Hey Chris, just wanted to say that I'm really glad you mentioned your career before games. I'm a UX designer as well, so knowing someone similar made that transition is inspiring! Also, some coworkers and I love hanging around after 5 to talk indie game dev. I eat this marketing stuff up and will definitely share with them. Thanks!
I am a student getting a PhD in history who occasionally does video game related research. As I'm sure you are aware, correspondence is one the bread and butter primary sources of information for historians. A letter written by a soldier can be a useful piece of evidence. Do you know of any accessible repositories of archived video game marketing emails like the ones you describe in your talk? I know this sounds like a weird question since no one wants to learn that their private emails are archived in lists somewhere, but I promise that I only use my historian super powers for good and not evil.
I just want to say thank you so much for giving a link to the slides at the start of the video. It really makes note taking a lot easier. About your Autoresponder for Zombie King -- I assume those statistics on open rate come standard with most mailing list programs? And also, do you have a preferred mailing list program you would recommend to new indies?
This man is absolutely amazing. He's managed to make me excited about emails, and actually seriously consider using them alongside social media. A lot of very valuable information here.
As someone who never opens their e-mail, I never thought I'd be having the time of my life seeing a video about e-mail lists that genuinely show what people find special about them
you know thinking about it i have always opened & enjoyed every game email subscription i signer up for, even for games i lost interest in early into their development
That point about every 3 weeks is really important. I have a massive 300k+ list, but most of them don't even make it to the inbox since I only send like one or two messages a year x.x
You should also consider breaking your list by domain, particularly players who have gmail accounts. Doing so will allow you to throttle your email send to gmail accounts at a lower volume 20-50K an hour aiding in higher inbox placement. This is particularly helpful if you're unable to stick to the recommended 3-week cadence.
Very interesting, I'll keep this in mind. I especially liked the dad talk bit, I love when I get to see the developers behind a game I like or am interested in, that's what makes me want to spend money on a game, as some games (particularly AAA games) don't very well portray what their developers are like.
I wonder if this phenomenon has something to do with people checking their emails when they're bored (probably at work, doing homework, just waking up, or finishing up online errands) meanwhile getting attention while someone's scrolling through social media at top speed (trying to take in as much content as possible) is super tough cuz they don't wanna stop scrolling.
Great talk! From my consumer experience, I don't seem to mind impersonal approach. Like with my favorite author, I don't really want to know her, I just want to know when is her new book coming out (which happened last month, which I bought immediately after recieving the email). The other author I subscribed to for a free book was way too personal and aggressive, he was all like, and I'm paraphrasing, "Only small percent actually reads the free book. Are you up to the task, or are you one of those loooosers! Prove you read it and I'll send you the sequel for free." And this was sent one day after the first email with the book, and there's no way I'm gonna read so fast. I unsubscribed and never actually read the damn book. Tho I guess books and games have different audiences. And just saying "Subscribe to the list to get freebies and news" is better than "Oh please subscribe, I'll talk only about the product, promise!!"
YonYonYon yes you have to be gentle with the approach. The aggressive book author was doing it wrong. It just takes practice and listening to your audience.
"25 years ago these were the hottest websites for talking to your fans" Yes Geocities began in 1995 but Friendster launched in 2002, myspace 2003, livejournal 1999, this video was posted in 2019
I don't understand when exactly are these emails being sent. Is this like a pre-launch thing where you try to get people to be interested in your game so you can let them know when it comes out? Or is it more like building a fan club for your next game? I'd guess that people that can't play your game aren't interested in things like tips or guides. Also do you even use the same mailing list for a new game? I feel like the answer is obvious but idk what it is lol. I mean scrapping a mailing list sounds like a huge waste but I don't know if anyone is going to care about a game that they never signed up to hear about. 🤔
E-mail is good if u have some interesting to sell to really interested in having more content to the game, tus your job is different, email is good to "not being forgotten" too tho
Hey let me know if you have any questions about email. I am here for you all. Let’s do this!
Amazing talk!
Hey Chris, just wanted to say that I'm really glad you mentioned your career before games. I'm a UX designer as well, so knowing someone similar made that transition is inspiring! Also, some coworkers and I love hanging around after 5 to talk indie game dev. I eat this marketing stuff up and will definitely share with them. Thanks!
Great talk Chris, are you hiring for anything?
I am a student getting a PhD in history who occasionally does video game related research. As I'm sure you are aware, correspondence is one the bread and butter primary sources of information for historians. A letter written by a soldier can be a useful piece of evidence. Do you know of any accessible repositories of archived video game marketing emails like the ones you describe in your talk? I know this sounds like a weird question since no one wants to learn that their private emails are archived in lists somewhere, but I promise that I only use my historian super powers for good and not evil.
I just want to say thank you so much for giving a link to the slides at the start of the video. It really makes note taking a lot easier.
About your Autoresponder for Zombie King -- I assume those statistics on open rate come standard with most mailing list programs?
And also, do you have a preferred mailing list program you would recommend to new indies?
This man is absolutely amazing. He's managed to make me excited about emails, and actually seriously consider using them alongside social media. A lot of very valuable information here.
"Twitter isn't indestructible". Bro called it
I freakin love that guy! I mean... truly a genuine and lovable person. Hope he'll have a lot of fun playing with his kid.
Maxence Plou I frickin love you! Looking forward to it.
As someone who never opens their e-mail, I never thought I'd be having the time of my life seeing a video about e-mail lists that genuinely show what people find special about them
Easily one of the most interesting talks in GDC and its not even about game design
Damn sometimes i forget the fact that i only check my email once every 3 months isnt the norm.
PHENOMINAL talk!
This is wildly useful information! Thank you for sharing and answering your questions so thoroughly!
This is the best GDC speaker
"People are good at keeping their mailbox clean"
Looking at my 5000 unopened emails...
you know thinking about it i have always opened & enjoyed every game email subscription i signer up for, even for games i lost interest in early into their development
Man these talks are pure gold, if I had any money I'd donate to em
Chris: "People always check their e-mail"
Me: nervous sweating
ive not checked my email for like twenty months lol
Much to learn here! :)
And its cool to see that Chris is following up on his on given advice, seen when subscribing to his Newsletter.
That point about every 3 weeks is really important. I have a massive 300k+ list, but most of them don't even make it to the inbox since I only send like one or two messages a year x.x
You should also consider breaking your list by domain, particularly players who have gmail accounts. Doing so will allow you to throttle your email send to gmail accounts at a lower volume 20-50K an hour aiding in higher inbox placement. This is particularly helpful if you're unable to stick to the recommended 3-week cadence.
You just blew my mind with the idea of emailing highly specialized rewards to players.
One of the best GDC talks I’ve heard. Great job! And now I’m on your newsletter 😄
Andrew Hudson hey great chatting with you and good luck on your game.
Very interesting, I'll keep this in mind. I especially liked the dad talk bit, I love when I get to see the developers behind a game I like or am interested in, that's what makes me want to spend money on a game, as some games (particularly AAA games) don't very well portray what their developers are like.
Spencer Genovese great to hear! You know my game is on sale right now on steam.
@@zukalous Zombie King? I tried to find it, but nothing comes up (I also tried google but I just get Game of Thrones results, lol.
We have reached the point where 9 yr olds have working emails. This talk has taken on a whole new meaning.
So valuable. But implementing it all correctly is as difficult as designing your game.
Chris Fibich it is tricky at first. But one s you set it up you can forget about it and it mostly runs itself
Well, I found out the hard way with Twitter. My reviews suffered from 'major lack of readership'.
I like going back to the basics-simpler time.
Very good points! I had something like this in mind as well, you gave me a lot to stew on. Thanks!!
a great talk! Ages quite well at the moment of writing this.
Fantastic talk, definitely going to use this strategy for my future projects!
Really good talk. will definitely use this technique!
awesome talk, learned a lot! guess im a new follower now :)
I wonder if this phenomenon has something to do with people checking their emails when they're bored (probably at work, doing homework, just waking up, or finishing up online errands) meanwhile getting attention while someone's scrolling through social media at top speed (trying to take in as much content as possible) is super tough cuz they don't wanna stop scrolling.
Excellent talk
Great talk! From my consumer experience, I don't seem to mind impersonal approach. Like with my favorite author, I don't really want to know her, I just want to know when is her new book coming out (which happened last month, which I bought immediately after recieving the email). The other author I subscribed to for a free book was way too personal and aggressive, he was all like, and I'm paraphrasing, "Only small percent actually reads the free book. Are you up to the task, or are you one of those loooosers! Prove you read it and I'll send you the sequel for free." And this was sent one day after the first email with the book, and there's no way I'm gonna read so fast. I unsubscribed and never actually read the damn book.
Tho I guess books and games have different audiences. And just saying "Subscribe to the list to get freebies and news" is better than "Oh please subscribe, I'll talk only about the product, promise!!"
YonYonYon yes you have to be gentle with the approach. The aggressive book author was doing it wrong. It just takes practice and listening to your audience.
Great talk, thanks for the tips !
32:10 sotaque brasileiro!
Great talk!
My new strategy to own them all:
"EMAIL EMAIL EMAIL!"
Good luck
But don't forget
*Give Give Give Ask*.
And always have an Call-to-Action in the Ask eMails.
interesting talk
So damn interesting, good job man!
This is gold chris!
Very informative!
Lovee this!
I wonder if the presenter made use of something similar to reddit to maintain their community outside of email.
Edgar Onukwugha just email but I also am starting to use discord.
"25 years ago these were the hottest websites for talking to your fans"
Yes Geocities began in 1995 but Friendster launched in 2002, myspace 2003, livejournal 1999, this video was posted in 2019
I don't understand when exactly are these emails being sent. Is this like a pre-launch thing where you try to get people to be interested in your game so you can let them know when it comes out? Or is it more like building a fan club for your next game? I'd guess that people that can't play your game aren't interested in things like tips or guides.
Also do you even use the same mailing list for a new game? I feel like the answer is obvious but idk what it is lol. I mean scrapping a mailing list sounds like a huge waste but I don't know if anyone is going to care about a game that they never signed up to hear about.
🤔
Hoping he's saying "and rate me" a 0:12
Okay... but social media is free, how can i possible send 6000 mails with mail chimp? that costs like 1000 dollars!
But what if my E-mail list is literally just one person and that's my mom, despite having it on my website and everywhere else?
Twitter is officially a waste of time for everything xD
nice, I'm sure in 2012 worked nicely
E-mail is good if u have some interesting to sell to really interested in having more content to the game, tus your job is different, email is good to "not being forgotten" too tho
@@amelio5527 why wouldn't you have something interesting to sell?
100th comment
Congrats! DM me and I will send you your prize. Serious. I will.
@Return To Adventure Mountain lol