2.5 Update Media Campaign

[MASH]

Hey Guys n Gals,

Was just wondering if there was some form of media campaign in place for the 2.5 release if it ever comes?

If not, as this is a community based mod I have a suggestion:

It would be great if two weeks to a month prior to the 2.5 update coming out, if the creators let everyone know, in this time before release, it would be sweet if lots of users created media for the mod. Then set a date (perhaps 3 days after release - to give time for servers to update) where everyone shares their media on the web at the one time.

I know a few users have suggested this, such as chilledsanity, but wouldn't it be great if we all used our connections and computer skills to mass market this?

If we all used our connections, facebook, twitter, blogs, machanima (howeveryouspellit), youtube accounts, websites, gaming forums, steam groups etc at the one time, think of the potential audience we would have?

Anyway, obviously this idea would need to be formalised, but I think an organized community based PR campaign would help player numbers tremendously (provided the 2.5 release was reasonably polished and had a training module for all the newbies we would attract).

Your thoughts?

EDIT: Just thought of a good idea (prolly been thought of before). Perhaps a video/image editing competition. I can organize if you guys want?

Basically, entries are from the community, A video category for each class and an image category for each class in the game. Basic idea is to create a video/image for each class that best represents their style of gameplay. At the end of competition, a winner for each category is picked and it could become the official media for that clas?.

eg. Best video showcasing the scout class in FF goes too...
Best image showcases the scout class in FF goes too...

and so on..

This would be a good way to get the community involved, would be little to no work for the devs, and the media could be used in the 2.5 campaign...

[GenghisTron]

There's major hurdles that need to be climbed/fixed before you make a PR push.

[JackBauer]

I like the idea of having a FF blog. stuff like new patches, community activities such as leagues, tournaments etc could be posted.

it ain't necessarly a dev's job - anyone could do it. a close relationship with the devs (for patch infos) and the community (especially servers as in zE, Talos and OT resp. their owners for permission to advertise the blog) is however highly recommended.

[KubeDawg]

just make an FF video, post it on youtube and use TF2 as a tag so when people who play TF2 go looking for videos on youtube, the FF one will come up too and once they see how awesome 2.5 is, they'll shit themselves and switch to FF.

[chilledsanity]

Originally Posted by KubeDawg

just make an FF video, post it on youtube and use TF2 as a tag so when people who play TF2 go looking for videos on youtube, the FF one will come up too and once they see how awesome 2.5 is, they'll shit themselves and switch to FF.

That would be hilarious if it was labeled as TF2 to try and get more players in. Better yet, call it Team Fortress 3 and see how many people bite.

[JackBauer]

haha, I like the Team Fortress 3 idea. or we call it Team Fortress 2.5...

or a blog like this http://www.teamfortress.com/ even with videos.

[Bridget]

No, not anyone can do it. The devs would get all mad if you revealed their secret plans.

[JackBauer]

but am I the only one, that thinks a FF blog would be a good idea?

get a ff blog up with active writers and news around the FF scene. advertise FF 2.5, say it's gonna be a major change and it's gonna be something new and awesome (even if it's a lie), make it palatable to everybody, especially the ex-ff and also tfc players. tease the whole gaming community with a release date e.g. 11-1-2011. so everybody will be looking forward to it and won't be able to sleep because of sheer excitement.

spread the news with facebook, irc, blogs, forums etc.

[Iggy]

No, you're not. I think it's a good idea, but it's a matter of what information to release and what to not let out.

[Dexter]

At this point I'd personally rather see us talking about every stupid idea we're doing (a lot of silly stuff gets messed with in beta as most betas know) and everything in-between, at the risk of some people sperging about it. People already do that from wrong/old/stupid info people in the beta leak anyway. It's much better then appearing dead as a doorknob. I think that is my cue to update twitter with something irrelevant

[squeek.]

[JackBauer]

Originally Posted by Iggy

No, you're not. I think it's a good idea, but it's a matter of what information to release and what to not let out.

Personally I would announce small patches just right before they come out and once they are released a short list of what things got fixed.

when it comes to major changes or important patches as in 2.5 I think the devs could tease the community with a release date (I know it's difficult to name a date) and may give a small sneak peek away to the community. although sometimes, as an old swiss saying goes, less is more: just an announcement of major changes to come and a release date and let the community guess what the major changes could be. it's up to the devs.

the rest could be filled up with community news (*cough* FF Cup for example), league news and games (if there are any), server news and appointments like AvD-Wednesday nights, friday night pub fun zone etc.

the thing is, I think we need to show the whole world the game ain't completely dead yet and there are still a few lost souls around and even some are still working on the game.

Would anybody start playing a game that looks dead and empty based on the official homepage's news? I don't think so.

the way I see it: 2.5 is make or break. if we can't attract any new players with 2.5, when then?

I'm aware 2.42 is coming out first which is a good thing. Don't matter if it takes 3 more months for 2.5 to come out. we could use the meantime for propaganda, huge commercial and advert campaigns.

also steamworks would help a lot imho, but I read today it will stay more or less an utopia.

[MASH]

Originally Posted by JackBauer

the way I see it: 2.5 is make or break. if we can't attract any new players with 2.5, when then?

Totally agree, that's why i think a 2.5 campaign would be good. I think planning should start now, not just advertising it to the FF community, but to the gaming world!

[MASH]

just edited first post with a a competition idea, thoughts?

[valk]

eagerly awaiting 2.5 so we can "start" again competitively in australia/new zealand

[MASH]

Originally Posted by valk

eagerly awaiting 2.5 so we can "start" again competitively in australia/new zealand

thought i was the only aussie/NZer left :P

[Ventry(Leo Wainker)]

Originally Posted by MASH

thought i was the only aussie/NZer left :P

Wrong dude.

[JackBauer]

good idea Mash, don't know how many are familiar with making avis though.

I'd like to see

YouTube

YouTube

being remade

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by MASH

just edited first post with a a competition idea, thoughts?

The main problem with that, and without getting into TOO many details(because alot hasn't been set in concrete, yet), is that there are going to be major changes made to the game. As a varient to your idea(which DOES have merrit), I'd suggest anyone who is interested in doing such a thing, and who can prove they have a talent for it(a pre-contest, contest, so to speak), is apply for a new team of videographers for the release of 2.5. Of course, this would mean the Dev team would have to approve the idea(and team), and let those people into the Beta for recording purposes(along with all of the non-disclosure agreements in place). Hell, I did the video teaser for before ff_2fort was released(

YouTube

YouTube

), so almost anyone can do it if they have the basic tools.

[MASH]

Originally Posted by JackBauer

good idea Mash, don't know how many are familiar with making avis though.

I'd like to see this being remade

Haha that would be funny, also prolly good for getting some interest from old TF players

Those with out video editing skills could still enter in the picture comp

Yeah i agree with you iggy, that is the only flaw in the idea...however people could still make images that don't so much depict gameplay(unless player models are changing?) Any idea's on the video front are welcome