NBA 2K16 Digital Short - Stephen Curry: Beyond the Shadows

[jbthegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by scottyp180

Completely agree. I've been keeping up with 2k for atleast 10 years. I remember the "Fear the Fro Fridays" for 2k5, not sure how many heads here were around for that. 2k isn't always 100% the same every year. There's been years where we get some info at E3, maybe a teaser. Sometimes we get some info and a short gameplay in july. But typically late August and September is when we get the substantial info and gameplay drops. And like others have said it clearly hadn't hurt them up to this point. Even when Live was releasing yearly 2k still stuck to there plans. Tear after year it was the same thing Live would release info early and people would say "uh oh Live's coming at 2k hard this year!" And when 2k didn't respond immediately I'd see comments like "2k is scared. They know they don't have much to show so they are holding off." Yet 2k always ended up with the better reviewed game and, eventually, the better sales. Whether you like the market strategy or not 2k knows they don't need to market their game months in advance. Their brand is reliable which is indicated by their yearly reviews, dont remember the last time 2k wasnt the highest rated basketvall title. And they have had the best sales for a basketball game for nearly a decade. They have nothing to prove, unlike Live. The only way i see 2k really changing up their strategy is if and when Live, or another basketball game, proves they can change 2k in terms of quality and sales. Even then 2k would probably keep the same market strategy and just step up their game further in terms of game development

But that's the issue I have. Just because 2K seems to have a reliable brand why make the consumers beg for footage yearly just because you can. Many AAA games are reliable COD, HALO, Uncharted and none of them have the same marketing philosophy as 2k. 2k is literally the only AAA company that I know who does this and the worse part is that they only do it with their basketball franchise. This doesn't happen to games with their other games like Borderlands, WWE, or Mafia.

[Gilley]

They won't change the marketing strategy until they see a decrease in $$$.

[scottyp180]

Quote: Originally Posted by jbthegreat

I've been a NBA 2k fan since the first NBA 2k on the Dreamcast. But I have to say they're marketing plan seems to get worse every year at least from the point of me being a consumer. I don't know of any AAA game or indie game for that matter that shows so little of their gameplay so close to release. I mean even 2k's Mafia 3 and WWE 2k 16 have more footage, screenshots and info released at this point in time and both of those games are coming out later than NBA 2K. What makes it worse is that they're asking for preorders 3 months out before any real footage or features are announced. I Preordered the game on Greenman gaming and due to the lack of footage the official video link for footage is from NBA Live 16 not NBA 2K 16. Even retailers trying to get a hold of anything. In my opinion 2k's marketing team has gotten to be too comfortable and complacent and it seems like they're just assuming 2k fans and basketball fans will loyally buy the newest game with little effort on their part. This is why competition is a great thing and I am glad that NBA Live is improving yearly because it will put pressure on 2K to change up their marketing strategies in the future.

So let me get this straight you preordered the game months ago befote anything substantial was released in terms of game info and now you are complaining about how bad 2ks market strategy is and how they rely on their loyal fans when they pretty much had your money just by announcing that 2k16 was coming out.

You are pretty much giving them license to do exactly what your complaining about if you are preordering games before anything is shown or revealed. And just because they are asking you to preorder a game doesnt mean you have to. I could go to gamestop a week before release and preorder the game, doesn't need to be done months in advance. Likewise, if I wanted, I could preorder the game months in advance and then the day before go in and cancel it.

[MikeGSW]

Everyone in here discussing 2k. Analysing a players teeth or hair. Questioning game modes and what will be included. Arguing back and forth about lighting. Debating gameplay improvements that may or may not exist. Talking talking talking.

...and some are still trying to argue that their marketing strategy doesn't work?


A strategy that doesn't work and a strategy that you don't like are not the same thing. Look at this thread. Dudes are salivating at hypotheticals. Becoming overly emotional about gameplay. And you think the marketing doesnt work?

It's a game. And you can't stop thinking about it. You probably think/talk about it at work/school. You probably check your twitter, youtube etc daily for any information. You're discussing it on forums in your spare time (and possibly even not in "spare time" but in "work" time or "family" time, checking your phone). Think of all the hits they're getting. They already have one hand in your pocket.


Bad marketing my arse.

[BA2929]

Quote: Originally Posted by jbthegreat

The spike lee commercial was shown during the NBA finals. I'm sure it was pretty expensive and they didn't show any game play or anything. Do you think that was money spent wisely? I assure you it is less expensive showing gameplay clips even if the game is in alpha or beta stages. It is even less expensive releasing a feature list for the game.

Prime time, during the biggest basketball event in the NBA, to an audience of tens of thousands who usually aren't targeted in video game marketing?

Yes, they spent it wisely and I'm sure it got quite a few people interested just because Spike Lee was involved.

I highly doubt just showing 30 seconds of straight gameplay then following that up with a feature list is going to excite many people outside of the few thousand of us on OS.

Not every piece of marketing that comes out about a video game needs to be 100% gameplay/features. They want to expand their brand and videos like this get the casual fan more interested in buying the game.

Quote: Originally Posted by bo.jangles344

If ANYTHING it would help them get feedback from the community in how they're going BEFORE its released. Instead of going to the movies just because the new TOM CRUISE movie is out, I'd like to know about the story, a little bit about the other actors, is the plot interesting to me? Do i want to see in the theater or wait till dvd to dl for free? It's our right to make educated purchases. Enough with the information hold out.

I think it's funny that you're talking about "information hold out" and then go on to reference the movie industry. The movie industry does less than the game industry when they market their product. They made the new Fantastic Four movie look absolutely amazing and apparently it's the worst movie in the history of movies. I mean could you imagine J.J. Abrams showing off new Star Wars footage, posting it on the net and asking the community for feedback on how it's going?

[jbthegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by Gilley

They won't change the marketing strategy until they see a decrease in $$$.

unfortunately that seems to be the case. And that's a dangerous decision for them. Great customer service is so important in any industry. To have fans feeling dissatisfied for years due to lack of transparency is risky. 2K may be overestimating their brand loyalty I hope they don't come to regret it in the future.

[MikeGSW]

Quote: Originally Posted by jbthegreat

unfortunately that seems to be the case. And that's a dangerous decision for them. Great customer service is so important in any industry. To have fans feeling dissatisfied for years due to lack of transparency is risky. 2K may be overestimating their brand loyalty I hope they don't come to regret it in the future.

You'll be satisfied from September 25th until July next year. I think they'll be happy enough with that.

[bo.jangles344]

I never mentioned "bad" and obviously "i don't like it" was running through my mind.

I just said it was pretentious and not sustainable if and when the competition steps up.