Targeting high profile websites - Gaming and Otherwise

Sirus

The concept is simple and obvious. There's several high profile gaming websites / blogs that would likely put a spot for NS in a news post. Joystiq, Kotaku, Penny Arcade and N4G are examples of gaming websites with high traffic and RSS feeds. These types of websites are often monitored by smaller gaming websites, and it's not unlikely to see such sites borrow content, especially if the news post is particularly interesting or innovative. By targeting gaming websites / blogs, it would be possible to create a trickle down effect into smaller gaming websites, disseminating NS announcements or news.

Other websites such as Digg and Reddit have a huge following, and an E-Team could easily coordinate a blitz of diggs, making it to the front page (only takes a few hundred) in a short manner of time. Further, given the savvy audience of digg viewers, and their gaming taste, it would be likely that it would be perpetuated by it's own audience (read: more than just the E-team). I wouldn't be surprised if a nice news announcement, along with a trailer could hit top 10 on Digg.

Such an endeavor could literally create tens of thousands of hits within a few days, if not more. Of course, it's success is relative to the degree of the announcement. Gameplay videos would be best suited for gaming blogs, while actual release should be blitzed on Digg and Reddit (especially if there's a weekend trial).

A good gameplay trailer, or video along with a short interview would be a great piece on Kotaku, or Joystiq. From there, momentum can be built up until release.

Also, just a note, while momentum is being gathered, the front page should be replaced with NS2 information, gameplay videos, podcasts, developer interviews, and such so that new visitors coming from gaming blogs are immediately confronted with the information they want, without making them look for it, less they lose patience and give up.

Heyman

Penny Arcade. VGcats. Do a webcomic site!

locallyunscene

<!--quoteo(post=1667343:date=Jan 13 2008, 09:22 PM:name=Heyman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Heyman @ Jan 13 2008, 09:22 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1667343"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Penny Arcade. VGcats. Do a webcomic site!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's, of course, up to the webcomic artist. For example, PA only advertises games they like. That's not to say it wouldn't happen, but that neither the dev team nor the community really has any influence over them. Reddit, Digg, etc. are sites the community can use help showcase NS2.

NEX9

this would need exsact times and dates, a cowardinator to keep those involved inline and most likel ya ventrilo channel to set this up and start the snow ball rolling

MAKE THIS HAPPEN

the_x5

The trailer eye-candy is a must if you want the popularity to be easier.

Quaunaut

Penny Arcade has given Natural Selection a shout out more than once. Getting it a 3rd time when it comes out(perhaps with a demo, or less) wouldn't take much trying other than having a good product.

As for Kotaku and Joystiq, that'll require more of a PR burst, which shouldn't be too hard. Hell, you could probably send Brian Crecente(head honcho of Kotaku, and arguably the most powerful video game blogger out there besides Steven Totilo of MTV Games) a steam key for the game and he'd at least say something about it(though if he didn't like it, he'd obviously say so there, too).

locallyunscene

Speaking of PA: <a href="http://www.penny-arcade.com/2008/03/07/#22409" target="_blank">They just put out an annoucement that they'll be featuring 10 TBD independent games at PAX</a>. UWE needs to get in on that.