Would you buy PlanetSide Merchandise?

[GoldDragon]

I was thinking how awesome it would be if we could purchase T-Shirts, Cups, Figures, etc of PlanetSide. Halo, Gears of War, World of Warcraft, Assassin's Creed, and many more games all have merchandise for players and fan to purchase. Why not PlanetSide as well? Hell, they even have books of the story you can get. So my question is would you buy these things if they were available to us?

[Canaris]

I'd buy the TR t-shirt

[GoldDragon]

WTB NC hoodie XD I just think it would be awesome if at least in an online store there were things we could buy. I get tired of seeing all the WoW and Halo stuff and not being able to show my love for the best game ever.

[Shogun]

yeah! give us shirts, mousepads, gamerware-special editions AND give us warhammer40k style figures and models of the vehicles!
i would like to build up a nice diorama with a typical ps2 warscene! with prowlers, vanguards and reavers involved!

and i bet those who play the warhammer tabletops would adopt the figures and vehicles to their game by giving them certain statpoints and throw them on the same table ;-)

[Tasorin]

I would rather SOE spent its time, money and effort on delivering a quality AAA title that doesn't end up as another epic failure. After SOE accomplishes that, then capitalize on the market space and popularity of the game.

[MooK]

Originally Posted by Tasorin

I would rather SOE spent its time, money and effort on delivering a quality AAA title that doesn't end up as another epic failure. After SOE accomplishes that, then capitalize on the market space and popularity of the game.

This seems perfectly reasonable.

[Geist]

Originally Posted by Tasorin

I would rather SOE spent its time, money and effort on delivering a quality AAA title that doesn't end up as another epic failure. After SOE accomplishes that, then capitalize on the market space and popularity of the game.

Pretty sure they either have a special department for that or outsource the work to another company. I'd find it both worrying and incredibly hilarious if Higby & Friends were designing merchandise in their free time.

Besides, a quick buck made off of the dozens of PS fans who want an Empire Affiliation T-shirt wouldn't hurt anything.

[Aurmanite]

Originally Posted by Tasorin

I would rather SOE spent its time, money and effort on delivering a quality AAA title that doesn't end up as another epic failure. After SOE accomplishes that, then capitalize on the market space and popularity of the game.

The merchandizing/marketing department isn't going to be able to add to the quality of the game itself.

Merchandise is a great way to promote your product.

[Tasorin]

Originally Posted by Aurmanite

The merchandizing/marketing department isn't going to be able to add to the quality of the game itself.

Merchandise is a great way to promote your product.

Thank you Cpt. Obvious. I see I need to write a four page dissertation every time I make a business point as people cannot connect the business dots.

SOE has a finite budget with an allotment for M&M. Those sunk costs of doing business in terms of employees is limited to the confines of the project budget. Now when you start Merchandising there is a hurdle rate for cash outlay on ROI. Minimum buys vs Market Penetration and turns of purchased inventory would play a important role in making those decisions on not only what to Merchandise but what profitability is able to be recognized and in what time frame.

If you are Smeds, and you have a required hurdle rate of 4-6% profitability on project cash outlays from Sony Entertainment (not even going to get into the Q timing of inflow vs outflow of cash) and the analysis comes back that the ROI is 3% with a 52 week return window do you really think they would put a bunch of SWAG out there that only a small portion of FanBoi's are going to buy?

I personally would like an NC Golf Shirt, but I don't want the profitability of the project to go down the tubes so a handful of die hards can have some SWAG.

That was the point.

Stay focused with finite cash and resources on the core compentencies to deliver a quality AAA title. Part of that is Marketing, and I hope they do a great job marketing this title over the lack luster job done with PS1. Unless they get a sweet heart of a deal for Merchandising, and who knows what kinds of contracts they have in place for this, I would hope that they make informed business decisions and not gut check happy path decisions to satisfy a small portion of a small market share.

Now, I have to get back to making the Military-Industrial Complex even stronger and more profitable.

Shoot you later.

[waldizzo]

I'd buy if it was a black "golf" mesh polo with updated TR logo about the size of a 50 cent piece on the front upper left.

[Raymac]

I'd buy a Planetside themed fleshlight.

[Cosmical]

I want an action figure our all three faction's troopers.... with kung fu grip.

.....so i can make them circle jerk.

[XPquant]

I would definitely sport TR colors all day long.

[SniperSteve]

I need planetside t-shirts and jackets.

[Rbstr]

Probably not.
Mostly because the stuff is often pretty tacky. I mean, I love me some nerdy merch but it has to either be subtle or stand on merits of its own, outside of the reference.

Most video games are too transient for me to care.