How would you rate Relic's/THQs marketing of Dark Crusade?

[Smit1000]

Hi

Dark Crusade is nearly here, so how have you liked the marketing of Dark Crusade? Has there been any problems you have thought about? Has THQ or Relic done anything good in the marketing of this game that you wanna dicuss?

5 is very good, 1 is very bad, 3 is average/null vote.

[MadMatt]

Easy, if the attention and materials placed and allowed to be placed here on the forums is any indication than Relic's doing a great job paying attention to the fans.

1) They helped the wallpapers that 'Runa kindly took time to scan, made sure they were legal and put them back up.

2) We've got a youtube & 150 meg DL of a pair of testers having a great time and a great battle

3) We're getting wallpapers (big ones) for each race/each fanboy is happy

4) The attention the mods pay the forums is a bit scary as the speed of their assault is 'deep strike' speed.

5) They are actually "asking" the community what they "think" and while we may never know what they like and did not like, the fact that they dared to ask is impressive

6) We got a demo before release.

7) I've seen advertisements in magazines for the game, which I'd expect is costly

8) Finally, the only thing I can think of is that I've not yet seen a 30 second short on the TV yet...

Thanks Relic, I appreciate the time spent and will purchase your game!

-MadMatt

[eXarchProXy]

I don't think that any of the stuff on the site counts. Its kind of preaching to the converted. There weren't any pre-order items either.

[Smit1000]

I don't think that any of the stuff on the site counts.

Having done a second major in marketing for my business degree i disagree with this statement. Creating a relationship with the customer and keeping it is cheaper and better for a company then trying to create new customers. Building relationships with gamers is very important in the gaming industry, and to me having Buggo around (and the other folks from Relic and THQ) communicating with the community is a great one for consumers to keep coming back and buying relic games.

[Farseer]

I got one thing to add! If they want to market better, Dark Crusade should be available to all consumers at the same date. So many gaming companies do this now, im surprised relic can not.

[killtank]

Awesome videos and images, and some awesome information about the races. But there was no upsdates on the main DC site, which was a sshame because the site is set out really well and it has some great sound and flash animation, they should have done more with it.

[Skullknocker]

=( Its been good marketing only down fall is that AUS & NZ dont get DC for another 2 weeks =( how could you do this to us ! =( </3

[Smit1000]

=( Its been good marketing only down fall is that AUS & NZ dont get DC for another 2 weeks =( how could you do this to us ! =( </3

Yes that is why i did not rate THQ the top vote.

[Davor]

Lots of magazine ads, lots of goodies here and on other forums (Buggo is great at her job), lots of web coverage (ign, gamespy, etc..), front page the last few days on ebgames.com, so all in all I'd say they did a really good job of advertising DC... especially for an expansion.

[Oberst-Radetz]

Creating a relationship with the customer and keeping it is cheaper and better for a company then trying to create new customers.

QFT. It's not as if, with respect to an expansion pack, your primary advertising targets are going to be non-RTS gamers, or even those who aren't or weren't already players of the basic game. It's about knowing what your niche is, and whipping said niche into a frothy-mouthed near-frenzy of excitement. <looks at forum> Well done, Relic. <looks at DC's #6 ranking on Amazon's top seller's list for computer & video games> Well done indeed.

[Edot012]

i thought relic did a good job

[TairosAurelius]

Creating a relationship with the customer and keeping it is cheaper and better for a company then trying to create new customers.

Certain sellout game developers could certainly stand to learn that.

[Hiroshi_Tea]

very well done by relic
i applause them for creating my new addiction

[Seithon]

I think Buggo has done a really good job.. getting us all interested, keeping us happy, giving us real info and not just PR marketing hype/BS.
I imagine alot of us are looking forward to it but not with the overinflated expectations that the hype would generate, and thus we'll all be much happier when we get it and find its what we expect.
I can't speak for Relic but I think Buggo deserves a raise :P and a big comfy chair.
or atleast the big comfy chair.

I just wish, REALLY wish, they could have done a propper world wide in store launch...

[Triceron]

Looots of hype for everyone who knwos about Dark Crusade, I was real surprised the most people online reached over 1000 today!

I don't know about external sources though, but with Dark Crusade being a stand-alone product, it'll need more marketting to spread the news to all the people who still haven't heard of or played Dawn of War. There's still a lot of people who think this is just an expansion.

[PastHope]

They did 3 things that secured my purchase of Dark Crusade:

1) Post plenty of videos detailing the various new features/units/etc.

2) Made a demo available well before the games release so that we can see if it runs well and get just a taste of what is to come.

3) The developer having a good history of kick-ass titles is good marketing in itself.

[Meatkin]

Yeah i was really disappointed everyone doesnt get to play it at the same time, I rated relic in the poll accordingly. Bad marketing strategy as it will only encourage people to acquire it illegally.

However, the way that they have gradually released content about the game has been fantastic, especially within the community, the wallpapers and VOD eg. They have obviously made a big effort, but still... worldwide RELEASE date (not ship date) would have been much, much better.

[Necrotauch]

I've actually been thinking about this for some time. I can't figure out why Relic has done such a poor job managing the Dark Crusade Website. Most of the great content, such as screenshots, videos, wallpapers and even a replay were all posted on the forums and on different game sites. Hardly anything at all has appeared on the Dark Crusade website. If I was new to the game and had just heard about it yesterday, the first place I would visit would be the web site. Since there is very little there, I think I would walk away disapointed.

That being said, relic has done an amazing job marketing to the "hardcore" fans. I've kept up with the forums ever since the announcement of Dark Crusade, and I must say that all of the content and previews released has been great to see!

[RZetlin]

The amount of promotional material (Wallpapers, interviews, podcast) for the forum has been excellent.

But outside the forums the promotion of Dark Crusade needs improvement.

For E3, there was almost no news coverage on Dark Crusade.

The Dark Crusade website (/www.dow-darkcrusade.com) needs to be updated on a regular basis.

Maybe for the launch of Dark Crusade, Relic should have somebody dress up like a Space Marine at EB World.

[NeoHunter]

I think their advertising is good. Apart from their attention to the fans, they also have coverage on major game web sites like Gamespot and IGN.

However, it would be nice if they could keep the Dawn of War and Dark Crusade frequently updated with news, interesting downloads like more wallpapers, music, additional Relic created multiplayer maps and downloadable patches for those who do not have Gamespy.

[Manegarm]

Their doing a great job at marketing it to perexisting DOW fans. As far as i can tell they don't seem to be putting enough work into getting new fans into the games though.

[Question]

In Asia? FAIL. ZERO MARKETING.

[Babaganooosh]

I give it a 4. Its very impressive, especially for non-EA or Valve PC games these days... but I guess a little more could have been done. I'd only point a finger at CoH perhaps taking up some of there time, as my friends told me there was even a commercial for the game that they've seen aired on Comedy Central. If there was a Dawn of War commercial... I'd have a nosebleed of glee.

[BeserkWraithlor]

They really gave the community and fans the info they wanted, plus we get a demo! Buggo really listened to us, and showed us tons of screenshots and features.

[MadMike76]

you forgot to add phenomenal :)

[CrimsonAngel]

Kind of terrible actually.

If i was not part of this forum and used the major Danish/Scandinavian sites then i would know close to nothing about DC.

And i am talking the Biggest one her Gamereactor.net
And in general i fell THQ is not very EU or at least Scandinavian Friendly when it comes to marketing.

[Netsurfer733]

I think they did most things a good deal better than usual but come on...I bet they could have done a TV ad that would've blown people away with the Necrons :) When you see a TV ad for a game you know it's serious.

[Falke]

In Asia? FAIL. ZERO MARKETING.

Ditto, and they let everyone else at the game two weeks before we get a shot. It's like they're punishing us for something.

That said, I note they've a sidebar at Penny Arcade, lots of space at IGN and GameSpy, #6 seller at Amazon, so they can't be doing too badly in the rest of the world.

Falk.

[farseer_derek]

=( Its been good marketing only down fall is that AUS & NZ dont get DC for another 2 weeks =( how could you do this to us ! =( </3 ae? my local EB games store had it on the ninth i went inside the store to check if they had it and they did! it costs 70 new zealand dollars unfortuanatly (spelling lol) i didn't have enough money at the time due to being a student and all and are saving up for like the next week or two to get it

[NeoHunter]

In Asia? FAIL. ZERO MARKETING.
Yeah. Totally zero. Yet, I have a friend who is going to buy 10 sets of the game for himself and 9 other friends. Heehee...needless to say, all 10 of them are most likely tabletop crazies who love Warhammer 40,000 and eat and breathe it.

[iGrooCk]

most of you fail in realizing that relic could just tell you to go fu$$ yourself and not even give any expantion, you should be greatful they are such great company and listen to people.

most of you whine and whine to something that isnt even that significant like updating the website, WHO CARES you got these forums for news and videos.

anyways........
i think Relic made an awesome job with the game, showing us so much previews and demo and lots of screenshots and lota love from developers, especially Buggo keeping a good eye out on the community! great work!

[[eX]Xerxes]

I think you have to take into account cost/benefit analysis here. I mean sure they could advertise the hell out of it all over the place, but if it's going to cost more than the return they get from new gamers it just doesn't make sense.

Their focus has clearly been on returning users and cross-over appeal (CoH is sold with a free copy of the original DoW), which they've done a great job on. Although I agree they need to update the website.

Also, I agree with Seithon Buggo deserves a big comfy chair. Anybody else up for a "Buggo deserves a big comfy chair" petition to Relic?

I mean if we can make the lead designer reconsider the hard counter system, have community made maps included in the game, and 4 player maps removed from 1v1 auto surely we can get Buggo a big comfy chair.

[Mindflayermonk]

I think it was a good job, the key aspect being the ability to play DC without requiring original DoW and WA.
A close second would be the price point.

I think you mean promoting more than marketing though, and that was well done as well. They identified key drivers for their customer base (which was adding new units) and focused their promotion around it. Notice all the videos featured new units or the new races-as opposed to maps or gameplay aspects, heightened AI, etc etc.
The wallpapers also were nice and out main interest was the new units and how they would look.

[battlehamster]

i think they did a great job :) not much here in denmark but who wants to make huge marketing in a country this small.. its probaly not worth it lol

[Chaos]

Well i think that Relic has done an excellent job on this expansion it is looking great and i not not much of a complainer on how well balanced it is so im sure itll be great :) good job.

[Relic]

Thanks guys! I agree that our international support has been a bit lacking but it is something we are looking at changing in the future. Something I've heard talked about a few times is how we want to have a better presence in asia and down under.

Hopefully you'll see some good changes in respect to international over the next couple years :)

[Vakarian]

i think the fact that they (relic) said it would be GLOBAL but it has obviously not been

[Evil-Termite]

It worked on me! I'm buying 3 copies tonight after work.

[{x}Proudfoot]

I don't think there was enough exposure, to be honest. I saw it around a bit, but nothing enormous. I guess it was plenty for what is basically a glorified expansion pack, though.

[Regs_Searlon]

i think relic has done a great job on marketing the product, good vids and screenies of new content. i loved it <3.
The only downfall is the wait of its release here in the UK and the rest of Europe.

[Hirmetrium]

Thanks guys! I agree that our international support has been a bit lacking but it is something we are looking at changing in the future I wish i hadnt voted very bad now :(

[Mnementh]

Less Gamespy/ign/gamespot/etc 'exclusives'

[Civik]

Better than average was my vote... the video stuff is cool, however it's difficult to guage how much effect it's had based on myself, I already planned on buying unless they bolloxed it up and were bought by EA.

Only thing that could keep me away from a Warhammer/WH40k Game (even a bad one, firewarrior comes to mind) is EA involvement. ;)

[Old Painless]

The best bit of the hype was seeing Stefan los...i mean play in realtime :)

[ImmortalChaos]

The marketing to those of us on the internet was insanely awsome. Simply put, I don't think they could have done it better.

However, unless some serious advertising is done on other sites/forums', or some TV commercails are done, you aren't assuing much more than the people who already own WA/DOW to get DC.

[Relic]

Less Gamespy/ign/gamespot/etc 'exclusives'
Can I ask why?

[OhGod]

Can I ask why?Probably, and this would be my reasoning on it, because you need to set up a paid for subscription to access the movies at their best (and I guess intended) HD resolution. Seems strange to get the fans/customers of your game to pay an unrelated 3rd party in order to view trailers/demos at their best and most impressive quality.

By all means submit stories/movies to them to get the coverage, but also host the HD movies else where for everyone to enjoy. If bandwidth is an issue then you could go the Torrent route, I believe some of the RelicNews mods/admins have experiance of setting this up.

[mattman1991]

I said very bad and i say this beacause alot of regions in the world, almost were ignored, as almost no news of a release date for that region was given...for example Singapore, there are alteast 5-6 people on this forum who want to buy it and i know atleast 20-30 people who want to buy it, and i am sure there are 1000's more And yes this may seem an insignificant, but is Relic/Thq/GW going to say no to our money? It seems that the USA and Canada were the ones recieveing much more "attention", which may be normal but there was virtaully NO news for most of asia. Also while it may be hard, but i am sure that Relic or THQ could of atleast made the game avaiable within 1 week everywhere, I mean now Relic may lose customers because people may read things about bugs or other things that would deter the a buyer. But, what i can say is that DC is SURE to be a great game with great features and alot of replayabilty.

[Baneboss]

I voted "very good". At least compared to WA.

After i learned vehicles upgrades pictured on wallpapers didnt make it into the game i would vote "good" if not "neutral". With WA advertising the worst thing i hated were misleads and bad informations given.

On the other hand such bonuses like VOD were very good.

Relic must be prepared that people will be very cautius when buying their expansions now.