Question: Why aren't online games advertised outside of the internet?

LucyKemp · 11-02-2004, 09:32 AM

I was just thinking about it.. why aren't online games really advertised outside of the net?

I go into my local gamestore and mention everquest or WoW, and get looked at with raised eyebrows... the same thing goes for advertisements like billboard posters and things and buststop posters.. I saw like every SW game being released all over T.V, on posters, and big banners in game stores, but nowhere near the same for everquest/swg..

Why is this? Is it the same where you live etc ? and why..

Samus Aran · 11-02-2004, 09:36 AM

are you really this bored?

LucyKemp · 11-02-2004, 09:43 AM

needraRZ · 11-02-2004, 09:46 AM

I seen a tv or cinema ad for Everquest here in Ireland

masteen · 11-02-2004, 09:50 AM

The simple answer is that gamers don't spend as much time watching TV as other groups, and during TV time, and I hypothesize we aren't sitting there for the 3 minutes a commercial break takes up. Hard to get people like us to watch commercials when GTA:SA is just a push of a button away.

Ravvenn · 11-02-2004, 10:16 AM

I'm almost ashamed to say I asked Furor a similar question this past weekend!

We went to see that really crappy saw movie and when I went to take a drink of the large Coke I noticed a massive EQII lady on it with the logo and some writing. I said, "this cup sucks!!". Then later that night I asked him if Blizzard did any advertising like that.

I forgot what he said.

But, yeah. SoE has made movie cups suck!

Edit: I think it was the Edwards Cinemas or whatever (Cali.).

Fammaden · 11-02-2004, 10:16 AM

I saw an ad before a movie recently for EQ or EQ2, I forget which. I really should remember because I wanted to post and see if anyone else had seen it, but now I don't remember anything about the ad itself.

McCheese · 11-02-2004, 10:18 AM

It's cause computer games are for nerds, whereas console games are "cool."

It's not just MMOG's that don't advertise much. I think the only time I see computer game advertisements is when there is a multiplatform release for PS2/Gamecube/Xbox and PC.

Hell, I stopped going to my local EB cause everyone looks at me weird when I walk past the console games and go to their tiny little PC Game section...and the fact that their PC game selection is shit.

Fammaden · 11-02-2004, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by McCheese
Hell, I stopped going to my local EB cause everyone looks at me weird when I walk past the console games and go to their tiny little PC Game section...and the fact that their PC game selection is shit.

Are you sure that they aren't looking at you weird because you have a giant cheeseburger for a head?

Tuco · 11-02-2004, 10:32 AM

They do advertise...

Not as much as console games, though...

the MMO target audience is much more informed of online games than the console gamers are informed of console games. We are also on the internet more.

Digo · 11-02-2004, 10:41 AM

There are four (or 5, depending who you ask) "P"s of marketing.

1. Product. What are you selling? How does it relate to your customer's needs and wants?

2. Price. What is the most appropriate price for our product? How much will people pay for it?

3. Promotion. Advertising. Sales Promotion. Branding. How do you make people aware of your product?

See above. Gamers don't watch TV as much, nor would you expect to see ads for the new FPS game in an issue of Time magazine. Maxim, you might. Playboy, you might. These are becoming increasingly popular promotion venues, but they lag far behind People. (See 5.)

4. Placement. Distribution. How are you going to get the goods to your customer? EB, Walmart, Amazon, digital download?

And my favorite, the often stupidly overlooked:

5. People. In an age of hyper-informed consumers whose reach exceeds the company grasp, people are critical. This board is a perfect example. If Sony puts out a shitty product, they can expect the people will do far more PR damage in this age of instant, free, mass-media communication despite their best efforts to promote the product. If the product is great, they can expect the news to be instantly disseminated across the internet in less than 24 hours. You can't buy that kind of advertising!

On the other hand, game companies have caught on to this new "P" far more quickly than many traditional industries.

Think about the whineplay boards and how Brad McQuaid communicated directly with the players. The company didn't attempt to hide behind a corporate wall, they jumped right in with the customers and put a personal face on their product. That is what customers want. People buy from people. They want a product they can believe in. It's easier when the company puts a human face and human voice to their product that says "this is what we make, and we believe in it." No one believes a stupid tv ad anymore.

Not only that, these bloggers -- or in our case, employees posting on the forums -- can quickly address customer concerns and questions. Blizzard is BRILLIANT to have dozens of employees posting on the WoW boards. It's why Microsoft has over 1000 company bloggers. Can you imagine what it would be like if no Blizzard employees posted on the boards and some faceless man behind the curtain just posted a list of updates and bug changes periodically?

Anyway, point being, gamers -- particularly PC gamers -- are a new breed of consumer. They can't expand our market with tv ads, so they just feed us more digital products and watch the demand grow like a living organism.

I think Blizzard has already caught on to this in Asian markets. The US market is peanuts for them. Korea and China is where the money is.

If my suspicions are correct, they send out game discs like AOL cds here. People then pay to play in cyber cafes and with monthly subscription fees. They can't pay as much as US (see #2, price), but there are millions more in the market.

PS- If anyone that works for a game company is looking for marketing or sales people, PM me. :P

Hyarth · 11-02-2004, 10:43 AM

C'mon, nobody remembers SoE's foray into EQ type commercials?

It's time to slay the dragon!!!
Or whatever the fuck it was they said, it was along those lines.

Fammaden · 11-02-2004, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hyarth
C'mon, nobody remembers SoE's foray into EQ type commercials?

It's time to slay the dragon!!!
Or whatever the fuck it was they said, it was along those lines.

Heh, yeah the EQ:OA TV spot. All of the team was almost ready and they contacted each other on the phone!! It was one of those surreal moments that I could not believe was reality the first time I saw that on Sci-Fi.

Kaxmax · 11-02-2004, 10:54 AM

I remember seeing a CG WC3 add before movies. Wouldn't surprise me if they did it for WoW.

xilsharn · 11-02-2004, 11:59 AM

I would bet cuz MMORPGs appeal to such a niche market. Nerdy fag D&D types who have no lives and couldn't get laid with a brick of solid gold tied to their dick.

Just kidding! Although that's the perception. They could probably do alright, pick up some new seats but I don't think enough to justify the cost.

11-02-2004, 09:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
LucyKemp Banned Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 230 +0 Internets	Question: Why aren't online games advertised outside of the internet? I was just thinking about it.. why aren't online games really advertised outside of the net? I go into my local gamestore and mention everquest or WoW, and get looked at with raised eyebrows... the same thing goes for advertisements like billboard posters and things and buststop posters.. I saw like every SW game being released all over T.V, on posters, and big banners in game stores, but nowhere near the same for everquest/swg.. Why is this? Is it the same where you live etc ? and why..

11-02-2004, 09:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
LucyKemp Banned Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London Posts: 230 +0 Internets	Yes

11-02-2004, 09:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
needraRZ Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 172 +0 Internets	ads I seen a tv or cinema ad for Everquest here in Ireland

11-02-2004, 10:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ravvenn Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,925 +16 Internets	I'm almost ashamed to say I asked Furor a similar question this past weekend! We went to see that really crappy saw movie and when I went to take a drink of the large Coke I noticed a massive EQII lady on it with the logo and some writing. I said, "this cup sucks!!". Then later that night I asked him if Blizzard did any advertising like that. I forgot what he said. But, yeah. SoE has made movie cups suck! Edit: I think it was the Edwards Cinemas or whatever (Cali.). __________________ Melia

11-02-2004, 10:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Fammaden Treats objects like women. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Posts: 2,803 +8 Internets	I saw an ad before a movie recently for EQ or EQ2, I forget which. I really should remember because I wanted to post and see if anyone else had seen it, but now I don't remember anything about the ad itself. __________________ Fammaden - Wizard - Saryrn (Retired) WoW: Shaman/Mage/Hunter

11-02-2004, 09:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Samus Aran Sons of the Storm Heal Bitch Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 771 +2 Internets	are you really this bored?

11-02-2004, 09:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
masteen Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,312	The simple answer is that gamers don't spend as much time watching TV as other groups, and during TV time, and I hypothesize we aren't sitting there for the 3 minutes a commercial break takes up. Hard to get people like us to watch commercials when GTA:SA is just a push of a button away.

11-02-2004, 10:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
McCheese computerless Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 1,047 +3 Internets	It's cause computer games are for nerds, whereas console games are "cool." It's not just MMOG's that don't advertise much. I think the only time I see computer game advertisements is when there is a multiplatform release for PS2/Gamecube/Xbox and PC. Hell, I stopped going to my local EB cause everyone looks at me weird when I walk past the console games and go to their tiny little PC Game section...and the fact that their PC game selection is shit.

11-02-2004, 10:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tuco Santa Join Date: May 2002 Location: Detroit Posts: 8,825 +24 Internets	They do advertise... Not as much as console games, though... the MMO target audience is much more informed of online games than the console gamers are informed of console games. We are also on the internet more.

11-02-2004, 10:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
Digo Ad Hoc Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: orange county Posts: 1,210 +2 Internets	Time for a marketing lesson There are four (or 5, depending who you ask) "P"s of marketing. 1. Product. What are you selling? How does it relate to your customer's needs and wants? 2. Price. What is the most appropriate price for our product? How much will people pay for it? 3. Promotion. Advertising. Sales Promotion. Branding. How do you make people aware of your product? See above. Gamers don't watch TV as much, nor would you expect to see ads for the new FPS game in an issue of Time magazine. Maxim, you might. Playboy, you might. These are becoming increasingly popular promotion venues, but they lag far behind People. (See 5.) 4. Placement. Distribution. How are you going to get the goods to your customer? EB, Walmart, Amazon, digital download? And my favorite, the often stupidly overlooked: 5. People. In an age of hyper-informed consumers whose reach exceeds the company grasp, people are critical. This board is a perfect example. If Sony puts out a shitty product, they can expect the people will do far more PR damage in this age of instant, free, mass-media communication despite their best efforts to promote the product. If the product is great, they can expect the news to be instantly disseminated across the internet in less than 24 hours. You can't buy that kind of advertising! On the other hand, game companies have caught on to this new "P" far more quickly than many traditional industries. Think about the whineplay boards and how Brad McQuaid communicated directly with the players. The company didn't attempt to hide behind a corporate wall, they jumped right in with the customers and put a personal face on their product. That is what customers want. People buy from people. They want a product they can believe in. It's easier when the company puts a human face and human voice to their product that says "this is what we make, and we believe in it." No one believes a stupid tv ad anymore. Not only that, these bloggers -- or in our case, employees posting on the forums -- can quickly address customer concerns and questions. Blizzard is BRILLIANT to have dozens of employees posting on the WoW boards. It's why Microsoft has over 1000 company bloggers. Can you imagine what it would be like if no Blizzard employees posted on the boards and some faceless man behind the curtain just posted a list of updates and bug changes periodically? Anyway, point being, gamers -- particularly PC gamers -- are a new breed of consumer. They can't expand our market with tv ads, so they just feed us more digital products and watch the demand grow like a living organism. I think Blizzard has already caught on to this in Asian markets. The US market is peanuts for them. Korea and China is where the money is. If my suspicions are correct, they send out game discs like AOL cds here. People then pay to play in cyber cafes and with monthly subscription fees. They can't pay as much as US (see #2, price), but there are millions more in the market. PS- If anyone that works for a game company is looking for marketing or sales people, PM me. :P __________________ Digo \| Casual

11-02-2004, 10:43 AM	#12 (permalink)
Hyarth Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Jersey Posts: 327 +0 Internets	C'mon, nobody remembers SoE's foray into EQ type commercials? It's time to slay the dragon!!! Or whatever the fuck it was they said, it was along those lines.

11-02-2004, 10:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
Kaxmax Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,012 +1 Internets	I remember seeing a CG WC3 add before movies. Wouldn't surprise me if they did it for WoW.

11-02-2004, 11:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
xilsharn Definitely a chick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,735 +0 Internets	I would bet cuz MMORPGs appeal to such a niche market. Nerdy fag D&D types who have no lives and couldn't get laid with a brick of solid gold tied to their dick. Just kidding! Although that's the perception. They could probably do alright, pick up some new seats but I don't think enough to justify the cost.

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