Ten slides you need to pitch your game

  Christophe De bont        13/04/2017

Pitching is an art. Explaining potential partners why they should care about your game is a real balance act. Be too excited and you might lose yourself in petty details. Be too concise and your audience might wonder if you actually have any belief in the project yourself.

Marketing specialist and Silicon Valley VC capitalist Guy Kawasaki argues a pitch should consist of only ten slides to properly introduce your project and secure a second appointment.

1. On your title slide, be sure to mention your company name, your own name and title, address, email and a cell phone number.
2. Next, show what problem you will tackle or what opportunity you’ve seen. Describe the void you’re filling with your project or the specific experience that you plan on providing. Pro tip: your awesome story or unique setting isn’t going to cut it.
3. Immediately follow up with a value proposition, where you explain what the value is of the product you’re presenting.
4. The slide where you explain your technology, unique hook, or other magic behind your project is the most important one. Use images instead of text but be careful with trailers as they can be misguiding. If you have a prototype or anything playable, now is the time to show what you’ve got. If you fail to make an impression during this part of your pitch, interest for the rest of your story will wane.
5. A great product is a good start, but you’ll also have to explain how to transfer money from the public into your (and your investor’s) pocket.
6. In today’s games industry, marketing has never been more important. Explain how you plan to reach out to the market, preferably in an engaging way and without spending a fortune.
7. Explain who you are going up against. Don’t be fooled into thinking that because you have a unique idea, you won’t be facing competition. The indie game community is a tight group, but in the end you’re fighting for the same pool of customers who have limited spare time and financial resources.
8. Now that you’ve established what you want to do, present the key people that you’re working (or would like to work) with.
9. Here’s a harsh truth: VC capitalists don’t care about your projects, as long as it turns a profit. In an ultimate move to get them on board, you can make a three year forecast containing key metrics, such as dollars, units sold and conversion rate.
10. Last but not least, be transparant about the current status of the project. What’s finished and what still needs to be done. Give potential investors a clear understanding of the near future and definitely explain how their money is going to be put to good use