A fresh and bright-eyed team of game developers, artists, writers, and other specialists always encounters the same problem: money. They might still juggle their full-time jobs to support themselves and attempt to keep all work in-house to avoid expenses for freelancers or other external help.
However, crowdfunding has become a true salvation for indie game creators, allowing them to feel more at ease and work on their game with fewer limitations. Yet, not every campaign brings in enough or generates the buzz the team initially expects. So, how can you ensure that your crowdfunding campaign is a success, and it also works in favor of your marketing strategy?
Why game teams should consider crowdfunding
Scoring big investors for any indie game team or company is a struggle. Crowdfunding via platforms like Fig or Kickstarter lets anyone contribute to your capital and game development progress. In addition to random, enthusiastic supporters, such campaigns put your game on the map and could even help larger investors notice your initiative.
So, even if you do not hit your goal, running a crowdfunding campaign cannot hurt your game (unless you expect too much or don’t prepare your game assets to present your title in the most appealing way).
Of course, you might be doing extra work to generate capital for your game, such as the option to earn with specific tasks. Such get-paid-to websites like JumpTask could contribute to your game capital, and they also pay you for testing other games, which could serve you in your market research.
What games do best with crowdfunding?
Generally, crowdfunding is best suited for games that offer something new in gameplay, mechanics, or other areas. However, creators who take inspiration from older titles and aim to give them a fresh look can also trigger much attention. Of course, any game can do well with crowdfunding if you manage to spread it among communities that get invested in having the chance to play it. After all, no one will donate to a game they wouldn’t want to try themselves.
Besides the general idea and genre, games that already have plenty of assets and are playable tend to have an easier time convincing people to donate.
What does your crowdfunding campaign need?
Any game crowdfunding campaign must have the following elements:
- Plenty of appealing game assets, such as trailers, screenshots, engaging descriptions, and stories.
- If possible, share a demo that interested supporters can try (even if it is minimal).
- A game trailer should immediately showcase your game’s strengths: it should start and end on a strong note.Â
- It should reach your target audiences, meaning you should have an idea of who they are.Â
- Introducing your team in a brief yet captivating manner is also an excellent idea, as it helps potential supporters connect and open their wallets faster.
- Consider offering perks to your supporters, such as merch or elevated access to your game and its development journey.Â
How to set a realistic donation goal
The rule for setting your donation goal is to ask for the minimal amount you need, not the maximum funds you would like to receive. In fact, your sponsors should also be aware of where you intend to spend your funds. For example, you might make it clear that you need to hire additional artists or invest in professional QA specialists.
Keep updating your community
Throughout the entire crowdfunding campaign and beyond, you should stay in close contact with your supporters. That usually means being active on social media, showing appreciation for donations, and keeping people informed of the latest developments. Developers promoting online multiplayer projects often also use a gaming VPN to test how their game performs for players in different regions and to better understand server-related issues before launch.
The dangers of offering a demo
A demo is an excellent addition to your crowdfunding campaign, but it also has its risks. As with the trailer, you must consider the most effective way to showcase your game, its mechanics, and the overall atmosphere. You need to carefully investigate your game’s selling point and how best to showcase it to your potential supporters.
Conclusion
Overall, crowdfunding is a stepping stone to your game’s success, but even if your campaign ends, it’s only the beginning of the rest of your journey. After all, you also have the responsibility to fulfill your promises and to use the newly received funds to support your development. So, prepare the best pitch possible, and hope that communities respond to your idea!
