There must be something big coming... : V - Skyrim

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:57 am

Don't forget a book release too.

I sure hope so. That first one left me hanging from a cliff.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:11 am

Considering they haven't released a gameplay video yet, I think it's safe to say, yes, something big is coming.

Probably a gameplay video, now that I think about it. ;P

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 9:06 am

I sure hope so. That first one left me hanging from a cliff.

They confirmed it release in September I believe. Give you a good 6-8 weeks to read it before the game drops. :read:

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:20 am

I sure hope so. That first one left me hanging from a cliff.

Yeah, can't wait for Lord of Souls. I want to know what happens to Umbra and Clavicus!

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:34 pm

they already have a steady stream of info planned to reveal if they market like any other product

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 11:25 am

Trust me, if anything, there is TOO much excitement to last the 11 months. I'm sure we will get a gameplay trailer soon, like the one for NV showing the enclave eyebot. But they will still have millions waiting for the game on the day of release, no doubt. This game will be Bethesda biggest source of income and fanbase ever.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:32 am

I'm not an expert in marketing, but it seems like a bad step to me to announce a game a year before it comes out then release all the info in a GI issue a couple months later.
Why? All the excitement will be gone before the end of the spring. Skyrim will come out in November and it will take a while for it to hit everyone.

The only smart move I can see is if gamesas has even more exciting content to reveal later, though I don't know what else they can cover. The only thing I can think of is talking more about the art and revealing new weapons, armor, and creatures (which will just spoil the game, for me at least).

So, can someone please explain to me why gamesas's marketing strategy is good whatsoever?

Not saying anything and letting people hype themselves up is probably the best marketing strategy out there.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 1:14 pm

Surely hype like this generates some extra income before the big release. Bethesda is probably looking down the barrel of increased sales of Morrowind and Oblivion GOTY editions. Media deals and the like are also a bit of an earner. I bet it's not free to get face time with Todd Howard either

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 12:10 am

Not saying anything and letting people hype themselves up is probably the best marketing strategy out there.

Not really. If that were so, PRs wouldn't exist. I think most of you are thinking that hardcoe ES fans are Bethesda's biggest market, where casual gamers who plan on buying this game probably triple the size of frequent visitors of this forum.

Most people are not hunting down info like us, and will probably forget about Skyrim unless gamesas releases enough good info to keep their eyes off other game that are coming up.

I'm not saying that I don't have a shrine to all released info to skyrim in my room, I'm saying that most people don't. My point is that gamesas needs to generate a lot of hype in order to keep Skyrim alive. My hypothesis, which is probably wrong, is to release a truck load of info in PRs about two or three months before the release. Everyone will be bouncing off the walls and before they know it the game will be out, and every Gamestop, Best Buy, and other game retailers will explode with eager Skyrim cravers.

Let's be realistic. We're not gamesas's biggest market. We are their most dedicated fans, but not their biggest market.

P.S. I can't wait for the new book!

EDIT: I'm a Curate! Look me three and a half years, but I finally have a star!

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:38 am

That's actually what I hate. The idea of the next release of information to just spoil way too much of the game for me. I'm actually debating a ceasefire on all Skyrim information at this point forward. Maybe I can occupy myself with HoN and RO2:HoS long enough to get by.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:57 am

I think it's a great marketing strategy. They only have to deal with 11 months of hype-building instead of 2+ years. This allows them to provide us with a steady, monthly stream of info, screenshots and videos. It's evenly distributed, so by the time we're done discussing last months news, they'll be ready to release something new for us.

I seriously wouldn't surprised if Bethesda had a strict, month-by-month media release schedule for the next 9 months that details exactly when screenshots and trailers will be shown.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:06 am

Actually announcing a game as early as possible is the best marketing move. It allows for people wanting it so badly and not being able to get it and when it finally comes around to them being able to get the game, they will be craving it so bad they will get it. If you've ever seen the South Park episode where Cartman gets his own themepark, you would understand.

I have to respectfully disagree with you here. There are WAY too many variables when marketing a product to determine what announcement timeframe is "best". Sometimes an early announcement works (many of the previous Final Fantasy games), sometimes it doesn't (Duke Nuken Forever, LOTR: The White Council, that open world Pirates of the Caribbean game, etc).

Personally, I'd much rather have a shorter timeframe from announcement to release. I like what Beth is doing with Skyrim. Though, Beth doesn't need to worry about inflating low stock prices by announcing a game prematurely, so they have that luxury.

» Fri Feb 18, 2011 10:04 pm

I imagine there will be videos, hands on demo's at some game shows, fan interviews, announcements of box art and collectors editions, commercials, announcement of going gold. More previews, interviews and a concert or two.

It should be an interesting 9 months.

Also plenty of shakey hand cam smugglers, with no sound quality on other such sites.

» Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:29 am

There will be plenty of opportunities to further build anticipation, the most obvious being E3. I agree with those thinking that Bethesda has made a good move here, leaving enough time to build hype but not so much as to have casual fans lose interest. Also, don't forget the current release date is perfect timing for the holidays -- hardcoe fans will already have their preorders, and stores will be restocked for Black Friday.