PlanetSide Community Takes Action to Market Game

Enilk Libb VII writes "Frustrated by Sony Online's lack of dedication to their game, the Planetside community has taken the initiative and started a 'Guerilla Marketing' campaign designed to attract new players to the game. Players know that Planetside is good - perhaps even a genre defining title - but that it often goes unnoticed in the gaming market, saturated as it is with FPS games. Forums dedicated to the discussion of computer games, it was decided, are the perfect places to advertise. A template was designed with links to a spectacular video of Planetside (made by a regular Planetside player), a 7-day free trial of the game itself, and a downloadable installer. A thread was started on the Planetside Forums and the players got to work. The effect of the campaign has been noticeable. Populations are growing noticeably. Due to the influx of new players, many veterans of the game have volunteered to be part of a team whose job will be to contact new players and 'buckle them in'." Now if they'd only lower the pricetag...

You know...

[EvilJohn]

... maybe no one wants to play it because it isn't that good.

I played the game for awhile, and it doesn't take long to figure out having the achievements you made Monady Night wiped out while your at work make redoing the same thing on Tuesday Night not much fun.

Replace "PlanetSide" with "$BIG_EA_GAME"

[Geoffreyerffoeg]

Supposing that this were some struggling large game by some large manufacturer, would we be yelling "astroturfing" instead of "innovative marketing"?

Just a thought...since "astroturfing" was the first thing that came to mind when I was reading the summary.

Is that video linked supposed to excite me...

[eviltypeguy]

Is that video linked in the article supposed to make me want to play?

Sure, these points just reflect my tastes but:

1) Total lack of artistry in the game's artwork (the artwork looks like something a CAD student made, technical precision with no heart)

2) 100% PvP (sorry, no interest, I want the option of not doing PvP)

3) Oooh "shiny" disease seen everywhere

4) Everything looks so sterilised, yet another reason I despise futuristic games

Yes, flame me all you want. But, I think the above are glaring reasons why World of Warcraft has succeeded where others have failed.