Crafting Your Game: A Comprehensive Guide to Development and Launch on Steam

As we commenced the final year of our master’s in video game development, we were already aware that the endeavor ahead was substantial: creating a complete video game and launching it on Steam as our capstone project. However, what initially seemed like a straightforward task from a technical standpoint evolved into an experience that encompassed design, production, marketing, and all the various facets of the industry that turn a solid idea into a finished and published product. There are lessons that can only be acquired when you take the leap.

We aim to share the insights we gained, discuss what was effective, and also address the challenges we could have tackled more effectively, so that if you find yourself facing a similar project, you possess the best perspective to avoid significant missteps in a domain that remains unfamiliar to many.

Strive to be practical. Recognize your abilities and outline a scope.

One of the most significant learning moments when we started was realizing our own limitations and the actual resources available to us. In the beginning, everyone wanted to create something grand, innovative, elaborate worlds… but we also understood we had a limited timeframe and a small team. Therefore, the first task was to outline a concept that was exciting yet feasible. This meant making slight adjustments to our scope: there was no room for features that we could not polish in time. We learned that a well-executed project, even if modest in its ambitions, would always surpass one that attempted to include a multitude of elements without any quality or refinement.

In the case of Everdark, we decided to create a first-person shooter with survival horror elements, inspired by horror and B-films from the 1980s. This concept allowed us to focus our creativity into a compact but thoroughly planned project. If you are embarking on the journey of creating your first game, do not underestimate the importance of narrowing your scope so that time is on your side and you can achieve your goals in terms of quality.

The next challenge? Structuring ourselves.

In such a fast-paced development process, it was crucial that every member had well-defined roles, whether in modeling, level design, programming, or marketing. The key was to assign ourselves clear roles and responsibilities from the get-go. This helped us avoid ambiguity and allowed each of us to know what to focus on at any given moment. If you’re operating with a small team, it is essential to establish clear tasks and use management tools that keep the workflow organized. For example, Trello, setting up a Discord server, or utilizing Notion are excellent options. (Spoiler: these are the tools commonly used by studios and it is incredibly beneficial to have worked with them in advance).

You fully understand the skill set of each person in the team, so it’s crucial to recognize your strengths and assign roles that maximize those abilities.

The production plan and the plethora of unexpected issues that may arise.

Establishing a production plan is vital for efficient use of time and resources. In the initial stages of planning, identify the various phases of the process and set realistic milestones. This plan will provide you with a clear roadmap, but remember that in video game development, you must be prepared to adjust to anything. The best you can do is evaluate everything weekly, so if any issues arise, you have the flexibility to address them.

If you are building your first game, set achievable objectives, create a list of priorities, and regularly reassess the production plan. Realize that not everything will go according to plan, and that you may need to reorder priorities based on unforeseen events.

Publishing the game on Steam can feel like an adventure… and it truly is. Nevertheless, Steam provides numerous tutorials through SteamWorks, and if you adhere to them meticulously, you shouldn’t encounter any difficulties. Speaking from experience, we advise you to study the tutorials beforehand and with great care so that your Steam page, the launch of your Demo, or any other action you take on the platform proceeds without any hold-ups.

You hear much about Marketing, yet it remains a significant enigma.

Do you believe your project possesses exceptional quality and you want to showcase it? From this point forward, everything you do is marketing. The way you present your game, whether through its visuals on Steam,
“`the GIFs featured on social networks or presenting them at an event will illustrate how users perceive you.

Social media isn’t an “all or nothing” situation; it can be essential to navigate these platforms carefully. If you feel particularly comfortable on one platform, start there. You may also consider exploring other platforms to find where your content can gain the most visibility. These platforms serve as gateways that enable the press and potential content creators to learn about your game. Before you begin reaching out to them or making posts, reflect on who your players might be: their age, their preferences… All of this can be crucial for crafting effective messages, identifying your audience, and deciding where to share all that content.

Another aspect we cannot overlook is to initiate contact with content creators and the press. Using our project Everdark as an example, we are currently exploring blogs, YouTube channels, and Twitch profiles that focus on horror games. Particularly if they have an affinity for ‘80s aesthetics or horror B-movies, which are the primary inspirations for our game.

Have you prepared your contact list? Now it’s time to concentrate on what we can provide them. In these situations, the most beneficial step is to have a Press Kit ready. If you browse through many websites from different studios, you’ll often find a Press Kit included, where it’s crucial to add a brief description of the game, images, videos, YouTube links, etc., that showcase your game in the best possible light. We also recommend including the background story of the project and the team. Think of it as a cover letter, so everything anyone needs to know about the game must be present.

Once you send out the emails, it’s vital to follow up. You should always remain courteous, especially if you receive a response. Patience, as long as it is demonstrated with respect and authenticity, can make a difference. If you reach out to someone in the industry, it’s important to convey that you are genuine and share the enthusiasm you have for the project. This effort is not just about generating buzz for the game, but also about establishing connections that may prove valuable now or in the future.

We achieved it, and so can you.

Now that our game, Everdark, has a brand-new Steam page and we’re ready to communicate it to the media and streamers while building a community on social media, we look back and recognize how invaluable it has been to confront all these challenges before completing our research. This experience has provided us with insight into the realities of creating video games and publishing them before facing the harsh market as an independent developer, unlike others who graduate without gaining true, comprehensive experience. Not only that, but this is when perhaps the toughest phase begins; we must now make our game known and attract interest from players and professionals. And we have decided to