Raven Software Marketing...

[reallyscrued]

Interesting new take on how to sell games.

http://www.maximumpc.com/artic...ge_moneyback_guarantee

Pick your battles? What does that even mean? Raven Software certainly doesn?t seem to know, as it?s challenged EA?s Madden football franchise to a popularity contest. And let?s be honest here: While Wolf may be a big dog among hardcore gamers, Madden traditionally ranks as one of the top five best-selling games each and every year. If Wolfenstein does manage to pull off an upset, though, the spoils of war will be great, and ? even better ? Raven plans on spreading the wealth.

See, Raven Software designer Manveer Heir claims that, if Wolfenstein outsells Madden 10 in August and you?re following him on Twitter, he?ll personally pay you back the money you spent on his game. Will Wolfenstein actually score an underdog victory? Almost certainly not ? but Manveer?s bold proclamation is easily one of the most interesting ?marketing? techniques we?ve ever seen.

And hey, if you were struggling to decide which of the two August releases would pocket your hard-earned money, just look at it this way: If you help Wolfenstein outsell Madden, you can then use your newly refunded cash to nab Madden. So get to it, people! At the cost of one overly daring man?s livelihood, we can get two games for the price of one! Everybody (except Mr. Heir) wins!

I'm not really sure how this is going to make them any money...what if a huge, massive amount of people buy the game and follow him on twitter, wouldn't he basically have to give all the profits back?

 

[lxskllr]

It's still a victory of sorts. You win mind share and good will amongst gamers, and that can lead to greater sales down the road. Odds of him paying out are fairly low though, so they'll get the benefit of increased sales.

 

[nakedfrog]

Give me a true successor to Wolf: ET, and I'll buy three.

 

[shortylickens]

I was gonna buy Wolf anyway (probably).
No way in hell am I buying any EA games ever again. I still play Tiger Woods 2004.
This isnt really special for me, especially when I know he wont make good on his promise even if it does happen.

 

[Auryg]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
It's still a victory of sorts. You win mind share and good will amongst gamers, and that can lead to greater sales down the road. Odds of him paying out are fairly low though, so they'll get the benefit of increased sales.

Fairly low? Heh. Impossible is more like it. I don't think a multiplatform Halo game would even be able to beat out Madden.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: Auryg

Originally posted by: lxskllr
It's still a victory of sorts. You win mind share and good will amongst gamers, and that can lead to greater sales down the road. Odds of him paying out are fairly low though, so they'll get the benefit of increased sales.

Fairly low? Heh. Impossible is more like it. I don't think a multiplatform Halo game would even be able to beat out Madden.

Yea, but I don't like using absolutes. There's *always* a chance, no matter how small.

 

[PUN]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Auryg

Originally posted by: lxskllr
It's still a victory of sorts. You win mind share and good will amongst gamers, and that can lead to greater sales down the road. Odds of him paying out are fairly low though, so they'll get the benefit of increased sales.

Fairly low? Heh. Impossible is more like it. I don't think a multiplatform Halo game would even be able to beat out Madden.

Yea, but I don't like using absolutes. There's *always* a chance, no matter how small.

Remember the movie "Dumb and Dumber"?

Jim Carey: "So what are my chances of dating you"
Check: "one in a million?"

Jim Carey: "YES! I still have a chance"

 

[Schadenfroh]

Going to buy it with or without a bet like that from the dev. Might wait for it to get below $30, but I cannot resist a Raven / ID game that has zombies, Nazis AND satanists.

 

[Homerboy]

Originally posted by: PUN

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: Auryg

Originally posted by: lxskllr
It's still a victory of sorts. You win mind share and good will amongst gamers, and that can lead to greater sales down the road. Odds of him paying out are fairly low though, so they'll get the benefit of increased sales.

Fairly low? Heh. Impossible is more like it. I don't think a multiplatform Halo game would even be able to beat out Madden.

Yea, but I don't like using absolutes. There's *always* a chance, no matter how small.

Remember the movie "Dumb and Dumber"?

Jim Carey: "So what are my chances of dating you"
Check: "one in a million?"

Jim Carey: "YES! I still have a chance"

Lloyd: "You mean not good like 1 out of 100?" Mary: "I'd say more like 1 out of a million." Lloyd: "So you're telling me there's a chance. Yeah! I read ya."

 

[coloumb]

I agree with the "there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening" part 110%. Good marketing gimmick though.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08...lfenstein-purchase-if/

And folks, it's a BIG if. Raven Software designer Manveer Heir tweets that if the upcoming Wolfenstein manages to surpass sales of Madden 10 this month, he'll happily pay you back for the money you spent on his game. Of course, there are a few stipulations:

* Offer only applies to sales in August
* NPD figures will be used to calculate the totals
* You have to follow Manveer Heir on Twitter
* Limit one copy per person -- with receipt!

Obviously, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell of this happening, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't crossing our fingers for the little nazi-killing-sim-that-could to tackle the gridiron giant.