Hello everyone! This is cowbunny, one of the devs of Timecrest, our story-based game designed with accessibility first, winning several AppleVis awards including best game and best developer!
We want to get the word out about Timecrest to everyone who would enjoy playing it. Are there any forums, magazines, podcasts, or anywhere else that you frequent where you'd like to Timecrest featured or advertised? We want to reach more low-vision and blind people, and wanted your advice on where we should go or who we should contact.
Any ideas? We'd love your feedback!
Comments
Mastodon?
I'm wondering if you might have very good luck on Mastodon, not only for the VI community but for people as a whole. There are some lovely folks there both making and playing games, and I think your commitment to both accessibility and storycraft would fit right in! You also might have already done this, in which case my apologies!
Question
I know this is off topic but are you planning on making a Timecrest for both Mac and android and maybe Windows as well
Audiogames.net
If it's not already there
@Faerie Thanks for the…
@Faerie Thanks for the suggestion for Mastodon. We're not super familiar with it, could you direct us on any particular servers or people to follow?
@Dominic We have not made any announcement around Mac, Android, or Windows. We've always wanted to be on Android, but with a small 2-person team, we have been more focused on developing new content instead of building on new platforms. We hope you understand.
@Curly Great idea! I think we posted on Audiogames.net a long time ago, but we should definitely continue the conversation.
Also a question - if there's…
Also a question - if there's anything keeping you from recommending Timecrest to everyone you know, what would it be that makes you pause?
The only thing that comes to my mind
Okay, I do know what I'm talking about and how challenging this can be, but I have many blind friends who speak Turkish but not English. I could have recommended them to play Timecrest had the game been translated into Turkish, but as I said, translating such a whole story won't really be easy.
Thanks for letting us know!…
Thanks for letting us know! You're right that translating over 640,000 words is not a simple task, but I really appreciate you helping us to know that Turkish should be one of the languages we consider if and when we undertake translation.
Mastodon servers
Mastodon.art and Peoplemaking.games spring immediately to mind as potential places to be. There are likely others I'm forgetting, as well. If you'd like, I can put some feelers out to some people who I know suggest really safe, supportive sservers.
There is a Youtube channel…
There is a Youtube channel called The Book Leo, where she talks about a variety of books and does reviews. I know Timecrest is technically a game, but since it is a book of sorts she might be willing to talk about it.
I also know a blind influencer called Molly Burke who talks a lot about accessibility and inclusivity. I'm not entirely sure if she would do a full video on Timecrest, but maybe you could ask her to do a reel on Instagram?
The only other suggestion I have would be to make a podcast on Spotify about the game. Hope these suggestions help
@jelly_beans_1 Thank you so…
@jelly_beans_1
Thank you so much for these suggestions! The Book Leo and Molly Burke sound like great people for us to contact. We'll look into it. I also hear you on the Spotify podcast.
The only way we can get more content (including Timecrest 4) for you all faster is to get the word out about Timecrest to as many people as possible. This is more helpful than you can imagine. If you have any other ideas or suggestions, we're super receptive. Please let us know!
Podcast
I know a podcast that would be interested. It's called Living Blindfully.
https://www.livingblindfully.com/opinion/
https://www.livingblindfully.com/advertise/
@Matthew Whitaker Thank you…
@Matthew Whitaker
Thank you for the suggestion! We'll try to get in touch with Living Blindfully.
I wanted to thank everyone…
I wanted to thank everyone for their suggestions. We have a few new leads and hope to be on some podcasts and doing a few more interviews. If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know as we're always looking to follow more threads to get the word out.
I'm not sure if any of these…
I'm not sure if any of these could work, but maybe you guys could post a few YouTube shorts showing snippets from the game? This could be affective, since shorts tend to reach a lot of people, where long form content is usually recommended and clicked on more by current subscribers. You could also do payed advertising on Instagram or YouTube to get the game seen by more people, but there's no assurance that people would download the game, and it would probably cost a lot. The only other thing I can think of is if you asked people who have left book reviews on GoodReads or otherwise to read through Timecrest and leave an honest review much like ARC readers, but again I'm not sure if this would be worthwhile. Either way, I hope you can find ways to introduce more people to this amazing game, it deserves more recognition.
@riverangell Thanks for the…
@riverangell
Thanks for the suggestion to post YouTube shorts and paid advertising and what we can do with Goodreads.
I really appreciate it and we'll continue to explore all of these marketing avenues. Please let us know if you have any other ideas, we're listening!
Suggestions
In addition to Molly Burke, you could also try contacting Lucy Edwards. She's also another blind YouTuber. She normally does a lot of lifestyle content, but she could probably promote the game with a reel across her social media platforms if you introduce her to it.
Also, I love the suggestion of using Goodreads to promote the game.
You could also try contacting some main stream individuals, with disabilities, outside of blindness. I can't think of anyone specifically at the moment, but you never know who might be responsive to what you're putting out there.
A friend of mine says that they would love to see you as a guest on the Zach Sang show one day though.
Thank you
Thank you for all of your recommendations. We've been trying to get in touch with a variety of content creators and podcasts based on your recommendations above and those sourced from our social media follows.
We've done a few interviews now on a few shows:
Blind Abilities just put out our interview today.
http://blindabilities.com/?p=7950
Mobile Accessible Games series
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjxT9gHKz2o
And we've recorded with Living Blindfully and expect to see that edited together sometime in the coming weeks.
If you'd like to see us collaborate with more content creators and shows and podcasts, please continue to use this thread to let us know who we should reach out to, and we'll try our best to get on and talk more about Timecrest!
Eyes on Success
I'm not sure if you've already tried this podcast, but Peter and Nancy might want to interview you on their show.
https://www.eyesonsuccess.net/
@Chris I appreciate your…
@Chris
I appreciate your suggestion we go on Eyes on Success, great recommendation!
We're actually already in touch with them and working out if we might be able to come on their show. So hope we can get something for you soon.
Sam with The Blind Life/Apple Podcasts and Audible
Hello,
I have a bunch of suggestions here! I love the game, by the way and wish you would get back on X--formerly Twitter. However, what about contacting Sam with The Blind Life? He's on Youtube, but also Newdeath Gaming and Illegally Sighted might be able to help with youtube content--previewing the game and all. However, what about iTunes with the TimeCrest Today podcast or that same podcast on Audible or iHeart Radio? I know it would be extremely difficult, but what about having the original story read by people on audible--someone like Michael Cramer or Anthony Heald, should he still be alive. What about Jim Dale as a narrator, either on audible or the NLS/BARD service--the original story would work well there, as Dale creates his own character voices. Alsok on NLS, you might be able to talk about the "book" on the discussion forum A Banquet of Books/Fiction Old and New as well as maybe A Journey Through History. These forums are on the groups.io platform, and the e-mail address is with BARD--the Braille Audiobook Reading and Download service/National Library Service for the Blind and Print-disabled. Local Talking Book and Braille libraries might be willing to transcribe the story--at least in Braille, or at le ast part of the story as Braille is larger than print and takes many physical volumes for that much content. Have you tried partnering with 88.3 The Wind? I know they're a Christian organization, but maybe, they might be able to help you spread the word somehow/how about making your own radio program/having players of the game wear things from said game to promote in their communities? You could do skits in schools and all sorts of things to promote your game, right? What about the author, herself, narrating tis on Audible? Many people do that nowadays, and it might get people talking--of course, someone would've had to played the game fully first ... probably Ms. Sky herself, right? Then, you could have interview bits at the end of the book--it would be considered a book, I guess--so ... Too bad we can't get one of the characters to read it from their own viewpoint. Hire a bunch of actors and things and ... make a movie? They could be players of their own TC characters haha!
Re: Eyes On Success
@CowBunny and
@cowbunny and @Chris,
Pete here from Eyes On Success. The episode (#2342) in which we interviewed Justin Ng about Timecrest will be airing this Wednesday, October 18. If you're not subscribed to the podcast, you will also be able to download the episode from:
www.EyesOnSuccess.net
You can also get weekly announcements of upcoming shows by sending an e-mail to:
EyesOnSuccess+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com
Enjoy!
--Pete
Eyes On Success
@peter
The episode turned our really well, and we really appreciate you having us on your show! I hope everyone here checks it out. We had a lot of fun talking about Timecrest and even giving writing tips!
Thanks for so many suggestions!
@Ashleigh Piccinino
Thank you so much for such an exhaustive list of Youtubers, podcasts, services, and suggestions. It will take us some time to work down your list, but I just want to say I really appreciate how many ideas and how much detail you have provided us! It's truly wonderful that the community is helping us get the word out about Timecrest, you have been a big help!
Question
Is it possible that I could interview, or something like zoom or something like that, and upload our interview to my YouTube channel? I would like to ask you some questions that might be able to benefit both not only the blind community yourself myself but also love yours.
You are welcome!
Hello,
You're welcome for those comments earlier. Since the amusement park Silver Dollar City, in Branson, MO--Missouri--already has a ride named Time Traveler, and they have a litttle gift shop related to it outside the end point of the ride, how about some hand-made TC merchendise? Of course, the H.E staff--Hershin Entertainment, that is--would have to know about the story and all first. Of course, this wouldn't really work as the park's themed in the Old West and all, but it could at least get the word out about the story, right? Also, what about having the game soundtrack on Apple Music/Amazon music, for purchase or streaming? What about having same soundtrack performed on park at Echo Holow, still in Branson Missouri with a live band? H.E is already thinking of the future/expanding the park, so how about a Timecrest section--doesn't need to contain rides, though but places similar to those in the game but keeping the park's name and theme in mind somehow. These are just suggestions--pretty sure H.E wouldn't go for it even though they have the dough--money, that means.
@Dominic Please email…
@Dominic
Please email support@sneakycrab.com about the interview and we can discuss!
@Matthew Whitaker
Thanks to your recommendation, I'm happy to say that our episode of Living Blindfully is now available! (https://www.livingblindfully.com/episode-259its-not-easy-being-a-blind-pedestrian-more-thoughts-on-a-third-party-screen-reader-for-macos-and-justin-ng-from-sneaky-crab-talks-about-timecrest/)
@Ashleigh Piccinino
Thank you for letting us know about the Silver Dollar City amusement park, and your interest in our collaboration with them since they have a Time Traveler ride. Thank you for your feedback and interest in a soundtrack. We'll keep these ideas in mind!