tips and guidance for publishing your app to the Windows 8 store

1. Lee Stott
Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
Developer & Platform Evangelism
@lee_stott
LeeStott@Microsoft.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/ukmsdn

2. TheWindowsStore

3. HAVE AND USE TO INTERACT
WITH
COMPOSED
OF
RUNNING
ON

4. 1bnSource: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsstore/archive/2011/12/06/announcing-the-new-windows-store.aspx

5. 690mSource: IDC, March 2012

6. 60mSource: IDC, March 2012

7. All-up Windows Annual Sales Volume Worldwide (based on historical trends) – Consumer/Enterprise (millions)
Source: IDC Worldwide Windows Client Operating Environment 2011–2015 Forecast
90.036 102.639 109.396 123.464 137.722 150.776
97.567
112.503
127.188
141.951
158.794
180.905
0
100
200
300
400
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Consumer Enterprise

8. 100 million downloads in the first 2 months

9. WindowsStore:installedbydefaultoneveryPCandPhone

10. Startsat 70%for new apps
Jumpsto 80%
once your app
makes £16,000
RevenueShare

11. Build Your Portfolio

13. Development Environment
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• Development Environment
• You will need Windows 8!
• Free to download as part of DreamSpark Premium
• Dual boot is an option (e.g.
http://tinyurl.com/dualbootgm)
• Install Visual Studio 2012 (Express version is free
http://tinyurl.com/vsexpressgm)

14. Windows Store Developer Account
• Windows Store Developer Account
• Use your DreamSpark account to apply for a free Windows
Store Registration Code (normally $50)
• You still need a credit card (a nominal fee is charged and
refunded to verify your account)
• You’ll also need a bank account to deposit any potential
income earned by your app
• Income from the US to UK is covered by a tax treaty and you
just need to fill in a W-8BEN form online
• comprehensive instructions:
http://tinyurl.com/dreamspark4gm

15. Tools & Resources

16. Design Consideration
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• Design Considerations
• Settings Charm
• Publisher contact details
• Permissions
• Privacy Settings

17. Publishing to Store
• App Submission Process
• Log into your Windows Store Dashboard and select
“Submit an App”
• App Name: Reserve a name for your app
• Selling Details:
• Price and Markets
• Free and just English-speaking territories (or just
UK)
• Paid and just US and UK (or just UK)
• Hardware Requirements
• Available to all systems
• Advanced Features:
• None – just click save

18. Submitting the App

19. App Submission Process
• App Submission Process
• Age Ratings:
• Self-certification
• Formal ratings are optional for most markets
• Getting a PEGI (European) rating is free and easy
http://apps.pegi.eu/Games/Submit
• Avoid Korea, South Africa, Brazil and Taiwan
• The lower the age rating the bigger the market
• Be aware of the content of the game you are
publishing – you are potentially liable...
• Cryptography:
• Select “No” unless you’ve added any encryption

20. Preparing to Create a Package:
• Preparing to Create a Package:
• Launch Visual Studio Express 2012
• Select Store -> Open Developer Account
• Log into your account

21. The Windows Store
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Preparing to Create a Package:
• Launch Visual Studio Express 2012
• Select Store -> Acquire Developer
Licence
• Log into your account

22. The Windows Store
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Preparing to Create a Package:
• Select File->New Project
• Settings are irrelevant, but note the
location
• Select OK

23. The Windows Store
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Preparing to Create a Package:
• Select “Store->Associate App with the
Store”
• Sign in (again!)
• Select your app and Associate it

24. The Windows App Cert Kit
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Creating a Package for Submission:
• In Windows:
• Launch “Windows App Cert Kit”
• You may need to search for it on the first run, but it
should appear on the Start Screen after that
• Select “Validate Windows Store App”
• Select the version of your game/app which doesn’t
have _test at the end of the name
• Wait for the process to complete and address any
failures

25. Testing of your App
• Testing of your Windows Store App
• App Submission Process
• Creating a Package for Submission:
• Common App Cert Kit failures:
• Running the test on the _test (debug) version
• Not enough contrast between foreground text
and background colours

26. Uploading a App
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Creating a Package for Submission:
• Uploading the Package
• Find the .appxupload or .appx files generated
in the output folder you specified on “Create
Application”
• Upload one or the other under “Packages” on
the App Dev Centre
• Once upload is complete it will perform more
automated tests
• Common Failures:
Entering the package /publisher names
incorrectly or using the wrong .pfx file

27. The App Description
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Description:
• Describe your game/App
and upload screenshots
• MUST be 1366x768 resolution images

28. Windows App Failure
• Publishing to the Windows Store
• App Submission Process
• Notes to Testers:
• It is unlikely you will pass on your first submission
• Remember to tell them exactly what you have changed
between each submission.
• Common Failures
• Not having equivalent key/touch controls for everything

29. App Certification
Microsoft’s approach to certification compared to other
platforms
Certification ensures that apps
in the Windows Store are safe,
both for the system and the
users
Microsoft’s approach to
certification compared to other
platforms

30. App Publication

31. Analyzing App Performance

33. Lee Stott
Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
Developer & Platform Evangelism
@lee_stott
LeeStott@Microsoft.com
http://blogs.msdn.com/ukmsdn