Real reason for so called delays

[uncle_rudy]

I know the real reason why VU leaked that there is going to be a delay in the release date. Two words... "Marketing Hype". If you think about it, how do cause people to talk endlessly about something they want? You tell them that is is coming out on a certain day, build a lot of hype around the product, leak out that it is not going to be available on the first promised date, and deny anything that anyone asks you about the new product. If you are familiar with the email about the release date, you see that the PR person says that they are working towards the Sept. 30 date. She didn't say that it will be released on the 30th, but that they are working toward the 30th. There is enough squirming room in the phrase "working toward" that they could have it out then, Thanksgiving, or even Christmas, because right now, I am working toward September 30.

But even if the game comes out on the date that is promised, it will go down in marketing history for all of hype that was generated because of the supposed delay. I know everyone is extremely excited for the game to come out, including me, but you have to ask yourself how much extra hype was generated because of this rumor of delay, and how many people are going to now go out and preorder it so that they can have it as soon as it comes out, whenever that is?

 

[SirMcNugget]

It could easilly be a marketing ploy, but I still want HL2 ASAP.

 

[krarg]

No, I don't think anybody but the people who monitor the game's status all day long will remember it. Vivendi isn't exactly being original by attempting to delay the game to increase interest; it's nothing new. That's probably what they were doing with Condition Zero all this time, except they missed their window, and now nobody gives a crap about it. Hence why it will fail (relatively).

 

[DjBourgeoisie]

Sorry but I think you are completely wrong on this one. Half life, the most popular pc game to date. Half life 2, say those words and you dont think all the people who play half life and its mods will run out and get it? I dont think Hl 2 needs any more hype period. It already has a name for itself.

 

[SirMcNugget]

Ya but there are more people in the world then half-life fans. And they have money that could potentially be in VUs pockets if just one person who is hyped mentions it to them

 

[uncle_rudy]

I am just trying to say that if I was VU, and I wanted to get people more interested in HL2 then already was, I would do something just like this. The only reason why this doesn't happen more often is because there aren't any games of this quality or magnitude. But I bet that something like this will start to happen a lot more in the future.

I already know someone is going to say that this happens all the time, eg games get delayed. But the reason why most games get delayed is quality issues, and not hype. Most game publishers will push a game out the door before it is ready, so that they could get it out for a particular time. And those games usually are pretty crappy. Just look at the new Tomb Raider game. It sucks. But I think that VU is trying to get hype, nothing more than that.

 

[FAK3R]

That was 100% not funny

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by uncle_rudy
I know the real reason why VU leaked that there is going to be a delay in the release date. Two words... "Marketing Hype". If you think about it, how do cause people to talk endlessly about something they want? You tell them that is is coming out on a certain day, build a lot of hype around the product, leak out that it is not going to be available on the first promised date, and deny anything that anyone asks you about the new product. If you are familiar with the email about the release date, you see that the PR person says that they are working towards the Sept. 30 date. She didn't say that it will be released on the 30th, but that they are working toward the 30th. There is enough squirming room in the phrase "working toward" that they could have it out then, Thanksgiving, or even Christmas, because right now, I am working toward September 30.

But even if the game comes out on the date that is promised, it will go down in marketing history for all of hype that was generated because of the supposed delay. I know everyone is extremely excited for the game to come out, including me, but you have to ask yourself how much extra hype was generated because of this rumor of delay, and how many people are going to now go out and preorder it so that they can have it as soon as it comes out, whenever that is?

Thinking you know the real reason is different from really knowing.

 

[Mr. Redundant]

OOOOOOH THEY SAID "RELEASE DATE SEPT 30th" !!!!

but they didnt say what year LOL!

sept 30th 2005 perhaps

 

[kelisis]

OMG, how many threads with the same topic have we had. Look we don't know. We will just have to wait.

 

[Diablo2k]

Originally posted by uncle_rudy
I know the real reason why VU leaked that there is going to be a delay in the release date. Two words... "Marketing Hype". If you think about it, how do cause people to talk endlessly about something they want? You tell them that is is coming out on a certain day, build a lot of hype around the product, leak out that it is not going to be available on the first promised date, and deny anything that anyone asks you about the new product. If you are familiar with the email about the release date, you see that the PR person says that they are working towards the Sept. 30 date. She didn't say that it will be released on the 30th, but that they are working toward the 30th. There is enough squirming room in the phrase "working toward" that they could have it out then, Thanksgiving, or even Christmas, because right now, I am working toward September 30.

But even if the game comes out on the date that is promised, it will go down in marketing history for all of hype that was generated because of the supposed delay. I know everyone is extremely excited for the game to come out, including me, but you have to ask yourself how much extra hype was generated because of this rumor of delay, and how many people are going to now go out and preorder it so that they can have it as soon as it comes out, whenever that is?

doubt it.. retailers dont change their date over some rumours.. they have heard something official and thats why they pushed back the date

 

[Chris D]

I'm arranging a mass suicide for anyone on the forums that are fed up of these delay threads. Please PM me if you're interested. The suicide will take place at 8pm PST/4am GMT but may get delayed dependent on how many people get confused about the suicide date.

I dedicate this thread to the guy that wrote the comments in my sig.

 

[ferd]

i also believe it was a cheap trick of both gamespot/?IGN? and Vivendi

 

[Sgt.Igneri]

Chris, I am so in for this mass suicide.

 

[Chris D]

I am so doing it on my own anyway. I've had enough, this forum has driven me insane. It's really a lot like hitting your head against a brick wall in here... and I should know because I've been here and hitting my head on a brick wall and it's a very similar sensation.

Bye all

No, I'm kidding....
o.0

 

[Guest]

Chris_D what flavor will the kool-aid be? Might I suggest grape?

 

[Chris D]

Why would I want kool-aid? And what is it? A drink?
Orange please.

 

[Prince of China]

No, it's a Condom company whose slogan is: It's Kool to have aids!
j/k!

 

[manny_c44]

Well, I think that a month and a half is actually enough to drum up hype. The next batch of magazines will probably cover it and media attention will only rise...I think it will get great sales no matter the date its shipped.

 

[0zz0]

Or instead of try and confuse everyone and i still dont get how creating delay hype will get people that havent heard about half life interested in it, they could make a TV commercial. Makes more sense to me.