D&D 4E 4E Marketing Campaign?

[AZRogue]

Personally, I think a good pop-up/display piece for the big book store chains would work. A life sized cardboard cutout of the PHB graphic with the release date posted on it, would get the message across. Some people who haven't played DnD in years might pick up a PHB to check it out if they saw something like that. IMO, or course.

 

[AZRogue]

Ah, thanks TerraDave! I knew I'd seen that before and remembered that we're in the midst of the DnD marketing campaign's "kick off". So, I'm just waiting for it to kick off; in places other than DnD message boards, I mean.

 

[TerraDave]

Yes, we are solidly in March/April. I've seen nothing. Then again, I don't even know where to look for it. No Dragon or Dungeon on newstands, not very many FLGS left (certainly not in the major city I live in)...

Though there is the demos. I guess they count:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4dnd/20080319a

 

[SteveC]

As the guy who made The Rouse count to 10, I'll say that I still haven't seen much if any marketing campaign. It is as if they are using a viral marketing campaign to publicize the new edition. I don't understand it one bit.

Regular articles on the new edition's rule changes ... just like WotC did for Star Wars Saga Edition just seem like a no-brainer to me. Especially when everything is at the printers.

--Steve

 

[tombowings]

As the guy who made The Rouse count to 10, I'll say that I still haven't seen much if any marketing campaign. It is as if they are using a viral marketing campaign to publicize the new edition. I don't understand it one bit.

Regular articles on the new edition's rule changes ... just like WotC did for Star Wars Saga Edition just seem like a no-brainer to me. Especially when everything is at the printers.

--Steve

I agree. I loved the Saga promotion articles. They were great, they showed the nitty-gritty and really captured the feel of Star Wars Saga Edition. Maybe a weekly article like that would be a great investment for WotC. We have seen a few, such as the critical hits article, but nothing like the ones that were sent out for Saga.

 

[HeinorNY]

Yes, we are solidly in March/April. I've seen nothing.

Same here.
Is WotC still planning to release a 4th edtion of D&D? I'm not sure anymore.

 

[Drkfathr1]

My one big complaint with WOTC has always been, and remains, their apparent lack of marketing.

A new edition is always a chance to bring in NEW players, but the word has to get out.

They continue to "preach to the choir" as it were, and honestly, they're not doing a fantastic job of that.

otherwise, I have high hopes for 4E, and eagerly await its release. I just don't think its going to be as successful for WOTC as 3E was, and I think its not going to attract anyone new with the DDI...which is a concern for other threads.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

They continue to "preach to the choir" as it were, and honestly, they're not doing a fantastic job of that.

I was at a wedding and saw two of my nephews there. These guys are in their low 20s, got jobs, have the internet, but aren't like us. They don't hang out on the web trying to sponge up rumors on 4e. They just go by what they passively receive. They are, however, really into D&D. Like to talk about it with me when they see me. I mentioned 4e to them and asked if they were excited. They're response:

"I heard it was going to be all on-line."

I was curious about that response, so I started bringing up 4e with some of my other D&D acquaintances (people I know play D&D, but aren't friends or family), and I'm getting about the same: that D&D4e will require internet access.

I'm wondering just how much the non-geeked-out crowd is really getting to know about 4e. By time 4e gets released, there may be a lot of damage that needs to be undone.

 

[HeinorNY]

I was at a wedding and saw two of my nephews there. These guys are in their low 20s, got jobs, have the internet, but aren't like us. They don't hang out on the web trying to sponge up rumors on 4e. They just go by what they passively receive. They are, however, really into D&D. Like to talk about it with me when they see me. I mentioned 4e to them and asked if they were excited. They're response:

"I heard it was going to be all on-line."

I was curious about that response, so I started bringing up 4e with some of my other D&D acquaintances (people I know play D&D, but aren't friends or family), and I'm getting about the same: that D&D4e will require internet access.

I'm wondering just how much the non-geeked-out crowd is really getting to know about 4e. By time 4e gets released, there may be a lot of damage that needs to be undone.

I have a dozen close friends that are also D&D players. Only two guys from this gang are web geeks and frequent ENWorld and D&D site (myself included).
Only two guys from this gang knew that there was a 4th edtion coming.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I seem to recall a D&DXP interview with a 4e marketer who said they'd start off advertising to rpgers then look to get in new players some time (a few months?) after the launch of 4e.

I think WOTC should focus at least part of their marketing approach on attracting a wider audiene to RPG's in general.

Great idea! I think WotC have already thought of that. A very early mission statement from Peter Adkison was along the lines of 'rpgs as big as movies'.