The Ultimate Advertisement

[timech187]

All this talk of secrets kept, intentional delays, angry customers, busy forums and speculation.

It is the ultimate advertisement. Valve doesn't even have to say anything at all for this game to become a huge success. The anticipation level has risen so high that I can't even imagine the amount of games they will sell in the first few weeks.

To alot of folks here, their PR work is horrible, but like I said in another thread, I don't think it is.

I think they are brilliant.

Can ya feel it? Yeah, me too .

Timech

 

[aeroripper]

They've toted a lot about the game... they just use their yoyo marketing campaign to keep building hype (realeasing binks "strategically" through the summer)

they know exactly what their doing alright

And even if they hadn't shown us the game... its just that.. Half-Life 2: Sequel to the best PC game of all time by PCgamer and won many, many awards

Of course everybody is gonna be hyped just because there IS a sequel... Valve got it easy in that department, but also hard because they have a HUGE amount of expectations to live up to

 

[Dr0ndeh]

it certainly makes sure the magazines have something to print about valve, even if its negative.

any publicity is good publicity.

 

[timech187]

any publicity is good publicity.

Exactly what I'm thinking .

 

[Champ]

Dr0ndeh, no. Any publictiy is... Well, publicity. Doesn't make it good.

 

[aeroripper]

Yeah but it sure gets its name around... enough for new people to check out what's going on ;-D

Then their like "Hey, Half-Life 2... that looks like a cool game"

and the rest is history

 

[Dr0ndeh]

Dr0ndeh, no. Any publictiy is... Well, publicity. Doesn't make it good.

yes thats another way of putting it. doesnt have the same 'zing' to it tho does it

 

[timech187]

He didn't say any publicity makes it good. What is meant by that common statement is getting the name out there, where people are familiar with it.

Just like Paris Hilton. God love her, I know I do .

Timech

 

[j__]

well analysed timech

i hadn't really put it into words before in my head, but its true, because of all the "controversy" over all the supposed mistakes and such, there is a huge ammount of emotion, its made sure everyone is probably a lot more excited than they would have been

 

[Headwires]

lol, wots HL2 got to do with paris hilton but if u had to pick....

 

[BetaMaster]

Lol, easy choice.
Secret choice number 3:

Spoiler

Alyx

lol, j/k

-BM

 

[Champ]

He didn't say any publicity makes it good.

Yes he did .
Regardless, I doubt that Valve has faked this whole mess. Free advertising? Perhaps, but I doubt that they'll recieve any noticably larger amount of customers, because of it. This whole mess might even have a negative effect on them all, scaring them off.

 

[hi_ted]

Keep in mind that most of the advertising you are talking about is directed at the HL2 fans that go on forums like this.
What about the ordinary gamer that isn't aware of the Tests, the Preloads, the Source Code Theft...

 

[^Ben]

Well i actually went to see my freind who works in a music shop that sells games and i mentioned half life 2 and when they have it predicted stock(15th november btw £60collecters edition i would imagine) And this random skater type girl that works there also said "Half life yeh I heard of that a freind wanted that"

I was like wtf mait?

 

[Tlaloc]

^ what hi_ted said... only hl2 fans are getting all excited about this.... ppl that are not fans don't even KNOW that RC was sent to VU. I love their games, but their PR is terrible

 

[destrukt]

Alot of people also don't care now. It's over a year late, so alot of the people who were simply 'interested' not 'obsessed fan's (Like us) won't care.

 

[CyanEyed]

Alot of people also don't care now. It's over a year late, so alot of the people who were simply 'interested' not 'obsessed fan's (Like us) won't care.

lol we'll see how much people don't care when the game gets released

 

[Tlaloc]

^ this is true, as soon as word gets out, the masses will start using their trusty VISA/MC/AMEX/etc -- then holiday season which is right around the corner...

so basically, it's not like they NEED great advertising, cuz other people will do it for them (ie: us) but still: valve's PR < 0