LFG

I've never understood why most stores that sell video games don't stock EQ2, even though those same stores do carry dozens and dozens of minor titles I'd never think about purchasing or playing.

The corporate answer from SoE has always been that they primarily market products for digital download, because selling software in retail stores is too expensive.

I don't buy that, and will always believe that subscription growth of EQ2 was severely stunted, and is a fraction of what it could have been, based on what I consider to be the worst marketing effort for any major MMO this decade.

But that's not what I'm here to talk about now.

Instead, I just want to give another example of why SoE's marketing department is like a millstone around the neck of EQ2. This, in my view, is incompetent.

You know about the big relationship that EQ2 supposedly has with Nvidia, right? Sure you do, EQ2 still displays a Nvidia splash screen when EQ2 loads, and proclaims that Nvidia is made for the way this game is meant to be played.

Well, if that's the truth, why does Nvidia still think the most recent EQ2 expansion is Kingdom of Sky? I'm serious:

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_eq2kos_home.html

Go to Nvidia's list of supported games, click on EQ2, and yes, they are still pitching KoS.

Wait, does that mean Nvidia doesn't support EoF?

I'm sorry, but the Department of Motor Vehicles does more effective marketing and publicity than this.

Whoever is supposed to be maintaining the relationship with Nvidia, and following up product announcements, c'mon, is this the best you can do?

I'm really starting to think that 3 or 4 dudes sitting around a room doing bong hits could do a more effective job publicizing and marketing this product. At least they'd understand and care about it.

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LFG

So sad, for downloads, Nvidia is still offering "Trial of the Isle" lol:

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_ev...downloads.html

Aren't we on "Play the Fae" now instead? Am I missing something?

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Grind

While i agree the marketing for EQ2 is extremely poor. I think the worst job of marketing any mmo in existence has to go to VG. People didnt even know the game was going live until they heard from a friend who gave a crap about the game.

Common factor would be Sony, obviously. I guess sony games are so awesome, they sell themselves through word of mouth, right?!?!


Question, cause i always assumed it was the case. Word of mouth = Viral advertising?

LFG

The same department at SoE responsible for marketing and publicizing EQ2 did Vanguard. I'll never forget on the VG pre-sale, going into a Best Buy and proving to the game department manager that they had 5000 copies in stock systemwide, yet nobody could find a copy in any of the stores I visited.

Many consumers who wanted to buy a copy of the pre-release were never abloe to do so, because

(a) they were only sent to some, but not all stores, of course not including any within 30 miles from where I live.

(b) the Best Buy buying office erroneously coded the VG prerelease as a PS2 game. Problem was, that made perfect sense, because the retail package looked *exactly* like a PS2 game, in terms of dimensions.

So, the Vanguard prerelease at Best Buy was shelved with the PS2 games. Since the pre-release didn't sell well, they didn't order many of the final release copies either. Why was this all so obvious to me as a consumer, but was never corrected by SoE?

I live in one of the most populated MSAs in the US, the Northern California Bay Area. The 9 Bay Area counties have 10 million people. Despite that massive population, the largest allocation any Best Buy got of the full release of Vanguard in the Bay Area was 8 copies, and my local store didn't even get one.

If I was Sigil, I'd be asking questions.

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sompet

But the downloadable version of EOF contains neither the previous expansions nor the base game, so for new accounts the only way is to get a retail version somehow.

LFG

I started up a new account recently. My goal was just to put my CoH alt on it's own account so I could CoH my alts (and help the guild) so I could buy unwanted MMIS set pieces.

To make that work, I had to first register a new station account, then purchase the digital download of EoF, then also purchase a digital download of the original release.

After doing that and transferring my conjuror onto the account, I was bummed to see that all of the summoner class achievement points I'd earned were reset to zero, because I hadn't purchased DoF also. I knew that DoF was a requirement to earn and accumulate class-level achievement points, but I never realized they would be reset to zero on a toon that already had them, so I couldn't use them at all even though I previously earned them on an account licensed for all expansions.

But I digress. My point, to answer your question, is that you can purchase the original release and every expansion and adventure pack by digital download through the SoE Station Store.

The SoE Station Store sure is convenient, if like me, you know what you can buy there. But as I mentioned above, I think it is insane that is the main way EQ2 is marketed to potential subscribers who have no clue about this game.

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Nakurus

I also agree LFG, Sony games would have alot more players if they could just advertise. Eq2 is one of the least played MMO's if I remember correctly... we got like 2% of the MMO population and eq1 has like 5% which is pathetic when we don't have as much population as a game that has been out for triple the time Eq2 has. SOE can't spare a few dollars and advertise? That's some bullshit considering they rape us in the ass for every little penny they can get..

sompet

Yes I know I can and the difference in the price tag would make SOE happy. If I buy the base game and all expansions at station store it would cost me 141 USD (120 + 21 EU tax). I bought a retail EOF key (for a second account because of station access price) at www.dlgamer.com last week for 38 EUR including tax (52 USD). In my opinion this difference is too big to make the station store an alternative. I prefer buying games and expansions on-line but why does the retail versions of expansions include more features (house plant, pets) than the downloadable? These things are unimportant and I could live without them but I don't understand these differences between retail and downloadable versions, especially if SOE wants the later.

I agree, this game could be much bigger if people would know about it and could buy it, too.

LFG

Now that you mention it, yes, it does cost a fortune to fully license a new station account for all EQ2 expansions.

Perhaps SoE could consider doing like a $69 or so combined price for people like me who want to get an additional account set up for the free transfer period.

Very few will spend $120 to fully license a new account - but I'd bet a lot would spend in the $50 to $75 range for that.

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DarkAngel

Funny you bring this up. I have always wondered myself why, when I go into a Game Stop or other gaming store, there are no posters, or any other kind of display for EQ. Even when EQ2 was on preorder and then day it was released, nothing. I even asked a friend who works at a Game Stop, why they have so many WoW posters etc, and nothing for EQ2 and simple reply is, "They never send us anything".

I do think it's a bad buisness move on SOE's part. What company doesn't advertise there product?

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