What can SE do to make FFXIV "Noticed"?

[Azurymber]

Why did you have to do this? The last thing we need is a bunch of armchair advertising experts. Do we really need to feed the egos of countless gamers who think they can run a game from their gaming chair? SE knows what they're doing better than anyone else here. What can a horde of clueless and ignorant gamers really contribute to this discussion? Not a lot, so why make this thread. It's just a avenue for SE bashing by a bunch who think they have a clue. SE has tons of experts in their fields (ie of advertising) that know the ins and outs of markets, costs, and efficiency. Yet here you are, asking the common rabble about that which they do not understand. Why Starlord, why?

You know some of us here are actually experienced. Like I run a neuro-e-marketing business. And I'm sure theres a few other people on here who have similar experience.

To get FFXIV noticed SE needs to do the following:
Change the name. A Realm Reborn makes it look like an expansion which is -not- a good thing.

Advertise like crazy. Emphasize the story. Make people want to play just to experience it. For example, a tv commercial with music like at the end of the new fight, that shows people being killed, a child being separated from their family, and then a hero running in to save the day. Say something like "A realm divided" "War approaching" "pain" ..... "suffering" ..... and then have a little girl look up from a battle field and say "we need you......" then speed up the music or switch to final fantasy battle music and cycle through images of some of the coolest landmarks really fast, then cycle through a few battles against -epic- monsters doing the coolest moves in pimp looking gear. And end with a party running, looking up, seeing a massive dragon land, and everyone drawing their weapons. Cut to the ffxiv logo and say somthing like "Final fantasy 14, new graphics, new world, new game" and then cut back to the dragon roaring.

Something like that would create a neurological emotional attachment to the game even before playing it. The little girl asking for help and the preview of a massive dragon fight would make people want to play the game just to feel like a hero. The selected pics of landmarks and short clips of fights would make the game look cooler and more epic than it really is, making people want to play it. All in all, it would be a successful advertisement or trailer.
The basic concept if make the individual watching it identify with it, remember it, and want to play it.

The best gaming companies out there have mastered the art of neuroscience driven emotional cutscenes. Skyrim did a particularly amazing job at it.

[Duelle]

Post

Wow, you too, huh? Something else that elongated things really was the cockblocking along the way, which added to the frustration of some.

The best gaming companies out there have mastered the art of neuroscience driven emotional cutscenes. Skyrim did a particularly amazing job at it.

Agreed.

[Lux_Rayna]

You know some of us here are actually experienced. Like I run a neuro-e-marketing business. And I'm sure theres a few other people on here who have similar experience.

Oh I'm sure there are quite a few professionals playing FFXIV. I just don't think the chances are high that you'll get more than a few educated opinions on the forums. Obviously if you have the chops and the experience, discuss away.

To get FFXIV noticed SE needs to do the following:
Change the name. A Realm Reborn makes it look like an expansion which is -not- a good thing.

Any name would make it seem like an expansion; honestly, I don't think it matters. There is no other option outside of naming it FFXV, and that is not a very good option. It's the natural cost of re-releasing any title.

Advertise like crazy. Emphasize the story. Make people want to play just to experience it. For example, a tv commercial with music like at the end of the new fight, that shows people being killed, a child being separated from their family, and then a hero running in to save the day. Say something like "A realm divided" "War approaching" "pain" ..... "suffering" ..... and then have a little girl look up from a battle field and say "we need you......" then speed up the music or switch to final fantasy battle music and cycle through images of some of the coolest landmarks really fast, then cycle through a few battles against -epic- monsters doing the coolest moves in pimp looking gear. And end with a party running, looking up, seeing a massive dragon land, and everyone drawing their weapons. Cut to the ffxiv logo and say somthing like "Final fantasy 14, new graphics, new world, new game" and then cut back to the dragon roaring.

1. Advertising is costly. They already put themselves really deep in the hole by making 2.0. On top of that, their share price plummeted after XIV's failure. In other words, they can't afford to advertise like crazy..and it wouldn't do them any good anyway. Consumers are a lot more educated than they used to be, they know to take advertisements with a grain of salt, especially if the previous installment didn't work out too well for them. No matter how good the ad is, ppl who know XIV's past will not be any more inclined to play it due to the mistrust. In short, throwing money at advertisements is basically a waste of money...one they probably can't afford.

2. They probably ARE advertising in Japan, or will be if they haven't started yet. They don't necessarily need to advertise world wide, because the internet will do that for you, especially if you have a loyal fanbase that follows your moves whether you are advertising in their home country or not. I can count the number of FF ads i've seen on 1 hand, but i've played each installment every successive year. Why? Because I was a fan, and the internet/gaming magazines kept me updated. Let the internet do some of the dirty work. as advertising in different countries, especially in the United States, is ludicrously expensive.


Considering that FFXIV already has a playerbase attached to it, word of mouth will likely be the advertising method of choice. It's free, first of all, and nothing is more convincing than words straight out of the players' mouths. With the internet as monstrous as it is, the subs will increase as word gets out that FFXIV 2.0 is actually a really fun game. Like it or not, most gaming sites WILL play the game to review, if only to laugh at it some more. If it actually turns out good, the reviews will come back favorable and that will drive people to the game. SE doesn't really have to advertise like crazy; all they have to do is focus their funds into making the most fun game they possibly can. The internet and gaming magazines/review sites will do all the work for them...including the players they already have.

[Rannie]

Then let us advertise for them aka links to face book and such if anyone owns websites start posting on there about it we as a community can help advertise and it won't cost them a dime though if they give us free stuff in game *hint hint* that would be nice =P

[indira]

make it free, like every other game

that also is another reason some people wont bother. free = pay to win.

[Azurymber]

Oh I'm sure there are quite a few professionals playing FFXIV. I just don't think the chances are high that you'll get more than a few educated opinions on the forums. Obviously if you have the chops and the experience, discuss away.



Any name would make it seem like an expansion; honestly, I don't think it matters. There is no other option outside of naming it FFXV, and that is not a very good option. It's the natural cost of re-releasing any title.



1. Advertising is costly. They already put themselves really deep in the hole by making 2.0. On top of that, their share price plummeted after XIV's failure. In other words, they can't afford to advertise like crazy..and it wouldn't do them any good anyway. Consumers are a lot more educated than they used to be, they know to take advertisements with a grain of salt, especially if the previous installment didn't work out too well for them. No matter how good the ad is, ppl who know XIV's past will not be any more inclined to play it due to the mistrust. In short, throwing money at advertisements is basically a waste of money...one they probably can't afford.

2. They probably ARE advertising in Japan, or will be if they haven't started yet. They don't necessarily need to advertise world wide, because the internet will do that for you, especially if you have a loyal fanbase that follows your moves whether you are advertising in their home country or not. I can count the number of FF ads i've seen on 1 hand, but i've played each installment every successive year. Why? Because I was a fan, and the internet/gaming magazines kept me updated. Let the internet do some of the dirty work. as advertising in different countries, especially in the United States, is ludicrously expensive.


Considering that FFXIV already has a playerbase attached to it, word of mouth will likely be the advertising method of choice. It's free, first of all, and nothing is more convincing than words straight out of the players' mouths. With the internet as monstrous as it is, the subs will increase as word gets out that FFXIV 2.0 is actually a really fun game. Like it or not, most gaming sites WILL play the game to review, if only to laugh at it some more. If it actually turns out good, the reviews will come back favorable and that will drive people to the game. SE doesn't really have to advertise like crazy; all they have to do is focus their funds into making the most fun game they possibly can. The internet and gaming magazines/review sites will do all the work for them...including the players they already have.

Does FFXIV-2 sound like an expansion?
Have they used the -2 in other games? yes. X-2 and XIII-2

Advertising is not costly. They need to make an epic trailer, put it on youtube, and let social media take its course.
Elder scrolls got over 3mil+ views on its official trailer, millions of views on other trailers and 15mil on ign's gameplay footage.

Then they should release a different trailer or teaser to every gaming magazine/site. They will love to be able to post unique content even if everyone else has diff content. The reason is that they can say "unique video only on our site" and people reading that will assume they are good at getting unique content and will decide to keep reading them.

Could even advertise on facebook. "Play final fantasy Online." with a pic of a miqote in the new colliseum hood. A lot of guys will click through for the slutty cat girl, and then you offer them 3 months or even 6 months free.

At the start the more players there are the better, even if they aren't paying. Because an active community will retain members. So whatever you lose from free play at the start is gained by the number who stick with the game because of their experience while the population was high.

There are so many options for advertising that can be done nearly at no cost. Could even hold a facebook page contest like "share the news of the new game and get a chance to win a ffxiv necklace" or ingame items.

Koren MMOs that suck attract thousands of players just through good targeted advertising. No reason why SE can't.

But SEs main problem is they have no marketing department, or if they do, their marketing department is a failure. Releasing the same video to 4 different cultures is a BAD idea. If you design 4 videos, one for each culture, you will have a significantly larger impact.

[Rannie]

FFXIV actually has a face book page... just needs to link the trailer or embedd it into it and they'd probably be golden but also putting it on youtube would help as well

[Dragon]

FFXIV actually has a face book page... just needs to link the trailer or embedd it into it and they'd probably be golden but also putting it on youtube would help as well

FFXIV also has a Facebook group, but it seems my plans for integration had failed. -.- It's all their fault too, the stupid Lalafells.

[Rannie]

awwwww i'm sorry i'll go punt some lala's around for you later on just for the hell of it ^_^

[Dragon]

awwwww i'm sorry i'll go punt some lala's around for you later on just for the hell of it ^_^

Thank you, I wish more people were kind like you. d(^.^)b