here’s how I’d do it if i were the marketing strategist behind Halo 5…
(lets say the game comes out October 27, 2015, a Tuesday)
Halo 4 would still dominate the year 2014. Although on December 31 2014 I’d put a teaser up on the waypoint site of concept art.
March of 2015 would have a 45 second reveal trailer showing off short clips of campaign.
April would have a live TV appearance telling about the game with a short 30 second clip of multiplayer.
May would be bulletins on how the game is going and what we’re doing internally.
June would be E3, I believe, and I’d make sure it’d be epic.
July would have more coverage on multiplayer and be played at events; and 80% of weapons/vehicles/maps revealed that month
August would have a short demo of the campaign and tweak stuff according to player feedback, along with small vague TV ads about Halo 5…
The first day of September would have Mountain Dew, Doritos announcing a promotion with that following week it being shipped to stores. A live action trailer would debut in the middle of September and be on TV constantly.
A one minute campaign trailer would be released October 1st, and the rest of the month flooded with lengthy behind the scenes videos of a recap of all the work.
You should do some research on marketing strategy. Spreading out marketing over the course of months like that has ridiculously large costs with very low additional yield. In other words, it doesn’t work and its not worth it.
When it comes to the modern gaming market, most pre-orders will be set just a couple weeks before said game releases, and those won’t account for even a majority of even day 1 sales. The best time to market is during those last 2 or 3 weeks before release, and for the following months.
> You should do some research on marketing strategy. Spreading out marketing over the course of months like that has ridiculously large costs with very low additional yield. In other words, it doesn’t work and its not worth it.
>
> When it comes to the modern gaming market, most pre-orders will be set just a couple weeks before said game releases, and those won’t account for even a majority of even day 1 sales. The best time to market is during those last 2 or 3 weeks before release, and for the following months.
Was it that way with Halo 3? I remember being 17 and seeing it everywhere a few months before it came out. I could be wrong tho, it’s just like i feel like it’s not pushed in my face enough like Grand Theft Auto is every time it comes out (I remember the San Andreas commercial like crazy) or Call of Duty.
> > You should do some research on marketing strategy. Spreading out marketing over the course of months like that has ridiculously large costs with very low additional yield. In other words, it doesn’t work and its not worth it.
> >
> > When it comes to the modern gaming market, most pre-orders will be set just a couple weeks before said game releases, and those won’t account for even a majority of even day 1 sales. The best time to market is during those last 2 or 3 weeks before release, and for the following months.
>
> Was it that way with Halo 3? I remember being 17 and seeing it everywhere a few months before it came out. I could be wrong tho, it’s just like i feel like it’s not pushed in my face enough like Grand Theft Auto is every time it comes out (I remember the San Andreas commercial like crazy) or Call of Duty.
Human memory is very faulty (I mean in general. I’m not trying to say anything about you). The main advertising campaign for Halo 3 didn’t kick in until early September. By main marketing, I mean Believe and TV ads.
> > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
>
> On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
>
> The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
Spread out pre-order bonuses among retailers and exclusive locked content that is unavailable in a game that you purchased are the most distasteful facets of modern gaming.
> > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
>
> On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
>
> The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
> > > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
> >
> > On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
> >
> > The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
>
> I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
Since when did it become morally correct to purchase a game, but not have full access to all of its content, or not have any way of earning/purchasing it? Only newer/naive gamers go along for the ride with the jokers.
> > > > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
> > >
> > > On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
> > >
> > > The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
> >
> > I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
>
> Since when did it become morally correct to purchase a game, but not have full access to all of its content, or not have any way of earning/purchasing it? Only newer/naive gamers go along for the ride with the jokers.
I never said I liked the practice, but that, with the modern gaming market as it is, it shouldn’t be a surprised.
Honestly though, if it’s just armor or emblems or something, I don’t see much of a problem. However, when locked content is something like map (I’m looking at Gears of War 3 here), that is a problem.
> > > > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
> > >
> > > On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
> > >
> > > The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
> >
> > I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
>
> Since when did it become morally correct to purchase a game, but not have full access to all of its content, or not have any way of earning/purchasing it? Only newer/naive gamers go along for the ride with the jokers.
At least give us a way to get these bonuses/content (through a purchase or through unlocking them) about a month or two after release. Not to mention that they have left this topic in the complete dark other than mentioning once that it “MAY happen”.
That leaves me a little uneasy knowing whether or not I will be missing out on all pre-order content.
> > > > > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
> > > >
> > > > On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
> > > >
> > > > The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
> > >
> > > I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
> >
> > Since when did it become morally correct to purchase a game, but not have full access to all of its content, or not have any way of earning/purchasing it? Only newer/naive gamers go along for the ride with the jokers.
>
> At least give us a way to get these bonuses/content (through a purchase or through unlocking them) about a month or two after release. Not to mention that they have left this topic in the complete dark other than mentioning once that it “MAY happen”.
>
> That leaves me a little uneasy knowing whether or not I will be missing out on all pre-order content.
Why? It’s just digital content. It doesn’t affect the game at all.
> > > > > not screw up the LE, and not have shady business practices.
> > > >
> > > > On top of this, only have one pre-order bonus.
> > > >
> > > > The amount and diversity of pre-order bonuses was just chaos. Hopefully they at least fix this by releasing them to everyone some time after launch.
> > >
> > > I don’t see how. It’s not uncommon for different store chains to have different pre-order bonuses. People should stop carrying so much about worthless digital content.
> >
> > Since when did it become morally correct to purchase a game, but not have full access to all of its content, or not have any way of earning/purchasing it? Only newer/naive gamers go along for the ride with the jokers.
>
> I never said I liked the practice, but that, with the modern gaming market as it is, it shouldn’t be a surprised.
>
> Honestly though, if it’s just armor or emblems or something, I don’t see much of a problem. However, when locked content is something like map (I’m looking at Gears of War 3 here), that is a problem.
Well, to many it isn’t just worthless digital content. It’s locked features of a universe they love, or barred segments of a game they truly love to play, even if what is being sectioned off is something as small as a skin. It digs under the skin of completionists incessantly.
No matter how small it is, it is a problem. It’s like paying for a car but not receiving the 4th wheel. Each retailer leaves out a certain wheel. That might be a bit extreme, but it is the same idea.
Modern day video game disease. I don’t see it changing soon though, as people will go for whatever bait put out there that they like, and companies/developers/retailers know it brings in more money.
It is surprising, because not too long ago, everyone bought the same game, and got the same content. Everyone was happy. Now it’s in shambles. Just look at AC3 pre-orders, good luck not feeling jipped.