What factors are important to commercial games?

[BRIDEA]

What do you consider the most important factors to commercial games?

Good art?
Game-play?
Mini-games?
Story?
Replay value?

[100puro]

First I would say Art. I think its a pretty good start to look at it from a buyer's point of view and go in the order in what they interact with first before buying a game. You want them to become hooked when they first look at it (Art), interested once they read the summary (story), and then piqued by interesting features (endings for replay value, gameplay, mini-games).

However you can have your story be better than your art and still become successful with a commercial game. It's just that you'll have to have decent enough art for someone to go and read the summary to your game and be sold. I will admit though that I'm tempted to buy games just for the art hahahahahahhaa;; Maybe because I myself draw? so that's just my opinion

[kankan]

I'd say 100puro is pretty spot on with that order of hooking, but I'd say the allure of art and plot are going to differ per person. For me, the game would need have to be a good plot. I've seen games with beautiful art, but if I can't get interested in the story, it's a no-buy. But art is still pretty important; without knowing much about the plot, the art's one of the main factors to judge by. Another flag would be characters. If there are too many Mary Sues and Gary Stus to count, that game is getting thrown out the window.

Of course, if we're talking about getting people to actually buy the game, the art and plot premise are going to be the main selling points for me. I can't throw the game out the window until I actually buy and play it...

[dramspringfeald]

Sale ability. If you cant draw peoples attentions then it won't sale. It's that simple.

I've played games that have had all of those and I bet you've never heard of them.

Demographics, Marketing and availability are what sells games NOT who well written, who shinny and how many times you can play it.

[fioricca]

I agree with what's been said! Being a visually-inclined person, artwork/character design is the first thing that catches my attention. In artwork, I look for interesting concepts and an understanding of visual concepts, like colours and composition. Visuals make it easy to determine what the content of the game is like at a glance -- setting, fashion/outfit design, character design, colour palette, etc -- they give a lot of information that can be digested quickly and easily. It's really only after the visuals that I look at plot, features, and, when possible, user reviews. I'm someone who's easily influenced by the reviews that others have given. XD

With Japanese games, the other really important factor I go for is... seiyuu rofl ;; I've bought a few games simply because the seiyuus I love are included in their cast. orz I'm such a tool.

[TheGuraGuraMan]

Sale ability for the start, then the game need to have good points of course if it really wants to be popular, well known don't mean that a lot of people will buy it.

[nyaatrap]

Management and Marketing, and Determination to limit work amount, when to sell, and when to give up.

[Blane Doyle]

In the end everything is important, both to commercial and free games. However, as there is a higher stake with commercial games I think they have a higher set of importance as there is more to loose.

In the end, I feel what is important is not focusing on one singular aspect, or even 3. I feel it is important to just make everything as good as you can and not try to make one thing better than everything else. If it ends up that why by chance, that's fine, but not on purpose.

That said, though, most people do seem to think that the game looking pretty is the most important, because that is what draws people in. Right beside that is gameplay, if it exists. I also put writing, characters, and story here especially for our medium.

By a selling standpoint, your marketing is beside them as well.

[Sharm]

Professionalism. This will mean that all aspects of the VN, from plot to music to advertising will have the extra amount of care and effort put into them to make it worthwhile as a commercial product.

[Carassaurat]

I don't know about others, but I think a built up reputation can go a long way. If you've previously released a free VN that I was very impressed with, I'm infinitely more likely to buy your next, commercial novel, even if it isn't immediately flashy or attractive.

[MarineScripter]

In the end everything is important, both to commercial and free games. However, as there is a higher stake with commercial games I think they have a higher set of importance as there is more to loose.

In the end, I feel what is important is not focusing on one singular aspect, or even 3. I feel it is important to just make everything as good as you can and not try to make one thing better than everything else. If it ends up that why by chance, that's fine, but not on purpose.

Agreed.

Now in my case, I can play a VN with mediocre or even less than stellar artwork if it looks interesting. It may be because I'm a writer myself, but the story is my most important aspect, and that's what I look at with the most scrutiny. As so, there is nothing gained with going full blast on the story and not working hard enough on all, other aspects. Professionalism also plays a key factor.

[100puro]

Mm other people have brought up really good points so I would say that for a commercial game to be successful it just has to match its demographic very well.

People have brought up many things that they themselves feel is the "selling point" in a game whether it be professionalism, art, or story. It depends though if you're selling it to friends, your followers, a fandom, males, or females. That being said if its an otome game, art is a very, very big factor. Girls play to get hot guys. If its a galge art + girl's personality is important... maybe story? (I'm not a big galge player). I have seen though otome games and galge with very compelling storylines but they also usually have good enough artwork to attract a good number of people to try the game. Both of these audiences also do look for professional looking games. I think the only audience that wouldn't care too too much would be people who are already your fans or friends and would forgive you for that sort of thing.

I'm not too sure with the other audiences you could make games for as I am pretty new to this community and am only familiar with the commercially produced Japanese VN's and a few doujin games and a scattering of Western-made games... However as with any product, make sure you're catering to your target demographic, its the way to be successful!

[Friendbot2000]

Simply put, marketing. Social media marketing sells games like hotcakes because we live in an information society now. Create a facebook page for your game, a twitter account, and a blog. Post regularly and get your friends to follow and like you. Also post frequently on related pages such as reviewers, other dev groups, and other games. Posting on these pages will make people curious and get your name out there. Without marketing your game will flop even if you have the best art, story, and gameplay. Marketing is the key to sales plain and simple.

[Destiny]

It has to be presented good and on the right place and with a decent price.

After that the art.
I kind of doubt that anyone would buy a game with a shitty graphic, no matter how great it maybe is.
If it has no glittering graphic, then it should be at least kind of stylized or arranged with Photoshop (or any program with simliar features).

The story...
I be honest, when buying a game, this would come probably last.
Simply, because I will not know more then a summary before actually buying it.

So, after art, I would say, features and theme draw me.
Is it a romance or horror VN? What kind of pairings? Multiple endings? Other features?

[LieselSolo]

First off, I want a long, complex story with lots of branching and endings. I want an idea that appeals to me and some well-developed characters. And music, lots of music. Perks like voices or original songs help, but they're not necessary. Also, some sort of "special" gimmick such Heileen 2's tarot cards or Fatal Hearts's puzzles give me extra excitement, but again it's not necessary. Art's not all THAT important to me, though I always love a gallery of event CGs.

But most of the time the deciding factor on whether or not I buy a game is PRICE. I have almost no money, so I'm careful about what games I buy, and if a game costs too much, I'm not likely to buy it unless it goes on sale or something.