Home    LittleBigPlanet General    News and Media
#1

Publicity Stunts

Archive: 66 posts

*Some of you won't give a ****, but I'm not too happy about it*

Am I the only one with the feeling (I actualy am [100%] certain [quiet linque]) that the games marketing is just publicity stunt after publicity stunt. Build hype and all that.

Whatever happened to the innocence of Media Molecules first game from the office above a toilet shop?

Sony's grubby hands have tainted it with its publicity stunts. Cleverly disguied, yes, but stunts all the same. This heavily suggests to me that, since Sony are wearing the trousers now, the DLC push will be heavy and pricey. If I didn't notice (Yes I'm taking credit here xD) that they were planning to charge for user-created levels a while back and start a whole debate, would they still be going through with it? Probably. Infact, theyre probably planning something similar but well disguised at the minute as a workaround. Crafty isn't the word to describe them, sly is.

Anyways, a little evidence to support my opinion:

Well firstly, its the most unique game on the underselling PS3 at the minute, and Sony desperately need something to bring in more bread. This fit the bill perfectly.

They started by advertising it in its very early stages. If this wasn't done, the game could have taken a year or more extra in developement. As far as lifecycles of software in development go, this game was completed at lightning-speed.

Next, the beta... Well they just wanted to start aload of hype didn't they? "This is a closed[open but limited] beta, only available to a very limited amount of people" so, naturaly, when the first batch of codes come out, everybody scrambles, but in the end, they gave everybody who ever posted on the news site (age 18+) a code, and there were that many codes being given out elsewhere that if you wanted into the beta, you were almost guarenteed a place. This isnt a beta, its a demo created to maximize hype and interest.

Also, the whole fansite register. What was that about? Lets hype them up more huh? "Sign up to our list, just because! " I've seen nothing done with this, and can't foresee anything significant. Basicaly they wanted alot more results when they googled 'LibbleBigPlanet'. Obviously, a hype builder.

And the billboards? Yeah, we are putting out alot of billboards. Feel free to steal them and put them on ebay! We would love the attention!

I also think that alot of people have an early release of this game not because of dumb workers but that this is also a cleverly disguised publicity stunt.

So, yeah, I hate what sony have done to this game ALREADY. Turned it from a great, fun-looking shiny gem into an over-advertised, corporate pet. God, they are just going to ruin it!

Okay so you are probably one of these three people:

- Wow, Maltay, I agree with you! I hate how power-hungry giant corporations are.

- Well, Maltay, This certainly was a very extensive advertising campaign, but it was so well pulled off and its the most ingenious, effect campaign I've ever seen. I love sony for this

- Maltay, Who cares? Seriously.


Yeah, I agree with myself obviously. I hate corporate giants. The second point is also true to me, minus the last sentance. Its like I'm applauding sony whilst plotting theyre death

I think there was more I wanted to add, but I forgot!

Anyways, if you read all that you deserve a medal or something.		2008-10-14 16:54:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Where's my medal?

I don't think that the publicity stunts will ruin the game. I think that LBP deserves all this hype and is going to live up to its expectations. Unlike, Super Smash Bros. Brawl...		2008-10-14 17:00:00

Author:
Unknown User

Let's light the flames, shall we?

... and... this stuff isn't obvious? -___-
Kay, that's all for now...		2008-10-14 17:01:00

Author:
ScytheOfGrim
Posts: 438

Like you said, it is over-advertisement. Sony just saw their window, their huge moment.
Honestly, ANY company would've done it. It was inevitable, as LittleBigPlanet appeals to a mass that has yet to even be scratched.

The betas..I agree with even more. They gave away waaaaaaaaaaaaay to many (Emphasis on waaaaaaaaaaaaaay). Another way, to over-advertise.

I don't want to defend Sony but..you can't really blame them lol.		2008-10-14 17:01:00

Author:
Forsaken
Posts: 950

Maltay, who cares? Seriously.

Nah just kiddin but in all seriousness they may be advertising it alot but you can't blame them - the game deserves to be popular, and without advertising I don't think it would achieve that as much 		2008-10-14 17:06:00

Author:
Crowlerzors
Posts: 241

Sorry Maltay, but I am the third guy. I don't really see why it matters that Sony want this game to be popular.

I also want a medal. Seriously.		2008-10-14 17:08:00

Author:
moleynator
Posts: 2914

I'd rather have the publicity and sales that go with it then have little publicity and the game ends up a flop.2008-10-14 17:08:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

Maltay, who cares? Seriously.

Nah just kiddin but in all seriousness they may be advertising it alot but you can't blame them - the game deserves to be popular, and without advertising I don't think it would achieve that as much

Yeah, I mean this is the way it's always been for games. To appeal to more than the hardcore crowd, you have to do stuff like that. The paying for levels thing sucks, I agree, but if people voluntarily create billboards and stuff then that's their problem =P The beta distribution sucked, but I don't think it was as much to create hype as it was just terribly executed.

I also don't think that Sony has ruined the game. I agree that Sony is a slimy company - I don't have a problem with corporations and I think that if you do then you have to realize that a world without some of these corporations would mean less competition, higher prices, and lower quality products in this country. I was in Europe a while ago and their laid back style is great, but you can tell that without some of the corporations you see elsewhere things cost a lot more there and they don't have some of the extremely innovative products created in America and the UK and Japan. I'm not dumping praise on America, I'm just trying to point out that sometimes being the giant corporation isn't a bad thing.

There are a nasty side effects, I agree, but it's not fair to lump corporations into being evil and write them all off. Sony just sucks in general for running their company terribly and having proprietary formats and all that. If anything, they've taken a step forward with the PS3 by offering PSN for free, a non-proprietary hard drive, standard USB ports for controllers, and standard Bluetooth connectivity for headsets and stuff. Plus, it's one of the best Blu-ray players out there.

I don't think they've raped the LBP brand for their benefit. Yes, they have taken advantage of it to differentiate the PS3 from the Xbox 360, but if they didn't we'd all be complaining about how underrated LittleBigPlanet is and how Sony really missed out. I think that some of us here keep up with this stuff way more than the general population and it doesn't actually ruin the LBP brand, in general. Mm is still Mm, Sackboy is still Sackboy

Elton		2008-10-14 17:16:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128

I want my medal. Maltay, angry customers here! grr

It hasn't actually bothered me to be honest. I mean, just look at Sony. They hardly ever advertise any of their games; but they just saw an open window of opportunity. If they did all of this, just think of what Microsoft would of done to it.

I do agree with you on the beta codes though. Seriously, why couldn't they just make it a closed beta? That was the one publicity stunt that concerned me. Other than that, whatever. As long as they made the game the best it could be, I'm fine.

Wait, one last point. You can't blame Sony for everything. Sure, they have control over most events related to advertising but I doubt they just did it without Media Molecule's approval. I'm not sure though, not exactly the most knowledgable in that department @_@		2008-10-14 17:25:00

Author:
Unknown User

just think of what Microsoft would of done to it.



LittleBigMoutainDew		2008-10-14 17:27:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

Okay, guess I have to state the alternative to sony shoving the game through one of those shapes (like for playdough, or shaping pasta) that say "money"

The game would have just undergone the usual, standard magazine ads, maybe a couple of tevelvision ads and stuff, and it would have entered at the bottom of the charts and climbed its way up to the top honestly, instead of just being shoved right into the #1 slot and everybody just being unsuprised.. pretty indifferent.

It just dis-satifies me.		2008-10-14 17:27:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

I'll have to agree with you there Maltay. When MGS4 came out, I got so excited when it came through my letter box, crying of joy (wait? That's my geekiest thing ever. Note to self. Must put that info on the geekiest thing ever thread) and then a month later it was just another game on the shelf. It just didn't break the extra wall (fifth, not fourth. It achieved the fourth) as I got incredibly uncontrollably hyped over it so I got a bit disapionted when I forced myself to play it a few months later I just didn't enjoy it...
Oh, and I'm more uncontrollably hyped over LBP than MGS4 so this game better prove it's worth!		2008-10-14 17:36:00

Author:
TheArmedReaper
Posts: 1543

I'll have to agree with you there Maltay. When MGS4 came out, I got so excited when it came through my letter box, crying of joy (wait? That's my geekiest thing ever. Note to self. Must put that info on the geekiest thing ever thread) and then a month later it was just another game on the shelf. It just didn't break the extra wall (fifth, not fourth. It achieved the fourth) as I got incredibly uncontrollably hyped over it so I got a bit disapionted when I forced myself to play it a few months later I just didn't enjoy it...
Oh, and I'm more uncontrollably hyped over LBP than MGS4 so this game better prove it's worth!

There, see thats also something i'm afraid of but forgot to mention,

overhype

This game is bound to dissapoint many (not all, not a majority, but many) purely because its waay too overhyped.		2008-10-14 17:38:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

The game would have just undergone the usual, standard magazine ads, maybe a couple of tevelvision ads and stuff, and it would have entered at the bottom of the charts and climbed its way up to the top honestly, instead of just being shoved right into the #1 slot and everybody just being unsuprised.. pretty indifferent.

It just dis-satifies me.

Yeah because thats exactly whats happened with colourful critically acclaimed titles with that level of advertising before.		2008-10-14 17:38:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

i was thinking the same the other day that i hope sony don't spoil this by forcing MM to stuff. But i think this game is the best game ever made and there seem still to be loads of people that don't even realise what this game is or the full potential, so any form of advertising is good by me. The more people that know about this and get it the more potential for different and wonderfull ideas. Also in regards to the beta and loads of people getting in. Lets be honest they stated from the begining it was to stress test the servers. Thats exactly why they staggered it like they did and lets be honest there were only a mass amount in the last weekend which they probably saw as a thank you to all the people that tried so hard to get in and didn't and were flooding forums with messages moaning about it. Just to keep them sweet. Also why not get the last few days of testing at a higher capacity. Remember there are gonna be millions of people playing this game not just the thousands that were in the beta and i'm sure if the servers start crashing at full release everyone will be moaning they're heads off lol2008-10-14 17:40:00

Author:
dorien
Posts: 2767

It just didn't break the extra wall (fifth, not fourth. It achieved the fourth) as I got incredibly uncontrollably hyped over it so I got a bit disapionted when I forced myself to play it a few months later I just didn't enjoy it...
Oh, and I'm more uncontrollably hyped over LBP than MGS4 so this game better prove it's worth!

:eek: Blashphemy! MGS4 is so much teh awesome!

Elton		2008-10-14 17:41:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128

i was thinking the same the other day that i hope sony don't spoil this by forcing MM to stuff. But i think this game is the best game ever made and there seem still to be loads of people that don't even realise what this game is or the full potential, so any form of advertising is good by me. The more people that know about this and get it the more potential for different and wonderfull ideas. Also in regards to the beta and loads of people getting in. Lets be honest they stated from the begining it was to stress test the servers. Thats exactly why they staggered it like they did and lets be honest there were only a mass amount in the last weekend which they probably saw as a thank you to all the people that tried so hard to get in and didn't and were flooding forums with messages moaning about it. Just to keep them sweet. Also why not get the last few days of testing at a higher capacity. Remember there are gonna be millions of people playing this game not just the thousands that were in the beta and i'm sure if the servers start crashing at full release everyone will be moaning they're heads off lol

Ah yes, I never looked at the beta that way, thats quite clever.

I looked at always as a "This is basicaly a demo, guys, but I want to generate alot of hype for the game, so lets call it a beta and release it in stages"

Your point is very valid though Thanks for opening my eyes to this. 		2008-10-14 17:44:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

LittleBigMoutainDew
xD Forthetenz...		2008-10-14 17:47:00

Author:
Unknown User

It's called advertising, and they need lots of user created content to make this game awesome. I think they have the right to do all of this. I mean, someone out there is getting a job because of all of this. One less person living in poverty. ... and it's a win-win situation, we get more levels and people to play with, while Sony makes its money.2008-10-14 17:55:00

Author:
Code1337
Posts: 3476

Ah yes, I never looked at the beta that way, thats quite clever.

I looked at always as a "This is basicaly a demo, guys, but I want to generate alot of hype for the game, so lets call it a beta and release it in stages"

Your point is very valid though Thanks for opening my eyes to this.
No probs dude. Thats why i love this place as everyone has different ideas and no one ever really jumps all over and rubbishes other peoples ideas and it's a friendly atmosphere so no one is afraid to voice they're opinions.		2008-10-14 18:00:00

Author:
dorien
Posts: 2767

It's called advertising, and they need lots of user created content to make this game awesome. I think they have the right to do all of this. I mean, someone out there is getting a job because of all of this. One less person living in poverty. ... and it's a win-win situation, we get more levels and people to play with, while Sony makes its money.

Finaly, somebody who falls into category #2. Yay for your uniqueness.		2008-10-14 18:27:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

My two cents - I love that Sony decided to put all their effort into spreading the word with THIS game. I've had discussions about Little Big Planet with so many different people from all sorts of backgrounds, many of whom have NEVER owned a console but are fascinated with this game. Sony have put out an intriguing marketing campaign that's fired folks imaginations and raised the profile of a steller game to steller levels.
They're a business and when you see an opportunity you take it. LBP gave them that opportunity and for what it's worth I love the way they've pushed this creative gaming tool into the common domain.
I also LOVE the fact they opened up the Beta! The number of fringe gamers who went in and got involves was fantastic and really emphasised the broad based appeal of LBP.
All in all, bring it on. For once a game that's not about violence, druglords or gritty reality has made folks talk about the PS3 and the gaming revolution.		2008-10-14 19:00:00

Author:
mrbobbyboy
Posts: 304

My two cents - I love that Sony decided to put all their effort into spreading the word with THIS game. I've had discussions about Little Big Planet with so many different people from all sorts of backgrounds, many of whom have NEVER owned a console but are fascinated with this game. Sony have put out an intriguing marketing campaign that's fired folks imaginations and raised the profile of a steller game to steller levels.
They're a business and when you see an opportunity you take it. LBP gave them that opportunity and for what it's worth I love the way they've pushed this creative gaming tool into the common domain.
I also LOVE the fact they opened up the Beta! The number of fringe gamers who went in and got involves was fantastic and really emphasised the broad based appeal of LBP.
All in all, bring it on. For once a game that's not about violence, druglords or gritty reality has made folks talk about the PS3 and the gaming revolution.

Thanks for your input!

I am starting to realize that heavy advertising seems to be extremely necessary, but I still really dislike the sly way they've gone about it all. I respect them for being the first (to my knowledge) to try most of it though, and heck, I got to play the game early, so I can't complain that much.

They are too secretive and sly, are Sony. Obviously it's too much to ask for a honest and open major corporation, but I would love to be proud of them, and I just can't 		2008-10-14 19:04:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Lets be honest they stated from the begining it was to stress test the servers.

Didn't IGN say that stress testing the servers was a red herring for them wanting to see what kinds of things people can come up with? Probably to have that content available on opening day for people and reviewers to be impressed and to help with their marketing. I guess you could call it viral marketing, YouTube is ripe with LBP beta videos.

Elton		2008-10-14 19:18:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128

Medal please2008-10-14 19:22:00

Author:
DrunkMiffy
Posts: 2758

Didn't IGN say that stress testing the servers was a red herring for them wanting to see what kinds of things people can come up with? Probably to have that content available on opening day for people and reviewers to be impressed and to help with their marketing. I guess you could call it viral marketing, YouTube is ripe with LBP beta videos.

Elton

Its certainly a good way to show the world what you can create before the titles om the shelves.		2008-10-14 19:27:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

Didn't IGN say that stress testing the servers was a red herring for them wanting to see what kinds of things people can come up with? Probably to have that content available on opening day for people and reviewers to be impressed and to help with their marketing. I guess you could call it viral marketing, YouTube is ripe with LBP beta videos.

Elton

IGN was obviously just being speculative

And i never said it was NOT a marketing ploy. I was just saying it could of just been a developer that is proud of it's work and possibly "just possibly" for once in this world a big company was just trying to give out to it's community

But IGN probably right lol		2008-10-14 19:32:00

Author:
dorien
Posts: 2767

the only consern about this game that i have is that i over hyped it for myslef and in england i have not seen one single advertisment from sony for lbp, i see tons of m$ adverts, so i dont see your point on that, i only ovr hyoe this game for myself as i have reasearch everything for my slef, i not a lot of peole know what lbp is,

plus the only good sony advert i have seen is mgs4 all the other was ****, sorry for the bad lauguage, but sony adverisment are rubbish, the ps3 ones where just werid.

also the hing about letting people charge for their levels is not as bad as it seem, sony did say only the best, meaning they have to be really good, and they will have them in an expantion pack		2008-10-14 19:40:00

Author:
panzer3000
Posts: 362

It's called advertising, and they need lots of user created content to make this game awesome. I think they have the right to do all of this. I mean, someone out there is getting a job because of all of this. One less person living in poverty. ... and it's a win-win situation, we get more levels and people to play with, while Sony makes its money.

QFT. :arg:

Maltay, whether you like it or not, video games is a buisness. Buisnesses sell advertising. Sony has gotten awesome advertising for LittleBigPlanet. That does not change in any way the content of the game; it just changes the number of people that the game reaches. Sony has succeeded in advertising. We get an awesome game to play.

...and what are you complaining about again? :arg:		2008-10-14 19:43:00

Author:
Unknown User

the only consern about this game that i have is that i over hyped it for myslef and in england i have not seen one single advertisment from sony for lbp, i see tons of m$ adverts, so i dont see your point on that, i only ovr hyoe this game for myself as i have reasearch everything for my slef, i not a lot of peole know what lbp is,

plus the only good sony advert i have seen is mgs4 all the other was ****, sorry for the bad lauguage, but sony adverisment are rubbish, the ps3 ones where just werid.

also the hing about letting people charge for their levels is not as bad as it seem, sony did say only the best, meaning they have to be really good, and they will have them in an expantion pack

They werent saying that from the start though

And are you serious? Well, there are littlebigplanet advertisements in all the magazines, but the biggest source for advertising right now is the internet, and its all over it 		2008-10-14 19:44:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Yeah, it's like a contagious disease.

I'm not gonna name the site I saw ads for it on, but believe me, they're everywhere.		2008-10-14 19:49:00

Author:
DrunkMiffy
Posts: 2758

They werent saying that from the start though

And are you serious? Well, there are littlebigplanet advertisements in all the magazines, but the biggest source for advertising right now is the internet, and its all over it

What kind of spread are we talking about for adverts? I've only seen them on Kotaku so far.		2008-10-14 19:50:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

the only consern about this game that i have is that i over hyped it for myslef and in england i have not seen one single advertisment from sony for lbp, i see tons of m$ adverts, so i dont see your point on that, i only ovr hyoe this game for myself as i have reasearch everything for my slef, i not a lot of peole know what lbp is,

plus the only good sony advert i have seen is mgs4 all the other was ****, sorry for the bad lauguage, but sony adverisment are rubbish, the ps3 ones where just werid.

also the hing about letting people charge for their levels is not as bad as it seem, sony did say only the best, meaning they have to be really good, and they will have them in an expantion pack

I went to the toilet last night (i do that sometime uknow) and the missus shouted out to me that there was a LBP advert on the tv. I was gutted i missed it for some reason lol
probably seen every vid ever made and there wouldn't have been anything new. But just the fact it was on the tv made me think HERE IT COMES. Can't wait for this game		2008-10-14 20:01:00

Author:
dorien
Posts: 2767

Yeah, it's like a contagious disease.

I'm not gonna name the site I saw ads for it on, but believe me, they're everywhere.

What do you mean there are other sites on the internet.
I was beginning this was the only one lol Haven't even been on Facebook for like weeks as I've been soooo addicted to LBP and this site:o		2008-10-14 20:04:00

Author:
dorien
Posts: 2767

"MM's innocent little game?" If I was the monster machine Sony I'd let noone get in my way of marketing the game in any way possible. I'd sell it for all it's worth. The game of the century is in their hands. Of course they're going to market it. Be it ads online, in big cities or facebook groups. It's your choice if you want to pay attention to it. And regarding overhyping and spoilers- personally I don't feel like anything's been spoiled at all. Even if I watched the whole game played to the end before my eyes. I pretty much knew the revolution was here when sackboy started running on the cogwheel sometime last year.2008-10-14 20:33:00

Author:
BasketSnake
Posts: 2391

I really don't care, this is a really amazing game and I just wanna play it. XD2008-10-14 21:31:00

Author:
Tyler
Posts: 663

"MM's innocent little game?" If I was the monster machine Sony I'd let noone get in my way of marketing the game in any way possible. I'd sell it for all it's worth. The game of the century is in their hands. Of course they're going to market it. Be it ads online, in big cities or facebook groups. It's your choice if you want to pay attention to it. And regarding overhyping and spoilers- personally I don't feel like anything's been spoiled at all. Even if I watched the whole game played to the end before my eyes. I pretty much knew the revolution was here when sackboy started running on the cogwheel sometime last year.

You really seem to be missing the point.. its the way they carried it out, not the fact that they did.		2008-10-14 22:46:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Maltay, i understand you points, same thing kinda happened to Spore, but the hype lasted longer for this game. probably because it came out faster though.

anyways DONT FRET!!! lbp comes out in seven days! yay!		2008-10-14 23:06:00

Author:
Gondito
Posts: 1082

Maltay, i understand you points, same thing kinda happened to Spore, but the hype lasted longer for this game. probably because it came out faster though.

anyways DONT FRET!!! lbp comes out in seven days! yay!

Thanks man

10 days here, but I still don't have the money so it can wait. xP		2008-10-14 23:12:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Maltay, I totally agree with you!2008-10-14 23:12:00

Author:
ea9492
Posts: 444

Maltay, I totally agree with you!

Finallly, complete agreement

I love you ea.

(Be honest though, you took one look at the lenght and just decded not to read it and just agree )		2008-10-14 23:16:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Well, yeah, what can I say? If they start to charge levels and DLC, that will suck. I know it is stupid to assume they won't charge DLC, but still, I will not buy it if they do. Haven't bought any so far...2008-10-14 23:25:00

Author:
THE-FAT
Posts: 143

Did you ever think that permission was purposely given to select retailers to sell the game early? Just another publicity stunt maybe? I never heard of such a large amount of oversights and people selling games early like this.2008-10-14 23:33:00

Author:
cstrfrk
Posts: 74

Did you ever think that permission was purposely given to select retailers to sell the game early? Just another publicity stunt maybe? I never heard of such a large amount of oversights and people selling games early like this.

Yes I actualy wrote that doesn in my first post xD

That is infact what got me started on this rant.		2008-10-14 23:36:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Street dates are always being broken it just sounds worse for lbp because we're following the game.2008-10-14 23:47:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

The beta. It did seem more like a demo than a beta especially if you consider how it was 'the older version' and they were not looking for any bugs. They were 'testing servers'. It does sound fishy. The distribution of the codes was a nightmare for any fan but good for building hype for non-fans and generating revenue for the gaming sites we all had to sign up for and refresh a thousand times. If gamespot got a tenth of a penny per hit per ad they still made loads of money for everyone involved.

The early releases make me wonder as well. I find it odd how the stores with LBP on their shelves are the same stores that do not have any pre-order goodies. I wouldn't doubt is Sony allowed this as well. It will drive sells and fans will go to their local Walmart or Target and see if they can score the game. It's a known fact in retail, if you can get people to come to your store they are way more likely to buy SOMETHING, anything, a soda. Getting them into your store is the trick.

Then again, the amount of reports about early releases or store slip ups may be directly related to amount of fans out there looking for it. If say, SuperBoringCheckers for the ps3 was released before the the official street date, would anyone notice?

I don't like how Sony has used the fans to generate revenue for their main advertising outlets but this game NEEDS to be played. People need to see what it is, to know what it is, since a description of it is hard to form. We've all discussed how hard it is to explain to friends the appeal. Maybe T.V. commercials, big and little billboards, and the random crashing of a gaming website is needed.

Like all of you, I want this game to be as successful as possible. The more players, the more levels, the better chance of something remarkable.

Besides, we'll know when we Sony completely sells out, the day they allow the creation of a saturday morning cartoon.		2008-10-15 00:10:00

Author:
docpac
Posts: 601

- Maltay, Who cares? Seriously.



I'm definetly under that category. ^_^

Media Molecule struck the jackpot when they got Sony's attention. We would never be hyping such a game otherwise. A world without LBP, can you imagine that?

"Selling out" is the price they have to pay to get their game out there. If it means more people get their hands on LBP then what the hell are we complaining about?		2008-10-15 00:28:00

Author:
UmJammerSully
Posts: 1097

it's hard to understand the greed of companies... you tell them we'll give you 100 billion dollars, they'll ask for 110 billion dollars...

little publicity stunts are what make the diffrence between 80 percent sold out pre orders, and full sold out pre orders... stupid things that catch peoples eyes and get them intrested...		2008-10-15 03:06:00

Author:
big93
Posts: 262

Street dates are always being broken it just sounds worse for lbp because we're following the game.

Agreed. Enforcing a street date can't be easy, especially with a game as hyped as this. I cannot imagine that Sony would purposely allow certain retailers to sell the game earlier without making a big deal out of it to further drive up sales. Sony is too greedy to approve early sales like this.

Elton		2008-10-15 07:55:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128

Agreed. Enforcing a street date can't be easy, especially with a game as hyped as this. I cannot imagine that Sony would purposely allow certain retailers to sell the game earlier without making a big deal out of it to further drive up sales. Sony is too greedy to approve early sales like this.

Elton

How naive. :O		2008-10-15 08:27:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

Besides, we'll know when we Sony completely sells out, the day they allow the creation of a saturday morning cartoon.

I had to LOL at this one, reminded me of Viva Pinata. Turned into a toon before the game was even released.

Personally, the marketing strategy has been genius. I hate Sony as a corporation for the way they treat their customers, especially in Europe, but I have to admit that the marketing strategists behind this one were clever. It's generated a LOT of hype without costing a great deal of money, and whilst the initial scramble for Betas was awful, in the end, it also made a lot of people even more excited for it.

What I'm trying to say is that I don't agree with what they've done in all cases, but for a marketing standpoint, they've done it well.		2008-10-15 09:16:00

Author:
flakmagnet
Posts: 1084

did you expect any less maltay?2008-10-15 11:08:00

Author:
muttjones
Posts: 843

Does it matter, so long as the game itself isn't tainted?

Welcome to the world of marketing Maltay, every single piece of popular culture is sold to us like this without us even realising. Why, how did you come to find out about LittleBigPlanet?

I'm cynical about everything like this, yes, but in no way is this Sony corporate hyperadvertising ruining the quality of what MM has produced, in fact it's opened the doors to many more potential users who will only strengthen the game. Media Molecule and Sony will both deservedly be rolling in our money for this game.		2008-10-15 12:04:00

Author:
Dropbear
Posts: 272

Back to the beta being a server stress test for a moment:


Not to mention that we've deliberately cut back on servers for this test to simulate them running under an overload. This will help us to identify exact capacities of the servers, and to calculate exactly where upscaling is likely to be required.

http://community.eu.playstation.com/playstationeu/board/message?board.id=b_EN_LBP_beta&message.id=1068#M1068		2008-10-15 15:43:00

Author:
Rabid-Coot
Posts: 6728

How naive. :O

No, how realistic. I'm not a conspiracy theorist Just because I hate Sony doesn't mean I think they're completely incompetent, just partially incompetent.

Elton		2008-10-15 17:41:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128

No, how realistic. I'm not a conspiracy theorist Just because I hate Sony doesn't mean I think they're completely incompetent, just partially incompetent.

Elton

Well sorry for calling you naive mate Meant no hard feelings.

But lets face it, when has so many copies of a game ever been released to the public so long before launch date? Never, to my knowledge.

Mix that with the fact that sony took a very laid back/slight encouragement approach to the billboards, and I'd say that this is almost definitly just another stunt. And its genius.

(Hey, lets push back the release date but sell a fair few copies early, this will get people bragging on the internet, tonnes of people will be jelous, telling their friends, ringhing their local game stores, Hype will increase by over 9000)

Although, your entirely entitled to your opinion Just wanted to share mine.		2008-10-15 17:45:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

What?

The number of LBP copies sold before the release date is absolutely nothing compared to other games.

PES '08 was being sold a good three weeks before the actual release date.
And '09 is already being sold by stores all around me already.

GTA IV was being sold all over the place with an excessive amount of copies still in store.
Assassin's Creed was also being thrown out of shops a couple of weeks before the release date, and the number of available copies was astounding.

Warhawk - same story.

And this is a relatively small country.
LBP isn't here yet, and believe me when I tell you that the number of copies being sold prior to release is pathetic.		2008-10-15 17:57:00

Author:
ScytheOfGrim
Posts: 438

What?

The number of LBP copies sold before the release date is absolutely nothing compared to other games.

PES '08 was being sold a good three weeks before the actual release date.
And '09 is already being sold by stores all around me already.

GTA IV was being sold all over the place with an excessive amount of copies still in store.
Assassin's Creed was also being thrown out of shops a couple of weeks before the release date, and the number of available copies was astounding.

Warhawk - same story.

And this is a relatively small country.
LBP isn't here yet, and believe me when I tell you that the number of copies being sold prior to release is pathetic.

Well, I was refferning to in North America and the UK. Obviously, its Common where you live.		2008-10-15 17:59:00

Author:
Maltay
Posts: 2073

They werent saying that from the start though

And are you serious? Well, there are littlebigplanet advertisements in all the magazines, but the biggest source for advertising right now is the internet, and its all over it

they didnt from the start but they planed on letting some people sell their ideas		2008-10-15 18:00:00

Author:
panzer3000
Posts: 362

Well, I was refferning to in North America and the UK. Obviously, its Common where you live.

I was speaking about the entire world too.

I'm not just talking about the shops around me, I'm talking about the numerous people running around the web showing off what they bought and what they didn't buy.		2008-10-15 18:04:00

Author:
ScytheOfGrim
Posts: 438

This I have to say is a touchy subject but a great one also, In this case I have to agree with Maltay that sometimes too much advertisment kinda ruins the experience but like they say nowadays any press is good pres * see EA coming out saying we studied dead people for dead space* That kind of information Id rather see them keep to them selves. But all in all it will sell games.

But my main issue with the game what I think will be make or break sitatuion will be user content , personally charging people for other peoples levels Im not too sure about firstly would any one pay lets say ?1.50 for 5 minutes worth of fun?? I mean Sony have said that no charges will be at the beggining of the game but in the future who knows and its sony's uk boss says they could be .

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193677

But regardless the situation all I'm gonna is let's sit back and enjoy the game, afterall Lbp is awesome however you see it 		2008-10-15 18:09:00

Author:
Kyashu
Posts: 447

ok all that i care about is what does he mean by

"that they were planning to charge for user-created levels a while back and start a whole debate, would they still be going through with it? Probably. Infact, theyre probably planning something similar but well disguised at the minute as a workaround"

i better not have to pay for anything
besides DLC		2008-10-15 23:02:00

Author:
sack-zilla
Posts: 31

are u surprised by this maltay? it is what to expect when a big corporate gets its hands on somethingso appealing to consumers. IT is the world we live in today.2008-10-15 23:10:00

Author:
muttjones
Posts: 843

I was speaking about the entire world too.

I'm not just talking about the shops around me, I'm talking about the numerous people running around the web showing off what they bought and what they didn't buy.

I have to say, there will be a good chance of copy cat fakers running around claiming they have the game. Don't get me wrong though, I know people out there are playing already but the total number cannot be verified due to people wanting to stir up the fans.

Honestly. I hope LBP knocks the crap out of the GTA4 ps3 sales.		2008-10-16 00:03:00

Author:
docpac
Posts: 601

Do anyone here understand that if a game is to be produce Money has to be spent to get back the resources that have been sunk into it. With LBP it is a game I can't wait to have, but if you don't have a system to which to use it on the WTF is this little game going to be put on.
Now the point of a free market is that everybody have the right to to make a product that people are going to want to use. So how do we know what they want, well it is advertising and marketing.
Mass Marketing.

Now people whom have been interested in LBP from the GC back in march 2007 well and fine you already know, what about the nebbies that have just bought the system, how will they find out, Mass Marketing.

Yes Sony is Big, Mircosoft is Big and dare I say Nintendo is Big. These compines are willing to take a risk and spend thier money to make more money. They invest in an idea and the want a return. So that they can grow and make more games, products for the mass population of the world to enjoy there free time in and about.		2008-10-16 00:52:00

Author:
rabs72
Posts: 5

Well sorry for calling you naive mate Meant no hard feelings.

But lets face it, when has so many copies of a game ever been released to the public so long before launch date? Never, to my knowledge.

Mix that with the fact that sony took a very laid back/slight encouragement approach to the billboards, and I'd say that this is almost definitly just another stunt. And its genius.

Although, your entirely entitled to your opinion Just wanted to share mine.

I wasn't offended, but I still don't agree with you =P You're giving Sony way too much credit here.

Elton		2008-10-16 01:42:00

Author:
Eptiger
Posts: 128


LBPCentral Archive Statistics
Posts: 1077139    Threads: 69970    Members: 9661    Archive-Date: 2019-01-19

Datenschutz
Aus dem Archiv wurden alle persönlichen Daten wie Name, Anschrift, Email etc. - aber auch sämtliche Inhalte wie z.B. persönliche Nachrichten - entfernt.
Die Nutzung dieser Webseite erfolgt ohne Speicherung personenbezogener Daten. Es werden keinerlei Cookies, Logs, 3rd-Party-Plugins etc. verwendet.