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[Important]

Hey guys,

There was a conference yesterday in Birmingham about the game press, pr people and developers and bringing them together. I found the content pretty useful as I'm totally unaware of all this kind of stuff. I wrote a post about it but thought it might be useful to share here too.

These were are the 5 main points.

1. Tell a story

Journalists write stories, if you help them, it makes their job easier. Often the story won't be about your game but instead about you - people tend to have the most interesting stories.

2. Form a relationship with journalists

Journalists are more likely to write about you and your games if they know who you are. Attend industry events, or follow them on twitter and join the conversation (Journalists love twitter).

3. Be opinionated

Strong, interesting opinions are newsworthy, as an Indie you're much freer to say whatever you like. (See everything Peter Molyneux says and I'm sure you can name a few people from our own community that do this well!).

4. Build a community

The more fans there are of your game, the more they'll help promote your games which helps you get more fans and so on.

5. Be prepared

Have a press pack with screenshots, videos and description you can easily give a link to. If your game is a mobile game then carry a tablet (or whatever) with you and you'll always be ready to show it. Make sure your assets are up on http://www.gamespress.com/.

[petertos]

This is a great collection of truly interesting suggestions. I would add one, if I'm allowed: Be professional. Either you're selling the most dumb and simple thing, sell it like if it was gold and you've spent ages making it

[eigenbom]

some linkage:
http://joostdevblog.blogspot.nl/2012/11/the-indie-marketing-plan.html
http://gonintendo.com/?p=70157
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132506/building_buzz_for_indie_games.php?page=2
http://gillen.cream.org/wordpress_html/assorted-essays/how-to-use-and-abuse-the-games-press-and-how-the-games-press-wants-to-use-and-abuse-you/

[Important]

Some great links there! I've read "How To Use And Abuse The Gaming Press And How The Gaming Press Wants To Use and Abuse You." before I think, which is a really excellent article to start getting a insight into how all the press stuff works.

[Uykered]

Journalism is dum. Get news directly from developers instead, if only there was a central greatly formatted site for that sort of thing.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

ya, if only there were a source of independent gaming -- something like: the independent gaming source

[petertos]

Journalism is dum. Get news directly from developers instead, if only there was a central greatly formatted site for that sort of thing.

Dum = doomed?
Dum = Dumb?
Dum = DimDumDam?

It is unclear to me

My pick is doomed.

[ஒழுக்கின்மை (Paul Eres)]

you must be new to tigsource

[Zenfar]

ya, if only there were a source of independent gaming -- something like: the independent gaming source

If I could gold plate this quote and hang it on the wall I would 

[ANtY]

you must be new to tigsource

tigsource must be new to him

3. Be opinionated

Strong, interesting opinions are newsworthy, as an Indie you're much freer to say whatever you like. (See everything Peter Molyneux says and I'm sure you can name a few people from our own community that do this well!).

Lately I was wondering a little about this kind of advice and I came to a conclusion that it's more of a reason for you to understand why you're not so successful in this field than an actual advice about something you can change, not everyone is suited for being popular on twitter, and if it's not natural then it won't get you anywhere, at least that's how I see it

ya, if only there were a source of independent gaming -- something like: the independent gaming source

If I could gold plate this quote and hang it on the wall I would 

what if... I tell you you actually can do it?

[effete_denizen]

 That event was really helpful for me too. For those that might want to attend it, it's called...
 
 Launch: Meet the Press http://launchconference.co.uk/meet_the_games_press_event/

 It takes place once a year in Birmingham, UK and is attended by journalists from news papers and industry magazines.

 Everyone's very friendly and helpful and as part of it they offer a 1-to-1 with a journalist to ask specific questions to help you in the future. Though as there are only about ten journalists and nearly one hundred developers so they tend to get mobbed.

 You can also get a table to demo your game on while you're there.

[oahda]

5. Be prepared

Signing up for Gamespress now. Let's see if this can be of any help. Thanks for the link.

Journalism is dum. Get news directly from developers instead, if only there was a central greatly formatted site for that sort of thing.

Dum = doomed?
Dum = Dumb?
Dum = DimDumDam?

It is unclear to me

My pick is doomed.

dum

[Zenfar]

If I could gold plate this quote and hang it on the wall I would 

what if... I tell you you actually can do it?

Can't afford the Gold...

[Mister Dave]

Games Press looks like a big pond with many fishes, but it looks pretty smart too. Has anyone here had someone tell them they were found through this method?