Author Topic: Marketing AH (Read 842 times)

Curval · « **on:** April 01, 2002, 08:05:27 AM »

A while ago HTC was advertising for a marketing position and I just read in another thread that they have started to advertise in another flight magazine.

While it does make sense to target flight enthusiat types in this sort of publication I wonder if HTC aren't "beating a dead horse" with this target market.

What I mean by this is that the guys (and girls) who are already serious flight enthusiasts have more than likely evaluated the various online flight sims and have made their choices as to whether they will fly online, and if so with which company. By targeting this audience you are preaching to the converted...and you are simply fighting over the same market share with the other online sims.

Why not try something new?

Whenever I mention AH in conversation 99.9% of the people I talk to were not even aware that sims such as this exist. When I go on to explain what the game is all about and how much fun it is these same people seem interested but as they have not seen or heard about such things in mainstream advertising they assume that it is limited to pilot types or kids who enjoy video games.

There is SOOOOOOO much potential for HTC here.

Agree/Disagree? Suggestions?

eskimo2 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2002, 08:59:14 AM »

I never would have gotten involved with flight sims or online flight sims if my friend Whitey hadn't introduced me to them. (Whitey was the leader of a living history aviation club that I belonged to.) I know that my brother (0osik) also wouldn't have gotten involved if I hadn't shown hi AH. (0osik was into computer games and has always had an interest in WWII, but hadn't tried online sims.) A cousin and uncle have also started, because of our interest. I have also attempted to recruit at least 50 strangers (but aviation enthusiasts) into AH. I can't say that any of them actually even looked into downloading the game, perhaps a few, maybe none.

The one thing that myself and these folks have in common is that we were not lured into AH from other flight sims. The greatest market out there is aviation enthusiast and/or PC gamers.

I would start with RC aircraft modelers. I am amazed as to how big of a hobby RC planes are. 170,000 people are registered with the AMA and there are 2500 clubs. RC modelers are used to spending big bucks on their hobby and could afford PCs and Internet costs and would laugh at $15 a month fee. Place an add in RCM magazine or Model Airplane News.

Aviation enthusiasts might be the biggest untapped market.
I subscribe to Aviation History magazine. Great magazine, often reviews boxed-sims. I think they mentioned AH once. Aces High needs an add in this magazine!

eskimo

Superfly · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:00:50 AM »

What do you suggest? Advertising in the markets where people are more likely to play our game makes sense to me. We're not going to put up an ad in Big Bopper next that swanky N'Sync article or slap an ad inside Oprah Magazine.

By the way, look for AH ads in the newest issues of Computer Gaming World and Model Aviation. Also, not sure if they are in there yet, but look in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine and Flight Journal.

Curval · « **Reply #3 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:09:55 AM »

Okay, you want my suggestion:

30 second TV ad.

Storyboard a mission flown by VMF 323, or another squad (but if ya want the most bang for your buck stick with VMF323.

)

Edit it down to 30 seconds showing some awesome explosions...wings coming off the various rook/bish aircraft being shot down...lots of chat worked into the ad...(i.e. "ten O'clock low...he's coming around on you"..etc) Some heavy thrash guitar playing in the background...you got yerself a winner!

Show that ad during prime time and you will find yourselves inundated with new players!

Yes, I realise that it would be expensive, but ya gotta spend money to make money.

And...I would make sure that you could handle 10,000 new players overnight.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:14:54 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SUPERFLY
, but look in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine and Flight Journal.

Flight journal has a monthly Flight Sim review, I'd hope you could get one (a review) in there, this is a very popular magazine amongst the engineer community at Boeing (and all "Musuem of Flight " members get a free publication for being a member).

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:17:15 AM »

I hope ads in the AMA mag help you.

Curval · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:17:17 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SUPERFLY
By the way, look for AH ads in the newest issues of Computer Gaming World and Model Aviation. Also, not sure if they are in there yet, but look in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine and Flight Journal.

I hear a dead horse being flogged!

Superfly....honestly, you guys need to think about people who would be interested in flight sims, but who don't read this kind of mag. I have never even opened a Gaming magazine, or a Flight Journal, but you will find that I will be a long time member. I was told about it by a friend of mine.

Now, if I had seen a cool ad on TV showing me what the graphics actually look like, cool features such as voice communication actually working! and intense action I would have been ALL OVER IT!

Lance · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:30:53 AM »

Yeah, Superfly, get a damn ad in the superbowl already!

Gunthr · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:36:53 AM »

I think you're on to something Curval. If market demographics and adjacent programing were taken into account, the targeted audience could be hit with a very effective and dramatic 20 - 30 second exposure to Aces High combat and a website address. It would speak for itself. We are seeing more and more games advertised this way. It isn't cheap, though...

Curval · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:41:19 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Lance
Yeah, Superfly, get a damn ad in the superbowl already!

You just spent a million!

Doesn't need to be in the Superbowl....but I like the way you think Lance.

Gunthr....EXACTLY!!!

The cost would be limited to editing time and the base cost of running the ad. AH film would basically do the rest! Hell, I'll volunteer to be shot down in a ball of flames for the ad! I'm sure we would get a huge response from the community to be a part of it.

Thinking big is how you GET big.

Elfenwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:45:14 AM »

What made ALL the flight sims prosper was the old AOL Air Warrior play for free days. How many newbies are going to start playing in the MA and stick around if they're getting vulched every flight? Not to sound harsh here, but AH doesn't exactly have the friendliest on-line community towards New Users, and the first time I flew AH, bout 10 months ago at the urging of AW squadies who'd made the jump, I was impressed with what a "closed" club it seemed to be.

As long as new users will be treated like fresh meat thrown into the Lion's Den every time they fly in the MA then the retention rate for new players will be extremely low.

HiTech should cut a deal with AOL and offer a free version on AOL's servers for six months or so. Maybe use a limited plane set and different map, and maybe block out the IPs of existing players to prevent some of the seasoned "sportsmen" from jumping over to AOL for some easy seal-clubbing. Bottom line is, players have to actually fly against players of similar ability to get hooked, and that can't happen on Hi-Tech's sites.

Superfly · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:47:56 AM »

I see where you are all coming from, and I agree with you too. This is why we are looking for a marketing person. We don't have those kind of l33t skillz.

midnight Target · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:50:18 AM »

I like Curval's idea.

I got involved because I'm an airplane nut, and I saw an ad for AW on AOL. Maybe a popup on AOL or any other popular online location would be more beneficial. Maybe it could lead to a flash movie, similar to Curval's commercial. This gives you a demographic of computer owners and users with most of the hardware already in hand.

eskimo2 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:53:50 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SUPERFLY
I see where you are all coming from, and I agree with you too. This is why we are looking for a marketing person. We don't have those kind of l33t skillz.

Didn't you already hire someone?

eskimo

Curval · « **Reply #14 on:** April 01, 2002, 09:53:54 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by SUPERFLY
I see where you are all coming from, and I agree with you too. This is why we are looking for a marketing person. We don't have those kind of l33t skillz.

Dude, ya don't need to pay someone for coming up with ideas...leave that to us!

As far as demographic studies etc..pay for it on a case by case basis.