Is SE's Marketing / PR department -severely- hurting the games chances of success?

[Seif]

Are you serious?!

I think we can all see quite clearly XIV is doing a great job of hurting itself and it certainly doesn't need a PR-team to do it.

I hope XIV is financially worth advertising in about 20 months.

[Ostia]

Marketing isn't as black and white as you seem to think it is, SE knows when to start to ramp up the hype train and they will do it when it's in there best interests.

Not they dont, they have never really been the type to ramp things up when they should, the mostly dont even advertise lol

[Shai]

You're right, Jynx, but you don't give a good reason to dismiss "street cred."

That's the only thing your argument lacks. Unless, you're trying to say - if we lure back people now while the game is still weak and they quit a 2nd time, they are probably gone for good, where as if SE just keeps pissing us off and we tell our friends to wait longer - they have a real potential customer down the road.

If that's what you're saying (or if it isn't) then I guess that makes sense, but it sucks from our standpoint. Just thinking about it makes me want to quit, but sadly SE & I both know I won't until this Battle System proves itself.

[Joeking]

Not they dont, they have never really been the type to ramp things up when they should, the mostly dont even advertise lol

They do but you have to look for it, like there advertisement on Discovery Channel while I was watching Man Vs Wild for FFXIII also there was this commercial from japan of XIV with actors and stuff cosplaying but its hard to find on the net now since SE must of hunted it down as they didn't want it to be published online.

Which reminds me I must see that commercial... must see.. must see.. cosplay!!

[Kailea_Nagisa]

I have to laugh at the people taking what is said so litteraly from SE... you have to remember this stuff is translated from Japanese, and alot of the time, done poorly.

"Up until summer" I read that as "till the end of summer"

Now I read it like this, not because I can not understand my own language, but I use a little common sense and am used to reading SEs announcements ;p


They have their patch release plans from now till the end of summer laid out.

Now this is how I read it, could I be wrong? yeah sure.... do I care if I am wrong? no, why should I? If I am wrong them I am wrong, and I move on.

[TonyMontana]

Marketing isn't as black and white as you seem to think it is, SE knows when to start to ramp up the hype train and they will do it when it's in there best interests.

You are thinking of SE right? The hype train I remember before release was everyone pooping on SE over the surplus system. Oh yeah and SE coming out and asking publications not to review the game until they had stolen potential buyers money for a full 30 days.

[Jynx]

Not they dont, they have never really been the type to ramp things up when they should, the mostly dont even advertise lol

I guess XIII selling over 5 million copies was a mere fluke for a game that received a rather luke warm reception from critics and the Final Fantasy series selling near 100million units as a whole is just some form of terrible PR and marketing. Just because it's not blaring on TV like a Halo add doesn't mean they don't know how to get the word out.

[Verecund]

The gil sink issue is definitely one that should've been prepared for before the game even launched.

At the very least they should have established a long-term means of progression for end-game that requires some monetary expenses (item collection, purchasable faction rewards, etc)

[Jynx]

You're right, Jynx, but you don't give a good reason to dismiss "street cred."

That's the only thing your argument lacks. Unless, you're trying to say - if we lure back people now while the game is still weak and they quit a 2nd time, they are probably gone for good, where as if SE just keeps pissing us off and we tell our friends to wait longer - they have a real potential customer down the road.

If that's what you're saying (or if it isn't) then I guess that makes sense, but it sucks from our standpoint. Just thinking about it makes me want to quit, but sadly SE & I both know I won't until this Battle System proves itself.

Oh I didn't say it doesn't suck for US as the more loyal fans of the series, we are putting in good time and effort into making sure they have the proper information to build us a better game. But luring players to the game at this point in time would be the worst "marketing" that anyone would ever do.

When the game is acceptable for subscribers they will trumpet about it don't worry.

[TonyMontana]

I guess XIII selling over 5 million copies was a mere fluke for a game that received a rather luke warm reception from critics and the Final Fantasy series selling near 100million units as a whole is just some form of terrible PR and marketing. Just because it's not blaring on TV like a Halo add doesn't mean they don't know how to get the word out.

5 Million sales is weak for a franchise that is as well known as final fantasy. I think modern Warfare 2 sold more than that in the first 4 or 5 days.