Mike Sviblov, Zeptolab

Who are Publishers and How to Deal With Them

The official conference website — http://wnconf.com
(White Nights Conference Moscow 2018)

Transcript

1. Who are the publishers? And how to work with them...
2. Issues for discussion • How to test the potential of the game as early as possible? • When do you definitely not need a publisher? • What is the right stage of the game to contact the publisher? • How to find a publisher? • How to choose the right publisher? • How can a publisher help? • How can a publisher make harm?
3. How to test the potential of the game as early as possible? • Market analysis (sensortower, appannie, etc.) • Feedback (F&F, meetings, conferences) • Testing (playtests, splitmetrics) • Short development iterations • Analytics services (DevToDev, MixPanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics.) • Soft lunch
4. When do you definitely not need a publisher? • You make a premium game. • You make the game “for yourself” • You have all the competencies to bring the game to market
5. What is the right stage of the game to contact the publisher? • Playable build (vertical slice) • Understandable monetization • Clear gameplay scaling • Metrics (optional) • Not global launch • Not “idea stage”
6. How to find a publisher? • Google :) • Sites for showcases (publisherwanted, adoptmygame,indiedb,yunoia) • Participation in competitions (Indie Prize) • Participation in conferences
7. How to choose the right publisher? • Product compliance with Publisher Profile • Experience in publishing (successful games) • Game Development experience • Strong product expertise • UA and PR experience (including marketing budgets) • Legal transparency
8. How can a publisher help? • Product Expertise • Polishing product • Localization • Quality control • Analytics • Traffic - UA, PR, communication with stores • Help in operating • Training
9. How can a publisher make harm? • Takes part of the profits from the game • Intervenes in development • Take all the credit • Sets the frame
10. Questions? • Mike@zeptolab.com • https://www.facebook.com/sviblov • https://publishing.zeptolab.com