Physical events: Clue, Murder by Death

Why Should a Small Studio Attend Physical Events?

Developing a video game like Clue: Murder by Death from a small studio is an exciting adventure… but also a challenge. We compete in a global market, surrounded by thousands of projects, and becoming visible is essential. In this context, attending physical events is not just a promotional activity: it is a direct investment in the health and future of the project.

After attending three very different events (Gamescom, BCN Game Fest and SAGA), we can say that each of them brought us unique opportunities that we would hardly have achieved by working online alone.

This is our experience.

Gamescom: the gateway to the international market

Gamescom is probably the most important event in Europe in the video game sector. Thousands of professionals, hundreds of publishers and overwhelming media presence. For a small studio, it can be an intimidating environment… but it is also the place where the big opportunities happen.

We participated under the umbrella of Catalan Arts, an initiative that provided us with institutional support and a professional space in the business area. Thanks to this platform we were able to hold B2B meetings with service companies (QA, localization, marketing…), international publishers and some investors.

For us, Gamescom meant:

• Showcasing Clue: Murder by Death in a global environment.

• Comparing our project against professional market standards.

• Building real connections with potential strategic partners.

• Receiving feedback regarding the commercial viability of the game.

In a place like this, every meeting can become a turning point. And some of the conversations we had there continue today.

BCN Game Fest: finding the indie community

BCN Game Fest offered us a welcoming, creative environment focused on the indie scene. This time, with our own booth, we had the chance to present the game face-to-face to other small developers, artists, programmers, designers and specialized professionals.

The roles that usually circulate here are very diverse: indie publishers, QA freelancers, external art teams, marketing specialists, developer communities, students, and an entire ecosystem that shares struggles and ambitions similar to ours.

From BCN Game Fest we highlight:

• The chance to do more horizontal and informal networking.

• Deep conversations with other studios that understand the indie daily life.

• Valuable contacts with professionals offering essential services.

• A first impression of the game’s reception in a creative environment.

It is an event that not only showcases video games, but also creates community and collaborative opportunities.

SAGA: listening to real players

Finally, SAGA was a very different and complementary experience. Here the focus is not so much professional networking as the end user.

We also had a booth, and the main goal was to observe and listen to “real” players: families, young people, adults, people who simply love video games and come to discover new things. The audience at SAGA is family-oriented, intergenerational and very diverse, perfect for validating accessibility, game pace, clarity of mechanics and overall interest.

What we learned at SAGA is priceless:

• How players of very different profiles react to our title.

• Which parts of the gameplay work immediately… and which do not.

• Which narrative elements spark the most curiosity.

• Which details need refinement to make the game more accessible and fun.

This kind of direct feedback is impossible to obtain remotely.

The real value of attending physical events

After this journey through three very different events, we have learned that each type of event provides a specific benefit:

✔ International visibility (Gamescom)
The gateway to publishers, investors and global services.
✔ Connection with the indie creative community (BCN Game Fest)
An ideal place to share experiences, create collaborations and learn from other teams.
✔ Feedback from the final audience (SAGA)
Real, spontaneous validation on how the game is perceived.

When you are a small studio, these experiences not only push the project forward: they also motivate the team and reinforce its sense of direction.

Conclusion: investing in physical presence is investing in the future

Physical events are full of noise, queues, rushing, exhaustion and hours of standing… but they are also full of opportunities that do not come in any other way.

For us, attending Gamescom, BCN Game Fest and SAGA has been a strategic step that has strengthened Clue: Murder by Death on all fronts: commercial, creative and community. It has allowed us to grow as a studio and validate that the project has space, audience and potential.

And above all, it has reminded us that behind every video game there are people. People who play, who collaborate and who help this industry grow.

See you at the next event.

Cocodrolo Games