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SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | https://store.steampowered.com/ | Game Distribution Platform | Hosts game pages, wishlists, playtests, and sales |
| Notion | https://www.notion.so/ | Collaboration & Documentation | Used for Steam capsule brief template |
| SteamKit | https://steamkit.dev/generate-steam-capsules | Design Tool | Generates Steam capsules with AI, first one free |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- Uncertainty about investing in professional capsule art too early
- Limited budget for marketing assets
- Placeholder art creates poor first impressions
- Difficulty building community without polished visuals
- Fear of wasting money if art direction changes later
Problems to Solve:
- When to invest in professional marketing assets during development
- How to build community interest with unfinished visuals
- Balancing budget between game development and marketing
- Creating effective trailers without final art
- Driving wishlists and Steam algorithm visibility
Potential Solutions:
- Create gameplay-focused trailers using placeholder art
- Use ironic/humorous approach to acknowledge temporary visuals
- Prioritize core gameplay development before marketing spend
- Consider lower-cost alternatives like AI tools (SteamKit)
- Wait until art direction is finalized before professional assets
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Building community early through playtests and feedback
- Leveraging Steam algorithms via wishlists and tags
- Using trailers as primary conversion tools
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Gameplay trailers drive more interest than static assets
- Social media shorts (TikTok/Reddit) for visibility
- Wishlist conversion as key Steam algorithm trigger
Monetization & Product:
- Free-to-play model with in-game skin monetization
- Importance of product-market fit validation via playtests
- Pricing professional services (e.g., €500 capsules) vs. ROI
User Engagement:
- Open playtests for feedback and community building
- Reddit/TikTok engagement to gather target audience
- Using humor/transparency about development stage