Thread by @NeonIain

OK. I am mad enough to burn some bridges. Because honestly, what's the point of a bridge that I am not allowed to cross.

So here is a thread about Platform X. I will not be defining Platform X but it's the operator of a very successful console and does not have Games Pass!

Platform X gives developers no ability to manage their games. In order to get promotion you must jump through hoops, beg and plead for any level of promotion. And a blog is not as good as they think it is.

If Platform X doesn't like your game, no fanfare no feature no love.

There is NOTHING you can do to fix this.

Wishlists have no effect, so all your personal marketing means nothing to Platform X.

All that matters is their evaluation. How is this evaluation done? Dunno, they don't share that, nor will they share the value they ascribe to my game

So before you launch, you need to
1. Develop the game for Platform X
2. Get through their incredibly difficult lotcheck spread over 3 generations of backend software
3. Submit a Platform X specific trailer
4. Write a Platform X Blog which
5. Submit multiple forms for social media

Oh for 3 and 4 you need to go through an account manager, when asked how to get an account manager, we were told

"I'm not sure, they are assigned by resources"

And as we now know, there's no way to know what resource level you have been assigned.

BTW, you cannot even do a launch discount without their approval and it is "very limited"

That's right.... You can't do the thing that ever other platform does meaning the Platform X owners will always get the worst deal!

Oh but don't worry. There is a way to guarantee you get featured! All you need to do is spend a VERY reasonable minimum of 25,000 USD to get featuring. Oh and then 30% of your subsequent earnings....

Bargain!

Now when your game is on the platform, likely without any support from Platform X, you may think, no problem, I can sync up discounts on Platform X with Steam and others...

Wrong!

Discounts are invite only and invites are also "very limited"

It's been literal years since we could put a title of ours in discount, and I spoke to some other VERY POPULAR devs today and they had the same experience.

So even if your game does well at launch and thrives on other platforms, you may still never be invited? Y? who knows?

In conclusion, Platform X is super successful and awesome hardware but their backend and process if straight out of the early 00s.

I have no idea how to succeed on this platform and they wont tell me. Even if I do succeed, they may screw me anyway...

So for any gamers who have wandered in here. Next time you're unhappy about your game never being discounted on Platform X or a game you want not launching on Platform X! Please go and complain to Platform X!

I am going to walk my dogs and calm the fuck down. I may have more thoughts later. I hope not.

And please bear in mind I am an English speaking British guy who can travel the world, attend showcases, shake hands and meet with power in these situations. If this is my experience imagine what it's like for someone without my level of priviledge.

Well, this is certainly a lot of humans, if you all want to play some games and FeedOur.Dog they are all on discount on Steam.