Tag Archives: marketing

Champagne Supanova

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My business trip to Australia is winding down! By this time next week, I’ll be home on the frosty mean streets of Hoboken, and Where Shadows Slumber will be available on Google Play. That’s quite a change from the hot, humid, Android-less weather here in Brisbane.

I’ve enjoyed my time away from the U.S., and I can safely say the Where Shadows Slumber “World” Tour was an official success. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to the past two weeks, as well as a look ahead at our next event.

 

Double Supanova In The Sky

From November 2nd to the 4th, I attended Supanova Adelaide. From Nov. 9th to the 11th, I was at Supanova Brisbane. Although the events are part of a series, they felt quite different. Both of them were comic conventions, but Brisbane was much more heavily attended and my table was in a much better location. Even so, both gave me the opportunity to expose Where Shadows Slumber to an audience that otherwise would have never heard of the game. Some people even bought the game on their iPhones right in front of me!

I’m very glad I went – not just because I got to see two beautiful Australian cities, but because it was a chance to bring a bit of joy and mystery into people’s lives. If I had the chance to go to another Supanova, I might dress the booth up a bit different to match the “comic con” theme. But it was still totally worth it! Look out Supanova Gold Coast…

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As always, the best part of these conventions is getting chummy with the artists to your left and right. Go support Keelan over at Killustrate (Keelan + Illustrates, he’s not a murderer) by buying some of his cool hand painted artwork! These are not made in photoshop, they’re actually painted and then digitally scanned! Keelan was next to me at Supanova Adelaide, and he’s totally not a bogan so go buy his stuff.

Then, if you’re feeling lucky, grab yourself a replica Ace of Spades from Halifax. I met the whole team at Supanova Brisbane, and got a chance to hold the weapons myself. They feel great in your hand, and you can even paint them yourself if you buy the kit version. Plus, if you’re not a Destiny fan, they’re working on a whole bunch of new guns from classic series like Halo and Devil May Cry. Go vote in their Instagram poll to make your voice heard!

I want to thank everyone I met at these conventions, dealers and customers alike. Everyone made me feel very welcome in this foreign land, and I’m so glad you’re all running around with Where Shadows Slumber pins on your bags now, hehehe. Hope to see you again next time I’m in Australia!

 

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Going To Gameacon?

Gameacon NYC is this weekend at the Resorts World Casino in New York City, which I believe is in Queens. Gameacon was one of the first shows we ever did, though we went to the Atlantic City version. The show has since expanded to NYC and Las Vegas. It’s hard to justify the trip out to some of these places, but since this Gameacon is in our backyard it was hard to say no. Plus, the event manager took $50 off our price since we’re alumni!

Sadly, I’ll be in Australia during this show and Jack will be away. Fortunately, Alba and Noah, our talented audio duo, are here to save the day!

Thanks to Alba and Noah for filling in here – if you’re going to Gameacon, be sure to say hello. And if you’re looking for two awesome freelance composers to bring onto your team, show them your game… I’m sure PHÖZ is looking for a chance at their next masterpiece!

 

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One Week Until Android Launches!

We have just seven days until our global (sans China) release of Where Shadows Slumber on Google Play, so we’re both excited and a bit terrified. Everything that could have possibly gone wrong with our iOS release went wrong, so I have no idea what to expect. This is either going to go really smooth, or go terribly wrong in unimaginable ways. In either case, download the beta for free right now so you can fill us in on any problems you’ve experienced!

If anyone knows how Google Play’s stupid promo code system works, please email me at contact@GameRevenant, comment below, DM me on Twitter @GameRevenant, or throw a brick at my head with a note attached to it. I sent a code to Robert Adams of TechRaptor, and it didn’t work! This poor man has been dying to play the game since Play NYC 2017. He must think I’m trolling him. But apparently Google Play’s promo codes don’t work if your game is unreleased. We may need to go into some kind of Closed Beta just so journalists can play the game a few days early.

We’re also preparing for an Amazon launch, which is basically Android with a different online marketplace. Diligent readers of this blog will remember that we won a Developer Spotlight Feature Thing on the Amazon App Store at last year’s Mobile Games Forum at the end of October 2017. Sadly, the contacts I had for that prize have dropped off the face of the Earth, so this week I’ll be doing a little investigating. If we’re not on your Kindle by November 20th, it’s because we’re waiting for a promotion from Amazon.

Keep your chin up, Android users! We’re in the home stretch. Soon, you’ll be able to taste sweet shadowy goodness. In the meantime, tell your friends about the game, download the beta, download the beta, tell your friends about the game, and download the beta!

It’s only a matter of time now.

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available on the App Store! bit.ly/WSS-iOS

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

Happy Halloween! Get Where Shadows Slumber for Only $1.99!

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Today’s blog post will be brief, as I am headed out the door in a few moments for a three-week excursion to Australia. While I’m there, I’ll be showing off Where Shadows Slumber at Supanova Adelaide and Supanova Brisbane as Jack toils away in the Android mines back home here in Hoboken.

If you’re on our email list, you’ll get a more detailed roundup of all the Where Shadows Slumber news your heart can take in a few hours. But for now, feast your eyes on two glorious pieces of news: our awesome Halloween trailer and our awesome Halloween sale!

 

Our Game Is Just $1.99 For Halloween!

Check out the trailer above! We didn’t just do it because we love Halloween – it’s because Where Shadows Slumber is available at a special price for just a few more days. If you purchase the game on the App Store before Halloween ends, you’ll save $3! After Halloween, the game returns to its original price of $4.99. It’s a steal! (But not a trick) So grab it while you can…

(You can watch the trailer on YouTube here)

 

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We’re Coming to Android November 20th

After the darkness of Halloween, comes the light of the sun – our game is coming to Android toward the end of November! There’s a more formal announcement to follow at the end of the week, but as a reward for reading our blog, we thought we’d let you all know first.

Mark your Calendars, charge your Androids, and throw your Kindles out the window (kidding, kidding) because Where Shadows Slumber launches on Google Play on November 20th!

Don’t forget to try the free beta on your device first to make sure the game runs smoothly. Over 25 people have responded to our survey, and currently 3,500 people are “in the program” on Google Play. We’re capped at 5,000, so get in there while you can! It fills up a bit more each day, so I can’t guarantee your spot. Thanks to those of you who have already helped us crush some Android bugs!

 

 

Upvote Us On Reddit!

We’re enlisting you, the blog army, in one small task… please go to the posts linked below on Reddit and upvote them! It only takes a second, but it will keep our post on the front page of these respective pages and allow people to see our game.

/r/MobileGames
https://www.reddit.com/…/where_shadows_slumber_halloween_s…/

/r/IndieDev
https://www.reddit.com/…/9shv2m/we_made_a_halloween_trailer/

/r/Unity3D
https://www.reddit.com/…/after_35_years_where_shadows_slum…/

/r/MobileGaming
https://www.reddit.com/…/ios_where_shadows_slumber_hallowe…/

Some jerks actually downvoted us! Can you believe that? Why… why? I don’t even know. Counteract their negativity with your positivity! Upvote us for great justice!

 

OK, that’s all for now – gotta jet! Literally I have to get on a jet plane and fly across the planet. Share the game with your friends while I’m at 30,000 feet! Stay tuned for updates about the trip…

 

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is now available on the App Store! bit.ly/WSS-iOS

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

2018 Tour Dates

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This blog post contains all of the conventions, seminars, lectures, and events we’ll be attending during 2018. Keep checking back for more as we update this post, and feel free to recommend en event to us in the comments if you don’t see it here!

 

October

We didn’t get to do too much during our launch month of September, since we planned to stay close to our computers unless all hell broke loose. Now that October is upon us, we have some great educational and promotional events lined up!

October 15th – Lecture @ The Academy of Innovative Technology, Brooklyn NY

A teacher at this really awesome public high school approached us during Play NYC 2018 to see if we’d be willing to come teach her students for a class or two. We were happy to accept! I’ll be speaking to the students in a closed setting about the reality of launching a mobile game on the App Store, our ongoing Android testing process, and life as an indie developer. This event is not open to the public, but I still thought it would be cool to mention it here!

October 20th – Panel @ College of Arts and Letters Alumni Panel, Hoboken NJ

This is another educational event that isn’t open to the public unfortunately, but it is exciting! Last year I was invited to return to my alma mater to field questions from incoming high school students about the art program at the Stevens Institute of Technology. I’m returning again this year, and since Where Shadows Slumber is out on iOS you can bet your tail I’ll be mentioning it every other sentence.

October 23rd – Postmortem @ Stevens Game Development Club, Hoboken NJ

Jack and I have been invited back to our old stomping grounds at Stevens in order to stomp on the ground. (We’re fantastic at it – it’s all about ankle strength, really.) The Stevens Game Development Club was a fantastic resource for us during our college years. I don’t know if I would even be making games if not for the connections I made during my time with the club. We’re returning to do a full postmortem about Where Shadows Slumber and field questions from an audience of aspiring young indie developers. Come join us if you’re in the area, it’s free!

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October 27th – Playcrafting’s Halloween Game Expo

We’re so glad Playcrafting is doing their Halloween Game Expo again this year. After a brief hiatus from the Microsoft Technology Center in Manhattan, Playcrafting is back at their usual spot for a fun-filled Halloween weekend event. We still have pictures from last year, where Jack went as Buster from Arrested Development and I went as “Frank forgot you had to bring a costume.” It was a blast, and we can’t wait to return with our finished game! The Playcrafting general audience has been waiting for Where Shadows Slumber for a long time.

 

November

November is an exciting month! I’ll be travelling to Australia to hit up two conventions “down under.” I originally wanted to hit up PAX Australia while I was going to be in the country, but we didn’t make it into their indie section. (It will be easier to apply to this stuff now that the game is finished – submitting dev builds is always shaky) Here’s our November schedule:

November 2nd – 4th – Supanova Adelaide

I’ll be visiting sunny Adelaide’s showgrounds to check out the first of two Supanova shows, Supanova Adelaide. I can’t wait to show off the game to an entirely new audience that’s probably never even heard of us before. If we meet any fans down there, I’d be pretty shocked. Surprise me, Adelaide!

November 9th – 11th – Supanova Brisbane

After Supanova Adelaide, I’ll fly to Brisbane for the convention the following weekend. It’s fortunate that they ended up right on top of each other, because Supanova has shows year-round. Lucky! For Supanova Brisbane, I’ll be in their chic Bytes and Backlots section, where are the cool people are.

 

What Did I Miss?

We don’t have anything solid in December yet. Are we passing up your favorite video game convention? Don’t let us make a terrible mistake! Leave a comment or harass me through some other digital medium, and I’ll update this post!

 

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Where Shadows Slumber, now available on the App Store! bit.ly/WSS-iOS

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.

 

The Long Climb Ahead

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Now that our game Where Shadows Slumber has been on the App Store for nearly two weeks, I’m getting a better sense of how things work on the platform. The team was very excited to see our game near the “big boys and girls” of the App Store during our launch weekend. However, since then, our ranking in the Puzzle section has dropped. Where we were once #3, we are now only #196 as of this writing. It changes every day!

Apple’s algorithm for displaying these games is likely based on sales figures and the app’s rating – a combination of quality and popularity. Our rating is 4.2 out of 5 as of this writing, and it also changes every day as more reviews trickle in. This blog post is about our struggles this past week to keep our rating in the golden zone.

 

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Mark Cuban always says “treat your customers like they own you – because they do.”

I’m Now A Customer Service Agent!

I did not expect this unlikely transition, but I’ve gone from head artist on Where Shadows Slumber to Game Revenant’s sole customer service rep. Between responding to reviews on our app page through App Store Connect, fielding questions over email, chatting with people through the Game Revenant Facebook Page, and even responding to bug-report tweets (!) most of my time is spent communicating with customers.

That’s a lot better than not communicating with customers of course, but I still wish I had more time to dedicate to promotion. For example, I’ve been dragging my feet releasing a full 1 minute long trailer. It still hasn’t gone live! I also planned to sign up for physical events where I can go to hawk our product in front of real customers, but I haven’t prepared as much of that as I would have liked.

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Even so, responding to customers is my number 1 priority. We want our rating (4.2) to be as close to 5.0 as possible. You’ll never get a perfect 5.0, so the question becomes “how do we get our average rating as high as possible?” Most of our friends and family probably already reviewed our game at this point, so we can only get new 5 star reviews from new fans. But my strategy is to be super nice to everyone who left a 1-star review, in the hopes that they change their mind. This has already happened once, so the plan is working! (See above – this user experienced crashes and left a 1-star review. After some compassionate understanding and furious debugging, they changed their mind!)

 

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Furious Debugging and Patching

Speaking of furious debugging, if you read Jack’s post last week, you’re aware that some players have encountered serious bugs with our game. Those problems are gone now, but it’s a shame so much of our launch week was spent focusing on these issues. I’ve learned a valuable lesson about Static Objects and the Memory readout in Xcode – one I shall not soon forget! I had a feeling our first few weeks would be focused on debugging, but I was hoping the errors would not be so widespread.

This caused a delay in responding to customers as well, because I didn’t want to reply to them before the issue was fixed. I’m happy to say that we’re mostly good now, at least on Apple devices from the last three years. If you’ve encountered any serious errors your first time playing our game, please download the most recent version of Where Shadows Slumber from the App Store and you’ll find it good as new!

 

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Help Us Out!

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Where Shadows Slumber on iOS and leave a 5-star rating. I’m going to ask for that every single time I make a blog post from this point on! It’s super useful and it helps us climb back up to the top of the chart where this game belongs. The higher we are on the chart, the more people will see our game. That means a higher potential for sales, which is money in the pockets of everyone who worked so hard on the game.

And if you’re waiting for Android… just wait longer! We’re ramping up Android testing as we speak. I hope to have more details for you next week.

 

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Where Shadows Slumber is available on the App Store ==> bit.ly/WSS-iOS

Find out more about our game at WhereShadowsSlumber.com, ask us on Twitter (@GameRevenant), Facebook, itch.io, or Twitch, and feel free to email us directly at contact@GameRevenant.com.

Frank DiCola is the founder of Game Revenant and the artist for Where Shadows Slumber.