How to Pitch a Game

by Chris Remo, Apr 14, 2006 12:10pm PDT

Schadenfreude Interactive, the developer and publisher behind titles such as Accordion Hero and Age of Ornithology, has a short informative feature up for aspiring game designers. You may have a great game idea, but how to you pitch it to publishers? Schadenfreude explains, with some handy tips to keep in mind.

Before you present your game idea, there are questions you need to ask yourself, as we are going to ask them of you:
Why does your main character have amnesia? Why are there commercial shipping crates on a prehistoric island? Where did these robot frogs come from? You do realize, don't you, that the Star Trek "holodeck" is a fictional conceit? Do you have permission to use the Batman and Wolverine characters you've used here? You really think Batman would beat Wolverine in a fight? Yes, but what if he didn't have his stupid Bat-belt? Are you serious? Don't you know he's made of adamantium, for crying out loud?

Other things to keep in mind: present yourself professionally, be original, don't be too overprotective, and consider a game about a bicycle repairman.

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Comments

14 Threads | 39 Comments

#3

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By: Anti_dentite x Show Full Post

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This article raises a good question, who would win in a fight between Batman and Wolverine?

It's a tough call, I mean sure wolverine's bones can't be broken, and he has that nifty healing factor, but Batman has his cool toys.

Apr 14, 2006 12:27pm PDT

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This article raises a good question, who would win in a fight between Batman and Wolverine? It's a tou... : Anti_dentite
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 17 replies.

#36

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By: bitter ego x Show Full Post

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A Bicycle Repairman with chainsaw hands!!!!! BUUUUUZZZZZZZZ!!!!!

Thanks for the tips, I might have to put them to good use one day.

Apr 14, 2006 6:35pm PDT

A Bicycle Repairman with chainsaw hands!!!!! BUUUUUZZZZZZZZ!!!!! Thanks for the tips, I might have to : bitter ego

#35

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By: TwiLyght x Show Full Post

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Bicycle Repairman must be the sequel to Paperboy

Apr 14, 2006 4:51pm PDT

Bicycle Repairman must be the sequel to Paperboy : TwiLyght

#29

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By: MaxPete82 x Show Full Post

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I think this whole Schadenfreude Interactive thing is funny, but why does every website treat them as though they are a real game developer? It's so painfully obvious that they don't actually make games. Schadenfreude Interactive is to games what The Onion is to newspapers. I think its parody of the industry is funny, but I just don't understand why people like Remo act like they're legit. It doesn't make it funnier.

Apr 14, 2006 2:51pm PDT

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I think this whole Schadenfreude Interactive thing is funny, but why does every website treat them as tho... : MaxPete82
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.
- Sure, look how serious some of the comments here are because of that ;) : voodoochildtm
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  it seems you missed the irony. its part of the act. i doubt remo would miss something that obvious. you ... : Hoax
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    I didn't miss anything. I get the joke, I think the website is funny for its parody of the games industry... : MaxPete82
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      I assume you mean this story is a good parody, since Gamasutra is pretty serious most of the time - I ass... : Schnapple
      
      Yeah, I know Gamasutra is a serious gaming site. I mean the Schadenfreude website, column, and the "compa... : MaxPete82

#16

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By: Kerath x Show Full Post

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Schadenfreude is a poor name for a game studio.

Apr 14, 2006 1:01pm PDT

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Schadenfreude is a poor name for a game studio. : Kerath
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 3 replies.
- Unless you don't mind causing pain in others... : PvtWaldo
- I guess it's a good thing they aren't actually a game studio then. : MaxPete82

#18

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By: Porkasaurus x Show Full Post

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These guys aren't even developers though right? This is just a joke bit. Or am I missing something here.

Apr 14, 2006 1:15pm PDT

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These guys aren't even developers though right? This is just a joke bit. Or am I missing something here. : Porkasaurus
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- I always have a hard time telling if they actually make their games or if the whole thing is just a big j... : jason bergman

#21

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By: pillzer x Show Full Post

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Bat...man..? Let's get serious for a second here, we're talking about the almighty clawed one. Bruce Wayne is nice and fun with his 'Im a tortured hero a bad kill my parents when I was a kid' attitude but we're talking about a real badass that can do more than wear his hallowen costume all year. No living being can beat Logan, end of thread. You know, there's god, there's Chuck Norris and then there's Wolvie.
I mean if Thanos had played it straight and not use his family jewels shit during the Eternity gauntlet eipc Logan would have handed him his ass square and neat.

Apr 14, 2006 1:59pm PDT

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Bat...man..? Let's get serious for a second here, we're talking about the almighty clawed one. Bruce Wayn... : pillzer
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 2 replies.
- Damn, since when 'ctrl+enter' is a shortcut to post? Luckly I have nothing to add. : pillzer

#11

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By: phern x Show Full Post

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Those questions all beg for a plausibility for a game's story. If these are the things publishers are demanding, it's no wonder to me why so many games are sort of the same. The character doesn't know why he has amnesia, because he (!) forgot--so why should anyone know? The robot frogs came from the same place the dancing girls came from while Duke was exploding aliens. I seriously think publishers care more about these questions than any player does. I'll still buy a fun game even if I don't know the intimate backstory behind the robot frogs.

Apr 14, 2006 12:57pm PDT

Those questions all beg for a plausibility for a game's story. If these are the things publishers are de... : phern

#10

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By: Porkasaurus x Show Full Post

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Fun poll on superheroes:

http://www.misterpoll.com/2643948648.html

Wolverine is currently winning the Batman match, strictly a fight, not popularity :

Wolverine (68%)
Batman (32%)
3348 total votes

My favorite though is the Superman vs Wonderwoman:

Superman (92%)
Wonder Women (8%)

Those 8% people are crazy.

Apr 14, 2006 12:47pm PDT

Fun poll on superheroes: http://www.misterpoll.com/2643948648.html Wolverine is currently winning t : Porkasaurus

#7

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By: warcrow x Show Full Post

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I thought you were talking about Baseball. :(

Apr 14, 2006 12:39pm PDT

I thought you were talking about Baseball. :( : warcrow

#5

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By: wheat x Show Full Post

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I would so buy a game about a bicycle repairman!

Apr 14, 2006 12:29pm PDT

I would so buy a game about a bicycle repairman! : wheat

#4

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By: sharpie x Show Full Post

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No doubt about it, Batman would kick Wolverine's ass.

Apr 14, 2006 12:27pm PDT

No doubt about it, Batman would kick Wolverine's ass. : sharpie

#2

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By: italiano3d x Show Full Post

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Don't forget the healing factor. Ah yes the healing factor.

Apr 14, 2006 12:25pm PDT

Don't forget the healing factor. Ah yes the healing factor. : italiano3d

#1

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By: snagger x Show Full Post

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This is great, and so is the Schadenfreude website. Who are these guys?

Apr 14, 2006 12:21pm PDT

This is great, and so is the Schadenfreude website. Who are these guys? : snagger

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