Marketing ideas

Disclaimer- I will steal all ideas I think are good in this thread.

Talked to the Infogrames rep today, they were brainstorming about ways to market games. Got an e-mail address to send 'em to, too, so I want your ideas to send along.

My big one, that I passed along, was an idea to make games less disposable. I used the Cave shooters as an example- package them with a coffee-table sized art book, hardcover, charge $100 or so, and have Donpachi, Dodonpachi, Esprade, Guwange, etc as part of the package. Instead of it being a video game it's an art book packaged with the full playables of the final product as a collectible item. Welcome to my fantasy land. :)

Fantasy #2, also mentioned- A straight Gamecube port for Radiant Silvergun as an Ikaruga promo. I knew it was insane but I don't think the rep did.

Also showed off Arc the Lad Collection, that went over very well.

Anyone have anything to add?

James

you are only looking at a very small segment of the US gaming market...this isn't Japan, sorry...:(

The inclusion of Radiant Sivergun as a bonus to buying Ikaruga would defineatly sell more of the Gamecube version of the game. I was hoping they would include it on the disk, myself. It would defineatly be incentive to purchase the GC version, for those who imported the DC rev.


Or how about? Purchase 3 infogames products, recieve Radiant Silvergun for PS2, Xbox, or Gamecube free!

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Originally posted by James

My big one, that I passed along, was an idea to make games less disposable. I used the Cave shooters as an example- package them with a coffee-table sized art book, hardcover, charge $100 or so, and have Donpachi, Dodonpachi, Esprade, Guwange, etc as part of the package. Instead of it being a video game it's an art book packaged with the full playables of the final product as a collectible item. Welcome to my fantasy land. :)

Fantasy #2, also mentioned- A straight Gamecube port for Radiant Silvergun as an Ikaruga promo. I knew it was insane but I don't think the rep did.

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Look on the bright side, at least we have Walgreens. ;)

the sad fact is that 98% of cube owners have no idea what Radiant Silvergun is. Of the 2 remaining percent that do know, 1% refuses to play anything 2D, and the other 1% own the Saturn version...

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Originally posted by Videodrone
the sad fact is that 98% of cube owners have no idea what Radiant Silvergun is. Of the 2 remaining percent that do know, 1% refuses to play anything 2D, and the other 1% own the Saturn version...

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Hmmm...I don't believe you could've posted a more baseless, incorrect statement than this.

it's a joke...havn't you ever worked in a game store?

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Originally posted by Videodrone
the sad fact is that 98% of cube owners have no idea what Radiant Silvergun is. Of the 2 remaining percent that do know, 1% refuses to play anything 2D, and the other 1% own the Saturn version...

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True, but anyone that's interested in buying Ikaruga, would know something about Radiant Silvergun. I never bought RS, but would love an opportunity to do so. There is no way I'm willing to pay $150 for the Saturn version and judging by the price it fetches on Ebay, there is a high interest in the game.

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Originally posted by James
Disclaimer- I will steal all ideas I think are good in this thread.

James

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Thanks. Sorry I couldn't give any of my marketting idears... but I do respect you for the heads up.

Yes. Yes I have. But, unlike most "other" game stores (from what I hear), the clientele we entertained were pretty "in the know."

Likewise, unlike most other game stores, the people behind the counters here are very nice, pleasent, and in the know.

Don't get me wrong, I know what you were getting at. And I was in no way coming out against you, so please don't think I'm trying to be a jerk. ;)

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Originally posted by Captain Vegetable
Hmmm...I don't believe you could've posted a more baseless, incorrect statement than this.

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I don't know what radiant silvergun is and I'm not really a super hardcore gamer like you guys... maybe there's some merit here. (although the numbers were obviously an ass pulling spectacle)

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Originally posted by Andrew
I don't know what radiant silvergun is and I'm not really a super hardcore gamer like you guys... maybe there's some merit here. (although the numbers were obviously an ass pulling spectacle)

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again, if i was being serious, i would have sited a source...MAN!
it's a joke...

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Originally posted by Videodrone
again, if i was being serious, i would have sited a source...MAN!
it's a joke...

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OK, OK. What do you say we just start over? ;)

Once more, with feeling-

Ideas people, I'm looking for ideas. Not "it'll never work", I can supply all the negativity I need all by myself. I'm just trying to see what you think are good presell or pack in promos to move games with. Honestly, I'm just passing it along to an Infogrames rep, I really doubt any of it will be used.

Here's another, to help get the ball rolling- free PC cd with concept art, wallpaper, screensavers, and maybe a mini-game or two. Something cheap and easy to produce that still has a cool factor.

You want negativity? Ok, here's some- they apply that idea to Taz 2: Sucktastic Sequel.

James

James, I like your ideas, but I don't think Joe Playstation is gonna care.

This is just on the concept of the packaging? Otheriwse, I was thinking you could get some licensed music from famous bands. Yes, I know it's a detestable idea to people like those on this board, but just include the option for the original soundtrack too.

While we're on the bonus CD-ROM thing, perhaps superplay videos could be included? Or maybe it could be a hybrid DVD/DVD-ROM with the PC material in the DVD-ROM portion. I realize that just that kind of thing for Ikaruga is on sale for $40 in Japan, but DDPDOJ will include a DVD for free (and I believe Psyvariar did too). Watching gameplay videos is becoming key to mastery of modern shooters, and they could help bring novice players into the genre.

Stuff like this is generally aimed at people who pre-order, which by definition isn't Joe SixPackOfMadden. Another part of the problem is the persistent belief that "I'm the only one who cares" when it's demonstrably false. I sold a Mobile Defense Force 2 to a guy yesterday who's the very definition of casual gamer, he came back today and told me it was great.

People like neat stuff. The problem is in the presentation.

James

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Originally posted by James

People like neat stuff. The problem is in the presentation.

James

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James, i'm not trying to be negative here, just realistic...i think you have great ideas, and i would love to see things like that implemented here in the states, but historically SE editions and/or pack-ins have done very little to spark the sales of games in the US...some recient examples(i'll add more when i think of them):
Robotech battlecry SE
Shenmue 2 for xbox, with bonus movie
yes, there may have been other factors to why these games games didn't sell more(see bad advertising/promotion), but unfortunatly a lot of markteers only take things at face value...

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Originally posted by Videodrone
the sad fact is that 98% of cube owners have no idea what Radiant Silvergun is. Of the 2 remaining percent that do know, 1% refuses to play anything 2D, and the other 1% own the Saturn version...

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I think if you're buying Ikaruga, you know what RS is.

Limited Edition of Battlecry? What LE? You can't have both a Limited edition and billions of the damn things at the same time. It was badly overpriced, too.

Seriously though- I didn't approach the rep about this, I was asked. So I send along a few good ideas and nothing every happens, the point is they're actively looking to see what people want and I thought it'd be worth picking the brains around here to see if anyone had anything to add.

Nice addition on the gameplay movies, by the way. I didn't even think of that. :)

James

-Every game they produce should have demos of every other game they produce.

-Any freebies are welcome. One cheap idea: I personally am a fan of memory card stickers. I like to use them as a way to tell which card has which save, and official stickers look nicer than anything else I could do to differentiate the various cards.

-A soundtrack CD.

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Watching gameplay videos is becoming key to mastery of modern shooters, and they could help bring novice players into the genre.

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Eh, the second part is right but this is pretty lame. For people who play shooters, and tout skill-based gaming, they're sure quick to cheat their way through the games. It's a small step above using a Game Shark to get through 'em.

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Originally posted by Captain Vegetable
OK, OK. What do you say we just start over? ;)

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Hit the virtual RESET button, you say?

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Originally posted by James
Limited Edition of Battlecry? What LE? You can't have both a Limited edition and billions of the damn things at the same time. It was badly overpriced, too.



James

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If you have a Fry's Electronics near you, they are selling the LE edition of Battlecry for all 3 sytems, at $29.99.