Letter from the Producer XXVIII

[Aeni]

Letter from the Producer, XXVIII (05/28/2012)

Includes Part I of the results of the Third FFXIV Player's Poll.

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

MEEEEEEW!

That is smart!

Letter from the Producer, XXVIII (05/28/2012)

That would make the trailer and actual fulls scale promotions even better than just tease a bit of it at E3.

They know even a E3 trailer would not get as big as reaction as much as if they save it and combine it with their grand PR strategy when the marketing floodgates really open.

This also gives FFXIV more spotlight instead of wrestling for attention at E3 with other big announcements.

So when they are ready to promote FFXIV 2.0, with the new 2.0 trailer and more reveals all at once, that would be the time to make FFXIV center stage for the entire world to notice, mew! ^_^

that poll with the Hand and Land classes but no War/Magic classes is strange, though, it's obvious crafting isn't what the majority want to do in mmorpgs. All that work could be better spent adding more War and Magic classes if they want to optimize more subscribers and sales. There's already enough crafting/gathering classes.

[Etra]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

What. They're better off releasing the trailer as a promotional tool. E3 is the biggest (and most professional) gathering for video game media. Not having a trailer is an instant shot to the face for their PR. Yeah, they could have gameplay booths or other things of the sort, but the thing that will get the biggest reaction promotionally would be a trailer, even if it's just CGI. The trailer will be what most will search for, especially newer gamers.

Doesn't make sense to me.

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

People are getting their impatience in their thoughts instead of common sense, mew.

The trailer at E3 would be up against other trailers at E3 pushing for everyone's attention, mew.

Their trailer would work better with their new strategy because:

1. Trailer would gather more attention since it would have less new trailers to compete with.

2. The Trailer closer to their flood of information and beta is smart because that would optimize and maintain interest from reveal to beta to launch!

3. E3 really isn't the best place to market mmorpgs since most of it caters to people that prefer single player or small non-subscription based multiplayer.

4. E3 is overrated and everyone here knows it is not the end all be all for world mmorpg marketing since it's just a event, not a consistent news source. people would still get impatient and bored waiting for info right after E3 even with a trailer

5. The typical gamer browses for news every week if not every day. whenever FFXIV 2.0 trailer is public, it would still have the same impact as it would at E3 or any event.

6. alongside #5, The trailer would deliver even more oomph to the marketing being closer to the time where they can expose even more media and information to the public.

7. the FFXIV 2.0 trailer might be like the first FFXIV trailer, it may be more about entertaining than educating people of the real in depth nature of its gameplay, features and improvements.

8. Admit it, FFXIV 2.0 trailer at E3 would not gather as much attention as it would closer to beta/launch. People don't need months to decide whether they want to play something or not. The closer trailer is to the flood of marketing, the more attention FFXIV 2.0 will receive and there would be MORE anticipation since people won't have to sit through 3 months before they can actually try it and learn more about 2.0.

9. FFXIV 2.0 trailer after E3 would not be talked about much after June since people want more information. By releasing trailer in August, that means it's almost next door to the beta, and there would already be marketing and information website sources for people to maintain interest and their anticipation would stay at a high level instead of diminishing over the summer, mew!!

10. the mainstream will be fully aware of XIV 2.0 when the marketing begins, so it is smart to make a bigger impact when the XIV 2.0 starts instead of a small taste test and then being in the dark for a while before the actual marketing begins.

11. an E3 trailer would not be what people would be thinking about in August. The average gamers attention span is short, so it's smart to have the marketing closer to beta, including the trailer when it's still fresh in people's minds.

What. They're better off releasing the trailer as a promotional tool. E3 is the biggest (and most professional) gathering for video game media. Not having a trailer is an instant shot to the face for their PR. Yeah, they could have gameplay booths or other things of the sort, but the thing that will get the biggest reaction promotionally would be a trailer, even if it's just CGI. The trailer will be what most will search for, especially newer gamers.

Doesn't make sense to me.

Gaming marketing and awareness does not begin or end with E3. People could just as likely to get hyped about something at Gamespot, IGN, Siliconera, Kotaku, Gamekyo, The-magicbox, Neogaf, and any other mainstream gaming site besides E3. E3 has very temporary influence compared to mainstream gaming news sources people check daily.

it's smarter to excite and maintain interest closer to beta and the big flood of marketing where there would be sources immediately available for people to learn more about FFXIV 2.0 instead of big gap of no new 2.0 information during June and July. The trailer will still feel fresh and exciting when they are ready to expose it, mew. So they are doing good strategy to save it for when the real market flood begins and beta is around the corner.

It looks like they will still be present at E3 for interviews and stuff, so that in fact could be even more valuable than a trailer, since more information could be learned than from a trailer.

[Malacite]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

Still reading it, so can't comment on the full thing yet.

Just going to say I think this is a huge mistake on their part not showing the trailer at E3 due to the massive exposure E3 garners.

EDIT: Okay, so the new trailer and info is all slated for August now. kinda shitty to announce all that at the end of the summer only a couple of months prior to 2.0

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

Still reading it, so can't comment on the full thing yet.

Just going to say I think this is a huge mistake on their part not showing the trailer at E3 due to the massive exposure E3 garners.

E3 does not get more exposure than the sources people check frequently online, mew.

E3 can be equivalent to a holiday, only relevant during the time it happens, not before or after.


If the industry only depended on E3 for the biggest marketing, many things would go unnoticed and go unpurchased throughout the year, but that is not the case.

This is not like other companies where they don't even have the backing of strong company brand and strong franchise brand titles. SE has the marketing capabilities to make anything they promote during the year feel like an E3 event, but better since they don't have to shout among other crowds of companies trying to market their own stuff.

Especially considering mmorpgs are an online focused genre, anyone that has access to online WILL learn about FFXIV 2.0 before the beta even begins! And interest will easily build up from there more effectively than if they were to divide their marketing resources.

The stream of information is not limited to E3 and never was dependant on E3 for things to succeed commercially and sales wise.

Take Diablo III for example, the majority of people didn't really start caring about it until about month before launch. Even the closed beta was not what sold people to buy it, it was the marketing close to launch that optimized hype and sales. Before that, before even the release date, it was just something people talked about but still were on the fence until it was close to being playable to the public.

The Azmodan trailer was not what convinced the majority of people to buy it, it was the marketing closer to open beta and launch that really convinced people to buy it. before that, people were just joking about the release date and not really taking it seriously until it actually launched and they were able to try it.

BEcause not matter when the trailers appear, it's the beta and launch versions and launch marketing that determine its success, anything before that is all talk. The bottom line is people want it to prove its something they would buy and that can only be determined around the time of beta and launch, not any trailers or expo before that.

The majority of people are not wholly convinced by E3 trailers, no matter what it is.

Marketing timing with the beta and flood of information is more important than any trailer shown at E3.

[Malacite]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

please understand! ><


A trailer is equivalent to a guarantee, but FFXIV 2.0 needs more than that to convince people now.

someone that agrees with me shared this good valid points:

1. They will have plenty of competition anytime they release. It's not just mmos XIV has to worry about. Single player games have seen a steady stream of HQ titles lately. Can't pay a sub if your buying offline games left and right.


2. Saving the trailer for AUGUST is to put on their best attire with proof on the said systems and not just trailers or promises.

3. an E3 trailer you may get some subs now. But if the game isn't in the best possible form as 2.0 aims to be. Why risk gaining a sub only to lose them to before 2.0 with current issues or in the past issues peeving 1.0 players.

4. .Tv commercials, gamescomm, tgs, ign, gamespot, gametrailers, mmorpg.com, fansites like this are more valuable than E3.
Imagine some Let's play videos from the big review sites along with good reviews and a beta closing in. The test would be no longer a promise but would be putting their fruits of labor to the test with proof. If they did their job right, they will get a good amount of players. Maybe not put a dent in WoW anymore but bring in a substantial amount of players without needing E3 to do so. E3 is the wrong time to bring out the big marketing tools. At E3 the trailer would just go by as a teaser.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

The fact that SE doesn't have FFvsXIII or FFXIV 2.0 info at E3 is just all kinds of bad for their PR.

People are starting to lose interest in FFvsXIII, but then I suppose that's normal when you announce a game five years before going into full production with it.

Oh, but I'm sure we'll hear about FFXIII-3 soon.

Really, I don't really give a shit about what SE is doing aside from their handheld releases and what's coming from their western studios. Everything else with them is just jerking gamers around and that's not any good. SE has Sleeping Dogs, Hitman Absolution, Heroes of Ruin, Theatrhythm and Kingdom Hearts 3D, but at this point SE either needs to put FF on indefinate hiatus or give gamers a reason to care about FFvsXIII. Keeping the marketing in Japan is the last thing they need to be doing.

[Malacite]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

Their COD'ing (yes I'm turning Call of Duty into a verb now) FF lately and it's not good.

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

they really are not CoDing FF. You could say that for FFXIII-2, XIII-3 and maybe VsXIII if they sell it in episodes,

but don't generalize the franchise like that, because FF projects like FFType-0 and especially FFXIV 2.0 are in a league of their own.

The fact that SE doesn't have FFvsXIII or FFXIV 2.0 info at E3 is just all kinds of bad for their PR.

People are starting to lose interest in FFvsXIII, but then I suppose that's normal when you announce a game five years before going into full production with it.

your views really reflect the minority. Diablo III proven regardless of no news for a while, millions will buy it week 1 anyway. FF is a strong enough IP to sell the time it launches and available to play.

Really, I don't really give a shit about what SE is doing aside from their handheld releases and what's coming from their western studios.

oh mew. That is such boring taste.


Sleeping Dogs (boring), Hitman Absolution (boring), Heroes of Ruin (boring), Theatrhythm (boring) and Kingdom Hearts 3D (overrated)

but at this point SE either needs to put FF on indefinate hiatus

oh wow and you criticize SE's "flawed" PR decisions? Your idea is like a company's best franchise committing suicide. Wasteful and foolish.

or give gamers a reason to care about FFvsXIII.

people will care again when it's ready for launch. whether it's a great rpg or a flop, people will still buy it (like XIII-2).

Also don't blame SE entirely. Nomura still has yet to give KH fans their KH3, but they work on too many projects at once and seem to have a short attention span for committing to a series.

Do you think FFXIII would of been made anytime soon if they were working on 2 or 3 other projects at once? Nomura shouldn't even had designed VsXIII until they were done with KH3 and that whole dragged out Xehanort story. If people think XIII is bad with stretching the story, Kingdom Hearts is the worst in the industry stringing fans along in a overdone rpg series that's getting nowhere and being redundant with its characters since PS2.

Many rpgs have shown they can tell a complete story without needing 3+ rpgs and side stories to tell it. but Nomura is the troll of SE and too divided in different projects to finish what they started in decent time. So if anyone is to blame for VsXIII's hold up, it's Nomura and their fragmented ambitions.

Keeping the marketing in Japan is the last thing they need to be doing.

as far as XIV is going, they have been global with XIV updates. The Lodestone community and primal fight/weaponskills/etc trailers are proof in itself. Also in August they could show the trailer at Gamescom, which isn't a Japan expo and viewed worldwide.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

Sleeping Dogs (boring), Hitman Absolution (boring), Heroes of Ruin (boring), Theatrhythm (boring) and Kingdom Hearts 3D (overrated)

If by "boring" and "overrated" you mean "they look fun" - then yes, they're boring and overrated.

[jenova_9]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

Well back on topic, people can say what they want about the trailer schedule, but when the trailer appears in August, people won't care what wasn't shown at E3 because the trailer would be witnessed in August and that would be the time where FFXIV 2.0 hype starts to build globally and maintain much better momentum as they move towards beta and launch.

[Raydeus]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

It's good to see he is indeed going to consider how characters, story, world and lore account for a big portion of why people plays.

I played XI almost exclusively for the story, and it was good enough for me to endure all the awful gameplay decisions (wait for it...) Tanaka&Co. made just to see what happened next. Of course, this also meant that the moment I was unable to advance the story due to stupid limitation I lost interest faster than you can kill a chigoe.

[Aeni]

Re: Letter from the Producer XXVIII

I could care less if they had a trailer for E3. The game is out anyway, so why bother? I can understand hyping a new release, but everyone and their mother's secret boyfriends know that FFXIV has rolled around in shit enough (to the general public) that no one is going to care even if they had any kind of media available at E3.

What I'm more interested in is the methodology and ideas that Yoshi-P is working with in 2.0. I'm still in the dark (the PDFs are not convincing enough for me) as to what they are going to do with the game. What I worry more is backsliding on graphics in order to appease players that run hardware worse than what PS3 is running (which is kinda bad if you logically think about it) Other things I'm concerned about is the UI (he vaguely hints that they are working to improve it but gives no specifics)

They are spending a lot of time and money reshaping the current game when they know for a fact that it's all going to go away in a few months. I suggest they stop adding anymore to 1.0 because all the bug fixes and ridiculous complaints by players isn't giving them a reasonable ROI for the effort. Focus on 2.0 and make it GOOD.