Rorek IronBlood
ZionTCD
Legacy Rising
746
   |
Posted - 2012.08.23 20:58:00 -
[1] - Quote
(Dissclaimer: These are my opinions, and suggestions that I believe will only benefit CCP, and the known Intelectual Property known as Dust514.)
First off I'd like to discuss the lack of proper advertising and advertisments. The game being closer to release which was, or is scheduled for late third quarter, early fourth quarter -- I believe it is time for you [CCP] to start considering proper advertisment. I have no honest idea as to what your contract with Sony states, but I would not rely upon them to advertise your game, or precisely I should say advertise your game properly. I'd start with some minor commercials aimes properly at certain groups. Such channels as -- SPIKE.Tv, and/or Sci-Fi -- for a general area and/or age group. You need to assign as appropiate to your PEGI rating in my opinion. instead of letting more people into the game which seems to be dragging the current community here down and in my opinion slowing progress due to rash behaviors, and the constant vexing of the majority. Which seems constant, and filled with ignorant and/or redundant postings. I would also suggest more openly advertising with Youtube, as I have noticed you attempting to advertise there with small boxes, and clickables. You need to start thinking of focus groups though. This will help to branch the game immedietly. I dislike talking about Microsoft, but the fact remains that they advertise, and win wars when it comes competition. Something Sony seems unwilling, or incapable of doing. Which ever is the case they have a long history of under selling their titles, and in my opinion allowing those said titles to flop.
The old saying goes -- "You have to spend money to make money." -- which seems very apt and true. Whether that demands makreting to be evil, or not is not for me to say or judge. I find it to be a truth though, and again Microsoft seems willing to commit to the idea, and has proven this in their numbers.
Another matter to which I was wanting to bring to the fore front though is physical marketing. Granted this game like it's older sibling EVE Online is now fully digital, and which helps to cut cost on productions, and other areas I suggest; No, implore you consider some minor physical marketing areas which from a business stand point help to encourage buyers, and raise the potential sum player base higher then it would be by just putting a free application on PlayStation Network. As for how, and what I mean by this I mean bundles! They sell, and people will buy them simply because, they believe they are getting a deal. This has worked among all markets from food stuff products, to even bundled DVD and Season boxsets. The bigger the bulk the bigger the belief in savings, and the bigger the deal. People want bundles! Buyers and players want bundles! This is just statistics too, and again numbers prove this. Turning from this would be a horrible business decision on your part CCP. You need to flex that contract with Sony. They have the means to help decrease your costs in this proposition. What sort of bundles though do I propose? For starters I propose a simple game card, and microphone (mic) bundle. The card like a suedo PlayStation Network money card, or PlayStation Plus subscription card will give players access to the free game, but also the items from the coveted and lucrative "Mercenary Pack".
Name proposition -- "Mercenary Command(er) Pack" -- and it will sell itself. Add some fancy art work, and bundle it with a sony corded, or bluetooth (I suggest corded) add a colorful art print backing, and wrapping and you have a hot product ready to sell in every major retail store. Whether online, or not from Amazon to Wal-Mart, or GameStop to Target. I suggest starting with the standard "mercenary pack" simply becuase, of it's value, and word of mouth sales as is. Adding a marginal increase in pricing for some microphones and packaging and you can still profit. Sony has the equipment, and resources. Why not use them? Another factor to consider is the potential to this game. You marketed it as a squad based team effort game offering tactical gameplay. Microphones help this. Which (again) Microsoft has undertsood from the beginning. Bundling micropohones from the beginning with XBL, and again with the introduction of the Xbox360 home entertainment system. Denying yourselves as a company this sort of potential will hurt you, but again this is my opinion. I just want you to really know you have the means, and potential to sell this game at great numbers even as a free to play game. Money and sales are potentially high. I'd stay away from the peripheal that is known as the PlayStation Move though. Simply due to the underwhelming fact that it does not sell games. SOCOM4, and KILLZONE3 both prove this. Costing Sony money in the end. Simply because, at the end of the day like 3D it is a gimmick. Not a staple. Especially in the terms of the here and now aspects. Though another potential market would be keyboard and mouse bundles. Something even Valve with Counter Strike: Global Offensive have not taken into consideration. Especially considering game itself with a large built in fanbase, and community. People love collectibles, and functioning collectibles with brand names sell. So long as you do not get full of yourself, as BIOWARE did with Razer in terms of their keyboard and mouse bundles. The price did not fit, and it shunned a majority. Functionality above looks. Simple is better, but bundles sell. Catchy right?
Think heavily upon this, and I highly hope this gets noticed, and taken seriously. This game has potential, but relying simply upon word of mouth, or the internet will not sell your game. Sony lacks drive in their marketing. Especially here in America. Call me biased, or cynical.. Both? Nonetheless it is worth taking my advice and opinions into consideration. |
Rorek IronBlood
ZionTCD
Legacy Rising
746
|
Posted - 2012.08.24 03:31:00 -
[2] - Quote
-- Shameless bump. --
If anyone has any suggestions themselves though, or opinions. Do speak up. I personally want CCP to sell this game, and in turn have this game flourish for years to come. Whether or not people realise this marketing is a huge factor. A game does not have to be good to sell, but being a good keeps them coming, and wanting more. Prime example -- Call of Duty. It's both. It has massive marketing, and undeniable advertising that keeps going every year, all year. The game itself is solid even if the same almost every year with certain new bells and whistles. People still keep coming back for more, and will because, of just that. |
Rorek IronBlood
ZionTCD
Legacy Rising
746
|
Posted - 2012.08.24 17:58:00 -
[3] - Quote
Kyshalis,
If you had read my posting you'd know that I already pointed everything you just mentioned, or I already know. I was there during the MAG [beta] too. I remember most of those disucssions, and again Sony and Zipper Interactive both failed to recognize the need for it. It is needed. As for Sony and advertising though? They blow at it. Sony's M.O. is simple. They will win one battle, and be done. They never win a war, and have not since the early turn of this century back in the early two thousands. Every year it only gets worse. It's not like they suck at it. They have great advertisments, and have done some of the most iconic advertisments ever. However between Apple, Microsoft, and Nintendo? It's dead last. They refuse, or are incapable of winning a war of attrition, and the resource is consumers. Microsoft is literally relentless. They do not care if a game is multi-platform, or not. They will attach their name, and advertise the unholy hell out of it. For the past three weeks now I've seen nothing, but Biohazard6 commercials, and guess who is the name attached? MIcrosoft. Why? Because, Sony is unwilling to win a war. There does not need to be a release date though to start planning your advertisements, or getting your product out there. As soon you have enough to sell it you should be -- Go! Go! Go! GO!! -- and all hands on deck trying to sell your product. Business is business, and you have to be willing to spend money to make money.
CCP needs to flex their contractual agreement(s) though, and start picking up the ball. As for everything else? I pointed it out, and even stated I saw small amounts of advertisements on the internet and specifically youtube. However it needs more. Word of mouth? Ha! This is the age of technology and information. Why squat and wait for people to use word of mouth? You have radio's, television, satelite, the internet, and many, many other media outlets. Even going to the some of the bigger internet shows would not be bad idea. Destructiod, Kotaku, The eScapist, and other's. Evern EVE Radio is a great source to start getting the word around.
Bundles sell though. People love bundles, and collectibles. Appearal is a must too. All sells. |