Comments on: Are video game companies active in Social Media? http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/ Blog about Sam Houston, the Music Industry, Social Media, Community Management and more. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:25:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Aidan Minter http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-13039 Aidan Minter Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:40:38 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-13039 great article but I tend to agree with Macguffin that publishers rarely use social media, I'm ashamed to say that when Midway was releasing some of the more bigger games we barely touched the social media platforms available to reach out but I think there's still a lot of companies out there who want to make sure they can reach out with out being a blatant plug or advertising ploy, Sony got burnt in a big way with PSP because their social media strategy totally backfired. I use twitter personally to promote a book i self published but have yet to harness this into increasing book sales, I probably get two extra followers every day on a good day. I do agree that value or social currency are great motivators, Activision and the Modern Warfare blog and viral stuff is excellent providing exclusive content for registered followers or users of the blogs, community support for the bigger games is essential. great article but I tend to agree with Macguffin that publishers rarely use social media, I’m ashamed to say that when Midway was releasing some of the more bigger games we barely touched the social media platforms available to reach out but I think there’s still a lot of companies out there who want to make sure they can reach out with out being a blatant plug or advertising ploy, Sony got burnt in a big way with PSP because their social media strategy totally backfired.
I use twitter personally to promote a book i self published but have yet to harness this into increasing book sales, I probably get two extra followers every day on a good day.

I do agree that value or social currency are great motivators, Activision and the Modern Warfare blog and viral stuff is excellent providing exclusive content for registered followers or users of the blogs, community support for the bigger games is essential.

]]> By: Video Game companies on Twitter | Sam "QforQ" Houston http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-7251 Video Game companies on Twitter | Sam "QforQ" Houston Sun, 11 Jan 2009 05:12:38 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-7251 [...] past summer I made a blog post basically calling out video game companies for not being active in social media, specifically Twitter.  In that blog post you can find some tips/tutorials I gave for how to use [...] [...] past summer I made a blog post basically calling out video game companies for not being active in social media, specifically Twitter.  In that blog post you can find some tips/tutorials I gave for how to use [...]

]]> By: Aaron http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4954 Aaron Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:31:47 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4954 <a href="http://eatingbees.brokentoys.org/" rel="nofollow">Sanya Weathers</a> was very astute at 2007's AGDC when she said that developers and publishers should use bloggers, podcasters, and such for different goals than what they use professional media for. Sometimes bloggers allow you to reach audiences in a different way than sites like IGN or Gamespot, or target a very specific audience for a specific message or opportunity. I've had a relationship with EA for the past two or three months as a blogger. To be honest, I really don't understand how my blog fits into their plans, since they're aware my blog isn't among the more popular. And my blog really isn't news-oriented... more design analysis and theory. But for some reason or another, they keep in touch and offer me opportunities from time to time. Anyway, I pointed a few Mythic devs to Casualties not long after it was formed, highlighting its unique nature as a blogger's guild. Having a way to reach so many bloggers in one place is a unique opportunity for a game company, so I think it's likely they'll keep an eye on how CoW turns out. Sanya Weathers was very astute at 2007′s AGDC when she said that developers and publishers should use bloggers, podcasters, and such for different goals than what they use professional media for. Sometimes bloggers allow you to reach audiences in a different way than sites like IGN or Gamespot, or target a very specific audience for a specific message or opportunity.

I’ve had a relationship with EA for the past two or three months as a blogger. To be honest, I really don’t understand how my blog fits into their plans, since they’re aware my blog isn’t among the more popular. And my blog really isn’t news-oriented… more design analysis and theory. But for some reason or another, they keep in touch and offer me opportunities from time to time.

Anyway, I pointed a few Mythic devs to Casualties not long after it was formed, highlighting its unique nature as a blogger’s guild. Having a way to reach so many bloggers in one place is a unique opportunity for a game company, so I think it’s likely they’ll keep an eye on how CoW turns out.

]]> By: QforQ http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4941 QforQ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:15:49 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4941 There are many problems with allowing a community at large to disseminate a message or information when you need which is why it isn't an ideal method. A lot of times that message or information will be wrong by the time it comes to the individual, just like the game "telephone" that we all played when we were kids. Using the telephone game method also doesn't give the company a chance to build a relationship with the player which is a loss in my opinion. Having a real person from the game company contact me and tell me that they are working on something and appear like they at least care about my problem and want to help me will give me a much better lasting impression of the company/game, even when I leave the game/company to something else. I will still have that memory of the positive customer support experience. Like you point out, there will be a ton of "little problems" out there that companies see but it is their job to prioritize who they respond to and who they don't. As we talk about this it reminds me of the book "Purple Cow" by Seth Godin, which says that your company should strive to be extraordinary in some way. Whether it is your product, your customer experience or the customer support, prices, etc something needs to be that "Purple Cow" that stands out to people which will make them want to share the experience with others. I think this might be that "Purple Cow" opportunity for game companies today, just like it is for companies like Comcast, Dell and Zappos. There are many problems with allowing a community at large to disseminate a message or information when you need which is why it isn’t an ideal method. A lot of times that message or information will be wrong by the time it comes to the individual, just like the game “telephone” that we all played when we were kids. Using the telephone game method also doesn’t give the company a chance to build a relationship with the player which is a loss in my opinion. Having a real person from the game company contact me and tell me that they are working on something and appear like they at least care about my problem and want to help me will give me a much better lasting impression of the company/game, even when I leave the game/company to something else. I will still have that memory of the positive customer support experience.

Like you point out, there will be a ton of “little problems” out there that companies see but it is their job to prioritize who they respond to and who they don’t.

As we talk about this it reminds me of the book “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin, which says that your company should strive to be extraordinary in some way. Whether it is your product, your customer experience or the customer support, prices, etc something needs to be that “Purple Cow” that stands out to people which will make them want to share the experience with others. I think this might be that “Purple Cow” opportunity for game companies today, just like it is for companies like Comcast, Dell and Zappos.

]]> By: heartless_ http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4936 heartless_ Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:20:50 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4936 I am not a huge fan of the idea, but I understand the benefit. I am more on the line of companies using the community at large to disseminate information when needed, not so much respond to potential little problems. Also, I think too many MMO players vent outside of the game about problems instead of taking the five minutes to contact a service rep to help with a problem. This is a way for the service reps to get to those problems and potentially retain a customer, but I'm not sure how that helps/hurts that players perception of the problem. Regardless, it would definitely be cool to blog about a problem and get an official response unexpectedly. I am not a huge fan of the idea, but I understand the benefit. I am more on the line of companies using the community at large to disseminate information when needed, not so much respond to potential little problems.

Also, I think too many MMO players vent outside of the game about problems instead of taking the five minutes to contact a service rep to help with a problem. This is a way for the service reps to get to those problems and potentially retain a customer, but I’m not sure how that helps/hurts that players perception of the problem.

Regardless, it would definitely be cool to blog about a problem and get an official response unexpectedly.

]]> By: QforQ http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4910 QforQ Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:29:24 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4910 @Macguffin I'm glad you found this to be helpful as someone who works in the local indie game scene here in Boston. Luckily there are a lot of people here in Boston who are major players in the Social Media scene and with that there are a lot of events (some even are free!) to check out if you want more info on Social Media. If you want to learn more and learn more for free (which is the way I like it :P ) you should follow Chris and some others on Twitter and read their blogs. A few social media folks I like on twitter are: @chrisbrogan @pistachio @mashable @tdefren @cc_chapman @Richardatdell Thanks for the comment and also proving my point on how Dell is a good company out there that is actively following social media and getting involved with the conversation. Your company seems to be one that others should learn from, which I'm hoping to do with our social media strategy at gamerDNA. @Macguffin I’m glad you found this to be helpful as someone who works in the local indie game scene here in Boston. Luckily there are a lot of people here in Boston who are major players in the Social Media scene and with that there are a lot of events (some even are free!) to check out if you want more info on Social Media. If you want to learn more and learn more for free (which is the way I like it :P ) you should follow Chris and some others on Twitter and read their blogs.

A few social media folks I like on twitter are:
@chrisbrogan @pistachio @mashable @tdefren @cc_chapman

@Richardatdell
Thanks for the comment and also proving my point on how Dell is a good company out there that is actively following social media and getting involved with the conversation. Your company seems to be one that others should learn from, which I’m hoping to do with our social media strategy at gamerDNA.

]]> By: Richardatdell http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4909 Richardatdell Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:15:33 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4909 Hi Sam Thanks for the call out. While I do the best I can to reach out, sometimes a rant is a rant and not sure I can help. Also, sometimes, I miss...despite the tools we use, with meetings and other work, sometimes, I miss folks, so hope too that people feel free to reach out to me. Also, to figure out others at dell on Twitter and their specific areas of work, people should not hesitate to check www.dell.com/twitter (right hand column) I too have learned a lot from Chris Brogan and lots of others....its what makes social media so effective, is the willingness to share....like you do, I hope I to return the favor anytime to people asking...and still have more to learn and do too :-) Hi Sam

Thanks for the call out. While I do the best I can to reach out, sometimes a rant is a rant and not sure I can help. Also, sometimes, I miss…despite the tools we use, with meetings and other work, sometimes, I miss folks, so hope too that people feel free to reach out to me.

Also, to figure out others at dell on Twitter and their specific areas of work, people should not hesitate to check http://www.dell.com/twitter (right hand column)

I too have learned a lot from Chris Brogan and lots of others….its what makes social media so effective, is the willingness to share….like you do, I hope I to return the favor anytime to people asking…and still have more to learn and do too :-)

]]> By: Macguffin http://QforQ.com/2008/08/25/are-video-game-companies-active-in-social-media/comment-page-1/#comment-4905 Macguffin Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:56:18 +0000 http://qforq.com/blog/?p=49#comment-4905 This is excellent info for any game company - traditional, indie, MMO, whatever. In my opinion, most game companies that sprang from the more traditional AAA mold are really terrible about social media - for whatever reason, it's just not a realm we're immediately comfortable in. I saw that easily at GameLoop this weekend, where there were maybe four people tweeting about the conference - and gamerDNA people were half of that! As an indie, I see taking advantage of what social media offers as essential if you want to create a company not dominated by the portals in the same way that most traditional 3rd party devs are dominated by publishers. That immediate connection with your fans is extremely important, and it's a natural compliment to being an indie... because sadly, listening closely to customers and not replying with carefully constructed marketing nonsense is the exception, rather than the norm. This is excellent info for any game company – traditional, indie, MMO, whatever. In my opinion, most game companies that sprang from the more traditional AAA mold are really terrible about social media – for whatever reason, it’s just not a realm we’re immediately comfortable in. I saw that easily at GameLoop this weekend, where there were maybe four people tweeting about the conference – and gamerDNA people were half of that!

As an indie, I see taking advantage of what social media offers as essential if you want to create a company not dominated by the portals in the same way that most traditional 3rd party devs are dominated by publishers. That immediate connection with your fans is extremely important, and it’s a natural compliment to being an indie… because sadly, listening closely to customers and not replying with carefully constructed marketing nonsense is the exception, rather than the norm.

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