The American Market

[Alunan]

As many of you are woefully aware, the Planetarion enrollment lists have been on the decline ever since p2p became an issue. While innovation and and cleaner setups have helped stem the tides, the reality of it is that without some solid advertising there wont be a PA in 2 or 3 more rounds. Which is why I am bringing up the US market.

Currently I am getting quotes for an advertisement on Penny Arcade's website http://www.penny-arcade.com, and seeing how much some custom art would cost. Penny Arcade reaches 500 out of every million people on Earth (see Alexa), and has a following 3 million strong, all gamers. An advertisement for a week on Penny Arcade would equate to hundreds of thousands of hits, thousands of which would at leas sign up and give it a chance. These are people who had to be forced to stop donating to Penny Arcade monthly after the site got back up on its feet 5 years ago (after it almost went down due to finacial problems). They have the interest, the money, and the numbers to infuse Planetarion with some solid players. Not to mention the word of mouth on the Penny Arcade forums is huge.

If the quotes are reasonable I plan to be paying a large portion of this ad out of my own pocket, but will also set up (maybe an official one if admins like the idea) a paypal account for those interested on donating. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Appocomaster]

can't see a big problem with this. it'll mean lots of new players. hopefully the guides will be in place to support them. But as alch showed with his banner, advertising to people interested in gaming is the way forward to increase the community.

[Tactitus]

What kind of timetable are you working on? I ask because the current round just started and I think it would be best if the advertising preceded the start of a round (after signups were open but before ticks started; or maybe during the public beta).

[Appocomaster]

Originally Posted by Tactitus

What kind of timetable are you working on? I ask because the current round just started and I think it would be best if the advertising preceded the start of a round (after signups were open but before ticks started; or maybe during the public beta).

I guess if they're quick they can make it, they do have a week still... if they wait around for too long they'll get bored. You know how these gamers are with short attention spans . But yes, the all singing all dancing Planetarion Version 3 / Round 12 / whatever it's called might be better, especially with gfx + nice skins (the black / blue ones are nice. clearly we need more of them ). btw I'm rubbish at graphics, not saying it's necessary because I'm addicted anyway, but some people prefer things to look at.

[Stew]

I reccomend a huge advertising campaign - presumable as cheap as possible.
Then a free round of the new game - can be used to find bugs, beta etc - to act as a free trial.
Then have a pay round.

I appreciate there's not a lot of money for advertising and a free round incorporates a lot of foregone revenue, but if I was Jolt and thought PA was worth it, this would be the line I'd go down.

[Alunan]

Penny Arcade ads aren't fabulously expensive, but they aren't cheap either. They could possibly run up to a thousand dollars (and if its more than that then you know how good a gauge I have on the situation), but it would be extremely viable.

My e-mail is still making its way through their business department for quotes. Tycho forwarded it over there, but god knows when I will get a reponse, much less the money and the ad. I think it would be wise to put it up at the beginning of Round 11.5 Beta. That way, they will get a free taste, and they wont be bored as the ticks will be much faster.

That will prime them to pump for the real round eh?

[alch]

you can check out about the banner i have made, not something fancy but basically its there to help out PA, and webmaster are free to display it on their sites, i am highly grateful to theses sites who allready agreed to make some free advertisment for PA.

http://pirate.planetarion.com/showthread.php?t=177949

[Jonas]

Good idea. I earlier suggested the asian market too. I mean south korea and japan got loads of gamers. loads.

-Jonas-

[Waku]

oh no then we get wierd japanees on irc
/me hides

[Makhil]

Alch i like your banner. it makes me want to click on it however what i feel is lacking is a proper landing page on the PA site for the people cliking on this ad. This page should :
- explain in a few words what kind of game it is
- give an incentive for registering : 'Get a free planet'... upgrade if you're satisfied.
- have a big 'Register here' button
- have a link to the manual
- have a link to the forums
- have links to a series of screenshots
- have a 'tell your friend' link

and maybe change the perception of people. PA is not a P2P game, it's a free game where you can pay to play better.

[alch]

you are right
ill redirect you to the PA team

[Appocomaster]

Originally Posted by Alunan

Penny Arcade ads aren't fabulously expensive, but they aren't cheap either. They could possibly run up to a thousand dollars (and if its more than that then you know how good a gauge I have on the situation), but it would be extremely viable.

My e-mail is still making its way through their business department for quotes. Tycho forwarded it over there, but god knows when I will get a reponse, much less the money and the ad. I think it would be wise to put it up at the beginning of Round 11.5 Beta. That way, they will get a free taste, and they wont be bored as the ticks will be much faster.

That will prime them to pump for the real round eh?

1,000.00 USD United States Dollars=549.815 GBP United Kingdom Pounds (www.xe.com)
say £550 = 165 acounts (in blocks of 3 for £10) or 110 just 1 for £5. I know that Jolt probably won't pay to advertise, but do you think that this many people will do it? Also, we'll have to increase general IRC + game support if this many people join (assume say 33% of people upgrade - that's at least 350 new people, and some of them will come on IRC). Maybe a version of mIRC that's been modified and setup to make it easier for players to use?

[biffy]

I paid for advertising on a couple of sites for the last round. You are right, Jolt wouldn't pay for advertising directly, but we would give some free accounts away to some sites who did advertise.

[Mr. Juggalo]

Originally Posted by Jonas

Good idea. I earlier suggested the asian market too. I mean south korea and japan got loads of gamers. loads.

-Jonas-

This will never work simply because of the language barrier.

[Hicks]

What about those banner ads you can take out, where you only pay if people linked from that site actually sign up ? They're quite popular these days aren't they ?

[thaeter]

its pretty ****ing retarded that the company doesnt try any means of promotion. (jolt).. But the site looks good and think i'd be willing to help fund some of te advertising...

[alch]

thaeter - we are putting together some advertising fund, please mail me to [email protected] - if you are inerested of giving some to the fund.

[Alunan]

Originally Posted by alch

thaeter - we are putting together some advertising fund, please mail me to [email protected] - if you are inerested of giving some to the fund.

Hey get your own saving Planetarion thread!

I am still waiting on those Penny Arcade Quotes. I think a single one-time ad would be enough on that site...

[alch]

hehe, well we 1 week on mpogd.com i guess another 1 week on penny arcade would be good aswell

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by Mr. Juggalo

This will never work simply because of the language barrier.

Spinenr go learn japaneese :P

Well that IS the main problem, however more and more of them know good englihs(lol I refuse to edit that word, as it is very ironic)