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Forums - Sony - Why does Gran Turismo 5 need heavy marketing and promotion?

Ajescent on 13 November 2010
richardhutnik said:
Ajescent said:

Exactly the same way that New Halos and COD need marketing.

The FPS genre is a very competitive one and bloody.  Halo and Call of Duty do end up competing against each other, so the advertising is for that.  With Gran Turismo, what other game is it competing against?

Rather than reply to ever message, let me ask about several others:

* In regards to people not knowing it is coming out this year, how many of those are fans of the series?  If someone isn't a target for the game does it matter they know about it?

* In regards to getting new people into it, what is Gran Turismo 5 doing differently that would get people into it now who weren't before?  I can say, NASCAR and maybe other of the sim driving people who weren't, but how is it going to get kart racing fans into it, eventhough it does have kart racing?

And Halo is a cultural thing that goes beyond just FPS.  Does do driving sims have this?  I don't see it, because all I see is Forza as the only other major entry in the driving sim arena.   So, only thing I see is the need to let people who are into it know that it is coming out.

Not sure what you mean by cutural thing (maybe I'm mistaking the word for niche) but seeing as Halo 3 did over 10mil and they still felt it necessary to advertise Reach, I think it's safe to argue that any game coming needs to be advertised regardless of its heritage.

I think people over estimate the power of Gran Turismo, I get the feeling that some are expecting it to do COD numbers in its first week. Playstation games aren't that big with the masses, it took FF13 before a PS3 "exclusive"  game managed to get 1mill plus in its first week, not even Uncharted 2, GOW3 or Killzone 2 cold do that. Not saying GT5 can't do 1mill plus but for me, even that is questionable because ps3 fans aren't as loyal to one type of game as say 360 fans with regards to Halo or shooter fans with regards to COD, yet they need advertising.

No denying GT5 will be the best racer ever but I don't think it'll do as stellar as some people are expecting it.

Because A: This delay/release date fiasco imo harmed the GT5 image more than it helped to improve it.

B: NFS...I forget the name is looking mightily attractive and eventhough 7mil people bought Black Ops, there's still a few stragglers umming and erring and GT5 needs the adverts to go up against those two.



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Ali-Kharazi on 13 November 2010

There are 2 gamers. Those that know the release date of games, and those who will see the comercial 2 weeks before launch. A lot of gamers fall into the latter category. people like us who go on these gaming sites daily, know about even the smallest games. But a very large portion buy what they see in a stor, or when the Best Buy flyer comes in with a picture of Gran Turismo 5 on all the TV and laptops.



Grimes on 13 November 2010
richardhutnik said:

I am wondering about the question in the subject header.  Is there anyone who is a Playstation 3 owner who doesn't know about Gran Turismo 5?  Same with anyone else out there who may be buying a PS3 to play it, who doesn't have a PS3 yet.  And also, anyone in general who is into videogames for whom the Gran Turismo franchise isn't a know commodity either? 

So, in light of this, exactly what is heavy marketing and promotion of Gran Turismo 5 going to do for sales?  There would be ONE thing I see Sony needs to get word out about, which is that it is set to be available the Wednesday of Black Friday week.  So, in light of this, why wouldn't signs up in stores where people go shopping letting them know it is out, be enough?  Exactly what would running a lot of ads do?  Are ads with Kevin Butler suddenly going to convert people over who had no interest in Gran Turismo to suddenly become interested?  Or that it will suddenly let a number of people know the game exists when they didn't before?

I am asking this because I don't see Gran Turismo 5 really having any competition, and the genre of driving sim, either is or isn't of interest to people.  Halo and God of War happened to get a boost, because they have competitors.  But what does Gran Turismo 5 have, Mario Kart or Forza?

 


Black Ops. That's what marketing can do combined with a strong brand name.



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welshbloke on 13 November 2010

It needs to be advertised as the last full game was donkeys ago and they need to demonstrate why people should purchase. Also a lot of people still harbour the belief that GT5 will sell many consoles and for that to happen it needs advertising.

   

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Yuyyder on 14 November 2010

General average gamers to hardcore games will know about GT5 for those who even casually surf gaming sites. But casual gamers who are not into features will only look at marketing and the surface of the game. Hence marketing is important. These gamers might want a racing game but they are not aware of the features or they just cant be bothered and want a good racing game. Having too many technical features might just put them off.

A good marketing to simplify the technical features(meant to satisfy average to hardcore gamers) into attractive outlines will attract these casual gamers.



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gustave154 on 14 November 2010

marketing sells... combine with positive reviews, word of mouth, brand name etc. and your product will sell.

more marketing, more sales. after the years pd has spent to develop GT5, sony should market this game heavily so their years aren't wasted. sony is honour bound to ensure that they do everything in its power to ensure that GT5 has the highest chance of success in the market.



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