Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts

WHEEL OF FORTUNE OR JEOPARDY?



Publishers Clearing House (PCH) today announced at AdTech, San Francisco, the introduction of advertiser-sponsored tournaments for free online games at PCHGames.com

This past February, PCHGanes.com has 16 million game plays, 1.6 million uniques, 5 million visits and 28.8 million page views .... enough fodder to engage a returning audience with an opportunity to win cash prizes..

The advertiser-sponsored tournaments present a number of opportunities for brand engagement and offers to be communicated throughout the PCH portfolio of online properties, as well as through their opt-in database of email subscribers.

In addition to a customized landing page, sponsors also receive takeover ads, featured placements, ROS banners. pre-roll and post-roll ads before and after the games.

On April 28th, Mom-Jongg, a Mother's Day inspired version of Mah-Jongg, will take place.

Previewing the game site last week I found it to be engaging with a large selection of games but winced at the potential for pop up intrusions and screen crashes. I was surprised to find the sponsors and advertisers well integrated into the gaming environment and navigation error free with one major exception....games are not configured for a 10.1 inch netbook screen.

Finally, someone gets it right!

A few suggestions based on industry observations and the psychology of human behavior ....

1-Extend the experience to a community environment (sans messages) to generate the "social glue" that will keep customers connected with the sponsors.

2-Provide an opportunity to play for charities and invite celebrities to participate.

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY



The gaming industry has experienced a business boom in spite of the economic recession. According to Nielsen, the number of hours that gamers are playing has hit an "all time high." In addition, used game sales have increased to "record-breaking totals," while video game rentals have increased exponentially.


The top selling video games command prices ranging from $34.99 to $59.99 … not an easy pill to swallow during a recession. It is also the reason for the explosive popularity of used video games with retailers like Wal-Mart looking to step into the lucrative secondary market.


While gamers are playing more and paying less, possibly as an escape from the real world recession blues, the industry has witnessed a softening of the market with a 6 percent downturn in sales during the first half of 2009.


The all time top seller as of this week with 135 weeks on the charts is Nintendo’s Wii Sports selling over 23.6 million copies to date.


The increase in the use of the smart phone for gaming is also on a positive upswing with initial game sales in the 8 million plus unit range with multi-player capabilities.


Are your marketing efforts addressing gaming as part of your social marketing mix?


Click on the chart to enlarge it