When you have a one-of-a-kind idea for a video game, you want to see it fulfilled. But it can be difficult to make a video game, let alone earn from it. Here are a few ideas on how you can go about it.
1. License it to a game company
If you want to license your video game idea to a major video game company, there are a few things you have to do before you can get any sort of deal. First off, you need to know what type of games companies are currently looking for.
This information is readily available online and all you have to do is do a quick search for “game publisher wish lists” or something similar. Once you have your list of publishers, read through each one’s submissions guidelines carefully. Make sure your idea matches what they are looking for exactly.
One common mistake people make is to submit their game idea before it’s completely fleshed out. You should only submit the skeleton of the game and then offer to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before you disclose any more.
Providing just the basic idea and principles behind it without much detail is good enough for most publishers and will save them from having to sign an NDA.
One big thing that companies look for these days is marketability. So, when writing your game proposal, make sure you explain exactly how the game will go about standing out in the market. If there are any possible issues it might have with copyright or trademark infringement, now is the time to address them.
An example of this would be saying something like “There’s no risk of copyright/trademark infringement because our game is unique in that it has this aspect that is different from other similar games.” If you address all the possible issues before they are brought up, then the risk of being rejected because of them is much less.
2. Create a Kickstarter campaign
If you decide to create your video game studio instead of signing with an existing one, then there are some things you have to do before creating a Kickstarter campaign. First off, you need to figure out how much money you need to make the game.
A good way of doing this is by researching similar games that are already on the market and seeing how much they cost to develop. It might also be worth it to speak with an accountant or financial advisor to see if there’s any way you can minimize costs without losing too much in the end.
Another thing you need to do is make sure your game is fully fleshed out before it goes public. The last thing you want is for people to pledge money toward something that might not ever actually exist. You should only run the Kickstarter campaign if you have a clear plan of action and the ability to deliver the product.
Lastly, remember that planning for failure is as important as planning for success. So make sure you always have a contingency plan in place in case something goes wrong or your Kickstarter campaign doesn’t go as planned. Either try running another one or find other ways to get the funding.
3. Consider starting your own game company
So you have a great idea for a video game, but don’t want to sign it away to some big studio with the possibility of never seeing any real money out of it.
What do you do? You can learn everything there is about running your own video game development business and do it yourself. This is a lot harder than licensing your idea of running a Kickstarter campaign, but if you do it right, the rewards can be far greater.
People are often dissuaded from starting their own company because of the risks involved. Risks, like not having any experience with business management and not knowing how to market your game properly, are often pointed out. However, with the number of business and marketing courses available online these days, this has never been easier to learn.
Just like with starting any other business, you should always spend time planning out your video game studio before committing to it fully. You don’t want to spring into action without a clear idea of what you’re doing.
Even if you don’t have the game development skills needed to make your game, there are always other ways you can earn money off of it. For example, outsourcing a game development studio to do the programming part for you or accepting donations toward the game’s development are both great ideas.
Whichever route you decide to go, remember that planning for failure is just as important as planning for success. Make sure you have a clear plan of action and the ability to deliver on what you promise before taking any major steps.
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