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How much to reveal?

posted in A Keyboard and the Truth for project 96 Mill
Published September 08, 2005
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So I am making the site, and I am trying to decide how much to reveal.

On one end of the spectrum:

I could lay it all out on the table, images of all the different characters and enemies, thier names, what they do, etc.

All the places you can visit, so on and so forth.

The Good: People would know how much is in the game
The Bad: People won't have any big suprises


And on the other end of the spectrum:

I list very little, only the main characters, and ommiting the final boss, and being very short and mysterious about what they do. And only cover the coarse places you can go, with no big details.

The Good: People will have lots of suprises and discoveries in-game

The Bad: People may think there is nothing worth doing in the game, and not buy it.



So what do you think? I need some serious feedback, this is a massive decision =/
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0 likes 5 comments

Comments

noaktree
Quote: I list very little, only the main characters, and ommiting the final boss, and being very short and mysterious about what they do. And only cover the coarse places you can go, with no big details.
This is good. Then you could start rumors and leak info on other sites. Have multiple external game reviews done about it (make some yourself) since that's where people are going to decide if it's good or not. People will buy something if they think everyone else is. You've got to get people talking about it. What's your marketing strategy? Do you have official artwork people can use for fan sites, etc?
September 08, 2005 10:29 AM
johnhattan
More screenshots = better

As long as you're not revealing a line of dialogue or something that spoils the entire plot. . .

"Darth Vader: Luke, I am your father!"

Show away. Screenshots sell a game for me. If I'm turned off by the screenshots, I probably won't download the game.
September 08, 2005 11:02 AM
ildave1
Hmm.

I vouch for a tease effect of some sort. That always draws curiosity in my view.

For example.

Show off Pictures of the main characters, show a couple evil characters and then just fade/black the real ugly guys. ;]

Show off perhaps a -section- of a couple of maps and let others fill in the rest.

Show off a couple of runes and present an effect that you get for combining them.

I dont know, Just thinking off of the top of my head here. I dont advise giving the entire thing out on the table, or people will have the game beaten without even playing it. ;o)


September 08, 2005 01:53 PM
dgreen02
Yea, I wouldn't give it all away on the first date. I'd give them just enough information about the game to peak their interest.

I'd go with a combination of your two listed options, maybe give one example of each "type" of character, item, etc. Maybe use mostly concept art when showing the characters you'll interact with?

I checked out the demo, looks very polished.

- Dan
September 08, 2005 02:46 PM
superpig
I agree with ildave as far as characters are concerned - showing the later characters in silhouette with a question mark over them and extremely vague descriptive text or something.
September 09, 2005 03:00 AM
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