Is the Bethesda Hype machine a product of there marketing techniques like http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2011/06/02/bethesda-demonstrates-dragonborn-confidence-with-monstrous-skyrim-banner/

and

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3169/2922116377_2316c8d7a2_o.jpg

Or is it something that is really just fueled by fans and the gaming community when there is incessant hype for there games?

Thesurvivor2299 is a good example of the gaming community actively hyping something to an inordinate degree.

You also have abrasive advertising from Mc Donald's Coca Cola but would anyone say there is such a thing as a hype machine associated to either?

This discussion got cut short in another thread so I decided to make this topic it's own thread.

Maybe because the games are actually OK?

Not sure why you posted this in the Fallout series section, it's not specifically related to the series, but more at Beth as a developer/publisher.

As you stated previously, you and I have been through this before. After thinking about it for a while, I think there is enough hype on both ends to go around, however, the people/fans don't have enough money, or building large enough that they can paint with somebody in power armor dual wielding a pair of plasma pistols.

As for The Survivor, I'm not so sure that was ever meant as hype, however, that is just what it created. The type of hype I believe Beth is fond of using is just the type I still think is unnecessary. Simple advertisemant will do the job...and that will create hype on it's own, Beth need not artificially create it like they did with Skyrim.

How would we know if the games are good or not before release when they are being advertised?

I guess the company's reputation (as well as having the brand name at stake) has something to do with it. Nowadays, one doesn't simply make a shoddy Fallout or ES game... So I think the company puts a lot of trust in their developers, and I also think that the developers actually somewhat enjoy what they're doing and the fans' feedback and suggestions and even fanaticism. It keeps them going.

Anyway... So I think there's a lot of love as well as money going into these games, so IMO it's a nice courtesy for us (at least for me, anyway) to be patient with them and respect their decisions.

You're missing the point to put it simply is it the fans or Bethesda that creates this over the top hype (according to some)?

Nobody. But since you put it that way: it's the game's quality that created the hype. It's hyped because it's gonna be a good game... since there are 10+ years of brand reputation and company's reputation and die-hard fans' expectation at stakes... In my opinion anyway.

Personally, I'm not buying into the hype because I KNOW it's going to be a good game; according to how New Vegas and Skyrim made me feel when I play them, as well as imagining and speculating the story and the things that the game will improve from the previous games.

I'm staying neutral the reason I started this thread is to see what other people thought as I discussed this topic with some other people and I'd like a wider perspective.

The only problem I have with the hype machine is how much money they might be spending on it versus how much is going into the game versus how much money they get back from that hype machine thats goes into the next game and all of that confusing stuff. Generally so long as the hype machine results in more money in sales for the next game, then I am all for it.

As for if its the fans who create the hype machine or Bethesda, all of the marketing stuff comes from Bethesda, but the word of mouth excitement is absolutely the fans. During Skyrim's and Fallout New Vegas' development I was extremely hyped, and both games did not dissapoint. If I loved Morrowind, Fallout 3, Fallout New Vegas, Skyrim, and im in the process of giving Oblivion a second chance, while posting on Bethesda's forum about it, I think its pretty much a given that a pre order for Fallout 4 is coming from me. The hype machine is more directed at creating so much buzz that people across the world and talking about Bethesda, their games, and their upcoming game. Bethesda is providing the tinder for a roaring hype fire that is ignited and kept stoked by the fans. The goal is to have a big enough fire that you draw people in from all around to go take a look at it.

Effective advertising probably does look like overkill to some gaming enthusiasts who actively follow the developments in the industry, but to be effective the advertising needs to reach those who don't haunt gaming forums and make daily visits to sites like IGN or Gamespot. I don't think the advertisers over-do the hype. Rather, some folks just over-expose themselves to it all.