of out of game art in selling and promoting a game.
To exemplify, I'll compare two relatively unknown Metroidvania indies on Steam. One got 211 reviews, the other one got 8 reviews. So one is clearly a total flop, the other one got at least some attention.
This is Citadale The Legends Trilogy:
Look at that beautiful pixel art. The game looks really nice!
BUT here's the image the Steam user is greeted by when browsing the Metroidvania tags:
It's ugly, it's unappealing. It's not representative of the game's art direction. But most importantly it doesn't evoke Castlevania. The character art style, the font on the name, it all screams shitty low effort RPG Maker game.
Now lets have a look at Skautfold Usurper:
Pixel art characters (probably generated from low poly 3D models) are ugly and clash with the background art style. Doesn't look look like Castlevania nearly as much as Citadale.
BUT check out the game's header icon:
You have one look at this and you know what the game is going for. This is Castlevania. It's a Castlevania type game. You like Castlevania? You like SotN? Click HERE.
Which one do you think got 8 reviews and which one got 211? Is the total flop the game that looks just like Castlevania but has a shitty looking header icon or is it the one that has a cool header icon but is a worse looking game?
If the user doesn't click on the header, they won't even see a screenshot.
Usurper looks infinitely better, what did you smoke?
Your point is valid, though, having an appealing header is capital to find an audience on Steam.
But... it's almost like the (probably single dev and not a dedicated) artist who made the shitty graphics of Citadale couldn't make a good image either. So... the image isn't lying about the content.
Ditch the background, or at least add something to it. Maybe a monster in shadows.
I like the logo, but it really screams old-school punk ethos to me. If that's not what you're going for, you might want to change that too.
I am developing a Steam game called Golden Fall 2. It's an RPG game, with a rogue like battle mechanics.
I am adding more and more content, I am thinking of having 20 levels.
The question is... what should I expose in the trailer and screenshots.
The best parts are also the parts you want to be a surprise to the player.
So how do I choose what to expose the potential player to in the trailer and screenshots?
Do you mind if the important parts are revealed? As you won't remember most of it when reaching that place in the game?
What is a good store page/trailer/screnshots for a game as a player?
I know that as a developer, it might be better to make a sale rather than always 100% pleasing the player, but what do you think an RPG developer should do?
Make sure you first build your community on twitter. It's a slow and steady process, but it pays-off.
Also, screw screenshots. MAKE SHITLOAD OF GIFS. And post them on a daily basis on twitter. When you get a lot of likes and RTs for a few of them, post those (the best ones) on Reddit.
Ask for feedback, communicate with people and be consistent.
When you have enough feedback on WHAT people love the best about your game, THEN make the first trailer.
I am developing a Steam game called Golden Fall 2. It's an RPG game, with a rogue like battle mechanics.
I am adding more and more content, I am thinking of having 20 levels.
The question is... what should I expose in the trailer and screenshots.
The best parts are also the parts you want to be a surprise to the player.
So how do I choose what to expose the potential player to in the trailer and screenshots?
Do you mind if the important parts are revealed? As you won't remember most of it when reaching that place in the game?
What is a good store page/trailer/screnshots for a game as a player?
I know that as a developer, it might be better to make a sale rather than always 100% pleasing the player, but what do you think an RPG developer should do?
Make sure you first build your community on twitter. It's a slow and steady process, but it pays-off.
Also, screw screenshots. MAKE SHITLOAD OF GIFS. And post them on a daily basis on twitter. When you get a lot of likes and RTs for a few of them, post those (the best ones) on Reddit.
Ask for feedback, communicate with people and be consistent.
When you have enough feedback on WHAT people love the best about your game, THEN make the first trailer.
I am developing a Steam game called Golden Fall 2. It's an RPG game, with a rogue like battle mechanics.
I am adding more and more content, I am thinking of having 20 levels.
The question is... what should I expose in the trailer and screenshots.
The best parts are also the parts you want to be a surprise to the player.
So how do I choose what to expose the potential player to in the trailer and screenshots?
Do you mind if the important parts are revealed? As you won't remember most of it when reaching that place in the game?
What is a good store page/trailer/screnshots for a game as a player?
I know that as a developer, it might be better to make a sale rather than always 100% pleasing the player, but what do you think an RPG developer should do?
Make sure you first build your community on twitter. It's a slow and steady process, but it pays-off.
Also, screw screenshots. MAKE SHITLOAD OF GIFS. And post them on a daily basis on twitter. When you get a lot of likes and RTs for a few of them, post those (the best ones) on Reddit.
Ask for feedback, communicate with people and be consistent.
When you have enough feedback on WHAT people love the best about your game, THEN make the first trailer.
