Although I'm already seeing this campaign with curiosity and intrigue, it isn't for the obvious reasons. I feel as though it's too early to be producing the types of ads in the form and quantity that Bethesda is doing so in; not too early to be marketing the game in itself, but in the manner it is being marketed. I'm not objecting the marketing in general, but the type of marketing itself. After a product's unveiling, certain measures should be taken to inform the general populace of said product. Contrasting this, I feel like the manner in which Bethesda is choosing to do so in is for naught.
Back to the prior examples in the introductory paragraph: the small window ads on certain websites. This ad is mainly seen with a facial capture our predetermined Dragonborn warrior partnered with the name of the game. As I said before, I believe this particular advertisemant is being rushed out too early. For example, even though we're all certain the game is going to be rated M for Mature, the ESRB has yet to plant this onto the product, and it's still being branded with the RP, rating pending logo. I personally believe this is counter-productive, for it raises questions to the viewer of the ad, not being sure to which audience or medium it's being projected to. I do agree, however, that it is deceptively simple to click the ad and be transported to the site where all the viewer's questions will be answered concerning the project, but most don't tread down that path.
The aforementioned problem is only minute, and doesn't pose much of a problem as the second example does: the location of these advertisemants. I like to be informed in the world of video games, so I visit gaming sites often, sites such as IGN, Gameinformer, Gametrailers, Gamespot, and Kotaku. I cited the sites because I can only vouch for them, seeing as I don't branch out to other popular sites often. To first understand the problem, we first have to anolyze the sites, and the social sphere pertaining to them. Only a select minority, however large may it be, regularly visits these sites. It's never safe to assume, but I'm willing to entertain the notion that most people who regularly visit these sites know of Skyrim already, and the Elder Scrolls series as well. So why pay hefty sums of currency to present advertisemants to a specific audience that is already informed, this early? If, however, it was September or October, I would be fine with this, but it's not. It's the start of summer, and I personally feel as though this isn't being too smart.
Every instructed debater should always anolyze both sides of the argument, and offer rebuttals in order to tactfully counter them if they are presented. Continuing with this, I'm presenting an early marketing action I believe that has been executed correctly: Call of Duty's "annual" debut reveal in the midst of the NBA Finals. I quoted annual for the simple reason that this is the third year in a row where Activision has done this. This is a perfect marketing maneuver. The NBA Finals is a venue where there are multiple divisions of social classes and just in general, an ass load of viewers. This debut is presented to a ton of viewers, casual sports fans, gamers, families, and any other archetype you can think of. The product is presented in a mainstream fashion to a large audience. I'm sure the cost is worth the publicity it garners from this stunt.
The majority of ads concerning Skyrim is being projected to a hardcoe audience that is already aware. The only marketing maneuver I agree with is the brandishing of the Figueroa Hotel. Although it was placed in the vicinity of E3 2011, I'm sure it wasn't only seen by hardcoe gamers. I'm sure everyone in that area saw it. All in all, I'm depressed by Bethesda's strategies thus far. I feel as though their campaign isn't well thought out, and they're shelling out cash without reason. I feel as though they should wait and rethink their strategy and display their product to a different and larger audience in a few month's time.
I'm excited to see the "completely civil" discussion that follows. I may be to cynical, but I hope everyone reads this with understanding and responds in an appropriately mature attitude.