Hello friendly community again!

I need some advise and would like to learn more about how to pitch a game as well as aspects of marketing.

Mine is a browser game that is WIP but will soon come to completion.

I hear marketing is very important, I was told by a developer friend its a good idea to split profits with a publisher and leave the marketing to them, because I lack experience in marketing.

My question is, (1) is marketing imperative to making sales for the game? (2) how difficult is it to market successfully without experience? (3) Is it then a good idea to find a publisher to handle this?

The next aspect I would like to learn about is pitching. I would like to raise a small amount of funds for the game's development to share risk.

My question in this area is, (1) how does one choose which publisher (i assume its a publisher i should approach) to approach? (2) do you always need a formal professionally made business plan to pitch your game to a publisher? (3) how do you pitch your game's ideas to a publisher without risk of them rejecting you and taking your ideas for their own after?

Thanks for reading my numerous questions! Much appreciation here and many thanks for any questions answered!

Hi Tom,

Thank you for answering the above.

I have follow up questions please.

My game design document, isn't fully complete, although it would say it is 95% complete. There are a few minor rules which are not complete, I also continually edit it as the game development goes.

My questions are:

1. Is it possible to copy-right not totally complete GDDs like mine which I described? Would the copyright apply even after I make some changes to it?

2. For submissions to publishers, do publishers expect a complete GDD? Or would it suffice to simply give them a document detailing the game concept and main features which distinguish it?

3. Publishers seem to be outside my country. Would my country's copyright laws apply if I send my documents outside my country to the publisher, who exists outside my country's boundaries?

Hope to find more answers, all help appreciated thank you.

Hi Tom,

Sorry I did not phrase my question properly. I did read all those links you provided, excluding the comments to them.

The only question I still have doubts about is,

2.a. For submissions to publishers, do publishers expect a complete GDD?

I mean besides the other documents they expect, GDD being one of them, but for the GDD alone itself, does it have to be fully complete? Can it be perhaps 95% complete with a few rules omitted or incomplete?

Help appreciated thanks.

Hey Tom,

Thanks so much for answering so many of my questions on this forum :)