Chartboost University: 60 seconds with GamesBeat

Chartboost University

Insights & Best Practices

November 20, 2013

3

min read

As an indie mobile game developer, it can be a challenge figuring out how to get your game to stand out against the hundreds of thousands of other titles in the app economy. One way to overcome this hurdle and get more visibility is to cinch press coverage. Pitching reporters in itself is an art to be perfected, and that's why we reached out to GamesBeat Editor-in-Chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu. Dan has an extensive background in covering games, and spent 12 years at Electronic Gaming Monthly Magazine before co-founding BitMob.com, which was acquired by VentureBeat.

In our chat, Dan shares his advice to indie shops out there looking to land press coverage for their games. He reminds devs that even before reaching out to journalists, to think about what makes their game unique and different from other titles in the marketplace to form a strong pitch. First impressions are key, and generic form letters are uninspiring. Dan also says that in the game development timeline, it's important for mobile developers not to pitch their titles too early. The optimal time to pitch, Dan says, particularly if your game is a non-recognizable IP, is shortly before or after launch, so if your game is covered, players can find your game right away and download it.

You can also check out Dan's CBU lecture, "Perfecting the Pitch" for more in-depth tips and insights!

Thanks to GamesBeat for their support.Cheers,Stephanie