Marketing RTW: Just Do It: Junior Patrons

[Papewaio]

As an experiment, try selling Rome to a complete stranger and newcomer to computer games in fifty words or less. Your partner, say, or your parents. Try not to use phrases like "with big battles like in 'Gladiator' and 'Troy', only you're in charge". Then try again with those kinds of phrases and see their eyes light up with understanding. As Captain Fishpants has said elsewhere, sometimes you just have to use terms of reference which everyone will understand, even if to a purist this smacks of mild inaccuracy.

Okay with a name like SouthwaterPanda and being a very nice guy. Lets run a competition for the best phrase you can do.

Four Categories.

1) Make the best phrase you can think of that would get you to buy the game.

2) Make the best phrase you can think of that would sell to the general public. Your parents, grandparents, neighbours, school bully etc.

3) Make it a marketing special. Use the most market laden speech you can think of. RTW:Just Rule IT! an orginal idea from Pape Marketing Co... actually the only idea of Pape Marketing Co.

4) Use as much internet speech you can think of. RTW:All your bases belong to us.

Just remember this is a G rated site and that the marketing guys will probably steal the better ideas and claim it for themselves. Just remember they chose marketing so they could sell themselves... because when you are that poorly equipped you really got to make up for it in your delivery.

[eadeater]

Errr, this might sound like a stupid question, but is this only open to junior patrons? The name of the thread seems to suggest so.

[Papewaio]

Anyone can join in. Just want the Junior patrons to feel extra welcome to the Org... new Orgahs!

[SouthwaterPanda]

A couple of quick notes, as I've been quoted above and don't want anyone to get any wrong ideas...

1. This competition is in no way endorsed by CA, nor will it be particularly monitored by them. In the above quote, taken from the thread in the Colosseum forum about a review in Time magazine, I was posing a hypothetical challenge about how to market a complex game such as Rome within the attention span of someone who knows nothing about it or the genre in general. I personally will be interested to see how people approach it, but that's all.

1a. Specifically, all the Rome marketing is already sorted out, and has been so for ages, so you aren't doing anyone's job for them for free ;)

2. Suggestions along the lines of "Rome! I don't think it's as good as Shogun or Medieval so don't bother buying it!" or "If you're the kind of brainless fool who likes Warcraft 3 then you'll love this!" will be treated with the contempt they deserve, at least by me. I was asking a reasonably serious question, and we'd all appreciate it if the answers were at the very least not insulting to all the hard work that's gone into Rome.

2a. Mind you, that doesn't mean you can't try to be funny.

3. Go to it and have fun.

4. There is no point 4.

Gil

[Soulflame]

Well studying marketing, I have to try . Marketing Strategy mostly, so not the operational stuff... that mostly gets done by hired firms anyway. You think they come up with phrases themselves? Most companies just hire people to do that for them.
And that numer 3 is kinda weird. Since it's all marketing. It just depends on the audience and product. American marketing is very different then say marketing in Italy. Different cultures etc. So with the third you mean 'the most down to earth sell a fridge to eskimo's' marketing?


1. You have fought like a Daimyo, you have lived and ruled as a King, now prepare to be a Ceasar. Introducing larger battles, better graphics, better campaigns, and bathed servants! Rome is waiting.

2. Did you ever wondered what might have happened if Hannibal lost his elephants in the Alps? Or maybe if the battle went wrong? Perhaps you would have liked to have been there, maybe even comand the armies. Now you can. This PC game will let you play that battle, all of it, down to the last sword and cry, and thousand more battles. Live History at your PC.

3. You'd better be a really good gamer, because in this game, more then 10000 men are fighting and even DIE for you EVERY battle. Can you handle the pressure, rule the mob and challenge the Senate?
What are you waiting for? Put on your robe and laurelcrown and command!

4. not doing this one.. kinda hate internet slang. sorry.

[BOTP]

Marketing?

[Colovion]

Do you like watching massive battles unfold before your eyes? Feel like plying your hand along side Historical Generals and perhaps even try to better their military genious? No?! U R teh sUk n00b! mai tr00ps pwn you!!!11 See?! M3 > j00.

Rome: Total War - sticking a pilum in your velite

[Quietus]

Serious attempt:

Rome: Total War "Rule by the sword or die trying".

Joke:

Rome: Total War "Like Sims, only bloodier; Like Gran Turismo, only faster"

[eadeater]

3) Rome Total War: In the vast expanses of the Roman Empire... No one can hear... your enemies... SCREAM.

2) Roma Total War: This is yet another action packed roller coaster ride of a game brought to you by CA, the makers of the best-sellers Shogun and Medieval Total War. In this sequel, YOU are in control. YOU get to decide the fate of thousands of brave warriors. Ever wanted to show Ceaser how to REALLY fight? This is your chance.

1) I don't need a marketing slogan to buy it, I will anyway

4) Don't know internet language - I always struggle to understand what's been said and don't see the point, so, "there is no point 4"

[angelofdarkness]

Most of my mates are making fun of me when l play the game. My mate told me that in Shogun l was ordering ants and not soldiers. The majority of the people even if they play strategy games, they like C&C and they can't see that Total War is much superior than them.
A good phrase would be:" Tired of reading about huge ancient battles? Here is your chance to live them and play them, Total War: Rome"
Also l am thinking of making a website about Rome but it will take me a while.

[Del Arroyo]

4) r0xOrz FoX0Rz buyz rOmE tOtAl WaR! w00t!! w00t!!

1) Chicks dig Romans.

3) So, how much would you expect to pay for a game that lasts four hundred years? It would have to be worth AT LEAST four hundred dollars, right? Well, with RTW, you're not going to pay four hundred dollars, you're not going to pay two hundred dollars-- in fact, you're not even going to pay ONE hundred dollars! By ordering now, you can own this fantastic game for just FIVE easy payments of $12.99!! And you get a really pretty cardboard box, a $2 value, absolutely FREE!!!

2) Imagine thousands of super-bad mothers, all gettin' jiggy and medieval on YOUR mother-flipping command. Flying spears, pointy-ass swords and Elephants that'll splatter your brains like a magnum .381-- this ain't no drive-by, cracker!! This be Rome Total War, bringing the Trizarii to the Hizouse!!

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(I saved the worst for last)

DA

[Somebody Else]

This product is a sincere attempt at recreating a period of history that was selected on it's own merits, not due to the boost in demand caused by the recent resurgence of interest in Classical history following the success of recent films.

-Sometimes I hate being such a cynic.

-----

Ever imagined holding the lives thousands palm of your hand? Ever desired to sway the balance of power in the world? Ever wanted to attain ultimate power through force of arms? No? Then this game's not for you.
But if you did want to do that sort of thing, then have the most beautifully rendered and large scale battles available today (without starting a real war that is) thrown in as well.

-A bit better...

[Papewaio]

Oh a slight bonus... all the juniors who are nice and post in here will go onto my short list of patrons to be promoted that I send off to admin...

[Phatose]

Empires are forged on the field of battle. What could be more fufilling then to stand in the boots of the men who forged one of the greatest empires ever known to man? To watch your enemies driven before you, to see your power drive out all those who oppose you? To stand at the head of a hundred thousand men, and forge a kindom that will last for centuries, and a legend that will last forever?


....Yeah. We said 'sleeping with cleopatra' too.



ROME: TOTAL WAR
All the battles an emperor could want
Cleopatra not included.

[cegman]

Veni Vini Vici
I came I saw I conquered, Will you? ROME TOTAL WAR

Total war how can you go wrong with a name like that.

[Kongamato]

Epic...

Shiny...

Two companies that had absolutely NOTHING to do with this game!!! This is Rome: Total War, a game so "Epic" and "Shiny", Epic Games and Shiny Interactive will have to re-name themselves to "Rome: Total War Games/Interactive" to get the same effect from a name like "Epic" or "Shiny"!

[Shoraro]

Rome: Total War - See the world, meet interesting people and make them prostrate themselves before your glory!

Rome: Total War - Live Ancient history and then change it

[Odysseus]

3. Think of this: YOU are Hannibal. The Romans have forced you to fight. What will YOU do? Will YOU be a bad mofo and kicked their toga wearing buts, or scream like a sissie and run away. YOU can decide that when you buy Rome: Total War. YOU have the power. So buy it!

1. Be a badass or be a sissie. I don't care! Just buy the product!

2. Command armies. Then sit back and have some fun. With Rome Total War.

Since I suck at internet speech, I'm not going to try.














(Since I suck at this. Do not laugh at my ideas).

[Desiderata]

1) Rome: Total War Change history to how you want

2) Recreate the battles of the ancient world; fight Hannibal or Scipio Africanus, defeat Alexander the Great, outwit Julius Caesar or Britain celtic - the choice is yours.

3) Rome: Total War Only brains need apply

4) Havnae a scooby about internet slang, but what they hey, Im buying the game anyways

[Doug-Thompson]

Come. See. Conquer.

"Rome: Total War is the most ambitious user-friendly game ever invented. It offers an unparalleled depth of strategy and detail along with one of the most refined player interfaces ever. Whether you are a master strategist concerned only with outwitting your enemy or a master tactitian who wants to control every unit in the battle, Rome: Total War will play the game as YOU want it played."

===========

Two things

If this game isn't a best-seller, the historical simulation genre will become a niche market.

Look at the development and marketing expense that has gone into this game. Look at the glowing previews and absurd amount of attention this game has received in the gaming press. Look at the television exposure.

Activision is obviously pushing for a blockbuster. If they don't get it, deep strategy games based on history are discredited as a business investment -- for them and everybody else.

A successful game can be modded to make it more accurate. An unsuccessful series is abandoned and everybody else is discouraged from investing in the genre.

Now, as for how RTW is supposedly a step backward from the "realism" of MTW.

The strategic game vastly effects the tactical realism, far more than players here have been willing to admit.

No ability to give collapsing allies a boost of cash. No way to negotiate peace by offering a couple of provinces. No way to cross an ally's territory unless I launch an extremely movement-restricted Crusade.

These are absurdities that result in battles that do not reflect how the medieval word really worked.

If you auto-resolved every battle in RTW, you'd have a more "realistic" game than MTW.

I'm also anxious to see if I can split my army into various sections and have the AI control some while I control a core army of selected units. My biggest beef about the MTW tactical game is that half or less of my army shows up for any given battle, with the rest stuck in the reinforcement pool.

[Quietus]

Here's a couple more:

TV AD #1:

From the maker of the highly acclaimed Shogun and Medieval: Total War come ROME: TOTAL WAR.

"Armchair generals rejoice" hails Time Magazine, "Crossing the Rubicon have never been this much fun".

Quietus at the Entrance Hall raves "It's epic scale with reality twist!"

Rome: Total War. All roads lead to Rome...all the way down to your feet!

TV AD # 2:

In Battle for Middle Earth they broke a castle.. :::waaank waaank:::(poo-poo horns).

In Rome: Total War we break EMPIRES!

Rome: Total War. Raise your empire, tear down the rest.

[Shoraro]

Thought of another one:

Want a new career path? Try General, Senator, Consul, Emperor!

[Rayaleh]

Don't know if this is where I should be asking. But, when is like the full version of RTW coming out, and which regions are there?

[Sethik]

1. Thousands of indvidually 3d rendered men fighting it out with Europe as the battlefield. Nuff' Said

2. Thousands of men willing to die for you. Dozens of civilizations to conquer. An Entire History to shape. This is Rome. This is Total War.

3. Rome: Total War. Rome wasn't built in a day. Thank G-d for quicksave.

4. Listen up n00b. Rome : Total War owns you and your parents in face. Buy it now or die.

[Harlequeen]

RTW:

The game where you get to 'ave Ceasar

[CherryDanish]

Serious:
RTW: Why read history when you can write it!

Joke:
RTW: The ladies like a guy with a really big spear.

Bumper Sticker:
Ceaser brakes for no one.

T-Shirt:
I kicked Ceasar's a$$ and all I got was this crummy T-Shirt.

[Dead Moroz]

Rome: Total War "Like Sims, only bloodier; Like Gran Turismo, only faster"

Make Total War not war!

[ah_dut]

kill people with swords, In rome

[Soulflame]

Serious:
Bumper Sticker:
Ceaser brakes for no one.

T-Shirt:
I kicked Ceasar's a$$ and all I got was this crummy T-Shirt.

I love these ones great work!

[Braccius Augustus]

Rome: Total War "Conquer by the Sword, Rule with the Mind, Spread the Pax Romana"