Questions about sending games to publishers (general and Construct 3 specific)

I've been working on a mobile game for a few months and the game is to a point now that I am starting to look into mobile game publishers. I've been using these websites as a guide on how to reach out to publishers, but I still have some questions after taking a look at them.

https://instabug.com/blog/mobile-game-publisher/

http://stormwatchgames.com/how-to-get-a-publisher-for-your-mobile-game/

Is there anything I should be concerned about in regards to Construct 3? Looking at displaying ads, it seems Construct 3 can only use AdMob. Would that be a problem for some publishers?

Some websites suggest sending publishers an Apple Testflight link so that they can demo your game. However, I don't have an Apple device so I can't set that up. Would it be safe/professional to send publishers an APK of the game?

Both the websites I linked to suggest giving the publishers a release date for the game. My game is pretty much done, except for monetization and whatever suggestions a publisher would give me, but I'd be kind of worried putting a release date on it because I'm sure all sorts of things could go wrong and it could get pushed back. Is giving a release date a necessity? If so, what logic should I use to pick one?

If anyone else has any other advice on sending to publishers I'd love to hear it.

Thanks!

I have thought about self publishing. However, even though a publisher would take a cut of the game's profit, I feel like the exposure they could give the game through better marketing would be worth it.

You can connect other ad networks through Admob mediation, or purchase Chadori's collection of addons and use IronSource.

Publishers may require you to implement their own SDK, and if there is no C3 addon for it - you are in trouble.

Okay. Thank you!

The obvious benefit to going through a publisher is the marketing. They do it all.

Not speaking from experience (but my uncle was a music publisher, so, similar).

If you built a game that would do well on a console then I'd go the publisher route. Though I have no idea how one would do that. My gut feeling is that it would only be possible if you had a network in place where someone you knew could put it before the right people. Which is not most peoples situation.

I.e. you were a game dev for Atari, met people, started your own company, and now know who to call.

From a purely business standpoint, if you could show that your "game" can, with a high degree of accuracy, mine user data, a publisher would consider picking it up simply for the tech.

In this industry, you have to keep an eye on the big picture.

Apps like Tik Tok, Instagram, and most GATCHA games are making money from selling stolen user data (that the user "agreed" to in your terms and conditions.

I have 2 apps published under my own brand "Delta Star Studios," and while neither are monetized ATM (waiting for more installs), they both have detailed plans for monetization down the road.

The job app will use ads

Kaneki Island will have physical toys and a trading card game to geneate revenue via real world merchandise.

Again, have't implemented the ideas yet (outside of prototypes), but I know how I will monetize in the future. Remaining your own publisher allows you to retain all rights.