Most efficient form of game advertising

pritchke · 10-01-2004, 05:47 PM

I would have to say a combination of things.

1. A great article and preview from a game site definitely helps. Gets people interested and they start looking for the next update on the game.
2. Review with Screen Shots - I am going to buy Rome:Total War, I don't have it yet but I will. This is a result of the bang up job gamespy did I can't resist not buying. Damn them all!!!
3. As someone pointed out Demos can make or break the game. Played the Rome:Total War demo and well I would say it basically sucks. I would be inclined not to buy this game because of the demo. Fortunately because of #2 I know there is more to the game than just battles. My beef with the demo is it would have been nice to govern. Even though the battles were nice there would need to be more to the game for me to purchase it.
4. TV and maginine ads
5. Box Cover - This isn't a big one but it does help. I bought Might and Magic 6 based on the box alone. The party fighting the dragon just looked so cool, OK so it was that plus I asked what a sales rep thought. Note: Never ever do this unless it is in the bargin bin, I was just lucky it was a good game.

I think most efficient would be #2. Fairly low cost yet gets out a ton of information that people want to see. Other ADs such as TV and magazine ads are not so effective for me in deciding to purchase a game as the information is minimal and they can cost a pretty penny. The only thing ads may do is want me to research the game more.

[ 10-01-2004, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

dplax · 10-01-2004, 06:08 PM

Out of the ones you suggested I would go with #1. However I think the best method of advertising a gme is the method Half-life 2 suffered. Leak some very early version of the game on the net and that shall get everyone interested.

Albromor · 10-01-2004, 06:53 PM

I would have added, and I know that this doesn't fall under professional advertisement, word of mouth especially on sights such as IW. Seriously, I'll take a players word over any other source by a 1000%.

[ 10-01-2004, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Albromor ]

Jaradu · 10-01-2004, 07:25 PM

There's nothing that can convince me better that a game is excellent/poor than a reputable gaming magazine with a history of great non-biased reviews. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Screenshots help, of course, but I almost never listen to my friends' verdicts because they are all into action games with no plot or background or sense of purpose.

Never bought a game due its box, as I more often than not buy via the internet.

The only companies rich enough to advertise on TV are companies like EA, whose games have a knack for being below par most of the time.

Kakero · 10-01-2004, 08:52 PM

For me, TV advertisement. Take X-Play from Tech TV for example. They give you the review of the game and show you the game itself. They'll also tell you some info on the game or any problem encountered while playing the game ( ctd, hanging etc ) .So you'll know how the game looks like and how the game play.

Eagle eye · 10-04-2004, 03:49 AM

The back of a bus

jbird05 · 10-04-2004, 02:20 PM

tv does alot but if it has a good reveiw that doe sit all

View Poll Results: Most efficient form of game advertising
A great article and preview on gamesites	6	46.15%
Review with Screen Shots	3	23.08%
Demos	3	23.08%
TV and magazine ads	1	7.69%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

10-04-2004, 02:20 PM	#7
jbird05 Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: July 24, 2004 Location: columbus,GA Age: 45 Posts: 43	tv does alot but if it has a good reveiw that doe sit all __________________ [url]\"http://wow.tachyonsix.com/armory\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://wow.tachyonsix.com.nyud.net:8080/armory/sig.php/685657YXJyK.png\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Truth in advertising...	Bungleau	General Discussion	1	05-25-2006 10:34 AM
Advertising Slogans	VulcanRider	General Discussion	8	02-18-2005 03:10 PM
Sex in Advertising	Grendal	General Discussion	4	07-11-2003 12:38 PM
More unlikely advertising claims ...	Pangur Ban	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	4	10-02-2002 09:35 PM
my god... this engine wasn't coded very efficient imho	KallDrexx	Miscellaneous Games (RPG or not)	28	02-23-2002 04:12 PM

10-01-2004, 05:47 PM	#1
pritchke Bastet - Egyptian Cat Goddess Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Calgary, AB Age: 50 Posts: 3,491	I would have to say a combination of things. 1. A great article and preview from a game site definitely helps. Gets people interested and they start looking for the next update on the game. 2. Review with Screen Shots - I am going to buy Rome:Total War, I don't have it yet but I will. This is a result of the bang up job gamespy did I can't resist not buying. Damn them all!!! 3. As someone pointed out Demos can make or break the game. Played the Rome:Total War demo and well I would say it basically sucks. I would be inclined not to buy this game because of the demo. Fortunately because of #2 I know there is more to the game than just battles. My beef with the demo is it would have been nice to govern. Even though the battles were nice there would need to be more to the game for me to purchase it. 4. TV and maginine ads 5. Box Cover - This isn't a big one but it does help. I bought Might and Magic 6 based on the box alone. The party fighting the dragon just looked so cool, OK so it was that plus I asked what a sales rep thought. Note: Never ever do this unless it is in the bargin bin, I was just lucky it was a good game. I think most efficient would be #2. Fairly low cost yet gets out a ton of information that people want to see. Other ADs such as TV and magazine ads are not so effective for me in deciding to purchase a game as the information is minimal and they can cost a pretty penny. The only thing ads may do is want me to research the game more. [ 10-01-2004, 05:51 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

10-01-2004, 06:08 PM	#2
dplax Jack Burton Join Date: July 19, 2003 Location: an expat living in France Age: 40 Posts: 5,577	Out of the ones you suggested I would go with #1. However I think the best method of advertising a gme is the method Half-life 2 suffered. Leak some very early version of the game on the net and that shall get everyone interested. __________________

10-01-2004, 06:53 PM	#3
Albromor Mephistopheles Join Date: June 13, 2001 Location: Northfield, NJ USA Posts: 1,417	I would have added, and I know that this doesn't fall under professional advertisement, word of mouth especially on sights such as IW. Seriously, I'll take a players word over any other source by a 1000%. [ 10-01-2004, 06:54 PM: Message edited by: Albromor ]

10-01-2004, 07:25 PM	#4
Jaradu Silver Dragon Join Date: July 29, 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, England Age: 35 Posts: 1,635	There's nothing that can convince me better that a game is excellent/poor than a reputable gaming magazine with a history of great non-biased reviews. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] Screenshots help, of course, but I almost never listen to my friends' verdicts because they are all into action games with no plot or background or sense of purpose. Never bought a game due its box, as I more often than not buy via the internet. The only companies rich enough to advertise on TV are companies like EA, whose games have a knack for being below par most of the time.

10-01-2004, 08:52 PM	#5
Kakero 40th Level Warrior Join Date: March 24, 2002 Posts: 10,215	For me, TV advertisement. Take X-Play from Tech TV for example. They give you the review of the game and show you the game itself. They'll also tell you some info on the game or any problem encountered while playing the game ( ctd, hanging etc ) .So you'll know how the game looks like and how the game play.

10-04-2004, 03:49 AM	#6
Eagle eye Elminster Join Date: May 13, 2004 Location: New Zealand Age: 34 Posts: 409	The back of a bus

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)