The PS2 hype machine

[wolfkrone]

I feel the need to say something that I have been thinking for a while now. This is not really a rant, I am not frustrated with PS2 delays, or any of that. You can tell me its too early, or some other excuse for why my friends are less interested with every update rather than more interested. PlanetSide's lack of popular success was largely blamed on marketing screwups, so I think its prudent to stay on top of it this time. I just honestly believe that the PS2 hype machine/promotion/marketing, whatever, is missing the mark. Seeing reveal video and the new armour has been the highlight, but hardly makes it easier for me to recommend this game to my friends, because it doesn't explain anything about the game. It is tempting to author an essay on the subject, but I will try to keep it short and sweet. Firefall has been beating PS2 for mind share all year, http://www.tentonhammer.com/polls/mo...cess?sid=40909

1) PSU has needed a site redesign since about February. I know this is in the works, and I think Hamma is amazing, etc etc, but this site is the unofficial home of PlanetSide, and its currently a bit of an embarrassment. Yeah I know this site is made out of love etc etc, but my point is still true, I just think that we need a home that is as up to date as our new and awesome game.

2) The official PS2 website is also lacklustre. Its a little better than it was a few months ago, with its broken links, incorrect and unreadable font colours, broken and mis-sized frames, and no information at all.That said, today it still looks halfway between a FOXplanetsidemovie.com sort of thing and a vapourware open source engine mod. It screams of rush-job and afterthought. It needs content, and excitement. All I can say is, I hope this website is completely scrapped when beta approaches. If you are shaking your head in confusion right now just go compare it to a site like firefall or diablo 3, or pretty much any new game. This is the place we have to send our friends to...

3) The reason why Firefall grabbed so much attention, wasn't because they started the hype machine earlier than PS2 or anything like that. Its because they put out an awesome video that was about 20 mins long, with developer commentary, explaining all of the major features of the game. Pretty much every gamer I know has seen and remembers this video, and because of this they remember the game, all from 1 video. I am sure it was staged etc, but it told a narrative that was (probably) true to the gameplay experience, I could put myself in those shoes. Instead of boring me to death like all of the fiction and random pictures that appear on twitter. I loved the PS2 trailer with the music and the planes, it was awesome, but I was expecting a follow up video with some extended game play, where is it? We need to install fraps on TRays computer, plug in a microphone and join him on a base assault. I have my fingers crossed that we will get this eventually, because its really all I want to see from them before beta/launch...

TLDR : We need an extended gameplay movie showing the features of the game to get friends excited and some new webmasters. Less interview/fiction/screenshot spam.

[razor851]

tl;dr

[Zulthus]

Originally Posted by razor851

tl;dr

Also, I agree that the websites could use an overhaul. But those will come with time.

Firefall grabbed so much attention because its development is nearly done, people are sheep, and from what I can tell, is lacking in content. It looks like a mixture of BF2142, TF2 and Unreal Tournament. Once PS2 actually gets marketed *Gasp* maybe we'll start getting quite a bit of attention.

[Crazyduckling]

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Also, I agree that the websites could use an overhaul. But those will come with time.

Firefall grabbed so much attention because its development is nearly done, people are sheep, and from what I can tell, is lacking in content. It looks like a mixture of BF2142, TF2 and Unreal Tournament. Once PS2 actually gets marketed *Gasp* maybe we'll start getting quite a bit of attention.

(this is more than just a response to Zulthus)

1. Overhaul on both websites please.

2. We the community have to power the hype machine.

3. To power the hype machine, we have to get well known personalities to promote, or even just mention, Planetside 2. (I tweeted at Higby and Freddiew to make a PS2 video. Hamma tweeted at me and agreed. I also emailed Smed in July who forwarded my email to the Vice Prez of Marketing.)

4. Youtube is an amazing place to promote the game. As mentioned, FreddieW is someone to get involved, but dont forget Seananners, totalbiscuit, yogscast, machinima respawn, corridor digital (if freddiew doesn't...they share a loft in LA) etc. It may take a bit of time, since the game isn't even ready for beta, but I think we should push those peeps to promote the game right before beta.

5. I want to play 2142 again. brb.

[Xyntech]

Firefall was closer to being completed when it's marketing picked up.

Obviously people here are going to go ape shit if SOE drops the ball again, but that time hasn't come yet. We haven't even seen all of the core gameplay items such as finished MAX suits or all empires HA armor yet. The reason we haven't seen it is probably mostly related to the fact that it's not all done yet.

Don't stop worrying about PS2's marketing, but relax a little for now. If your friends aren't into the information that's being released, that's fine. This is currently more of a candid look at the design process than a full on marketing campaign. People who weren't fans of the original aren't going to be as excited at getting a first glimpse at a VS infiltrator. They're just going to think "cool armor" at best and move on.

Originally Posted by Crazyduckling

4. Youtube is an amazing place to promote the game. As mentioned, FreddieW is someone to get involved, but dont forget Seananners, totalbiscuit, yogscast, machinima respawn, corridor digital (if freddiew doesn't...they share a loft in LA) etc. It may take a bit of time, since the game isn't even ready for beta, but I think we should push those peeps to promote the game right before beta.

You are absolutely right, but the most important part of your post is that we hype this thing when it's ready to be hyped. We need more information, and for that to happen, the devs need to finish that content. There will still be time after all of the main content is finished, and balancing and tweaking is still being worked, on to promote this thing.

Start working on the hype machine now, or better yet two months ago, but remember not to try and kick it into high gear when we don't have enough to show.

[Captain1nsaneo]

PSU's front page needs to be cleaned up as most of the things up there are no longer relevant. I spend most of the time on the forums though and have no problem with its layout.

I agree about PS2's website being the barest of bones. It needs a massive overhaul so that it looks like it's actually representing a triple A title and company. This should be the case regardless of time till release.

[Xyntech]

Originally Posted by Captain1nsaneo

I agree about PS2's website being the barest of bones. It needs a massive overhaul so that it looks like it's actually representing a triple A title and company. This should be the case regardless of time till release.

True that.

Higby! Get somebody on top of that shit!

[Bags]

I never saw the vid.

[Alaska]

They plan on having a big market push. In due time.

Have the team make 4 to 5 short(ish) videos and scatter them across the internet. Scavenger hunt commence! lol

[Marth Koopa]

Everywhere I go on the internet to herald PlanetSide 2, I am always met with an overwhelmingly negative response.

I've given up.

[Raymac]

Worry after some actual video is released. It's obviously still a bit early.

For example, nobody gets excited about a movie until the trailer comes out. People need to see things.

We have a different perspective because we are following the development much closer, but when people actually get a look at this thing, (a real look, not that lame 5v5v5 pre-alpha announcement trailer) they are going to flip out over this game.

tl;dr Don't Panic

[xSlideShow]

Originally Posted by Crazyduckling

4. Youtube is an amazing place to promote the game. As mentioned, FreddieW is someone to get involved, but dont forget Seananners, totalbiscuit, yogscast, machinima respawn, corridor digital (if freddiew doesn't...they share a loft in LA) etc. It may take a bit of time, since the game isn't even ready for beta, but I think we should push those peeps to promote the game right before beta.

You forgot about Athene, you have to get Athene.

Originally Posted by Bags

I never saw the vid.

Dude... Me either

[Hamma]

I've posted on this before.. but I will post on it one more time since people seem to not be getting it.

The site is in development, the new forums have been essentially completed and the main site is under construction. Our goal right now is January/February 2012 for release.

The reason it is taking so long is because Gryphon is only one man. Just as a little background, I administer the sites, servers and community. Gryphon is our lone coder, he is the one who essentially is building the new site. There is allot of work that has to be done on it and we don't just want to release it with the same broken features, we want to fix things along the way.

We work for free, nobody here gets paid. That means things take longer to get done (especially a complete redesign)

Our goal for the redesign is more of a Community Focused Portal. - The current site has EVERYTHING on it. This is how it had to be when we designed it. The new site will be focused on Community and News, less links on the front page and the "Information" pages pushed to the wiki.

The site will be more community driven than ever before with this, we will retain many of the unique features we have had throughout the years such as the Quote Database, Outfit Database and top notch news posting.

We have been working on this for some time now, but since "February" is a rather bold statement. We had no idea what was going on with PlanetSide 2 and we had not nearly as much community involvement. At the time, it was not worth the time and effort to build a new site.. now it is.

I also think calling it an "embarrassment" is a bit rash and to be honest, it is personally insulting to me and my staff who work hard everyday to bring this site to you for free. There are much more "embarrassing" fan sites out there on the internet.

[NewSith]

Why is tl;dr different from the post consistency.

[Bravix]

Hamma, I think the site is beautiful. Sure. it might not be the newest kid on the block, but it's just as sexy as it was when it was first made. Just like a '69 Chevy Camaro Z28 <3