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Public Awareness of RO


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#1 AlmrOfAtlas

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 01:09 AM

As we all know, iRO doesn't advertise. They're the only major official server distribution to forego advertising of any kind. This is idiotic to the nth degree.

 

So the question is, how did we get the playerbase we have, and how are we retaining it? If no one knows we exist, how are people appearing on Chaos and Loki? (sorry if a lot of this appears vindictive, but thinking about all the wasted potential -_-s me right off)

 

  1. Livestreams. There are a crapton of people trawling the interwebz looking for a new MMO to spend their life savings and the remainder of their existence playing. RO is an excellent platform for doing just that. It's addictive and Renewal is pretty much a cash shop with a game attached to it. Our more dedicated players spend a lot of time and effort in creating streams, showing off and pretending they're much more competent than they actually are with clever editing. This allows our server to indirectly advertise, and the players creating and uploading these videos will cut away the fat to show RO as some legendary, ageless MOBA/MMO hybrid (which is exactly what gamers of the current generation are looking for) filled to the brim with mad skillz to bolster their image, but also to recruit fodder and keep the game alive. No players = no opponents = no competition = no game = why we stream. To keep it alive.
     
  2. Steam. This is a biggie. Opening RO up to the Steam platform gave WarpPortal a huge opportunity and a massive potential market to play with. They've largely squandered this opportunity since they didn't push it hard enough, but it remains open to Steamers and as such, open to player recruitment. As a surprising majority of gamers use Steam to keep their library maintained, this also ties into the other points... except, maybe, the next one xD
     
  3. Private Servers. You can't make any argument that these shouldn't be on the list. Apparently ~80% of gamers that identify as "playing RO" do so on a private server. This isn't necessarily because they don't like iRO, but because they don't know iRO still exists (many players retired some years ago, and just assume the officials have died on account of pserver prominence). Privates advertise where officials don't, and when questioned about the legitimate servers from which their hackjobs are based, they only have bad things to say, since positivity towards officials will have players joining officials, thereby limiting gains. I'd link you to a recent thread concerning "Officials vs Privates" on RMS, but it's NSFW (they REALLY hate officials, evidently) and not allowed here anyway. Needless to say this constant barrage of negativity gets people wondering, and they try out officials regardless of common opinion, but it's rare and due to these players being raised on high rates with so much custom gear, they don't often stay.
     
  4. Word of Mouth. The players we already have on iRO are DEDICATED. They're here because it's their favourite game/social simulator/time sink/money sink, have been here a while and since established themselves, and they want irl friends and acquaintances to join them. MMOs are all about their communities after all (hell, it's why we have an active forum). So, they tell people about it! They post RO-related status updates on networking sites, talk about it at school or work, write about it on their personal blogs, and upload creative works to various places for critiquing. They try to sell it as if it were their own game, since for all intents and purposes in the context of marketing, it is, and they often succeed in getting people to give it a try. This is why, for every few players announcing their retirement, a few more sprout up and server pop is somewhat maintained. I've personally attracted a few avid gamers to RO, and I'm sure many of you guys have done this as well.

 

So the question for our lovely CMs is, why doesn't WarpPortal advertise? Knowing that marketing is 99% of one's product and awareness is everything, why don't they take steps to actually promote themselves and raise such awareness? Is it because they think we'll do it for them? THIS ISN'T OUR GAME. Our jobs and salaries aren't based on RO's performance. It's shouldn't fall on us, as we already do more than enough to keep things lively. See the countless wikis and databases that have come and gone for examples, along with the stream of excellent ideas and proposals that our community raises every day.

 

And my question to everyone else: "what have you done to promote RO?" Can you think of any ways to do so that I haven't listed? Can we get a petition to have WarpPortal spend even a modicum of their (admittedly slim) net profit to keep this game in the hearts and minds of gamers?

 

Btw I'm aware they do Let's Plays and occasional streams. This is good but it's only one, very limited aspect of marketing that requires backup from more traditional net advertising mediums.

 

Derpy derpy derp I can't think of a way to finish this so here's a "Woody" emote from another game that WarpPortal doesn't advertise  :chomok02:

 

lol Woody.


Edited by AlmrOfAtlas, 10 July 2014 - 01:42 AM.

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#2 NorthenBeggar

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 01:53 AM

The ultimate question: What do we advertise?

 

Most people place graphical quality above many things while picking a game. Even those who treasure gameplay more than most will still think consider whether the graphic is pretty enough or not. I've tried to get my friends to play RO, and they always ended up being turned off by the graphic or how outdated the game is. Frankly enough they find RO boring. Why? Because they're casual players who only care about leveling and being a virtual God, I believe.

 

Now, I'm not complaining or being that guy. I just want to say, if any of you want to make a Let's Play, make it a story instead of just, "I'm gonna make a 3rd job in two hours! Here's the fastest hunting spots, and cool items, and the 3rd job aura I shat this morning after breakfast." If you just want the Let's Play to end as soon as possible, why bother? Make a novice, narrate a story as you play, get a partner or even a full party, and tell jokes whenever narrating isn't feasible, like when you're grinding. Show people the lore, the world, the skills, the classes, etc. That's what a role playing game is, after all.

 

I can't do it myself, since I don't have the time, the Internet connection, the hardware, and my English sucks in real life.


Edited by NorthenBeggar, 10 July 2014 - 02:00 AM.

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#3 AlmrOfAtlas

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:01 AM

I just want to say, if any of you want to make a Let's Play, make it a story instead of just, "I'm gonna make a 3rd job in two hours! Here's the fastest hunting spots, and cool items, and the 3rd job aura I shat this morning after breakfast."

 

Absolutely this. PvP isn't always the goal, nor is it the most interesting part of a game. People don't pick up Skyrim to kill other players, nor Dark Souls (in fact, I know a lot of people that purposely switch their wireless off then they play).

 

Most people place graphical quality above many things while picking a game. Even those who treasure gameplay more than most will still think consider whether the graphic is pretty enough or not. I've tried to get my friends to play RO, and they always ended up being turned off by the graphic or how outdated the game is. Frankly enough they find RO boring. Why? Because they're casual players who only care about leveling and being a virtual God, I believe.

 

jRO advertise as a "2D, retro experience". No idea about kRO. We just need to play to our strengths, the most predominant being nostalgia and rarity.


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#4 Facekiller

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:05 AM

i agree that people today just want instant GOD MODE... if they cant have that they dont feel its worth their time (look at how some of our playerbase acts when we dont keep 2x exp)... and we arnt really getting more players... our average numbers havent really been rising... we are losing players and gaining players from other servers that have died off or are dying due to poor managment (mRO and bRO being the latest)... how do we bring in NEW players? give them a reason to play here... believe it or not this PAY TO WIN notion going around in online games is a real turn off for alot of players... and what iRO has a good corner on (customization) is being ignored... if you make a video showing all the things you can do in iro (crafting, cooking, pet taming, quests) as well as features like gender, marriage, adoption and whatnot you will prolly draw in people who will actually make this game a better place... instead every video is about leveling super fast, crushing people in pvp or woe or instantly wiping out MVPs... so many people have lost sight of all the neat little things this game has that make it unique... things that other big name flashy MMOs simply dont have... THAT is the stuff that NEEDs to be displayed...


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#5 AlmrOfAtlas

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:09 AM

If you make a video showing all the things you can do in iro (crafting, cooking, pet taming, quests) as well as features like gender, marriage, adoption and whatnot you will prolly draw in people who will actually make this game a better place.

 

Oh so very much this.

 

I can't even add to what you've said here. THIS is what people need to stream.


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#6 Facekiller

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:12 AM

perhaps Oda and Campitor ( or members of the community) should do more RP live streams... instead of watch us grind or watch me kill this guy or that thing...


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#7 NorthenBeggar

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:22 AM

perhaps Oda and Campitor ( or members of the community) should do more RP live streams... instead of watch us grind or watch me kill this guy or that thing...

 

As if we haven't got enough grinding that we need to watch more of it on Youtube. :V


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#8 zoesensei

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:28 AM

Obviously it has been brought to my attention, That some RP streams might need to be in order, or one of OMni's infamous Plays/Weddings. TBH i have no idea how to do a Twitch though (I'm sure one of my minions know how to)

 

>Lore Related RP Streams

>4th Grade Plays by the community

>Kickstarter fundraiser for ad space via google?


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#9 Facekiller

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:50 AM

As if we haven't got enough grinding that we need to watch more of it on Youtube. :V

 

my point was we need LESS leveling/pvp/woe/mvp livestreams/vids and more livestreams and vids promoting other aspects of the game...
 


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#10 zoesensei

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 02:54 AM

my point was we need LESS leveling/pvp/woe/mvp livestreams/vids and more livestreams and vids promoting other aspects of the game...
 

Hmm, I got a xmas play Replay that needs to be converted into a youtube video.... its two hours long. but its hilarious!

 

but i have no earthly idea how to do that


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#11 NorthenBeggar

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 03:00 AM

Hmm, I got a xmas play Replay that needs to be converted into a youtube video.... its two hours long. but its hilarious!

 

but i have no earthly idea how to do that

 

Well, it was indeed funny, but I don't think it shows people any interesting thing about the game. They could do a play in other MMORPG too if they care to have one. Something more game-specific will be better.

 

 

my point was we need LESS leveling/pvp/woe/mvp livestreams/vids and more livestreams and vids promoting other aspects of the game...
 

 

I knew...


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#12 Xellie

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 03:43 AM

my point was we need LESS leveling/pvp/woe/mvp livestreams/vids and more livestreams and vids promoting other aspects of the game...
 

 

Uh what is there to stream apart from levelling/pvp/woe/mvp? I could stream myself making pots for 8 hours at a time if that so suits one, or vending for a day.

 

I've had huge concerns over the livestream thing, despite probably being iROs most active streamer right now (hey I have 65 subscribers for my iRO exclusive channel!) and I know that my current audience are players that play RO anyway. I have no reach to players that don't play RO already and one of the biggest criticisms you will hear about RO all the time is that it's too grindy/takes too long.

 

So my stream objective is simple, to show there's something worth it past the grind and that the grind itself isn't so bad.. However, I am targeting current RO players, not new players.

 

The gameplay format of "let's play" and exploring RO's lore aren't really so great together, It would be better to just simply do a series on "about Ragnarok!" And exploring each area in a "spotlight" fashion.

 

I'd love to do a long running let's play from scratch stream of RO with a couple of other players exploring RO's storyline and lore too. Unfortunately that would be (too slow when it comes to promoting RO play, not being VIP would make the game appear dreadful) and for us current players, it means taking time out and doing things that detriment on our end game play.

 

I'd love to do it, but I'd need to be compensated is what I'm saying. A Let's play through RO that isn't a speed run or a demonstration will take a lot of dedication/time/effort/energy. Sad truth, but that is probably why nobody does one.

 

I'll do one if I'm sponsored tho! Even on renewal!

 

The point here to be made tho is that it shouldn't fall on us the players to make this game live. Warpportal, you MUST advertize. Games like WoE advertize the official game on pserver sites etc. Stop treating RMS as the enemy who steal all the RO players and use them to promote iRO! I imagine that half of the RO players in the world don't even know that iRO exists. This is something I have learned from streaming and meeting players from other servers.


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#13 AlmrOfAtlas

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 03:55 AM

Well if WP could sponsor a community driven Streaming effort, even if it's once again shifting the workload off to someone who doesn't necessarily deserve the stress of maintaining one, it'd be better than nothing.


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#14 Alicia

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 05:34 AM

I don't know if they exist yet but it could be interesting to have "shorts".

 

5 or so edited minutes each of educational videos on how to do various things in the game - the basics

 

like kafra warps, storage, VIP and non-VIP, difference between Classic and Renewal, dual clienting

 

and any "hot" questions we see usually on forums or in game. Short videos on each character

 

type (and gender) example Aco slowly transitions into an Arch Bishop and some of the things they can do along the way.

 

Then you could have Intermediary educational content like job changing at 99/70, a view of the new worlds, dungeons and cities, etc.

 

All would have to be short enough and well edited to capture the player and a link to these could be posted on the forums to wherever

 

these "shorts" are (ex.: Youtube).

 

There's tons of things you could capture for educational purposes - just needs to be labeled properly.


Edited by Alicia, 10 July 2014 - 05:35 AM.

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#15 IlliterateGaming

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:12 AM

The #1 question I get when I post videos on YouTube is, "What server is this". Despite most of them having iRO - Chaos in either the title or video description. I once replied to a PM on facebook asking what the server was, they didn't know what iRO was. Here is a transcript of the conversation:
 
Spoiler

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#16 Xellie

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 06:15 AM

Yeah, I have similar conversations through twitch and youtube =x


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#17 Tofu

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 07:49 AM

Are you able to put a link to iRO's website, in addition to the server name?
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#18 Talvis

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 07:50 AM

It's sad that people seem to know more about pservers than the legal ones, but sadly the pservers do a better job of marketing than us.  At least we now have a presence on Steam, but we should be doing more.


Edited by Talvis, 10 July 2014 - 07:50 AM.

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#19 Facekiller

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 07:52 AM

maybe instead of marketing they should go after all the private servers and get them all shut down... then their players are forced to either join us or never play again...


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#20 Alicia

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 07:54 AM

Don't people find those other RO sites through those voting sites?

 

Do we have a vote up there? :o

 

Maybe that would be a good start as far as advertisement goes.


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#21 Damara

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 08:04 AM

I saw my friend playing a pserver in 2003 and promptly started playing iRO. But I have to wonder if the clickclickclick type of games aren't geared toward the borderline autistic...


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#22 Xellie

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 08:07 AM

Are you able to put a link to iRO's website, in addition to the server name?

 

I do! But they still ask.
 


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#23 Oda

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 08:07 AM

We've been having the "should we advertise/get listed on pserver ranking sites" discussion internally. We've looked at it in the past but due to concerns of a)the community feeling that it legitimizes pservers and b)possible fallout from kRO finding out about that we have been hesitant to seriously consider it yet.

 

I did read that "official vs private" thread being talked about and it was interesting that not all people who play on those servers do so just for extremely high rates or other things that we would never do. There are things that our Classic server can do that they cannot for example. 

 

You guys are completely right that RO is nowhere near as visible as it should be and I must admit that my experience as a CM is entirely defined by forums management/ingame so marketing, livestreaming and other stuff is still something I am trying to learn. I really do appreciate these suggestions and expanding this awareness is something that the community team is increasingly being expected to focus on.

 

Traditional marketing (google ads for example) have an extremely low effect to cost ratio, which is one of the reasons why we've been trying to branch out into more "viral" forms of getting ourselves out there. It's damn hard as a 11 year old game to do this but we are still working on it. There are some fantastic suggestions in this thread about different ways to get people interested and I would be very appreciative of more suggestions. 


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#24 ZeroTigress

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 08:22 AM

It wouldn't be so hard to advertise if RO actually has the content to compete with bigger MMOs. People coming from games like WoW and FF14 aren't going to stay long due to the fact we don't have basic modern MMO necessities like a completely working mailbox system, monster HP displayers, and auction halls. That is why I and others have been pushing HARD to get all those updates we've been missing. Because RO as it is right now is not good enough to advertise to new players.
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#25 Xplay4eva

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Posted 10 July 2014 - 08:50 AM

Would I recommend IRO to a friend? Depends on who I am talking to, the biggest barrier that I notice is the separation between noobs and pro's.

 

PVM: I would rate this as so so and most of the quests I would consider icky.

PVP: With a few adjustments, I could see some people playing just for this mode but there are too many issues and not enough incentives for how it works as is.

WOE: I would not recommend IRO to someone based on this mode unless they were already comfortable with PVM.

 

 

If we were in school, these marks would earn IRO an F. While it may not be living up to its full potential, I personally like IRO and would give it an A-. (but that's just me)


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