[Series] Screenshots - Advice, Representing your game Options

[Holder]

Introduction

I wrote this a while ago (back in 2007) and well I've no idea why I didn't post it from the main page onto here, so after three years here's an article I wrote concerning Screenshots, enjoy.

Screenshots

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this is very much true about the screenshots you decide to show. These represent your game, great care should be taken when selecting what to show within your topic. Wrong situations or place could very well give the impression that your game is dull, boring and done many times before - however on the flip side if selected correctly then screenshots can make your game an instant critical hit.

Showing development images or work in progress shots should also be handled in the very same way, this may be a difficult to do. Try to present them as best you can by. Making it clear as to what you are working on, you wouldn't want feedback from people spotting general errors elsewhere and focusing upon them instead of what you want them to give advice or constructive criticism on. Either point out within the post or on the actual screenshot itself of what area's you're main focus point is, having a shot centred on the point you'd like people to focus on isn't really enough as eye's wander.

Whatever type of screenshot you are showing take great care to avoid having any obvious spelling errors, although when the audience is world wide then there are some unavoidable spelling issues, such as; colour being the English way to spell it, and color being the American way of spelling of the word. If you're unsure on certain words or phrases then google can be a great friend to you, look the word up, see if there's anything in a thesaurus which would make a sentence sound better. Choice of words within a screenshot showing text is key to get people to read it and make them want to read more within your game.

Try not to give much at all away from showing screen shots, such as story or events. As an example you wouldn't want to show your party fighting someone who the player thinks is on their side, this would give away part of the story that's best kept within the game.

You may be wanting to show an area the you think is the best you've ever created and is the most fantastic place in the game, this can also have a negative effect on the player, although it would make them want to play your game but when they actually do and the area they start off in is nothing like that then they would feel rather disappointed. They've seen the best, why do they want to see the rest?

That's the best thing to consider concerning this part. Always keep that in mind and keep a few cards up your sleeve.

A good thing to show within screenshots is variation, no matter how you're showing your game. Within a single screenshot, variation shows that the area won't be boring and repetitive and makes the player want to try it out to explore further. Multiple screenshots can be wasted if you don't include some variation in them, it won't make people want to play the game if all the can see are screenshots after screenshots of the same area and they all look the same.

From time to time including some text helps, it keeps the viewer looking at your screen shot for longer because there's something there to read, they might end up spotting some nice little extras you've included. After all it doesn't take long to spot mistakes but look for a bit longer and then they'll start to see those nice little touches you've included.

Avoid the detailed "Here is what's going on text" below the screen shot. It's best kept short after all your wanting people to play your game to find these things out and by not keeping anything back your basically telling them the story at that point, either that or you'll just end up boring them with information they don't need or want to know at this time.

As a final note about screenshots, you may want to dazzle and amaze people but if you want them to play your game all the way through, make sure your game lives up to it right from the start.

Hope this is useful to everyone here at R3. Any C&Cs are welcome, about this and or future articles you'd like to see.
Farewell and stay safe-
Holder

[Holder]

60 views and hopefully advice has been taken.
I know my articles are for mainly reading but some C&C would help
Anything that could improve on this and or future ones?

[Ninjuit]

Haha, you're articles are always insightful Holder. This one is particularly good.

Uhm, you've pretty much covered everything you can about screenshots, but on the variety note, I suggest you directly say that taking screenshots of DIFFERENT areas, rather than 3 screenshots from your favorite area is one of the best things to do. Currently, for Blade's End, I only have one screenshot from the new edition of the game (v3) even though I have around 30 maps. Why? Because it's all the same general location and taking more screenshots from the same area would be boring. I'm waiting until I start mapping, say a cave, or a couple of houses before I take more screenshots.

Another thing with screenshots that I see a lot, is newbs taking screenshots of the stupidest places. For example, 18 screenshots from you battle system, 12 screenshots from your BARELY CUSTOM menu system that probably looks like crap, and then like 2 screenshots from actual in game maps. Honestly, not too many people in the RM community care about your interfaces unless they are 100% custom and probably picture based. Don't waste your time taking screenshots like that because it doesn't help...It actually pisses [me] people off.

AND

Don't put screenshots into individual spoilers. Nuff said.

[Chibichan]

Very good holder! now i know how to do screenshots!


But seriously, pretty good tut ya got here. It helps a lot, and im sure n00bs will get something out of it.