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Forums - Gaming - Easy Guide to AAA Game Publishing

liquidninja on 03 September 2009
A simplie list of steps you need to think about when publishing a AAA game.
  1. Set massive budget that makes "Titanic" look like "Clerks".
  2. Develop the title for 2-3 years. Leave out local multiplayer. (local multiplayer means gamers can play together without buying separate copies) DRM it to prevent piracy... and used sales.
  3. Engage in massive hype campaign by leveraging advertising relationships with review sites, bribing reviewers/bloggers, and seeding stealth marketers into message boards/comments sections ...oh and purchasing Ad space.
  4. Release Standard Edition alongside Special Edition and optionally Ultra Special Elite Edition.
  5. After about 6 or 9 months (or when hyped sales are almost completely evaporated) mark down the retail price and/or release a Greatest Hits/Platinum Hits Edition.
  6. Start hyping up the sequel. Address some of the complaints about the game design (after you've created more issues to be fixed in the 3rd game.) Ignore any complaints about the DRM or the absence of local multiplayer.
  7. Sell downloadable content of stuff that needed to be in the game to begin with.
  8. If sales and milking don't get you past the “break even” point, license and/or reuse newly built game engine. (if applicable)

 

Guide to AAA game publishing.



  1. Set massive budget that makes Titanic look like Clerks.

  2. Develop game for 2-3 years.

  •  

    • Don't forget DRM (to prevent piracy... and resale)

    • Don't add local multiplayer (if you include local multiplayer gamers won't have to purchase extra copies to play with each other.)

  1. Start development of the Sequel.

  •  

    • Fix some of the issues with the game design while at the same time create more issues to be fixed in the 3rd game.

    • Ignore any complaints about the DRM or the absence of local multiplayer.

  1. Engage in massive hype campaign.

  •  

    • Pay reviewers, Astroturf web forums/comments, and bribe bloggers ...oh and purchase Ad space on Television and gaming sites.

  1. Release game alongside Special Edition and optionally Ultra Special Elite Edition.

  •  

    • $60, $80 and $150 (oh which one will I get? )

  1. After 6 or 9 months mark down the retail price and/or release a Greatest Hits/Platinum Hits Edition.

  •  

    • For about $20, $30 or $40

  1. Sell downloadable content.

  •  

    • Preferably with stuff that needed to be in the game to begin with.

  1. If applicable sell game engine in case the game flops and you need to break even.



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inverted3reality on 03 September 2009

Here's an easier one.

1. Put Halo in the name and make sure it's a shooter with an online component.



SmokedHostage on 03 September 2009

I couldn't disagree with this list more.

Mine would be something like..

1.) Develop a gameplay style that's entertaining and engrossing. You don't need a multi-milion dollar budget to do so. Go thru as many prototypes as you need to.

2.) Develop at your own pace. Polish is important and anything overturned can make or break a game. Also if the gameplay style doesn't lend itself well to multiplayer or online play, don't add it.

3.) Have the game completed about 3 to 6 months before release. This helps especially with delays and gives time for interviews and press conferences to create hype for your title.

4.) Release DLC conversatively. Make your game as complete as possible.

5.) Make preordering worth it. Give free DLC, collector's items,etc. to those who do.

6.) Be creative with advertising; billboards, subways, buildings, and pop-ups.. use them.



Pixel Art can be fun.

susymar on 03 September 2009

10. Put "Wii" in the middle name and finish it with "trainning"
11. Dominate japanese market
12. run away with the money



deathgod33 on 03 September 2009

make a game where you can do things you wouldn't be able to do in real life, due to the lack of social-interaction capabilities

and call it Grand Theft Auto



 

 

 

 

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Riachu on 03 September 2009

Hype it well and advertise it good. Winning formula I might add.



 

http://www.youtube.com/user/InvaderZimGuy1?feature=mhum

psrock on 03 September 2009

MAKE IT A PS3 EXCLUSIVE.



 Next Gen 

11/20/09 04:25 makingmusic476 Warning Other (Your avatar is borderline NSFW. Please keep it for as long as possible.)
elmerion on 03 September 2009

Ask Miyamoto. he knows the truth



Nintendo is the best videogames company ever!

susymar on 03 September 2009

^

Ask me, I know Miyamoto.



Fayceless on 03 September 2009
SmokedHostage said:
I couldn't disagree with this list more.

Mine would be something like..

1.) Develop a gameplay style that's entertaining and engrossing. You don't need a multi-milion dollar budget to do so. Go thru as many prototypes as you need to.

2.) Develop at your own pace. Polish is important and anything overturned can make or break a game. Also if the gameplay style doesn't lend itself well to multiplayer or online play, don't add it.

3.) Have the game completed about 3 to 6 months before release. This helps especially with delays and gives time for interviews and press conferences to create hype for your title.

4.) Release DLC conversatively. Make your game as complete as possible.

5.) Make preordering worth it. Give free DLC, collector's items,etc. to those who do.

6.) Be creative with advertising; billboards, subways, buildings, and pop-ups.. use them.

*wooosh*