[Series] Screenshots - Advice, Representing your game Options

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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-
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