Comments on: Episodic gaming as marketing model http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/ Marek Bronstring's blog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:07:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Jake http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Jake Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:16:20 +0000 http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/#comment-43 Everything about Sam & Max was formally announced at E3 in May, then five months later on October 15 the first episode hit GameTap. Telltale did put out a press release and set up a mini-site maybe six months before that, announcing that it had secured the license and was going to make the game, but no media or anything beyond the initial announcement was released until the trailer and full discussion of the 6 episode schedule, etc at E3. Everything about Sam & Max was formally announced at E3 in May, then five months later on October 15 the first episode hit GameTap.

Telltale did put out a press release and set up a mini-site maybe six months before that, announcing that it had secured the license and was going to make the game, but no media or anything beyond the initial announcement was released until the trailer and full discussion of the 6 episode schedule, etc at E3.

]]> By: Vimes http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Vimes Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:27:26 +0000 http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/#comment-42 I think that, in some way, the fact that Sam & Max episodes are not far apart and use an 'incremental' basis [i.e. location for episode n-1 is seen in episode n] is double edged swords. It's great for all that you mentionned but the gamers might be lead to think that the studio is able to correct stuff in episode n+1 when issues are brought to their attention on episode n. From what I understand, Telltale said that when criticisms reach them, the next episode is wrapping up and the next after that is in full production, so they can only rectify stuff in episode n+3. I'm not sure this delay can be understood by most gamers or critics. While, in S&M case, it's not a problem for they had pretty much everything done well from the beginning, it might hurt them on more risky stuff in upcoming episodes. I think that, in some way, the fact that Sam & Max episodes are not far apart and use an ‘incremental’ basis [i.e. location for episode n-1 is seen in episode n] is double edged swords. It’s great for all that you mentionned but the gamers might be lead to think that the studio is able to correct stuff in episode n+1 when issues are brought to their attention on episode n.
From what I understand, Telltale said that when criticisms reach them, the next episode is wrapping up and the next after that is in full production, so they can only rectify stuff in episode n+3. I’m not sure this delay can be understood by most gamers or critics.
While, in S&M case, it’s not a problem for they had pretty much everything done well from the beginning, it might hurt them on more risky stuff in upcoming episodes.

]]> By: Marek http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Marek Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:38:40 +0000 http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/#comment-41 That's a good general point you've made there. Vague release dates for different territories have been a big issue for the genre. Also I think there's often a much too long gap between the announcement and release of many adventures, with PR getting really drawn out. Maybe that's because unsigned adventure games usually get announced extremely early in the hopes of attracting a publisher. In contrast I think the first episode of Sam & Max appeared within a very reasonable time from the moment Telltale started publicizing the series. That’s a good general point you’ve made there. Vague release dates for different territories have been a big issue for the genre. Also I think there’s often a much too long gap between the announcement and release of many adventures, with PR getting really drawn out. Maybe that’s because unsigned adventure games usually get announced extremely early in the hopes of attracting a publisher. In contrast I think the first episode of Sam & Max appeared within a very reasonable time from the moment Telltale started publicizing the series.

]]> By: Melanie http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Melanie Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:10:42 +0000 http://www.gameslol.com/2007/01/30/episodic-gaming-as-a-marketing-model/#comment-40 I think disjointed and haphazard marketing if one of the biggest deficiencies in adventure games. That and the vague release dates of games. It gets released in a couple of countries before a publisher is nailed down for other locations. You know exactly when Sam & Max is going to be released. Telltale has gone a long way in dispelling the distrust that gamers have in episodic release dates. I think disjointed and haphazard marketing if one of the biggest deficiencies in adventure games. That and the vague release dates of games. It gets released in a couple of countries before a publisher is nailed down for other locations. You know exactly when Sam & Max is going to be released. Telltale has gone a long way in dispelling the distrust that gamers have in episodic release dates.

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