In his talk at GDC earlier this year, PR executive Thomas Reisenegger highlighted some of the biggest factors that indie developers need to pay attention to for a succesful launch with both press and palyers. In the video, Reisenegger explains how many different efforts, such as producing a quality launch trailer or knowing the best days to send out press materials, can completely alter the reception an indie game recieves. 

Quality PR is more essential than ever for indie games, and many subtle marketing factors can ultimately make or break a game’s launch. According to Reisenegger, “Just making a good game is just not good enough anymore."

Reisenegger argues that something as simple as knowing how to position a game can have a positive impact on how much interest players and press show in a title. He suggests that developers should aim to sell a story to their audience, rather than focus on selling a game. 

His full talk is packed with explanations of successful indie marketing efforts and data that can show developers exactly how to get the most out of their own PR campaigns. If you weren’t able to see it in person earlier this year, be sure to check out his talk for free over on the official GDC YouTube channel. 

About the GDC Vault

In addition to this presentation, the GDC Vault and its new YouTube channel offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent Game Developers Conference events, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.

Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC, GDC Europe, and GDC Next already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via a GDC Vault subscription page. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the GDC Vault group subscription page. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can contact GDC Vault technical support.

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