View Full Version : Question about ofp 2 marketing strategy
havocsquad
Oct 9 2003, 15:56
I was curious on how CM and/or BIS will improve their marketing strategy on advertising OFP 2 when it comes out. I think the biggest setback to OFP and OFP-R is the word didn't get out about it fast or good enough to fully satisify the demand for the game in the first or so of it being released.
I'm sure it was sort of difficult for CM or BIS to afford a REALLY expensive advertising of OFP when it first came out in Europe, then the U.S.
It probably won't take a massively expensive campaign to advertise OFP 2 well, but it would hurt to make it more prevelant and well known upon its release by the public.
Let me know what, if anything from someone who can answer this for BIS or CM.
Anyways, thx and anticipating with every moment its release. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/biggrin_o.gif
Later,
Havoc.
TheManWithManyIdeas
Oct 22 2003, 16:30
The release date will influence the marketing strategy most of all. It is important to introduce this game in an appropriate way in respect to other games that will be released at the same time. However, there is aslo the argument that the game (being hard-core) will not need to be extensively advertised. Hard core gamers will originate from the original release and immediately look for the sequel.
Though perhaps if i were Marketing Executive, i would stress on advertisment the core-features of the game. Simulation.
Perhaps BIS are doing their big marketing coup by releasing original OFP on Xbox and introducing it to millions of console gamers who would never have heard of it http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/smile_o.gif
Dwarden
Oct 23 2003, 18:49
i think that qualite investment into game testers and Q&A staff of game is more important that wasting cash for bombastic advertising ...
of course well placed advertising is always good, but...u really dont need waste in that area, if product is buggy and other problems suffer it ... negative karma take over
SpecOp9
Oct 24 2003, 13:19
One of the ways is OFP for Xbox.
People who have the game on Xbox go "Ohh cool I love this game, oohhhhh! OFP2 for PC you say? Awsome, I'm getting it."
General Mcclintock
Oct 27 2003, 06:34
Wonder if they will do like Valve with Hl2.
Selling their rights to a graphics manufacturer to bundle their game with their hardware...
That would be a very smart idea.... BUT NOT MICROSOFT!
They would whip up a cheap knockoff in 5 mins after just looking at it
Codemasters deffo need to market this game alot more then they did with the first game. Im still talking to people who have never heard about the game and i tell em what it is like and they are like "woah im gonna get that game right away as it sounds brilliant!" If Bis/Cm wanna make more money then they deffo have to get the message out about this great game that BIS have produced because ofp2 could have alot more bigger fanbase if they put a little more effort into the advetisement of the game.
We need to get all the CS players to join us. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/blues.gif My friends play CS and they don't appreciate this great game at all. I can't even get them to test it. CS is fun, but OFP is something really special and awesome. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/unclesam.gif
Jo Man Dragon
Nov 1 2003, 19:17
no, we don't want them....
RalphWiggum
Nov 1 2003, 19:28
at least for US market, using VBS as an argument would be good.
The Frenchman
Nov 1 2003, 19:42
CS is fun
Repent, repent, REPENT! http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/crazy_o.gif
The Frenchman
Nov 2 2003, 01:06
sorry but...
What is CS?
The only game that is mostly if not entirely made up of team killing no0bs.
sorry but...
What is CS?
The only game that is mostly if not entirely made up of team killing no0bs.
No team killing there. I've never encountered a TK in CS. Dunno what's the last time you played, but my friends lured me to play Counter-Strike a couple of months ago. I got hooked and played for about two months. It was rather civilized, they do have some sense of tactics and team play these days. Luckily that stupid Steam woke me up and I grabbed my OFP: GOTY box once again.
If you wan't to hear more about my dark history, I was once a member of a CS clan. That was before OFP of course! I stopped when CS 1.0 came out. I got bored. But I've never been bored to OFP.
Gee, I'm still not cured. Defending CS in the BIS Forums... (sob) http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/ghostface.gif
I've never encountered a TK in CS.
Whooa. Where did you play. I wanna go there!
But I bet they had options that made sure you couldn't teamkill.
Actually, they probably all had cheats on where you can kill teammembers but the kill doesn't register, and if you were the victim of a teamkill, your body would die but you'd be a gun weilding ghost, and then theres the cheat where you could see those gun weilding ghosts and then theres the counter cheat that................... http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/tounge_o.gif http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/biggrin_o.gif http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/wink_o.gif
Well, I hope they don't advertise it too much, because I already know about the game, my freinds already know about the game, and we're all waiting for the oppurtunity to pre-order and purchase the game, so I'm not fussed whether or not the game is advertised.
I've never encountered a TK in CS.
Whooa. Where did you play. I wanna go there!
Welcome to Finland!
I think OFP2 deserves to be advertised more, but it should be targeted to mature players who know how this game should be played and respect good simulations. Not to some kids who think this is Quake with vehicles.
I've never encountered a TK in CS.
Whooa. Where did you play. I wanna go there!
Welcome to Finland!
Awww, cheap broadband and repectable gamers. Almost the perfect place for me. Too bad it's cold up there.
Baron Hurlothrumbo IIX
Nov 4 2003, 18:01
The best way to get publicity is to get an anonymous source to email the Daily Mail or equivalent tabloid paper and tell them its a simulator for training people for killing sprees.
Loads of publicity. And since they don't check their sources, they will look like utter idiots.. again; hey, it worked for GTA, GTA2, GTA3, GTAVC... Carmageddon, etc.
The best way to get publicity is to get an anonymous source to email the Daily Mail or equivalent tabloid paper and tell them its a simulator for training people for killing sprees.
Loads of publicity. And since they don't check their sources, they will look like utter idiots.. again; hey, it worked for GTA, GTA2, GTA3, GTAVC... Carmageddon, etc.
Something tells me that would attract wrong kind of attention.. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/tounge_o.gif
Quote[/b] ]Awww, cheap broadband and repectable gamers. Almost the perfect place for me. Too bad it's cold up there.
Cheap broadband my arse, 57e/month for a lousy 1Mbps/512Kbps without transfer limits. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/mad_o.gif
Baron Hurlothrumbo IIX
Nov 4 2003, 19:05
'No such thing as bad publicity'
http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/biggrin_o.gif
But seriously, most of the publicity could be from people finding out what the game is really about in replies to the slander by the tabloids.
Quote[/b] ]57e/month for a lousy 1Mbps/512Kbps
I thought that was cheap but according to currency converter mine is cheaper http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/biggrin_o.gif
deathguy
Nov 7 2003, 02:34
well, when I got myshelf a copy of OFP : CWC at the EB Store in the Rideau Center on the 11 sept. 2001 (they were closing at the time I arrived because of the attacks, but since I knew what I wanted they let me in), OFP was the first game you were seing when entering the shop, behing able to do that with OFP 2 would not be a bad idea http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/smile_o.gif
blackdog~
Nov 7 2003, 06:59
They can always pay me to spam forums across the world http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/tounge_o.gif.
Hopefully avon doesn't get to it first though!
Quote[/b] ]Awww, cheap broadband and repectable gamers. Almost the perfect place for me. Too bad it's cold up there.
Cheap broadband my arse, 57e/month for a lousy 1Mbps/512Kbps without transfer limits. http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/mad_o.gif
Yeah, you´re confusing us with Sweden...
And it´s not that cold, the temperatures usually range from
-25 to +25 Celsius. It´s a much more varied and fun climate than perpetually rainy and chilly England...(another stereotype?) http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/wink_o.gif
Baron Hurlothrumbo IIX
Nov 8 2003, 18:19
Its not that cold in England, they are all just lightweights ;)
So many times I see English students here (in Scotland) wearing scarves, gloves, hats, big furry/ padded jackets, boots, multiple layers, complaining about how cold it is... while the locals are wandering around in T shirts and laughing at them.
Of course, Irn Bru makes you immune to the cold, so that might have something to do with it...
SpecOp9
Nov 10 2003, 04:04
You know, OFP2 marketing can rely alot...
On us
Believe it or not...
We could run around and go to IGN.com and Gamespot and post threads... "SEE WHAT YOUR MISSING!!?!? You foooools!!!"
You can leave the bigger parts up to Codemasters.
But everybody here can spread OFP easy like a peanut butter and jelly sandwitch...
I just saw the trailler for Joint Operation by Novalogic, it seems that they have been working on that game for awhile. Looks promising, might buy that game.This is a threat to operation flashpoint2. I guess its a good idea for Operation flashpoint2 to be advertise more. I seen people playing BF1942, they used to be Ofp fans too. I do not think that they know ofp 2 will come out in next 1 n half year. Eventhough OFP had many diehard loyal ofp comunity, it wouldnt be much of a help. BIS and CM supose to advertise this game a lot more, it will be a cotender for the future.
Albert Schweitzer
Nov 19 2003, 12:52
Step one: Fire your former Marketing Manager. This person barely knows how to do a SWOT analysis but he sure had no clue of how to create awareness of the game when it came out. He is as lucky as a hell that the game was so good that it became popular. It surely wasnt his effort!
I know, it is kind of rude to accuse someone of incompetence if you have no clue of the circumstances. It could also be that the budget for PR and advertising was relatively low and lets not forget campaigns are realy realy expensive investments. But to spare them out is more than risk-taking, it is naive optimism!
TheManWithManyIdeas
Nov 20 2003, 09:48
Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Time.
Am i right?
Albert Schweitzer
Nov 20 2003, 15:05
kind off... it is threats! http://forums.bistudio.com/oldsmileys/biggrin_o.gif
havocsquad
Nov 20 2003, 17:07
SWOT, or (Strenghts, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is for Situational Analysis. That is used to get a understanding of what can be done. However, to put SWOT into action you need a Marketing Strategy.
A well developed marketing strategy must address the five basic elements of marketing: People, Place, Price, Product, and Promotion.
People
Try to develop a more effective customer database by making product registration more easier and more secure for the consumer.
Word of mouth is still a very effective method of obtaining a higher market share of the target market for OFP. Codemasters should motivate more fans of OFP to talk about the potential benifits and potential features of the upcomming game OFP 2 to their friends and people possibly interested in games like OFP.
Develop good relationship with most gaming organizations that use OFP.
Place
Hard to say since I can't infer much about phsyical location changes or suggestions without a interview with a CM or BIS representative.
Price
That's up to CM mainly, pricing for new games typically is the same when first released. More information about the product/costs would help.
Product
The biggest suggestion is for Codemasters to work with intermediaries and software retailers well in setting up displays in and out of store advertising its arrival in the store. You could also do a product rack where some copies of OFP 2 would be out of the isles and is more visible when it has a display showing what OFP 2 can do. (Ingame pictures, list of features, flexibility, other extras, etc.)
Probably a small but reasonably sized increase of funding for product appeal and advertising that is in-store.
Promotion
Increase the amount of advertising but don't go overboard with it.
Getting some good PR from some organizations that involves the game's potential and describing more about how it has benifited all by the work of BIS on OFP 2. Something along that line.
Working out some good but reasonably affordable incentive for relucant buyers to purchase the game.
Possibily advertise more PC gaming magazines or overall gaming magazines.
This is all ideas and speculation, but this is roughly how one might approach to developing a marketing strategy.
Architeuthis
Nov 25 2003, 17:47
I was under the impression that people where optional. You might want to replace them with personnel and (even more importent) presentation. The discription you gave at 'people', could best be placed in promotion (the both do the same thing and 'people' is actually a subcategorie of 'promotion').
presentation: Though narrowly connected to promotion, it differs enough to be a element of the marketing mix of its own (though still less important then the original 4 P's).
I found this to be quite adaquate, atleast in Holland. You see, presentation has to do with the store flashpoint is sold in and the way the product (flashpoint) is catagorized (as a militairy sim). The marketing team preformed quite well in this area (in holland, don't know about the US). It was quite clear that this game was meant for the the more 'serious gamer'/soldier having time of (or whatever you can that in the army). As said, presentation also includes the way the store present the game (your local games dealer). In Holland this was done with a quite modest way, though it forfilled its purpuse.
Personnel: This is not really an issue with marketing a game. But this would include anyone who has something to do with the 'selling' process of ofp. This is quite hard, if not impossible, critisize since we do not have the necessary information to do so.
In all other accounts I agree with Havocsquad!
Lets see if CM can do a better job! Because remember, a good product doesn't sell itself!
Arch.
SWOT, or (Strenghts, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is for Situational Analysis. That is used to get a understanding of what can be done. However, to put SWOT into action you need a Marketing Strategy.
A well developed marketing strategy must address the five basic elements of marketing: People, Place, Price, Product, and Promotion.
People
Try to develop a more effective customer database by making product registration more easier and more secure for the consumer.
Word of mouth is still a very effective method of obtaining a higher market share of the target market for OFP. Codemasters should motivate more fans of OFP to talk about the potential benifits and potential features of the upcomming game OFP 2 to their friends and people possibly interested in games like OFP.
Develop good relationship with most gaming organizations that use OFP.
Place
Hard to say since I can't infer much about phsyical location changes or suggestions without a interview with a CM or BIS representative.
Price
That's up to CM mainly, pricing for new games typically is the same when first released. More information about the product/costs would help.
Product
The biggest suggestion is for Codemasters to work with intermediaries and software retailers well in setting up displays in and out of store advertising its arrival in the store. You could also do a product rack where some copies of OFP 2 would be out of the isles and is more visible when it has a display showing what OFP 2 can do. (Ingame pictures, list of features, flexibility, other extras, etc.)
Probably a small but reasonably sized increase of funding for product appeal and advertising that is in-store.
Promotion
Increase the amount of advertising but don't go overboard with it.
Getting some good PR from some organizations that involves the game's potential and describing more about how it has benifited all by the work of BIS on OFP 2. Something along that line.
Working out some good but reasonably affordable incentive for relucant buyers to purchase the game.
Possibily advertise more PC gaming magazines or overall gaming magazines.
This is all ideas and speculation, but this is roughly how one might approach to developing a marketing strategy.
SWOT on OFP
very briff
Strenghts
The the best FPS war simulating game
There is only one that I know off
Weaknesses
OFP is mostly for realisem freaks no run and gun here well you can do it but you will most likely die while duing so.
Urban war is very dificult and not that realistic.
Opportunities
Don't know if there is enything to right here
Threats
A game better(this is most unlikely in the same genre) than OFP1 gets released long time before OFP2
OFP players suddenly don't want realisem and go play CS
STGN
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