How to Make and Self-Publish a Game in 12 Months

Takeaways

• 😀 Be mindful of the sales 'tail' after launch: Consider DLC, sales, and community engagement to keep the momentum going.
• 😀 DLC can be impactful by raising the base level of sales, not just providing a temporary bump.
• 😀 Running sales during slow months with fewer competing promotions can lead to strong sales months.
• 😀 Ads perform better when there is an urgency or new content to promote, such as discounts or new features.
• 😀 Consistency in your ad messaging is crucial – align it with your game’s tone and voice.
• 😀 Player reviews and ratings significantly influence your sales, especially when you maintain a mostly positive score.
• 😀 Simple additions, like trading cards, can positively impact community engagement, even if they don’t directly boost sales.
• 😀 Localization into other languages (e.g., German, French) can have a significant impact on sales in those regions.
• 😀 Developing a second game allows you to refine your process and tackle bigger features, but urgency should remain a priority.
• 😀 Bootstrapping your game development can provide creative freedom, but requires careful long-term planning and savings.
• 😀 Networking and leveraging personal contacts can help you find talented contractors for roles like art creation.