Week 10

Expo Booths Slides Notes

• Game Expos are a great way to network and also find internships.

• It's ideal to carry a QR code or something similar for easy access to your LinkedIn.

• BE PROFESSIONAL AT EXPOS!!! Most importantly if you're at a booth, but even if you're just an attendee, don't wear an old dirty shirt—look presentable and professional.

  • Alternatively, you could just cosplay. Make sure it fits your game, though.

• Tidy your space up to keep it presentable. Do not leave rubbish on or around your booth.

• If your game isn't restricting you from standing up, be inviting when people come to your booth, stand up and engage with them.

• You can make your space look really nice despite the space you have (examples shown right). Make good use of the space and don't do an SAE at the Perth Games Festival. Think about signage, flyers and the size of your screen. Plan out your booth and make it as eye-catching as possible.

• You can use business cards to promote your business or even yourself (your portfolio). It can be physical or digital (QR code or otherwise).

• Merchandise is a good way to promote the game, especially for major projects, but it's not ideal to have people pay for it instead of having it as a giveaway. Some good examples of merchandise is buttons, t-shirts, art (especially art books) and posters.

• Some tips for expo day is:

  • Think about signage and branding

  • Have good interactions with customers (or stick to the theme of your game if applicable)

  • Let customers play your game

  • Think about tactile aspect—what can the customers touch?

  • Be professional with what you wear or at least appropriate (including fitting cosplay)

  • Make your booth inviting

  • Don't bring anything valuable, emotionally or financially, so someone doesn't steal it.

  • Don't eat at your booth. It's very unprofessional and bad for your image. Go elsewhere to have something quick to eat.

    • If it's part of your game, go for it, BUT NOTHING ELSE!!!

  • Have at least two screens: one for your trailer and one for your game.

  • Only bring a demo of your game or something short, so that it doesn't go for long. Make sure it's 10 minutes max.

• Consider what tech you need, how much and then book it ASAP (e.g. tablet, phone, headset).

• Bring things to your booth such as your game's GDD, posters, popcorn/candy, free merchandise and cosplay (if applicable).

• Sketch up your booth once you have your list; plan it. See if your plan fits in the allocated space, and be prepared for changes.

Expo Booths Slides Notes

• Make sure to give Bec edit history so she can see the version history (also just be honest about it, it's not even worth lying about whether or not you've done it at the last second).

• Thursday week 12, printing off posters in A2 will be available, so contact Bec if this service needed. Also make sure to print off the GDD by then.

Useful Tools/Resources

• Game accessibility guidelines (for making your game more accessible): https://gameaccessibilityguidelines.com/ 

• REE-2D Pixel Art Character Asset Pack (great for placeholder assets): https://zegley.itch.io/2d-platformermetroidvania-asset-pack