85 replies to this topic

[AjerWerklWerkl]

Given all the recent discussion about the c-bill earning rate (which is terrible for anyone who wasn't in the closed beta with millions of c-bills saved, or who doesn't have a gazillion hours to grind each week), I was wondering why PGI doesn't play it a little differently: increase the c-bill rates and do everything possible to widen the player base, and then put some more advertising in the game. (For example, in the 60 seconds before matches start -- force players to watch a short video.)

I for one would gladly do that vs grind like crazy to get any $!

I could think of several obvious partners: joystick makers, mouse makers, keyboard makers, NVIDIA, etc...

Maybe c-bills could even be used to get discounts on real purchases.

I figure the PGI folks have modeled this out carefully, but I thought I'd ask!

[Elizander]

Because without CW and a happy core user base, new players they pull in are drowned by all the bi7ching and negativity in the forums making them leave.

Oops, didn't read it properly. Ads would be very annoying even for non-paying players. It would drive off most casuals and only those who are really into the game will click them to earn points. Games aren't TV.

Edited by Elizander, 26 October 2014 - 07:41 AM.

[Sergeant Random]

I think advertising can be tastefully done. They are roleplaying Comstar. You can have the ads become battletech flavored fluff.

High Quality Control components by Razer, blast your opponents into slag with the 2014 Razer Naga gaming mouse...

[Onmyoudo]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

(For example, in the 60 seconds before matches start -- force players to watch a short video.)

People love youtube ads. And MS did really well with the Xbox dashboard, too. Forcing players to watch obnoxious advertisements is definitely a good way to please your playerbase...

[Heydiddly]

I for one absolutely detest having obnoxious adverts forced upon me, as do most people... there is a reason browser ad-blockers are so popular. Subjective as it is, I feel confident in saying that going down that road would do more harm than good.

Edited by Heydiddly, 26 October 2014 - 07:41 AM.

[Talis Thunder]

Force players to watch advertising videos? Worst idea ever.

I already hate that 60-second wait time, your suggestion would just make the wait experience even worse.

[Davegt27]

Good idea

A lot of car forums’ have been bought up by big companies or to keep the forum going they have a few small ads

They could use the cockpit display to have a small add

I don't think we should mind it would help the game stay alive

[RazorbeastFXK3]

Currently, there are players who have problems loading the maps they drop in without experiencing CTD(crash to desktop). If they added videos and splash screen advertisements I'm sure that would just add to the frustration players have when trying to play their game. Don't we get enough commercials when watching television?

Other than that.. it normally costs money to advertise anyway and it spams our HDs with unwanted cookies. So I would continue enjoying the game without those sparkly sprinkles people call "ads" in this game.

[Tezcatli]

Because they know their current player experience is not very good. But they also know that people have been waiting a long time for the ever important goal of Community Warfare. After they fully launch CW. We might see more effort in the new player department. It would be a waste of effort and money if they advertised, but their player retention was too poor to compensate for the strain on the servers.

[SweetJackal]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

(For example, in the 60 seconds before matches start -- force players to watch a short video.)

This is a bad idea outright. Mixing marketing media with gameplay or impeding gameplay in this fashion will serve only to aggravate the players which will either drive them away from playing, increase resistance to future purchases and increase negative opinions and reactions from the players.

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

I could think of several obvious partners: joystick makers, mouse makers, keyboard makers, NVIDIA, etc...

Joystick support would have to be far better than it currently is for this to be an option. Furthermore cases of deals like this are often done for the promotion of the hardware, using high profile brands and series as an extra carrot for the purchase. With MWO it would be reversed as well PGI is a small company compared to the likes of EA and Ubisoft, the types of companies that wrap themselves up in deals like this.

Also there was the entire Artemis thing that was deisgned and said to be ready for MWO yet that has just vanished into thin air.

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 07:29 AM, said:

Maybe c-bills could even be used to get discounts on real purchases.

This would mean PGI would have to be offering up dosh to cover the difference, that C-Bills would be a coupon for you to use in the purchase and that the retailer would redeem with PGI to keep profits.

In the end advertising is an expense and not a money maker. You have to invest said money to directed goals and those goals should have a measured rate of return.

[Iqfish]

If they'd force me to watch an ad before my game starts, I would uninstall this game withing a second.

[AjerWerklWerkl]

Well, I guess it's clear...

For the most part, you all would rather grind than see any advertising... not what I expected, but informative!

[MadPanda]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 08:04 AM, said:

Well, I guess it's clear...

For the most part, you all would rather grind than see any advertising... not what I expected, but informative!

Is there a human behind this account or some house pet like a cat or a dog? You really thought people would like watching video ads? .....

[TercieI]

Ooh! Then they could charge to remove the ads!

No.

[Eddrick]

Please, no. I would rather this game be pay to play then have to sit through adds constantly.

[Scratx]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 08:04 AM, said:

Well, I guess it's clear...

For the most part, you all would rather grind than see any advertising... not what I expected, but informative!

Are you insane? Of course we don't want ads.

I can't for the life of me think of any reason why I would want to be forced to see ads that have nothing to do with the game while I am playing it, even if it's during "idle" times like waiting for a match to start and all that.

If I wanted to watch ads while gaming, then why are we paying for content?

I just want to facepalm. Ugh.

[SweetJackal]

AjerWerklWerkl, on 26 October 2014 - 08:04 AM, said:

Well, I guess it's clear...

For the most part, you all would rather grind than see any advertising... not what I expected, but informative!

Advertising is not a magic word that just generates sales and money, it is an art and a science. Improper use of it can cost you not only the money you have to invest to make the advertising in the first place but also cost you sales and players.

Since we are talking about an environment that makes it easy for gameplay and marketing to mix you have to be very aware about how they mix and the reactions you'll generate to that.

Business might be simple but that does not mean it is intuitive or easy. It would be an idea to learn about these subjects before crafting your own opinions on how it should be handled.

Edited by SuckyJack, 26 October 2014 - 08:14 AM.

[AjerWerklWerkl]

It's not "do you want ads?" but rather "would you rather see ads AS OPPOSED to having to grind like crazy?"

SuckyJack: No doubt it's tricky for PGI to figure out how to actually implement ads in a cost-effective manner for them. It's hard -- I was just curious to see the player-side's view on it. Looks like players are mostly vehemently against them, which is fine. Personally I wouldn't mind the trade-off, but that's probably because I don't want to spend more than 1 hour a day on the game. Clearly I'm in the minority!

[beerandasmoke]

I would uninstall as well if I were forced to watch a 60 second ad before every game. I would like to see Russ approach some of the larger subscribed YouTubers about the game. Mighty Jingles (BohemianEagle) comes to mind. I think he has close to 300 thousand subscribers and is the largest WOT and WT YouTuber. This game seems like it would be right up his alley and hes responsible for a large part of the playerbase that WT has at the moment. If we could get even a small percentage of his subscribers to give the game a shot it would significantly increase the playerbase which is what we need. Russ offer him a press account with all the unlocks and see if you can persuade him to give the game a shot. Without it being on steam theres not a lot of options to advertise successfully. Forcing ads on people is not the way to increase the playerbase.

[Ovion]

Basically, PGI want to dispell the bad press, improve the new-user experience and polish the game a bit more first.

Once CW is out and they've looked at tutorials / mentorship systems they will be looking at advertising more and potetentially approaching steam.

Ok, so, yeah, I read it wrong too.
Because it would alienate most of the playerbase.
It's one of the most annoying aspects of mobile FTP games, and one of the things that turns me of quickest.

Edited by Ovion, 26 October 2014 - 08:46 AM.