Is there a point in uploading a game on Steam?

[Zinnynia]

I actually have no idea whether this question has been asked before, as I.. don't really go on Steam very often and lowkey have no idea how to use Steam and stuff 💀💀💀

Anyways, I'm planning on creating a Visual Novel game, as I bought Visual Novel Maker when it had a sale, and realized that I could put some use into it. Now this leads to my question:
Is there a point in uploading my game on Steam? I'm unsure if people would even play it, as there's plenty of other better games for people to get.

If I eventually do decide to upload my game on Steam, should I not make it Free? I know that the question sounds dumb, but I'm unsure, as I heard that Steam fees you with $100 to upload a game or something.

[Phénomènes Mystiques]

If you have $100 to spend and the thought of possible immortality doesn't scare you, I would say there is a point. :p

[Crazy Tiger]

Steam has a very large userbase. So you have a good chance people will find, play and/or buy your game (depending on whether you make it free or not). I'd say that might be point enough.

[wuddih]

A B C ...
make your game first and then think about what you can do with it.

[Lithurge]

If nothing else it gives you experience and something to put on your CV. Just be prepared to deal with criticism, even if it's free.

[Ducks on Fire]

The benefit is a large user base so a larger number of potential players. If you just want to put your game out there to be played, even for free then it might be a better idea to try and find a site dedicated to visual novels and either host a download there, or use a file host and just link people to it. While the large user base is a plus when you are able to properly market a game it does mean that if you just quietly release something, especially something like a visual novel, it can easily get lost in the sea of other products and unless it's a great game whose reputation can spread and bring it more players that's very likely what will happen. So at the very least if you do decide to release on Steam be prepared to have to do the work marketing it to get people to actually notice it.

Also what wuddih said. ABC Always Be Contemplating how to release your game after you've actually made it.

[nullable]

If you don't believe in your work, then no, probably no point. If you think it's good, and people agree, who knows. Just manage your expectations. And don't expect reviews, or purchases to happen on your schedule.

[Zinnynia]

Originally posted by Ducks on Fire:

The benefit is a large user base so a larger number of potential players. If you just want to put your game out there to be played, even for free then it might be a better idea to try and find a site dedicated to visual novels and either host a download there, or use a file host and just link people to it. While the large user base is a plus when you are able to properly market a game it does mean that if you just quietly release something, especially something like a visual novel, it can easily get lost in the sea of other products and unless it's a great game whose reputation can spread and bring it more players that's very likely what will happen. So at the very least if you do decide to release on Steam be prepared to have to do the work marketing it to get people to actually notice it.

Also what wuddih said. ABC Always Be Contemplating how to release your game after you've actually made it.

Ah, alright! Thanks! I was really confused when wuddih said "ABC." (Because idk what that means, so um. 💀) I'll keep this in mind as I work on the game's OST and story. And once I do finish the game, I'll look into marketing and stuff.

[Zinnynia]

Originally posted by nullable:

If you don't believe in your work, then no, probably no point. If you think it's good, and people agree, who knows. Just manage your expectations. And don't expect reviews, or purchases to happen on your schedule.

I'll keep this in mind! Thanks! I suppose I have some idea on how I could execute this.. anyways, again, thank you!

[Zinnynia]

Originally posted by Lithurge:

If nothing else it gives you experience and something to put on your CV. Just be prepared to deal with criticism, even if it's free.

What is... CV? 😭 Umm. Anyways, I'll be prepared to deal with criticism! I do music and art, so I'm quite use to criticism. Thanks for the response, though!

[Lithurge]

Originally posted by Fubuki:

What is... CV? 😭 Umm. Anyways, I'll be prepared to deal with criticism! I do music and art, so I'm quite use to criticism. Thanks for the response, though!

CV = Curriculum Vitae. The document you write about yourself to hand to prospective employers to show the skills and experience you have.

Developing and marketing a game will definitely be a good thing to put on there.

Good luck.

[cinedine]

Originally posted by Lithurge:

Originally posted by Fubuki:

What is... CV? 😭 Umm. Anyways, I'll be prepared to deal with criticism! I do music and art, so I'm quite use to criticism. Thanks for the response, though!

CV = Curriculum Vitae. The document you write about yourself to hand to prospective employers to show the skills and experience you have.

Developing and marketing a game will definitely be a good thing to put on there.

Good luck.

Counterpoint: it is not.

Showing your prospective employer that you also have other avenues to make money, that you might care more about than the job you are applying for is not wise. This side-gig being associated with working late hours and you possibly not being at your best condition to work is even worse.
Even worse if you apply in the industry related to that side-gig. E.g. a game development study might be wary that you hold back on ideas for their projects to use them in your own. OR as simply as you using company ressources like licenses or alloted quota for your own project.

HIGHLY depending on the employer. But as said something associated with long hours or late work and you making money from it, is usually not favourable.
Same as a job that requires you to be mobile on your own two feet will not be keen on applicants listing snowboarding or skiing - two sports associated with a high risk of broken bones.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by Fubuki:

I actually have no idea whether this question has been asked before, as I.. don't really go on Steam very often and lowkey have no idea how to use Steam and stuff 💀💀💀

Anyways, I'm planning on creating a Visual Novel game, as I bought Visual Novel Maker when it had a sale, and realized that I could put some use into it. Now this leads to my question:
Is there a point in uploading my game on Steam? I'm unsure if people would even play it, as there's plenty of other better games for people to get.

If I eventually do decide to upload my game on Steam, should I not make it Free? I know that the question sounds dumb, but I'm unsure, as I heard that Steam fees you with $100 to upload a game or something.

No point, I doubt that you would get that $100 back tbh.

[Pierce Dalton]

Originally posted by wuddih:

A B C ...
make your game first and then think about what you can do with it.

Not necessarily, promoting their game before its release is something most indie devs do to build hype.

[Infinitum Sage]

As someone that's been an indie developer for a long while, most of that failing at it ... you're basically going to need one of two magic scenarios to take place if you hope to be successful.

1. You already have an existing fan base or group of people that are interested in seeing your body of work.
2. Your product goes viral, gets immediate media/viewer traction and you become an overnight success.

Steam has thousands upon thousands of products listed right now, so the chances of being randomly successful outside of those two scenarios are IMO slim.

At the end of the day if making a game makes you happy, do it!!! It's a far more harmless way to spend your time than some.

Listing on Steam is relatively painless although you'll need to pay the $100 fee.

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by Pierce Dalton:

Originally posted by wuddih:

A B C ...
make your game first and then think about what you can do with it.

Not necessarily, promoting their game before its release is something most indie devs do to build hype.

Most indie dev's don't promote their game before its at least a chunk of the way done, as promoting something and then not releasing it for a long time is a good way to kill the hype and waste the effort you spent in promoting it.

Originally posted by Fubuki:

I actually have no idea whether this question has been asked before, as I.. don't really go on Steam very often and lowkey have no idea how to use Steam and stuff 💀💀💀

Anyways, I'm planning on creating a Visual Novel game, as I bought Visual Novel Maker when it had a sale, and realized that I could put some use into it. Now this leads to my question:
Is there a point in uploading my game on Steam? I'm unsure if people would even play it, as there's plenty of other better games for people to get.

If I eventually do decide to upload my game on Steam, should I not make it Free? I know that the question sounds dumb, but I'm unsure, as I heard that Steam fees you with $100 to upload a game or something.

Honestly OP i'd say if you want to do it, make it either free with some cheap DLC, or make it like $.99

Honestly advertise its your first game on the page, and if you want to advertise you can try to reach out to any youtubers or twitch users who stream VN games and offer them a freee copy and some copies to give away in exchange for promoting, worst they can say is no.

At $.99 decent odds you'll get some buys from impulse purchases.