Publisher

Introduction to Publisher Process
The Introduction to Publisher Process is a high level summary that will give the Developer a basic understanding of the Games Publishing Process that is used by YoYo Games. It covers the different stages that the game will go through from being submitted by the developer to release on the final platform.

The Introduction to Publisher Process will not answer all the Developers questions and is only used as a starting point to give the Developer a basic understanding of the publishing process.

The Introduction to Publisher Process is correct at the time of writing. YoYo Games is constantly evolving their processes, please beware that the Introduction to Publisher Process will get updated time to time.

Publishing Process
Shown below (fig 1) is a high level flow chart of the keys steps that each game will go through to get from submission through to being released on the YoYo Games Store and Manufacturer platforms. The requirements for certain stages in this flow chart will vary depending on each platform the game is released on, i.e. releasing a game through the YoYo Games Store on PC and Mac will have minimal submission requirements, where releasing the game as Sony PlayStation Mini will have more submission requirements.



(fig 1) Publishing Process

Game Submission The developer will submit a game candidate through the Submission Option on the main page of the YoYo Games Store website. Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions need to be accepted by the developer before publishing can start. Please make sure you read through and understand them before accepting.

You must be over the age of 18 years or else have your parent's or guardian's consent to submit your Games to the YoYo Games App Store. By submitting your game you therefore confirm that you are over 18 years of age or else have your parent's or guardian's consent and that your parent or guardian has read and agreed to these terms. By submitting a Game you confirm that you understand these terms or have had them explained by a parent or guardian who does.

Product Details and Uploading

The developer submits the games details and uploads the game files. Details include brief description of game, number of levels, the controls, etc... The developer must upload the GMK file and all other source files that the game needs to run correctly.

YoYo Games Initial Selection

Games are selected based on their release potential. YoYo Games review each game for key features and qualities such as game play, quality design, graphical quality, potential to port the game to other platforms, uniqueness, etc...

YoYo Games decides what games go through the initial selection stage, what games fit with our portfolio and what games we believe will technically work for the proposed platforms.

If a game does not go through to the next stage it may be resubmitted at a later date.

YoYo Games Store Release Evaluation

The game is evaluated to specify the development work required to get the game ready to release quality on PC and Mac for sale through the YoYo Games Store.

Once the game has been evaluated, YoYo Games and the developer will create a plan to complete the work needed to achieve release quality.

YoYo Games Store Development

The YoYo Games Store Development stage is the when YoYo Games and the developer work through the plan created in the YoYo Games Publisher Evaluation stage and any additional tasks that may arise through the development stage to get the game into a state ready for submission and release on the YoYo Games Store.

YoYo Games will direct the work over this stage and will have the final decision on signing the game off for release on the YoYo Games Store and other platform specific stores.

YoYo Games Store Release

The game is released on YoYo Games Store where consumers can purchase the game. Once the game is released the net profit is shared between publisher and developer through revenue share.

Manufacturer Release Evaluation

The game is evaluated to outline the development work required to get the game ready for submission with manufactures, such as Sony or Apple.

Once the game has been evaluated, YoYo Games and the developer will create a plan to complete the work need to achieve the criteria to submit the game to a Manufacturer.

Manufacturer Development

YoYo Games and the developer work through the plan created in the Manufacturer Release Evaluation stage and any additional tasks that may arise through the development stage to get the game into a state ready for submission to a manufacturer and release.

YoYo Games will direct the work over this stage and will have the final decision to sign off the game for submission to a manufacturer and release.

Age Rating

On specific platforms and in certain territories an age rating maybe required for the game to be released. For example a game being released in the UK on PlayStation Network will require a PEGI age rating before it can be submitted to the Sony and be released. YoYo Games will organize the age ratings for the games and manage the game through the age rating systems.

Manufacturer Submission

Once the manufacturer development work has been complete and the game is rated (where required) YoYo Games will submit the game to the platform manufacturers.

Manufacturer requirements and submission timelines vary considerably and a game may not pass its first submission.

When a game fails submission for whatever reason, in each case YoYo Games will review the feedback and decided the best course of action.

Game Released to Platform

The final stage of publishing is releasing the game on the manufacturer's platform where the consumer can purchase the game. Once the game is released the net profit is shared between publisher and developer through revenue share.

FAQ
How long will it take to publish my game?
 * The time will vary, listed below are some key factors that will affect the timeline to release a game.
 * The amount of work required to get the game ready for release on each platforms
 * How much work is split between publisher and developer.
 * How much time the developer has available to work on the game, some developers have less time available due to other commitments, thus taking longer to get through the required work.
 * Submission times, for a PSP game you need to have a PEGI age rating in Europe; this can take up to 2 weeks and is needed before you are ready to submit to Sony, which may take an additional 2 weeks.
 * Where the game will fit in YoYo Games Release Schedule

What is Manufacture Submission?
 * Certain platform manufacturers will have requirements that the game will need to have in place before they will release the game on their platform. This is to give the games released on their platform consistency and to ease usability.