PSCD art restyle might be done
Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2016 8:12 am
I've mentioned this in the past, but now I'm seriously thinking to go ahead. An art restyle for PSCD (CGs excluded since I think those are OK).
I KNOW that simply an art change can't do miracles. However, just observing Steam stats (I suppose something similar happens on my site but I don't have such advanced tools) makes it quite clear that the first impact of people with art causes less people to just click/visit the game page.
This doesn't mean that more people visiting will translate to more sales
I know it well. But for sure wouldn't hurt. It's also something I'm thinking to do for my own ego haha. I hate to have a game that whenever is mentioned, they say "good gameplay/writing/music but the art... UGH, CREEEPY!"
Anyway, about the stats, I compared PSCD with Roommates (a good title) and Spirited Heart (a very old game!). One year stats. Here are the results:
Roommates = 3,74%
Spirited Heart (6 years old game) = 1,87% clickthrough
PSCD = 0,58% clickthrough!!!
Tag page:
Roommates = 4,24%
Spirited Heart = 2,84%
PSCD = 1,99%
Recommendations Main (more like this, etc):
Roommates = 6,34%
Spirited Heart = 7,51%
PSCD = 2,4%
Note this is just clickthrough, which means: players see the game banner, and with the new Steam system also the game screenshots. Then they click based on what they see. They clearly don't like what they see
When a SIX YEARS OLD game like Spirited Heart gets higher clickthrough... and I just compared those 3. I just quickly looked at Heileen (another game not exactly new): 2,84%. Even Bionic Heart 2 which probably has the less well done art is at 2,13% !!
Heirs & Graces, my other "painted style" game: 3,1%!!
I could go on, but you get it
Of course this is just the long tail and I don't expect miracles, but my idea is that if the game stays the same, if I can get 2-3% more click to the game page (so more potential buyers) over the course of the next 2-3 years... might be worth it.
I haven't made my mind yet, but now that I have 1 year of data, I think it's not a crazy idea as I initially thought!
I KNOW that simply an art change can't do miracles. However, just observing Steam stats (I suppose something similar happens on my site but I don't have such advanced tools) makes it quite clear that the first impact of people with art causes less people to just click/visit the game page.
This doesn't mean that more people visiting will translate to more sales



Anyway, about the stats, I compared PSCD with Roommates (a good title) and Spirited Heart (a very old game!). One year stats. Here are the results:
Roommates = 3,74%
Spirited Heart (6 years old game) = 1,87% clickthrough
PSCD = 0,58% clickthrough!!!
Tag page:
Roommates = 4,24%
Spirited Heart = 2,84%
PSCD = 1,99%
Recommendations Main (more like this, etc):
Roommates = 6,34%
Spirited Heart = 7,51%
PSCD = 2,4%
Note this is just clickthrough, which means: players see the game banner, and with the new Steam system also the game screenshots. Then they click based on what they see. They clearly don't like what they see

When a SIX YEARS OLD game like Spirited Heart gets higher clickthrough... and I just compared those 3. I just quickly looked at Heileen (another game not exactly new): 2,84%. Even Bionic Heart 2 which probably has the less well done art is at 2,13% !!
Heirs & Graces, my other "painted style" game: 3,1%!!
I could go on, but you get it

Of course this is just the long tail and I don't expect miracles, but my idea is that if the game stays the same, if I can get 2-3% more click to the game page (so more potential buyers) over the course of the next 2-3 years... might be worth it.
I haven't made my mind yet, but now that I have 1 year of data, I think it's not a crazy idea as I initially thought!
