Uploading your itch.io game isn't enough! A recent look into game submissions shows that your game's page—with clear instructions, good screenshots, and useful details—is crucial for players. It's about giving visitors everything they need to decide if they want to play, not just the game file.
Hey WondTech readers! Ever thought uploading your game to itch.io was the last step? Think again! A new analysis from the folks over at dev.to, looking at VOLT NOMAD's submission materials, reveals that getting your game build ready is only half the battle. Your itch.io submission page itself is just as vital as the game code.
What does this mean for you? Well, imagine a first-time visitor landing on your game page. They have questions: 'What kind of game is this?' 'Can I play it on my computer?' 'How do I even start?' 'What will I find as I play?' 'What tools did you use?' If your page doesn't answer these quickly and clearly, players might just bounce right off.
The key is to treat your submission as a complete package. This bundle includes not only your game but also all the necessary explanations and images. For instance, your short description and first image are what tell a player, 'This game is about fighting machine beasts and upgrading with CHARGE.' Your project type, display, and compatibility details (like 'HTML, 1280 × 720, fullscreen') reassure them it'll run on their setup.
Don't forget the controls! A clear list of actions for mouse, touch, keyboard (Space, arrow keys), and controllers (A-button, D-pad) is a must. The long description and later images are where you show off gear trees, boss fights, and archives. Even disclosures about AI use in development are important, covering code, images, and music separately.
It's not just about listing features; it's about guiding the player. One important tip from the analysis: if your game has touch controls, make sure to leave 'Mobile friendly' unchecked on the page settings until you've actually tested it on a real phone. Otherwise, you might promise more than you've delivered. So, next time you're ready to hit 'publish,' take a moment to review your itch.io page through a player's eyes. It could make all the difference!
What does this mean for you? Well, imagine a first-time visitor landing on your game page. They have questions: 'What kind of game is this?' 'Can I play it on my computer?' 'How do I even start?' 'What will I find as I play?' 'What tools did you use?' If your page doesn't answer these quickly and clearly, players might just bounce right off.
The key is to treat your submission as a complete package. This bundle includes not only your game but also all the necessary explanations and images. For instance, your short description and first image are what tell a player, 'This game is about fighting machine beasts and upgrading with CHARGE.' Your project type, display, and compatibility details (like 'HTML, 1280 × 720, fullscreen') reassure them it'll run on their setup.
Don't forget the controls! A clear list of actions for mouse, touch, keyboard (Space, arrow keys), and controllers (A-button, D-pad) is a must. The long description and later images are where you show off gear trees, boss fights, and archives. Even disclosures about AI use in development are important, covering code, images, and music separately.
It's not just about listing features; it's about guiding the player. One important tip from the analysis: if your game has touch controls, make sure to leave 'Mobile friendly' unchecked on the page settings until you've actually tested it on a real phone. Otherwise, you might promise more than you've delivered. So, next time you're ready to hit 'publish,' take a moment to review your itch.io page through a player's eyes. It could make all the difference!
