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Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Game On and Valuing our Work

On the weekend I attended the Game On convention which is a part of Sydney's Vivid lights festival. It was super fun with lots of talks about the future of technology, the trends in the gaming industry and so forth. I went to a talk on how to pitch your game and discovered it was pretty much the same as pitching a novel. Know your audience. Be specific. When using adjectives make sure they are descriptive rather than subjective eg don't say, 'This is an awesome game!' Explain what makes it awesome.

I'm also over at the IWSG website with a few other authors and we are discussing valuing our work. Should we offer our work for free so others can profit from it? I'd love to see you over there and hear your opinion.




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55 comments:

  1. cleemckenzieMay 26, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    Gaming is such an interesting and exciting field. You are amazing, Lynda. I wouldn't know where to start on something like this.

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  2. Alex J. CavanaughMay 26, 2015 at 11:52 AM

    The convention sounds amazing.
    Your post today was great!

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  3. Denise Covey May 26, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    I guess marketing is marketing whatever the product. Sounds like you're enjoying your gaming venture. The vivid festival looks awesome. I've never been. Must fix that maybe next year. :-)

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 26, 2015 at 1:39 PM

      Vivid is such a wonderful thing for Sydney and a great way to see Sydney at night too. This weekend I'm staying in the city and doing a bunch of walking to check out all the light displays.

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  4. UnknownMay 26, 2015 at 2:47 PM

    It's kind of strange that game designers and writers are so closely related. I guess you have to pitch your work and try to sell no matter what your job is, huh? lol

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 26, 2015 at 3:54 PM

      yarp..there's no escaping the marketing side of a creative outlet.

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  5. Nick WilfordMay 26, 2015 at 3:35 PM

    That sounds like fun. I don't really play games anymore, but some of them have some really excellent stories and I can imagine it is similar to pitching a book.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 26, 2015 at 3:55 PM

      yep, one of the games I'm working on is heavily story-based. I can't help myself ;)

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  6. UnknownMay 26, 2015 at 6:15 PM

    I dread the marketing side of things, but good to know it's pretty much universal. Awesome for you for spanning more than one medium!

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 27, 2015 at 10:16 AM

      Spanning more than one medium is challenging but so satisfying.

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  7. DEZMONDMay 26, 2015 at 6:27 PM

    What? You can't say it's awesome possum?

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  8. Christine RainsMay 26, 2015 at 10:54 PM

    Sounds like a great festival! Marketing is always so tough, but the basic rules are same around the board. Now if only we could find that magic formula!

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  9. emaginetteMay 26, 2015 at 11:03 PM

    The pitch does sound similar. Glad you had fun. That's what life is about. That and paying bills. hehehe

    Anna from Elements of Writing

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  10. Elizabeth Varadan, AuthorMay 26, 2015 at 11:30 PM

    I've never tried games. Hats off to you for your many talents -- and for going to conferences. I always gain a lot from conferences.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 27, 2015 at 10:18 AM

      conferences are so inspiring, no matter what they are about.

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  11. Pat HattMay 27, 2015 at 12:18 AM

    So I can't go with everything is awesome? Lego Movie lied.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 27, 2015 at 10:19 AM

      But everything IS awesome!! We just have to go the extra mile and explain WHY it's awesome... ;)

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  12. Victoria Marie LeesMay 27, 2015 at 3:36 AM

    Lynda, congratulations on presenting at the game convention. Excellent advice about pitching specifics rather than subjectively. Thanks for this advice. I've visited and left a comment at the IWSG website. Good advice there as well. Thanks for sharing such wonderful advice with your readers.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 27, 2015 at 10:20 AM

      Thanks, Victoria. Your support, as always, is hugely appreciated.

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  13. LibbyMay 27, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    The game convention looked cool!

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  14. SpacerGuyMay 27, 2015 at 5:59 AM

    This convention has no doubt affected many on an emotional level with emotions running high, therefore I must consider myself an emotional human! Great post, Lynda

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  15. Cathrina ConstantineMay 27, 2015 at 8:46 AM

    How exciting, Lynda! I hope it all went as you expected.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyMay 27, 2015 at 10:21 AM

      Yep, it was better than expected (which is saying something)

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  16. GailMay 27, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    What an interesting career.

    Thanks for your contributions to IWSGI. I certainly am in need of some encouragement. I have written millions of words and never have attempted to publish. I will be a continual reader of this service.

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  17. H. R. SinclairMay 27, 2015 at 10:12 PM

    I love gaming conventions - it's like a big party!

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  18. Susan Gourley/KelleyMay 28, 2015 at 8:19 AM

    That must have been very exciting. I bet it would be as stressful to pitch a game as it would a novel.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJune 2, 2015 at 12:15 PM

      Oddly enough, I'm more relaxed when it comes to talking about my game.

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  19. AnonymousMay 28, 2015 at 11:18 AM

    Interesting. Pitching sounds similar across careers and products being sold.

    I'll check out the post.

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  20. Caryn CaldwellMay 29, 2015 at 5:46 AM

    Wow! That looks really cool! And I love hearing how the pitches compare. I bet it's the same no matter what you're trying to pitch, actually.

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  21. Carol RiggsMay 29, 2015 at 8:18 AM

    That makes sense, about pitching being the same for games as for novels. Interesting. Have fun!

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  22. Tyrean MartinsonMay 30, 2015 at 12:45 AM

    Hope you had an awesome time at the gaming convention!

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  23. Michelle WallaceMay 31, 2015 at 5:07 PM

    I'm certain that you had lots of fun at the convention, Lyn.
    Your work is actually "play" - how cool is that?

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  24. Hilary Melton-ButcherJune 1, 2015 at 1:08 AM

    Hi Lynda .. just off to the IWSG to see what everyone says ... I know so little about gaming, but I'd love to learn sometime! The convention sounds amazing ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJune 2, 2015 at 12:17 PM

      gaming is all about having fun.. that's all you really need to know ;)

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  25. MarkJune 3, 2015 at 3:05 AM

    Looks like fun! I used to work for a game company myself:)

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  26. Blue GrumpsterJune 3, 2015 at 3:15 AM

    Explain what makes it awesome... Exactly. That's what I tell my students when grading their essays.

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJune 3, 2015 at 1:41 PM

      The sparkle makes it awesome because, well, sparkles are awesome, see.


      ;)

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  27. SuzeJune 3, 2015 at 12:39 PM

    You are the cool girl. You know that, right?

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    1. Lynda R Young as Elle CardyJune 8, 2015 at 10:17 AM

      'Cool' is not an adjective commonly associated with me. 'Goofy', yes, 'odd' definitely, but rarely 'cool' ;)

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  28. S.A. LarsenッJune 10, 2015 at 12:21 PM

    Thank you for sharing experience at the convention. I'm sure it was exciting!!! I will head over to IWSG. That is a great topic.

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I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks for leaving a comment.