Dr. Neil Hair

The Musings Of A Professor Of Marketing.

Novel Marketing techniques hit gaming world.

ValveNow I like to frag baddies as much as the next person and in a recent fit of weakness I bought Half-Life 2: Episode One. Several things struck me about the process from a marketing perspective. For one the use of Steam - basically connection software to stop the bad guys from playing duplicate copies of your game (or rather using your unique instillation code). I was immediately presented with the option to download and play the full version of a number of games that had yet to hit the stalls. Most impressive. Try before you buy from the gaming world (more like, try, get addicted, have to buy to keep on playing from the gaming world). Very interesting and I think very innovative (although the playing of demo software is nothing new). A time period also exists with the full version - encouraging the afore mentioned addictive behavior if you ask me. BRILLIANT!! Gaming is where it's at at the moment. Why arent the music companies onto this?

 

3 Comments so far

  1. Gaurav August 8th, 2006 5:28 am

    why arent the music companies on to this kind of marketing?

    Answer : compare management teams and marketing teams. you will find the gaming companies from the groud up save for the CFO,CEO are young, urban, tuned in individuals.

  2. Christopher Adams August 11th, 2006 12:48 am

    Yeah, and Valve’s use of Steam really soured its relationship with previous distributor Vivendi Universal. Guess not everyone’s as enthusiastic about the new distribution method.

    PS- hole up in the corner room far side from the lift till it arrives. You’ll know what I’m saying when you get there ;-)

  3. Kevin Sweeney August 13th, 2006 6:43 pm

    And here I am still playing Half-Life 1. Way to stay young Neil! :p

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