Why Killzone 2 is NOT on every bus stop, etc

It has no identity! It looks great in the trailers and screenshots from a technical point of view, but where's the big hook. In marketing speak, where's its Point of Difference?

A Killzone 2 ad might be mistaken for a Fallout 3 ad.

Killzone 2 sounds really impressive but yeah, I think you have valid point there, Cheapoz.

"A Killzone 2 ad might be mistaken for a Fallout 3 ad."

Well, the Helghast's difference with the Brotherhood of Steel in their face is basically glowing eyes. That's pretty much it.

The exact same problem with the enormous Resistance 2 ads, sure they were huge, but what the hell did it mean to anyone? Big monster, big gun, nothing new!

I think a great ad for Killzone 2 would be two people having sex.

Those glowing orange eyes are the hook, just have Kanye West make glowing Helghast glasses the next look.

good point.  Killzone2 wont perform in the sales department any where near the likes of something like Gears or Halo.

I agree marketing this game must be an absolute nightmare, its so generic in terms of theme. Even the name is so generic and uninteresting to the average person i mean "Killzone".....Kill...Zone....thats just screaming at the average consumer "Ignore me!!".

Killzone 2? There was a first one?

Guess which franchise has more traction...

 

"Killzone 2? There was a first one?"

The hellghast could be turned more into the franchises icon. I got a Killzone t-shirt at a Sony event and you can just make out the hellghast which looks pretty cool, I also got a 'Fight for your planet' poster which would be a good promotional campaign.

I'm sure the game will be great and the franchise will continue to sell a bunch but seriously, what kind of stoner asshole called it KILLZONE?

Why not WAR ARENA?

DEATH GAME?

SHOOTING GUNS AT DUDES?

You're definitely right about that, with the amount of time and hype that has gone into this game Sony should be marketting the hell out of it. If I hadn't decided to come back on here I wouldn't have even known it was so close to release.

Not everything needs to do something new

What if a game takes a basic style of game and perfects it

Fucking TC is a xbox faggot

Ban ALL fanboys

Those glowing orange eyes, I'm buying the game the first day it comes out so they did there job in getting someone to buy there product : )

"Not everything needs to do something new

What if a game takes a basic style of game and perfects it

Fucking TC is a xbox faggot

Ban ALL fanboys"

Here's the marketing angle.

Killzone 2; Women WILL have sex with you if you play this, even if your a woman.

"Guess which franchise has more traction...

 

"

"BlackWaterCO said:

"Not everything needs to do something new

What if a game takes a basic style of game and perfects it

Fucking TC is a xbox faggot

Ban ALL fanboys"

You heard him. BAN THIS METALLICA FANBOY!!!!"

"Cheapoz said:

"Guess which franchise has more traction...

 

"

Hold it....Is that a Transformers 2 ad to the right?"

"Arkthemaniac said:

"BlackWaterCO said:

"Not everything needs to do something new

What if a game takes a basic style of game and perfects it

Fucking TC is a xbox faggot

Ban ALL fanboys"

You heard him. BAN THIS METALLICA FANBOY!!!!"

eat shit"

That's a good point. Maybe they could've changed this by sdvertising it months prior to its release, making us more familiar with the setting, characters, etc. I guess now it's too late.

But I was also thinking that one of the reasons could be that of they spreaded the name "Killzone 2" a lot of people would be intrigued to know how the first one was. This would in turn lead a bunch of people to checking metacritic making them, probably, less interested in a sequel of a game that did not do very well. That's what I thought anyway.

"It has no identity! It looks great in the trailers and screenshots from a technical point of view, but where's the big hook. In marketing speak, where's its Point of Difference?

It's just dark, dark grey areas, big guns, and shooting people. You've got blue lights, baddies have red lights. Sound familiar?

Gears 2! Locust are red, Gears are blue, but they have memorable looking good guys, bad guys, guns, the Lancer's chainsaw is a massive hook, so on and so on. A game needs a hook, something to make it stand out. 

Besides graphical prowess, what does KZ2 bring to the party in terms of 1 big original idea, that will look good on an ad?

"

A game called Killzone would probably be a massive headache for the Sony reps.

Wow. I'm surprised everyone's reacting to this so maturely. After reading the first post, I figured the next twenty would all be "shut up 360 fanboy" posts, since the two games cited are 360 exclusives (not sure if they've been ported to PC yet, but they're definitely not available on any other console). While I don't think the examples mentioned were intentionally biased, we could also throw MGS4 in there... Snake is pretty iconic, and a surprising amount of non-gamers recognize him, if nothing else than as "that dude from that game". I guess that's all you really need when it comes to advertising. That little hook is enough to reel a sale home.

You're right. Unfortunately, Killzone doesn't seem to have it... But god forbid I voice my opinions on the enemy character models. I'm sure Jayge or one of his pals are hiding in some dark corner at this very moment.

I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them.

You got a good point Cheapoz.

"I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them."

"Cheapoz said:

"I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them."

If this post didn't kill the validity of this thread, nothing will."

"Guess which franchise has more traction...

 

"

"Wow. I'm surprised everyone's reacting to this so maturely. After reading the first post, I figured the next twenty would all be "shut up 360 fanboy" posts, since the two games cited are 360 exclusives (not sure if they've been ported to PC yet, but they're definitely not available on any other console). While I don't think the examples mentioned were intentionally biased, we could also throw MGS4 in there... Snake is pretty iconic, and a surprising amount of non-gamers recognize him, if nothing else than as "that dude from that game". I guess that's all you really need when it comes to advertising. That little hook is enough to reel a sale home.

You're right. Unfortunately, Killzone doesn't seem to have it... But god forbid I voice my opinions on the enemy character models. I'm sure Jayge or one of his pals are hiding in some dark corner at this very moment."

"Cheapoz said:

"I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them."

If this post didn't kill the validity of this thread, nothing will."

"End_Boss said:

"Cheapoz said:

"I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them."

If this post didn't kill the validity of this thread, nothing will."

Oh snap?

The guy who makes the maturity comment fires off a demeaning one-liner. Nice!

"

"Cheapoz said:

"End_Boss said:

"Cheapoz said:

"I think it's also a valid point (since I unintentionally made it), that MS knows not only HOW to market a game, but that their games have something MARKETABLE about them."

If this post didn't kill the validity of this thread, nothing will."

Oh snap?

The guy who makes the maturity comment fires off a demeaning one-liner. Nice!

"

Well I'm sorry,  but its true. People may have originally looked at your first post and the color of your name and given you the benefit of the doubt, but after stating that Microsoft's games have something marketable about them and Sony's do not... Well... Ya' shot yourself in the foot."

"Cheapoz said:

"It has no identity! It looks great in the trailers and screenshots from a technical point of view, but where's the big hook. In marketing speak, where's its Point of Difference?

It's just dark, dark grey areas, big guns, and shooting people. You've got blue lights, baddies have red lights. Sound familiar?

Gears 2! Locust are red, Gears are blue, but they have memorable looking good guys, bad guys, guns, the Lancer's chainsaw is a massive hook, so on and so on. A game needs a hook, something to make it stand out. 

Besides graphical prowess, what does KZ2 bring to the party in terms of 1 big original idea, that will look good on an ad?

"

this is a really good point. And I am not hating on killzone. I actually still have no idea what it is. I think I remember seeing a killzone 1 trailer with a guy that does look like the fallout 3 guy."

"MasturbatingBear said:

"Cheapoz said:

"It has no identity! It looks great in the trailers and screenshots from a technical point of view, but where's the big hook. In marketing speak, where's its Point of Difference?

It's just dark, dark grey areas, big guns, and shooting people. You've got blue lights, baddies have red lights. Sound familiar?

Gears 2! Locust are red, Gears are blue, but they have memorable looking good guys, bad guys, guns, the Lancer's chainsaw is a massive hook, so on and so on. A game needs a hook, something to make it stand out. 

Besides graphical prowess, what does KZ2 bring to the party in terms of 1 big original idea, that will look good on an ad?

"

this is a really good point. And I am not hating on killzone. I actually still have no idea what it is. I think I remember seeing a killzone 1 trailer with a guy that does look like the fallout 3 guy."

You know, now that you mention it, I also have no idea atll what Killzone is all about. I know it looks good and all that, but the premise... I have no clue whatsoever."

this is not a great point. and the game has amazing visuals, despite people like you insisting its just a big blurry mess of brown and grey. 

"this is not a great point. and the game has amazing visuals, despite people like you insisting its just a big blurry mess of brown and grey. "

"MasturbatingBear said: You know, now that you mention it, I also have no idea atll what Killzone is all about. I know it looks good and all that, but the premise... I have no clue whatsoever."

Ok - the GiantBomb's resident Killzone fanboy opinion on this post: to some degree I agree with the original poster. However over time I've began to think of Killzone less and less as being super-generic.

This time last year, the mention of anything Killzone related made me think "another shooter, really grey, generic but probably going to be fun". But since I've followed this game super closely over the last year I realise there is more to it than that. I point you into the direction of the "Art and Audio" interview on GameTrailers where they talk about the design of the planet, the universe and the general themes of the game. It's actually rather interesting for anyone who has a slight interest in the game: they talk about the way the landscapes and buildings had to be designed with intimidation at the core. They make references to Nazi Germany. It's quite interesting.

I do agree that Killzone 2 is a bit generic in terms of what it is and I understand the Fallout 3 reference but I'd assume the bright orange eyes are the hook with Killzone 2. I actually think the Helghast look really cool but that's my opinion.

However, if that's the case I don't understand why Sony's marketing doesn't think outside the box a little (EMPLOY ME PLEASE) -- why can't they take an in-game screenshot, increase the size of it and whack that on a bus stop. They could head the image with "In-Game Footage" and foot it with the "Killzone 2" logo. At the end of the day I feel like Killzone 2 is the kind of game that will sell itself by people seeing the actual product.

Personally I'd like to see playable demos in stores and a really simple advert like the "Ballet Of Death". That's what will sell Killzone 2.

EDIT: And those that aren't sure what the story is all about, you can read all what's happened prior to Killzone 2 on the Killzone website.

I sure hope there's a jungle level.

"Ok - the GiantBomb's resident Killzone fanboy opinion on this post: to some degree I agree with the original poster. However over time I've began to think of Killzone less and less as being super-generic.

This time last year, the mention of anything Killzone related made me think "another shooter, really grey, generic but probably going to be fun". But since I've followed this game super closely over the last year I realise there is more to it than that. I point you into the direction of the "Art and Audio" interview on GameTrailers where they talk about the design of the planet, the universe and the general themes of the game. It's actually rather interesting for anyone who has a slight interest in the game: they talk about the way the landscapes and buildings had to be designed with intimidation at the core. They make references to Nazi Germany. It's quite interesting.

I do agree that Killzone 2 is a bit generic in terms of what it is and I understand the Fallout 3 reference but I'd assume the bright orange eyes are the hook with Killzone 2. I actually think the Helghast look really cool but that's my opinion.

However, if that's the case I don't understand why Sony's marketing doesn't think outside the box a little (EMPLOY ME PLEASE) -- why can't they take an in-game screenshot, increase the size of it and whack that on a bus stop. They could head the image with "In-Game Footage" and foot it with the "Killzone 2" logo. At the end of the day I feel like Killzone 2 is the kind of game that will sell itself by people seeing the actual product.

Personally I'd like to see playable demos in stores and a really simple advert like the "Ballet Of Death". That's what will sell Killzone 2.

EDIT: And those that aren't sure what the story is all about, you can read all what's happened prior to Killzone 2 on the Killzone website."

What the crap is Halo's hook? I believe that Killzone 2's hook is to be as realistic and immersive as possible.....but while we're at it what is Halo's hook? I'm not dissing Halo but if your reason is that it doesn't have a hook than Halo should've sold abysmally. I think that Killzone 2 isn't on buses because it doesn't have the brand recognition. Has anyone here played Killzone 1 or Killzone: Liberation?

"What the crap is Halo's hook? I believe that Killzone 2's hook is to be as realistic and immersive as possible.....but while we're at it what is Halo's hook? I'm not dissing Halo but if your reason is that it doesn't have a hook than Halo should've sold abysmally. I think that Killzone 2 isn't on buses because it doesn't have the brand recognition. Has anyone here played Killzone 1 or Killzone: Liberation?

If those of us who have played it are few and far between those of them are practically non-existant.

I think that if Killzone would've started out as a launch title (like Halo and Super Smash Brothers) then it would've sold really well and dudes would've been "HEY! I KNOW THAT GAME!" I just think that they should've scrapped Killzone after Killzone 1 bombed.

"

"He was talking about the name and boxart."

It does have an identity.

The best video-game advert EVER: