Conclusion

That’s really all there is to it. I would also offer the following advice. We don’t e-mail replies to everyone who submits games. If we love the game we obviously reply and begin negotiations. If we do not like the game there usually isn’t any reply at all. It’s got nothing to do with disrespecting you or your game, it has more to do with saving us time and the inevitable argument-reply we get on why we should accept it. Even if you are mistakenly insulted, it is important to follow up with us even when we don’t reply. If you make a new build with significant improvements, submit it again and let us know! We’ll look at it once more. If you make a new game entirely, submit it! Even if we didn’t get back to you on your first game there’s a good chance your second game will be improved enough that we’ll get in touch. That said, if you DO get an e-mail back from a portal that is not a “let’s talk about a contract” but instead focuses on things we liked or wished were improved… take that as a great sign! It means we’re interested but not convinced. This e-mail is the opportunity you have to make the game into something that works for us and likely for other portals as well. I would say about half the e-mails we send of that nature never bear fruit, which translates into an opportunity for you to capitalize.

The final note I deliver is ArcadeTown is not evil. We’re here to make money, and in the process help you the developer make money, too, simple as that. A lot of people seem to have a vision that portals do everything in their power to bleed the developer and that working with a portal is the death knell for direct sales from your site. The opposite is true: when a game goes on a major portal and does well it is almost always coupled with an increase in direct sales on the developer’s site as well. Working with portals should be a win-win situation, and if it is not, let the portal know and try to sort it out. You’ll find that most portals are professional and responsive to your needs; but we can’t fix a problem we don’t know exists!