Back to the studio file
The first 100 players.
Make fans first with the free demo, then sell the full game later. Money comes after players.
The 90 day goal (target)
100
players in 90 days
Money now
$0
First full release (estimate)
about $50 to $150
Every money number marked estimate is a guess to test, not a fact. Real numbers come from real players.
A studio of one.
A funny ghost duo, your own name in the story, and art drawn by the founder.
- Game website with logo, cast and story pagesLive
- Playable demo: name and pronouns, school dare, haunted house, piano, hallway, NikoLive
- Choices that change Niko's moodLive
- 2 endings: "Dare Complete!" and "To Be Continued..."Live
- Choice Log: jump back and try another pathLive
- Piano music (an old public domain recording)Live
- Koii's own character drawingsLive
- Meet the Cast page, ready for voice actors and artistsLive
- Part 2, voices, a download versionNot yet
Funny ghosts, not cruel ones.
Big free visual novels
Doki Doki Literature Club
Ghosted: Ghosted is a comedy first. The ghosts are funny, not cruel.
Spooky story games
Oxenfree, Night in the Woods
Ghosted: Short, free and plays in the browser. No download.
Small itch.io visual novels
Thousands of jam games
Ghosted: You play as YOU, and Niko remembers how you treat him.
free to $5
What typical small indie visual novels on itch.io cost.
1 in 100
About 1 in every 100 downloads paid, from one indie visual novel maker's shared numbers. Free demos almost never get paid.
10%
The itch.io default share of each sale. The seller picks it.
The demo stays free.
Full game
about $80
estimate
Pay what you want with a small minimum, on itch.io.
Price: $3 to $5 (estimate). 1,000 downloads, 2 in every 100 pay $4: 20 x $4.
Extras for fans
about $20
estimate
An art book of Koii's character drawings, or wallpapers.
Price: about $2 each (estimate). 10 fans buy one.
Game bundles
$0 to $50
estimate
Themed itch.io bundles (spooky ones every October) share money between many games.
Price: shared. Small, but it brings new players.
Small on purpose.
Full game
about $80 (estimate)
Extras for fans
about $20 (estimate)
Game bundles
$0 to $50 (estimate)
Total
about $50 to $150 (estimate)
What it costs
- Website and hostingNow$0Later$0
- Pictures made with JARVISNowInside the $5 image budgetLaterSame
- itch.io pageNow$0 to start (10% default share per sale)LaterSame
- Voice actorsNow$0 if friends volunteer for creditLaterAsk each one for a price first
- Koii's timeNowLotsLaterLots
One step at a time.
Weeks 1 to 2
First players
5finish the demo (target)
- Send the demo link to 10 people who like spooky stories.
- Ask 2 questions: "Did you finish it?" and "Which ending did you get?"
Weeks 3 to 6
Show the game
25players (target)
- A parent posts 1 short game clip a week. The kit has 5 ready.
- A short devlog every 2 weeks: what changed, one new drawing.
Weeks 7 to 12
Part 2 and itch.io
100players (target)
- Write and build Part 2. The demo stays 20 to 40 minutes.
- With a parent, a free itch.io page for the demo.
- Fill 1 voice actor spot on Meet the Cast (stage name, parent OK).
Four ways in.
01
10 friends first
Friends, classmates and family who like spooky stories, anime and games. One sitting, phone or laptop.
02
Game clips
A parent posts 1 short clip a week. The content kit has 5 ready to go.
03
Devlogs
A short post every 2 weeks: what changed, plus one new drawing.
04
itch.io
Later, a free demo page made with a parent, where visual novel fans look.
Numbers to track
The first number to watch is “finished the demo”, not money.
- People who playedIs anyone finding it?Count each week
- People who finishedIs the story good enough to keep going?Ask testers
- Which ending they gotAre the choices working?Ask testers
- Followers on the game pageFans for the full game0
- MoneyComes last$0
Built in, always.
- Selling needs a grown-up. itch.io sellers must be 18 or have a parent managing the money part. Until then, everything stays free.
- First names or stage names only, for Koii and every voice actor and artist. No schools, ages, addresses or phone numbers.
- A parent says OK before any post, any voice actor or artist, and before any money moves.
- Only things Koii owns or that are free to use: her drawings, public domain music and budget pictures.
- Say what is made with AI. A few backgrounds were made with JARVIS image tools.
And what to do.
The story gets too big
Keep Koii's own rule: 20 to 40 minutes for the demo. New ideas go on a "Part 3" list.
Nobody plays
Ask 10 friends first. A "no" tells you what to fix.
Mean comments
A parent manages comments. Don't reply to mean ones.
Voice actor or artist safety
Stage names only, parent OK, no private info, all messages through a parent.
Copyright trouble
Only her own art, public domain music and budget pictures.
Three picks.
- 1Full game price: free forever, pay what you want, or a $3 to $5 minimum?Typical small indie visual novels on itch.io: free to about $5.
- 2Part 2 first scene: which open idea from the Discord list?
- 3First extra: an art book of her drawings, or wallpapers?
Three OKs.
- 1Say OK before any game clip is posted.
- 2If Koii sells later: make or manage the itch.io seller account (itch.io requires an adult for the money part).
- 3Approve every voice actor or artist and their stage name before they go on the Meet the Cast page.
Next step: 10 players.
Send the demo to 10 people this week. Count how many finish it.