Was Not Familiar With Your Game? Now What

Our game involves players navigating a complex world with strategic resource management and tactical combat.

“I was not familiar with your game,” a player admitted, sparking a moment of reflection. It happens; we get so absorbed in creating that it can be easy to forget that not everyone knows what we’re up to. This feedback is actually incredibly helpful for us. It allows us to think about how we communicate about our game better.

Was Not Familiar With Your Game: A Deep Dive

Ever heard that phrase, “I was not familiar with your game”? It might sting a little, especially if you’ve poured your heart and soul into creating something awesome. But, instead of feeling down, let’s look at this from all sides. What does it actually mean when someone says they “were not familiar with your game”? It’s a phrase loaded with potential, and how you react to it can make all the difference. It’s not necessarily a bad thing; it simply means there is a gap between your creation and someone’s awareness of it. Let’s explore all the reasons why someone might not be familiar with your game and, more importantly, how you can turn that unfamiliarity into an opportunity.

Understanding the Meaning of “Not Familiar”

When someone tells you they “were not familiar with your game,” it’s important to understand that there is a spectrum of possibilities. It isn’t just a simple “yes” or “no” on whether they know about it or not. It could mean a variety of things, and diving deeper into these nuances is crucial for effective communication and progress.

The Spectrum of Unfamiliarity

Let’s break down the types of “not familiar” that you might encounter:

Completely Unaware: This is the most straightforward situation. The person has literally never heard of your game before. No marketing, no mentions, nothing. It’s like you’re talking about a secret project no one knows about.
Vaguely Aware: Here, the person might have heard the name of your game before, maybe through a quick mention somewhere, but they don’t know anything about it. They can’t tell you what it’s about, how it’s played, or what makes it special. They’re vaguely aware, like a whisper in the wind.
Misinformed Awareness: In this case, they think they know your game but the information they have is inaccurate or incomplete. They might have seen a badly explained preview or gotten some details wrong. This means they have some idea about your game, but not the correct one.
Aware but Unengaged: The person knows about your game, they’ve seen trailers or read about it, but they haven’t taken the step to try it. Something might be holding them back, like they aren’t sure it’s for them or they haven’t found the time.

Why the Distinction Matters

Knowing which type of “not familiar” you’re dealing with is vital because it changes how you approach the situation. If someone is completely unaware, you need to focus on getting the word out. If they are misinformed, you need to correct any misunderstandings. And if they are aware but unengaged, you need to show them why your game is worth their time.

Factors Leading to Unfamiliarity

There are many reasons why someone might not be familiar with your game. Understanding these reasons can give you valuable insight into how to better reach your intended audience. Let’s look at some of the most common factors.

Lack of Marketing Reach

One of the most basic reasons for unfamiliarity is a lack of marketing reach. If people don’t see or hear about your game, they can’t become familiar with it. Here are some aspects of marketing reach to consider:

Limited Budget: A smaller budget limits your ability to advertise widely. You might not have the money for big ads, social media campaigns, or partnerships with influencers.
Target Audience Misidentification: Are you targeting the right people? If your marketing efforts aren’t reaching your ideal player, then it’s no wonder they don’t know about your game.
Ineffective Messaging: Even if you are putting ads out, if your message isn’t clear or compelling, it won’t make people want to learn more.
Missed Platforms: You might have been heavily focusing on one platform while your target audience is on a different one. Make sure your advertising efforts are on the relevant platforms.

Niche Appeal

Sometimes, a game’s niche appeal can contribute to unfamiliarity. Not all games are designed for everyone, and that’s okay. However, the more specific your game’s focus, the more difficult it might be to reach a broad audience:

Specific Genre: If your game is in a very specific or less popular genre, the player base might be smaller and harder to find.
Unique Mechanics: If your game has very unique and different game play, it might be appealing to a smaller group of people, and it will take time to find the right people to target it to.
Theme or Setting: Some game themes or settings have a limited appeal. It can be very difficult to gain the interest of people that are not usually interested in these things.

Competition

The games market is very crowded. There are constantly new games releasing, and standing out from the crowd is more challenging than ever:

Over saturation: With so many games to choose from, it’s easy for your game to get lost in the crowd. There is so much competition out there, you have to try hard to gain some attention.
Similar Games: If there are other games that have similar mechanics or style to yours, people may gravitate towards those. You need to try hard to set your game apart.
Big budget competition: Competing with established game developers that have bigger marketing budgets can be really hard. They can buy their way to the top, but that does not mean your game is not better.

Lack of Word-of-Mouth

Word-of-mouth is still a powerful marketing tool. If people aren’t talking about your game, it’s going to be harder for new people to discover it. Here are some reasons for poor word-of-mouth:

Unclear or Confusing Game Design: It’s hard to talk about or describe a game that is too complex or doesn’t have a clear goal.
Lack of Community Engagement: If players aren’t excited or interested to share, they won’t.
Not Enough Players: You can’t gain a good reputation or word-of-mouth if people are not playing your game.

Timing and Availability

Sometimes, it’s just a matter of timing. Your game might be great, but the circumstances might not be in your favor:

Release Timing: Releasing your game at the same time as a highly anticipated big title can make it harder to gain attention.
Platform Availability: If your game is not available on the platforms where the player is active, they won’t be able to discover or play it.
Geographic Restrictions: Some game stores are not available for certain regions, making your game unavailable to these players.

Turning Unfamiliarity into an Opportunity

Okay, so someone “was not familiar with your game.” Instead of getting discouraged, you can turn this into a chance to improve. This can be an opportunity to re-evaluate your strategy, increase your marketing efforts, or to engage with your community better. Let’s look at some approaches.

Refining Your Pitch

When faced with unfamiliarity, your “pitch” for the game can make a big difference. How do you explain your game to someone new? You might want to try these things:

Clear and Simple Explanation: If someone doesn’t know about your game, they need a quick and easy explanation. What is the core concept, and what is the goal of the game? Avoid jargon and complicated terms.
Highlight What Makes You Unique: What makes your game different from all others? Why should a player want to try yours over other games? Make sure you show people what sets your game apart from other games.
Compelling Visuals: People will understand more when they can see it in action. Use videos, screenshots, and trailers to show what the game is all about.

Boosting Your Marketing Efforts

If people are not familiar with your game, it’s time to think about your marketing plan. There are several things that can help to improve your marketing efforts:

Social Media Engagement: Regularly post content on social media. Engage with your audience, and interact with them. This helps build familiarity and excitement.
Influencer Outreach: Work with influencers and content creators. They can show your game to their audience and bring in new players.
Targeted Ads: Make sure that you are reaching the right audience with your ads. You don’t want to be advertising to people that will never like your game.
Public Relations: Reach out to gaming news websites, blogs and podcasts and try to get coverage on your game.
Community Engagement: Engage and grow your own community. They will help by spreading the word about your game.

Engaging Directly With New Players

When someone expresses unfamiliarity, it can also be a chance to engage them personally:

Be Open and Welcoming: When someone says they don’t know your game, don’t get defensive. Be welcoming to the potential player and ready to explain it.
Offer a Demo or Trial: Let them try your game. A hands-on experience can be better than any explanation.
Collect Feedback: Use feedback to improve the game and communication. Ask new players what they think. What is good? What could be better?

Learning from the Situation

Each time someone is not familiar with your game, consider it a lesson to learn from. What can you do better next time?

Analyze Data: Collect and understand user data. See how many people are discovering your game. Check your game analytics, and find where you might be missing the mark.
Seek Feedback: Don’t be afraid to ask for input from others. What did they think of the game and why did they hear about it or not?
Adapt and Evolve: Be ready to change your game or your marketing plan based on what you learn.

Focus on Community

Building a strong community is key for long term success. Here’s how to focus on your community:

Create a Community Forum: Create a space for players to interact with each other. You can do this on many platforms.
Active Communication: Be active in your community. Communicate with your players. Listen to their input.
Organize Events: Try organizing different events, either in game, or in real life. This keeps the community engaged and excited.

Real-World Examples and Case Studies

To further illustrate the “was not familiar” scenario, let’s look at some examples and what creators have done in similar situations.

The Indie Game Success

Imagine a small indie game developer makes a unique puzzle game. At first, it does not gain traction. People “were not familiar with the game”. But then, the developer starts creating short video clips that highlight how unique the puzzle design is. They engage directly with viewers by offering a free demo. Soon, these potential players begin talking about the game, and new fans come from different platforms, even from across the globe. Through consistent engagement and a demo, the developer went from unknown to a well-recognized game. They were able to turn their un-familiarity issue into a chance to grow.

The Revived Classic Game

Another example is of a classic game that was brought back, but younger players have never heard of it. The development team decides to make short videos and posts that explain the basic ideas of the game, highlighting what makes it fun and exciting. They also reach out to streamers and content creators who like retro games. Soon, more and more young players became excited about the game. They successfully turned the “unfamiliarity” into an opportunity to reintroduce a great game to a new audience.

The Open Source Game

Consider an open-source project that is free, but because it is not advertised, it does not gain any traction. The creators then start attending different game conventions, and they show how the game works to different players. They make posts online, explaining that it is open source, and allowing other people to contribute. They also highlight that the game is completely free. Soon, more and more players start showing interest and getting involved with the game. They made people who “were not familiar with the game” turn into loyal players.

Key Takeaways from These Examples

These examples show a few key strategies:

Show, Don’t Just Tell: Visuals and direct experiences are more effective than just explaining.
Community is Key: A strong community can make a big difference in long term growth.
Be Persistent: Success takes time and effort. Don’t give up easily.

By understanding these concepts, we can all learn how to react when someone says “was not familiar with your game.” You can turn this into a chance to grow, learn and improve your game and marketing strategy.

The phrase “was not familiar with your game” isn’t a dead end. It’s a starting point. It signals that there’s room for improvement in awareness, communication, or engagement. By understanding the reasons behind this unfamiliarity, refining your game’s pitch, and actively reaching out to new potential players, you can change that “not familiar” into a “fan” or someone who is eager to play. This can help you in the future and give you a chance to build a thriving player base. The goal is not just to be known, but to be loved by the people who discover your work.

Shaq Wasn't Familiar With Devin Booker's Game 💀

Final Thoughts

Overall, the key strategies discussed revolved around engaging new players effectively. We talked about the importance of clear tutorials and a gentle learning curve. The goal is to make the experience welcoming.

This approach should help you grow your player base. We understand that many people, potentially, was not familiar with your game, hence the need for this focus. Effective onboarding is a must for success.