Pitching with Killer Demos / Jaroslav Stacevič (Nordcurrent)
A good publishing deal opens doors to the industry for many creators, indie studios, and aspiring developers, but capturing the interest of publishers often requires something truly exceptional. Enter the game demo, your most powerful ally! It's often the first chance you have to impress publishers or investors with your creation. As an up-and-coming game developer, understanding the subtleties of crafting an engaging game demo is vital to grab attention and land that all-important publishing deal. Join me in this talk to explore the essential components of creating a compelling game demo. We'll discuss how to construct a demo that not only captures interest but also conveys the essence of your game, highlights its distinctive features, and leaves a memorable impression on potential publishers. We'll also explore common pitfalls, discuss optimizing your demo to support your pitch deck, and look at examples of successful demo-driven pitches. By the end of this session, you will gain a deeper understanding of the pitching process from a publisher's perspective and be better prepared to attract the attention of potential publishers.
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Pitching with Killer Demos / Jaroslav Stacevič (Nordcurrent)
- 1. PITCHING WITH KILLER DEMOS JAROSLAV STACEVIČ
- 2. WHO’S THIS GUY? • Started as a Game Designer • Over 11 years in games industry • Ex-executive producer at Rovio Entertainment Producer at Nordcurrent and a member of the game review team at Nordcurrent Labs
- 4. Your Game
- 5. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONSTRAINTS YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH?
- 7. HUMAN ATTENTION SPAN IS SHORTER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK 12 SECONDS 8 SECONDS 2000 2022
- 8. - Microsoft
- 9. THE “GOLDILOCKS ZONE” GETTING IT JUUUST RIGHT Get to the point! First impressions are important! Showcase your best features as quickly as you can. Concentrate the essence! Make sure the publisher spends time on what matters, not on figuring out controls or solving technical problems. Internal survey has shown an average best length for the demo to be 15-30 minutes
- 10. VERTICAL SLICE APPROACH A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING Provides a holistic perspective of the game Relies on the “final quality” of layers Realistically very hard to achieve Works well if you already have an actual cake (product).
- 11. “CHERRYPICK” APPROACH JUST THE IMPORTANT BITS Focuses on what makes your product unique Much more achievable Less time-demanding May not represent the final product Works well for pitching product in early stages!
- 13. “WE ARE MAKING A GAME IN THE SOULS-LIKE GENRE”
- 14. The game will be really difficult The game features strong environmental storytelling The game is a 3D action with checkpoints The game has deep and impactful combat system “Oh god, not another one…”
- 15. Image source: uxmag.com • We tend to assume our own preferences and views are shared by those around us. • We often expect others to experience things we experience in a similar way. • We sometimes overestimate how obvious the reasoning behind our decisions is. PROJECTION BIAS WE ARE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT
- 16. PITCH DECK IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR BRIDGING THE PERCEPTION GAP There’s almost always a gap between developer’s understanding of their game and the publisher’s initial perception of it! Pitch deck allows you to bridge that gap by: • Priming the publisher’s perspective • Providing reasoning behind your choices • Acting as a reference and a guide Image source: theguardian.com
- 18. • Ambition is important and valuable. • Ambition needs to be grounded in reality. What you put in your pitch deck is seen as a promise, and it sets expectations for the demo. I’ll make the game of my dreams! TIME TIME BUDGET TIME BUDGET PITCH DECK IS A PROMISE AND IT WILL BE SEEN AS SUCH
- 19. DEMO IS THE PROOF OF YOUR ABILITY TO DELIVER The game vision being pitched The demo being shown
- 20. DEFINE: HOW FAR ARE YOU FROM WHERE YOU AIM TO BE?
- 21. 1. Be honest with yourself and the publisher 2. Analyze the reality of the market 3. Deliver on things that matter
- 23. Courtesy of Black Tower Basement
- 24. FIRST SECONDS UNIQUE STYLE + STORY Courtesy of Black Tower Basement
- 25. FIRST MINUTES COMBAT MECHANICS AND SPELLS Courtesy of Black Tower Basement
- 26. Courtesy of Black Tower Basement
- 27. SOLUTIONS EXPLORED FOR THE PROBLEMS OUTLINED Courtesy of Black Tower Basement
- 28. 1. Harmonize your demo with your pitch deck 2. Keep the size of the demo manageable 3. Focus on the key aspects of your vision 4. Make sure your demo supports your promises 5. Understand your known unknowns 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS AND FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS