Recruitment: What Can We Do?

[Lady]

One of the questions on the proposal form I really liked had nothing at all to do with the plot of the game, or even the NPCs, or the conflict involved in the world.

Rather, support.

I think this is important...will we and our friends support these games?

Naturally, I put in a resounding yes. I think I know enough Gamers both RL and on-line to help spread word like wildfire. And I know many of the Skotos Staff as well frequent MUXes, MUSHes, and MUDs....

So, I was wondering in general, besides Word of Mouth and simply raving to our friends about what a great idea this is...

What are some things WE (as players, GMs, ect.) can do to promote this place?

I'm sure the people of Skotos have their ideas for advertisements and campaigns, but we can definitely reinforce that in a big way without making a single commercial. And let's face it, without Players, there can be no game.

[Erica]

Well .. a (very) small starter I did was took the player's guide for Castle Marrach guide and the nifty little "Why Yes, I am God" sticker down to my local gaming group and left it within reach of all around. The sticker has become a permanent resident on the meeting hall doors. There are 30 or so folks eager to come and sign up once the game is running (some are hesitant about "play-testing").

Of course, good word of mouth travels like wildfire, it is my hope and a very possibly reality these players will take that information to their home gaming groups (there are 4-6 for each person attending the meeting) where it gets to branch out again and again..

Aside from word of mouth, I am hoping to have in the least flyers and anything else I can convince the Skotos people to send me for my gaming convention next spring.

Traditional? Yes. But these are both tried and proven methods that I will be using.

-Erica

[Erica]

Ignore my raving about word of mouth, I realized after I hit submit it was not completely on the same topic as I was thinking more player wise then 'storyteller'.

Another brilliant product of no sleep and not near enough coffee http://www.skotos.net/ubb/smile.gif

[Lady]

Erica...


I think what you said is perfect. Really, flyers, presenting information to our gaming groups...that's a good route to go.

I know that GenCon is one of the few times for instance I see many of my 'friends' from across the country and get together, game, and have fun for a few days.

I might not see them everyday, I might not game with them every time, but these are people who are always around (at least via On-line) Always available to try something new.

Leaving the promotional paraphanelia around (stickers, t-shirts, whatever) for view is perfect! I know I for one have been saving my: Why, yes. I am God." T-shirt for when I GM a game this coming Sunday.

I have always made it a genreal joke around my friends to call myself a 'goddess' as it were. That T-shirt was just perfect. I can't count how many people at GenCon asked me: Wow! Where did you get that?! Or: Are you with Skotos?! When they saw that shirt.

Absolutely brilliant. If nothing else, I think I will always treasure that thing cause it plays to the ego of us GMs everywhere.

Nikki

[JeffCrook]

Originally posted by Lady:

I think this is important...will we and our friends support these games?


I may have misunderstood this question when I filled it out. I thought it meant, do I have a group of friends who will help me support (as in design and running) my game, if it is chosen.

Now I wonder if I answered wrong. Oops.

[LisaD]

Well, both answers are good! Actually we need both. I'll answer each separately. First, as it would have better been described:

How do you intend to staff your game?

Support in the question meant *live people* for assistance [and note, it's not the only question we've had trouble explaining http://www.skotos.net/ubb/wink.gif ]. It is because there's so very much to be done in creating a game.

We know that all too well at Skotos. That's why we're looking for help. We also know, few large games can be run by just one person. Friends, contributors to the forum, people who owe you money, whoever you can get to help... get them to help. If nothing else, they can help you with testing -- though I'm pretty sure Skotos will be working with a lot of the "final" testing, before the game goes live.

Now, before the boss goes nuts... Getting fifty people on to work on your game is not quite what we had in mind either. It's because of security. Right now, there is not a lot of security to our developer interface, so we need people we can trust to work on it. This, coupled with the fact that our Developer System is still primitive enough that we really should teach people how to use it [at least one person from each Skotos Seven team], is why we have to limit the number of people building games at this point in development.

Keep in mind at the very least, you will want help with playing major NPCs if you want them to have more personality than a turnip, player problems of the technical ["I lost THE Holy Marmot, what do I do?"], and personal varieties, and someone to poke around and make sure your locations and objects work and are well described. We'll do that part too, at least cursorilly, but its definitely best if you take a first pass [or several] at it. http://www.skotos.net/ubb/wink.gif

Lisa Eichler -- Director of Marketing, Skotos Tech

[LisaD]

http://www.skotos.net/ubb/smile.gif Boy, this is even getting me confused. Like the rest of you folks, I'm not looking at a proposal sheet as I write.

Two other ways to support a game are similar, but separate.

There's grass roots marketing. Getting out the word. Very, very important. These are not the sexiest games to look at. They aren't beautiful with giant 3D modeled dragons and rippling muscles. For these games to succeed, it is going to take people being excited, and telling their friends how cool they are. Having people stop, look, and try, is the tactic we take around here [The "I Am God" campaign made them stop and look for sure!]. So, yes! Get your local people excited! Yes!! Do!! [And if you email me at lisad@skotos.net I'm more than happy to help with that.]

Then there is the other side. Everything that isn't a computer game:

What materials might be created to help "support" your game? This means web pages [Skotos intends to host pages people create for their games]; players books [like Castle Marrach's], novels, short stories, songs, movies, bumper sickers, posters, anything else you can think of....

These kinds of "cross-promtion" can be very effective at both bringing new people in and make the game a richer experience for your existing players.

Anyway, I *think* that's what we meant... http://www.skotos.net/ubb/wink.gif

Lisa Eichler -- Director of Marketing, Skotos Tech

[Lady]

Hmm...

I think the confusion might've been my fault here, Lisa http://www.skotos.net/ubb/wink.gif Sorry about that.

In general, I viewed the the question two fold. 1.) Could we get people to help us staff and bounce stuff off of around us. And, 2.) Will we have player support as well.


Then this got me thinking of advertisement in general as I know this is something Mu*s have discussed ways to promote themselves over the years. I know Skotos said it would highly support its flagship titles, which I'm very glad to hear. But I wanted to think of what the average joe could do as well.

I know I have tweaked the brains of the people I trust off and on over the last few days and gotten a lot of good stuff out of it to be sure! And I've already asked experienced on-line Head Wizards and Game Developers if this flew...would you help me run this? After getting that 'Yes'. That was one problem kicked out of my mind.

I'm also so glad you brought up the point of what 'supplementary' materials can spring up from these games of ours to support it in the public view. Because that's my end goal. I want this thing to be more than 'Just a Game'. I've studied everything from script development, book proposals, ect. And if I have my way, this is only the beginning. I want that novelization. A few short stories (Azimov's...oh, yeah). I want that screenplay. I want that RPG tabletop.

I've had the pleasure of seeing an RPG developed right before my eyes and playtesting it along the way thanks to a local company in my city called: Frontierz. And its book Apocrypha is wonderful. I particularly liked their cover artist and his inside work (but I'm completely biased in that regard since he's my roommate.)

I'm thinking if nothing else, I've spent so much time hashing this stuff out, I've got a terrific spring board for the future and I'm ready to start sending out those queries.

Nikki