Copied from another site.........
............... but I can't figure out how to add my name to the petition. Good idea though.
Hello friends.
I hope all is well for you all. My name is Neosporann from the Zek server. Recently, a few of us on Zek began discussing our concerns for the lack of adverting that Sony Online Entertainment has been doing. Well, we took it upon ourselves to contact Sony's Marketing CEO, Mike Lustenberger.
One of my Zek guildees spoke with him, and apparantly the agreement was made that if we rallied enough player endorsements for more advertising for EQ, they would consider. I am here today to ask those of the other servers to do the same. This isn't just about zek, although with Age of Conan and Warhammer coming out soon, we are about to take a huge blow to our population. Advertising affects us all. With new games being introduced on the market, games like EQ that are older, but with ever growing content, are being threatened of player base loss. After all, what good is new content and new expansions if noone knows about them except us who have kept the home fires burning? Don't buy into the "it's too expensive" excuse. As much money as SoE gets from us each month for subscriptions, and expansions for EQ EQ2 and even other non online games they put out, I'm sure they can afford at least ONE commercial, right?
Please go to http://www.savezek.wetpaint.com and sign the petition. THe marketing deptartment's contact info has also been posted so any of you can make a friendly phone call as well. Keep in mind this is MARKETING not, in game issues that GM's handle.
If you have any questions, feel free to send a cross server tell to Neosporann or my collegue Padame on the zek server or drop by our site at http://www.northstaravengers.com
Sincerely,
Neosporann Ointment 80 Cleric of Tunare
North Star Avengers, Leader ,Zek Server
From an advertising point of view the marketing arm of SoE must consist of 3 sheep and a small hamster called Gerald.
Advertising is Non-existant..
SOE really hasn't promoted any of the past 3 or 4 expansions. They are typically available only as a download to existing account holders, so no fancy boxes, promotions or advertising to the general public.
There is absolutely no incentive for anyone to start playing EQ from scratch. Who the heck wants to level and equip a character to level 80, (soon to be 85)? The past 2-3 expansions have been tailored to level 70+ players. With an average server character level over 65 now, who are you going to group with as a new player?
As this game continues to expand only at the high end, the less likely people will be to start playing a new character. The goal becomes too high and seemingly unachievable.
It's not a secret that the EQ playerbase is shrinking. They are losing players to many other games like WoW, etc. which are heavily promoted in the gamer magazines and store displays. I can't even remember the last time I saw an EQ box displayed on a store shelf.
When you mention to someone that you play EQ, they kind of chuckle and comment; Is that game still around?
With another high end expansion due in November and yet another level increase to 85, you have to wonder what the future holds for this game. With each new expansion a larger portion of the old content becomes obsolete. It's to the point now that a large majority of the old zones are vacant. When was the last time you visited old Kunark, Velious or Luclin? For that matter, even the TBS zones are vacant!
I guess in a couple years, when we are all running around as level 100 characters with 2000 HP/Mana gear, 95% of the previous content will be useless. Each new expansion funnels an even smaller group of high level players into the new content and out of the old.
I don't think petitioning SOE to start advertising at this point is going to help. They obviously have a business plan in mind for EQ, and I don't think it includes trying to remarket a 10 year old game to a new playerbase. I could be entirely wrong, but I'll continue to play Yorag until they pull the plug, I have absolutely no desire to start a new online MMORPG now or in the future. I've invested nearly 9 years in this game and I'm determined to see it through to it's end, which ultimately may be sooner than we like.
Decimator Yorag
Actually, I disagree
Part of the Living Legacy promotion is a buy of lots of internet advertising, i will not argue they need to do more, mainly having a presense in the stores, but i bet there will be with the next expansion.
Additionally, they have made gear available that will help people new to the game (or returning)gear up, on this last patch they added soloable mobs in many places, and xp is easier to earn at the lower levels, etc.
The only thing missing i feel at this point is a way to get new players to have people to group with. i am sure they are looking at a way of improving that as well.
All in all, they have made great strides in the past couple of months, and that alone makes me feel that they are aware of the issue and are working to address it. I think there will be more and more coming as we approach the next expansion.
If you want to see the ads, go to the following sites, you may need to refresh the page a few times, but you will see them.
www.gucomics.com
www.ctrlaltdel-online.com
Bamorfy
Barbarian Shaman
Quymeni
High Elf Wizard
Bertoxx Server Forums
Sorry...
But I didn't find any references to EQ on either of those links......
Decimator Yorag
Hmmm
Corrected the second link, sorry, but they were there before, i am wondering if they decreased the quantity this month. Was a banner ad for both EQ1 and EQ2.
Bamorfy
Barbarian Shaman
Quymeni
High Elf Wizard
Bertoxx Server Forums
Marketing
Advertising is just one aspect of what is needed.
Remember what it was like when you did not have a credit card and paid cash for everything? I cannot buy a Sony Game Card anywhere in Topeka. Best buy has them listed as an inventory item but they have none in their warehouses. This can be a big thing. These can be helpful to the teens or others who do not want to use credit cards on line. The same shelves that once had Sony game cards on them now have Warcraft and other game cards on them.
The same Best Buy may have one box of Everquest on their shelves and several of other games.
The Living Legacy seems to have one big flaw, once you make the decision to play Everquest again you still cannot buy it in stores. In my opinion marketing needs to do more sales and get the product back on the shelf where potential consumers can see it.
Lastly Sony is not the only ones who helps people decide if they want to play this game or another. Sometimes it is what they can do in Everquest and what they can do in the other games they try. If they get on Everquest and spend more time looking for something to do than actually doing something, the game is not fun for them.
We all know some people are going to try the latest game on the market. Some will stay there and others return.
I will probably never try
I will probably never try another game just because of the years I have in this one and the friends that I have made, Im staying U R all DOOOOOMED !!!! MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA .
Mordethe 77 Necro
Ardekis 73 Pally
Originally Posted by midnoctus "Some Necs can Kite in a phone booth"
Sony is following the
Sony is following the classic business model for a product life-cycle with EQ. Currently EQ is in the Manage for Cash cycle. This is the point in the life curve, where sales are declining and/or flat. You limit your spending (Advertising), headcount (GMs, developers, Cust Svsc), and you reduce your models in the line (in EQs case, this translates to only one new expansion per yr, rather than two). Goal is to make as much cash off the base customers you have. Do not spend a lot of effort and money to gain market share. Profitability is the goal, not revenue growth.
Next step will be Harvest mode. They will stop releasing expansions, further consolidate servers, reduce CS, get rid of developers, etc...just milk the last years as long as people keep paying & playing. Basically keep EQ on autopilot as long as they can cover their fixed costs. At some point they'll turn off the lights.
Sony is very business savvy, regardless of what people think. They are a successfull corporation. As much as we take EQ personal, to the suits calling the shots and setting the budgets, it is just another product to make money off of. I'm sure they have sliced and diced this already and have determined that while they could pour more $$ into advertising and marketing, it would not increase new subscribers enough to pay for the time and effort of doing so.
Even a simple thing like getting more shelf space in the the box stores and game stores for your product, and getting game cards in place and visible can be a VERY costly investment. I work in a related industry, and we have to shell out some serious $$ to expand our product shelf space, nationwide in all stores. It is expensive real estate.
As you can see with the LL program, they probably saw that with very limited money and time invested, they could bring back old players and try to keep them. I think to some degree this will work. Time will tell on whether how many will pay to keep their accounts active after LL is over.
Frankly, I don't see how a petition would sway any marketing group to do anything...especially from existing customers. What do they have to gain? We are already their customers. It's not like their marketing department hasn't looked into it. Hell, its their job. They're not sitting at their desks doing nothing all day.
EQ has an overall image problem. It is old, stodgey, un-cool, and not current...at least that is the perception in the marketplace. Perception is everything when getting new customers to try your product. EQ has grown soooooooooo complicated and large over the last decade. Pretty daunting for a fresh new player.
Anyway, back to work.
Consumers
Well stated reply. It sounds like we, as consumers, are in charge of showing our approval or lack of it. A petition is one idea, but many petitions have negative conotations so might be counterproductive.
At this point, we have an old piece of software that has been patched and repaired numerous times. Replacing it is not a viable option as it creates revenue as is. What is the life expectancy of softwear like this?
We, the consumers, are still a force who can accomplish much as long as we work toward the same goals and do not fragment ourselves. Advertising is best done on the individual level. You have a friend you think would like to play this game, talk to them about it. Sell it yourself because what you say is going to be better and more detailed than a 30 second or 1 minute spot on an obsecure network or local channel aired at some late night or early morning hour.
If we need things like game cards in the stores, then ask them to carry them. Not once and forget it but everytime you walk into the store and see they do not have them ask. Retailers want to carry what customers and potential customers want to buy. If you need them to carry something make sure to communicate the fact.
Think about it, if we each spent just a few minutes a week working to improve the game we all play and love instead of waiting for Sony to do something, we would accomplish more. The suits and dresses Blakkin spoke of see a product with declining sales that is still making money. It is at a pivitol point and if we all, provider and consumers, stand back and do nothing then the game will decline. Lets be smart and think of what we can do to help.
To be effective a petition would need a very high percentage of active players signing it.
Hmmmmm.......
Well........ I'm old and stodgy too, maybe that's why I still enjoy playing EQ
Decimator Yorag
Outreach
Some excellent thoughts. Surely we are the best potential alvertisers for the game, but even if we can atttact a new client base to help keep the game alive, how can we help retain them? As has been mentioned, the game has grown to daunting proportions for anyone brave enough to start fresh. I lament the passing viability of the pickup groups of the past as they were an excellent introduction to old content and the raid ethos. Should we try to revive the tradition? A couple hours on a weekend morning, perhaps? I'd guess we all have an alt or two who could fill out a PoP class or higher raid. Do you think there's a demand? I know the loot isn't worth the time anymore, but we're talking about investing in the game and investing isn't about immediate gratification. I think the main thing keeping this from happening is a lack of leadership willing to commit. Sadly here, I am part of the problem. I am good at taking a long view and helping, but horrible at rolling up my vambraces and getting things done. Where are the power-crazed dictators of Norrath now when we could put them to use. Hehe.
Maybe instead of going the raid route, we could have an adopt a noob program? Sort of a semi-formal PL group?? Get your toon to 25 and we'll take you to 65, maybe. Eventually. If you put forth the effort to be worth ours. Really, I don't like this idea because I think the game is enjoyable at all levels and why rush though them. Also, what kind of player would we be cultivating? The immediate gratification lewtwhore with minimal involvement and a short attention span?
What other ideas can we come up with? Do we want to do outreach with other guilds? When was the last time we filled a raid? Do you have a friend to invite who might get fired up about the possibilities? Could we let guests roll for rott items? Not that we have that many rott items, Hehe. I haven't lurked on the boards for a while. Is anyone else discussing these concerns?
alts or boxs
well a few ways you can help to keep new players to to get friends to start playing and you can start an alt to show them the rops and to help them grow in level also i have learned that working on alts and boxs is fun and helps you yourself grow as a player this would also give the newer players people to group with for the most part there are alot of people that are starting boxs and/or alts as is it much easyer to level and gear new toons then its ever been i know i started a necro and a warror and i had seen the lower level zones were packed and no trouble finding groups there so even as a player thats been on the game for years you can always put you main on hold to help new people come to the game and i would say you would like to play a different toon then you usely do learning to play something new is always fun and would make you remember the good times you had when you first started