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How could I improve my game's page?

A topic by Afloof.dev created Jun 04, 2020 Views: 404 Replies: 9
Viewing posts 1 to 5
Moderator

Hi all,

So I’ve made and released a game a couple of months ago called “Shuffled Nightmares”: https://darkdimension.itch.io/shuffled-nightmares

While making the game I tried to practice graphics, and how to make something that looks at least decent. I still have a long way to go, but now I want to spend some more time on the game’s page.

So far I’ve made something that kinda works, as it looks like it’s part of the game. I’m aware however that it looks very simple and not that interesting. I’ve had some ideas of what to improve, but I’d love to hear ideas.

Any opinion is greatly appreciated!

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Moderator(+1)

Hi GroovyMaster,

Thanks for the feedback! I like the suggestions, especially the idea about the background. I appreciate the help!

Deleted post
(+2)

Hey Dark Dimension. Firstly, congrats on getting the game out the door and live on itch.io - an impressive milestone in itself!

Some very quick notes from me on the page: 

- Find some time to create some core brand elements for your game: your store page should, at a minimum, take advantage of a logo for your game, and a piece of key art which can be used as the header. Match the rest of the page's theme (colour and font) to your brand elements, and you'll have a cohesive looking page which represents your game.

  • Sell the player fantasy. Your page opens with aim and objective of the game. This is great, but doesn't let me know the wider world or theme I'm buying into. Visitors to your page will be attracted to the player-fantasy you're offering first and foremost. What is the experience you're selling? What role do I assume as a player in your game? Am I hitman? Do I raid tombs? Do I explore post-apocalyptic wastelands? I can see from your game that I likely solve puzzles - which is great - but you need to package that up and sell it with a strong theme that gives the game an ownable identity. 
  • Spend some time to really nail the language that communicates what your game is all about. Create a sharp razor - a sentence description which sells the game in as few words as possible, and open with that. Don't force people to work to understand what you're selling; get to the point quickly, then build out from there and layer in the detail. Visuals are an obvious point of focus for store pages, but langauge is really powerful tool which can be overlooked.
  • User text headers to separate content - break your game down, and chunk your page into themed content. Open with an attention grabbing intro that sells the big picture and lays out the premise/player fantasy. Then you could have a header for features, and bullet out the game's key mechanics or points of differentiation. Divvy up your page to make things easier for the viewer on a quick scan. 
  • Let people know where to find out more! If somebody has found their way to your page, you have their attention. Use this moment to promote the game's website (if it has one), your social channels, and where they can find out more. Hustle! :) 

For more on store pages - and Itch-specific advice - there's a section in my book, The Zero-Budget Game Marketing Manual (and there's a free version, too!)

Hope this helps somewhat!

Moderator

Hi SUPERSTRING,

Thanks for taking time and for the valuable feedback! I like your ideas, they will be very useful once I start working on the page. :)

(+1)

You should take notes on this page layout https://finji.itch.io/overland The colours, font style, font size, banner size, screenshots, are so pleasant to look at. 

Moderator

Hi justin485,

The page looks interesting! I can definitely get some ideas from it. Thanks for your time :)

(1 edit) (+1)

I'm really impressed with the game's aesthetics!
You know, I am too making a game here for about a week. I started to make a devlog and I was a little afraid as I didn't actually had the proper time to make the presskit for my game (logo, icons etc). But I wanted to publish the devlog anyways, so I made a really quick and small list of what I wanted the viewers of my page think when they'd look ad the devlog. And one of the main things was: understand the tone and theme of the game. I'm not sure if I nailed it, as I'm really new at all this, but I think it's a good point to start with.

Your game is looking really cool, and I mean it, but I can't really understand what it is about by just looking at your page. I think you could maybe add some gifs instead of still images? Or something that shows that cool square rotating pattern that your game has. I think this would lead people to understand a lot quicker what your game is about without people having to read or watch the video. And the squares turning would be a relly cool adition to your page by itself haha
I don't even know if it's possible, but it'd be really cool if the information would be formed on the game's page just as the puzzles of your game. That's just an idea though haha

BTW, if you want to check my devlog and give me your thoughts into it, I could also use the feedback:
https://slumberjack-studio.itch.io/once-upon-a-witch/devlog/152012/the-birth-of-a-witch

Moderator

Hi Slumberjack Studio,

Thanks for the feedback! I like the idea of showing the boxes somewhere on the page, to show how the game kinda looks like. I haven’t explored the Itch.io ’s support for gifs and other techniques, but sounds like it would be worth it!

I like your devlog, it looks like you know how to write a nice copy for a page (something that I lack still). Your page as a whole looks well done, the only thing I could suggest is for the background, as it looks a little too simple I think. It might benefit from another color, or a slightly different shade?

If you have a thread I’d much rather give you details there, to avoid getting out of topic on this thread :)