Tips/Help for Releasing Completed Game- Guidance from vets?

[Kate]

I have some major questions about releasing a completed game that I was hoping some more experienced programmers/writers/retailers would answer.

*I'm using Ren'Py alone for the creation, I'm not proficient with programming any other way.*

-The conditions for my game are that I'm writing it all, purchasing art w/ rights from an artist, and going to use either public domain or personally created music for the game- essentially all original/royalty-free content. How do I secure copyright for these things, especially if I decide to sell a full version of the game? Is there a bunch of legal stuff to do or file, or is it just automatic if you put the copyright symbol? (Pardon if it's a silly question)

-Also, is releasing one whole route free (out of 7) a good marketing strategy to allow others to test the game before buying? Or is teasing with half of a route or less better?

-I'm programming on a Mac. How do I release a windows/other compatible version? How do I include the files needed to run it with the file, for example, ren'py, if the users don't have it?
***(SIDE NOTE: I tried playing really old downloads from the older game recommendations in the forum, and some say they cannot be opened because PowerPC applications are no longer supported???)***
----Should I just use a Windows computer and transfer my programming over for it? Or does it just matter which version of Ren'py I use (the mac or windows version)..?

-What is a reliable service to use with selling a game? Like, linking to paypal, or another service? Or going through Amazon with cd-rom (I know that's ancient, but seriously.)

-Some people post play-throughs on Youtube. Is it better exposure to allow them to be posted (like is typically accepted in Japan), or better for sales to hound them and have copyright-infringing playthroughs taken down (American-style copyright enforcement...oh, 'Murica...)? I don't mind people posting text-only guides, I would be willing to post one on a site anyway. I would just like some opinions on this.

-Finally: How many test players should be used ideally to make sure commercial projects are ready?


And I'd love any other tips veteran game-makers have to offer. There are many of us newer ones out here who are unsure how to get our finished projects out there.

[Aurélie]

Props to you for detailing all your queries before releasing your game. I'll answer what I can!

+ Is releasing one whole route free (out of 7) a good marketing strategy to allow others to test the game before buying? Or is teasing with half of a route or less better?

This definitely depends on how the routes in your game work. Can you choose who you're romancing right off the bat and then the playthrough splits off into just that route? If so, I'm not entirely sure how you'd demo that. Are you planning on selling each route individually á la iPhone dating games, or is it one game with seven routes?

If you don't immediately choose your romance and you plan on selling the game as a whole, I think that making the demo about 10-20% or so of the game is a good idea. Just enough for the player to meet the main character and all the romance options, and to see the quality of writing and art.

+ I'm programming on a Mac. How do I release a windows/other compatible version? Should I just use a Windows computer and transfer my programming over for it? Or does it just matter which version of Ren'py I use (the mac or windows version)..?

Off the top of my head I'm pretty sure that when you're packaging the game, you have the option to package it with all the file variations that Windows, Mac and Linux would need. So you can basically release a single file across all platforms. It doesn't matter what OS you're programming on.

+ What is a reliable service to use with selling a game? Like, linking to paypal, or another service? Or going through Amazon with cd-rom (I know that's ancient, but seriously.)

The best thing to do tax-wise and effort-wise is to use a payment processor. Payment processors take a cut of your earnings but are the most secure option. BMT Micro is popular, but I'm not sure what their fees are. Gumroad takes 5% + 25 cents. With Gumroad you can let people pay what they want, with a set minimum price.

+ Some people post play-throughs on Youtube. Is it better exposure to allow them to be posted (like is typically accepted in Japan), or better for sales to hound them and have copyright-infringing playthroughs taken down (American-style copyright enforcement...oh, 'Murica...)? I don't mind people posting text-only guides, I would be willing to post one on a site anyway. I would just like some opinions on this.

As a fan of "Let's Play"s, I think it's very, very good exposure. It shows a person enjoying a game, and playing their own side of it. LPs usually only play one route, so it wouldn't ruin your game for potential buyers. They'd see the art/writing quality on the route they wouldn't have picked personally and they'll go "but who is that character? What are they like?".

+ How many test players should be used ideally to make sure commercial projects are ready?

Not a clue. But I'd say get as many friends of yours on board as you can, for a start. I shouldn't think you'd need more than three or four dedicated playtesters, depending on how branching your game is.

[PyTom]

-I'm programming on a Mac. How do I release a windows/other compatible version? How do I include the files needed to run it with the file, for example, ren'py, if the users don't have it?

When you choose "Build Distributions" from the Ren'Py launcher, Ren'Py will build Windows, Mac, and Linux-specific distributions, or else a distribution for all 3 platforms, depending on what you ask for. These are archives (zip or .tar.bz2, as appropriate) that contain all of the files needed to run a game on the platforms - Ren'Py is not needed on the end-users machine, as a copy is included as part of your game.

[Tyrantauranox]

I think it'd be better to show a slice of the whole game in the demo, rather than locking to one route.