<b>in general</b> aren't <b>usually</b> interested in
it'd be nice if you actually read my post.
i'd say your wife is an exception. a growing exception that may eventually become a major demographic; indeed, but still an exception.
most of the girls i know that play any sort of video games - play console games, for one thing; there are few decent fps on consoles. they also generally play games like guitar hero, rpg's like final fantasy; and seem to hold a great interest in resident evil, but that's because they're into 'horror' or 'zombies' (strange, this, i'd say girls are more enthusiastic about the horror/zombie genres than guys are). as for pc games, well, the sims comes to mind... plus a lot of mmo's, ragnarok online for example.
now back to the geeky merchandise; i wouldn't say ns is a well-known or rather, 'cool' game; for the masses. pimp my ride is a well-known and 'cool' show. they -make- the trends, whatever they put on that show -becomes- 'cool'. ns doesnt really have that benefit. now, if you could get NS2 on some well-known gaming sites, shows, etc...
Good point, I'm sorry if the general was glossed over, I just tend to be rather wary of generalized statements, they are all too often justifications for some terrible stuff.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->now back to the geeky merchandise; i wouldn't say ns is a well-known or rather, 'cool' game; for the masses. pimp my ride is a well-known and 'cool' show. they -make- the trends, whatever they put on that show -becomes- 'cool'. ns doesnt really have that benefit. <b>now, if you could get NS2 on some well-known gaming sites, shows, etc... </b><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
While I have a tendency to just ignore other people's opinions on my own fashion sense because I came from a lack of resources upbringing, I think you are right on this, unfortunately in the broadest sense, Natural Selection has not been a trend setter like say, Halo *shudder* In PC gaming though, I think NS1 had some pretty decent play, it was mentioned in gaming publications as a recommended mod and it had very good numbers when compared to how much other mods were being played from what I vaguely recall seeing on sites like Game Spy.
I think timing is going to be everything on the push to get headline space for NS2 in the gaming world since we, the NS2 community, are being asked to help get the word out on this game. I'm not convinced we could maintain a sustained push over say a year, but a month or two before release would be more reasonable to expect us to try to get as much attention for the product as possible.
In the mean time, I wouldn't mind tossing Unknown Worlds some ideas on what to make sure they have the rights to when it comes time to bank on success so they can have future success by considering merchandise that could be sold now and in the future. Who here remembers a time when Blizzard or Valve were relatively new on the stage? I would hope the same level of success for Unknown Worlds if they are prepared for it.
<!--quoteo(post=1669793:date=Feb 7 2008, 01:27 AM:name=Harimau)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Harimau @ Feb 7 2008, 01:27 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1669793"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->So like, how does this help promote the game?
I know and you know, that merchandise is only for fans.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, the merchandise would be primarily for fans. As already stated, these fans would advertise NS to their friends and in the process increase exposure of the game. It's unclear how much the merchandise would help promote the game, although the effect would certainly be positive.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nah. doesn't really work. Has the negative effect, actually.
Just this evening I saw this guy wearing a headcrab plushie-hat and I just thought, involuntarily, "...loser."
Game merchandise is very.. geeky. And geekiness doesn't sell - except only to other geeks.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Your example doesn't support the idea of a negative effect of merchandise. It would support your claim if your thought was something like: "what a loser; losers play HL2; i won't play that game because i'm not like them." So far you are simply stating your negativity against geeks. And if more geeks buy the game, (without turning off other buyers) it would be a success.
I hope you, like most people, judged HL2 based on how good a game it is (using reviews, critics' score, friends' suggestions) and not based on some people's attire. I would expect the same for NS2. Having said that, plush toys and other merchandise would expose the game, so more people will give it a chance once it's released by reading its reviews and consider buying it.
I guess your fear is that because of plush toys NS2 would be regarded as a "geeky game" and that image would turn off players - this is very unlikely, because: 1) I'm not aware of any game that suffered from being perceived as "geeky" (as you know, HL2 is doing quite well) 2) Plush toys are unlikely to make the game to be perceived as geeky.
As far as: are plush toys cool or geeky? - depends on the person: geeks think they're cool; "cool" kids think they're geeky.
In conclusion: I doubt that the merchandise will be a big deal. I see making merchandise available as a service to the fans; plus, it gives fans a chance to support the game.
<!--quoteo(post=1668662:date=Jan 29 2008, 12:47 AM:name=perso)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(perso @ Jan 29 2008, 12:47 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1668662"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Seconded! I would certainly buy one, if the price was reasonable. Also, a <b>huge</b> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tiny.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::onos::" border="0" alt="tiny.gif" /> plushie would be awesome, but now I'm just dreaming...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe an inflatable onos? I used to have a giant inflatable penguin. How hard can they be to make D:?
If anyone is interested to provide me good images for T-Shirts, then I would create some <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> I have the required "hardware" and "software" for it.
*skips half the topic* I got a cheap shirt making place that advertises aswell, they make great shirts for cheap price if u keep the diffrent colors at a medium, i can try them =)
Comments
aren't <b>usually</b> interested in
it'd be nice if you actually read my post.
i'd say your wife is an exception. a growing exception that may eventually become a major demographic; indeed, but still an exception.
most of the girls i know that play any sort of video games - play console games, for one thing; there are few decent fps on consoles. they also generally play games like guitar hero, rpg's like final fantasy; and seem to hold a great interest in resident evil, but that's because they're into 'horror' or 'zombies' (strange, this, i'd say girls are more enthusiastic about the horror/zombie genres than guys are). as for pc games, well, the sims comes to mind... plus a lot of mmo's, ragnarok online for example.
now back to the geeky merchandise; i wouldn't say ns is a well-known or rather, 'cool' game; for the masses. pimp my ride is a well-known and 'cool' show. they -make- the trends, whatever they put on that show -becomes- 'cool'. ns doesnt really have that benefit.
now, if you could get NS2 on some well-known gaming sites, shows, etc...
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->now back to the geeky merchandise; i wouldn't say ns is a well-known or rather, 'cool' game; for the masses. pimp my ride is a well-known and 'cool' show. they -make- the trends, whatever they put on that show -becomes- 'cool'. ns doesnt really have that benefit.
<b>now, if you could get NS2 on some well-known gaming sites, shows, etc... </b><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
While I have a tendency to just ignore other people's opinions on my own fashion sense because I came from a lack of resources upbringing, I think you are right on this, unfortunately in the broadest sense, Natural Selection has not been a trend setter like say, Halo *shudder* In PC gaming though, I think NS1 had some pretty decent play, it was mentioned in gaming publications as a recommended mod and it had very good numbers when compared to how much other mods were being played from what I vaguely recall seeing on sites like Game Spy.
I think timing is going to be everything on the push to get headline space for NS2 in the gaming world since we, the NS2 community, are being asked to help get the word out on this game. I'm not convinced we could maintain a sustained push over say a year, but a month or two before release would be more reasonable to expect us to try to get as much attention for the product as possible.
In the mean time, I wouldn't mind tossing Unknown Worlds some ideas on what to make sure they have the rights to when it comes time to bank on success so they can have future success by considering merchandise that could be sold now and in the future. Who here remembers a time when Blizzard or Valve were relatively new on the stage? I would hope the same level of success for Unknown Worlds if they are prepared for it.
I know and you know, that merchandise is only for fans.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yes, the merchandise would be primarily for fans. As already stated, these fans would advertise NS to their friends and in the process increase exposure of the game. It's unclear how much the merchandise would help promote the game, although the effect would certainly be positive.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nah. doesn't really work. Has the negative effect, actually.
Just this evening I saw this guy wearing a headcrab plushie-hat and I just thought, involuntarily, "...loser."
Game merchandise is very.. geeky. And geekiness doesn't sell - except only to other geeks.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Your example doesn't support the idea of a negative effect of merchandise. It would support your claim if your thought was something like: "what a loser; losers play HL2; i won't play that game because i'm not like them." So far you are simply stating your negativity against geeks. And if more geeks buy the game, (without turning off other buyers) it would be a success.
I hope you, like most people, judged HL2 based on how good a game it is (using reviews, critics' score, friends' suggestions) and not based on some people's attire. I would expect the same for NS2. Having said that, plush toys and other merchandise would expose the game, so more people will give it a chance once it's released by reading its reviews and consider buying it.
I guess your fear is that because of plush toys NS2 would be regarded as a "geeky game" and that image would turn off players - this is very unlikely, because:
1) I'm not aware of any game that suffered from being perceived as "geeky" (as you know, HL2 is doing quite well)
2) Plush toys are unlikely to make the game to be perceived as geeky.
As far as: are plush toys cool or geeky? - depends on the person: geeks think they're cool; "cool" kids think they're geeky.
In conclusion: I doubt that the merchandise will be a big deal. I see making merchandise available as a service to the fans; plus, it gives fans a chance to support the game.
Also, a <b>huge</b> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tiny.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::onos::" border="0" alt="tiny.gif" /> plushie would be awesome, but
now I'm just dreaming...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe an inflatable onos? I used to have a giant inflatable penguin. How hard can they be to make D:?
I would like to wear a NS T-Shirt.