GenCon has an ad up at TheOnion.com

[Dr Midnight]

As the subject line says, the GenCon game fair has a nifty flash advertisement up at TheOnion.com (alternating with the Absolut ads). This surprised me, as I know a lot of gamers read the stories there, but I really didn't think that GenCon would be a worthwhile advertisement at a comedy site like this.


Is this a risk being taken by GenCon organizers to draw people outside the niche market, or do you think this is really a viable move?

I personally think they're taking a risk, but the demographic is right- bright teen and twentysomethings with love for creative and engaging stories. I'd be very interested in seeing the results of the ad.

 

[alsih2o]

oooh! post this in mainstream links thread please

 

[EricNoah]

I think some of the Onion's market is gamers or potential gamers. The same people who like Monty Python and The Simpsons and maybe Star Trek -- people who have an eye for minutae and like being rewarded for paying attention.

And really, all of their D&D mocking stories have been so accurate as to make one wonder if they actually do play D&D themselves...

 

[Samothdm]

Not to keep bring up that I used to work on WotC's advertising, but I did. Anyway, we did ads in the Onion last year, too (print version and on Onion Radio in select markets near the GenCon). Obviously they must have felt it did well since they're doing it again this year.

I remember that some people at WotC really liked The Onion and thought it would match the target well. Personally, I think it's a little too broad, but it's not super-expensive, so it's a decent way to reach a lot of young males.

OTOH, what percent of those young males are gamers? Maybe 10-15% or so (including RPGs, CRPGs, TCGs, Strategy, and Miniatures)? And, what percent of those 10-15% are going to travel to the convention? I'd say a very small percentage.

I think another reason that they like The Onion is because, if I remember correctly, it actually started out in Milwaukee before they moved their office to New York last year, so it had more of a "local feel".

Last year we also did some local radio, weekly and college newspaper ads, and also looked at "guerilla marketing" (street stencils, wild postings, that kind of thing).

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

And really, all of their D&D mocking stories have been so accurate as to make one wonder if they actually do play D&D themselves...

So true. I'll never forget Bill Gates Grants Self 20 Charisma -- and that's over 5 years old. Wonder what stats Bill has now? Epic-level, surely!

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I think another reason that they like The Onion is because, if I remember correctly, it actually started out in Milwaukee before they moved their office to New York last year, so it had more of a "local feel".

Actually, I think The Onion started in Madison, WI. But I'm not 100% sure.

 

[Desdichado]

Someone at least on the Onion's staff has to be a gamer. I especially liked that story about Bill Gate's upping his Charisma score a few years ago...

 

[BOZ]

i think i first saw the onion circa 1997 or 98, and at that time i don't think it circulated all that much farther than chicago. and yes, i think madison was probably where it started, though milwaukee (which ain't that far away) is a probable second choice.

 

[BOZ]

Someone at least on the Onion's staff has to be a gamer. I especially liked that story about Bill Gate's upping his Charisma score a few years ago...

yep, someone obviously knew a lot about the game in order to pull that article off. i think i discovered the onion around the same time as south park (when SP was very new), which both did a good job of redefining comedy for me.

 

[wolff96]

I think it's a good idea, myself. Not that anyone asks me for advertising advice, of course.

The Onion is something read by nearly everyone I know -- gamer or not. If it's cheap to advertise there, all the better. If nothing else, it might raise awareness of the hobby, even beyond the Con itself. And that's always a good thing.