to developers: how to boost sales

[juz1]

rule number 1: If you have an established brand name, people will buy...

people will buy shonky chinese and indian made products bearing traditional names...

a brand name is everything to a business.

Anyone who's been interested in ww2 flying gameage and sim over the past 8 years will have heard of the Il-2 sturmovik series...it's why there will always be sim-player threads maoning they can't alter the fuel mixture and cup holders...

but to the OP...may I recommend Heroes over Europe...Dennis will love you for it.
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[Wissam24]

By historian, I assume you mean you're studying history GCSE. Because that would explain the terribly constructed arguments, that a real historian would never use.

[Cwl]

my arguement isn't flawed.

the sturmovik is something nobody has ever heard of, apart from a few hardcore PC guys.

the spitfire is something most people know.

create a new brand.

this would increase sales.

so far the sluggish sales of this game prove Im right.

[loopdreams]

I think the sluggish sales are a reflection of the fact that a lot of console gamers are just looking for something familiar, either the latest "ooh-rah" FPS or a game based on whatever sport they're into. A flight sim is always going to be a hard sell but I think that BoP is a solid game which will pick up a following by word of mouth even if initial sales aren't exactly stellar.

[dazz1971]

Originally Posted by Revvin

IL-2 Sturmovik is a recognised brand, its sold extremely well on the PC format and has been the best WWII flight sim for the last 8 years. The suggestions you put forth make it sound like completely different games and would only cause more confusion with people wondering if 'Spitfire: Birds of Prey' is compatible with 'P51: Birds of Prey' and 'Messerschmitt: Birds of Prey' and 'Ilyushin: Birds of Prey' etc etc. Birds of Prey is also probably still a trademark owned by Activision so likely rules that out as the main title with a plane name after it which would still cause confusion amongst the buying public. These kinds of thread really are quite insulting that you think an idea pulled out of thin air is better than the market research and surveys done by marketeers in the 1C Company.

what he said +1
i mean come on if someone who doesnt know of the il2 series came across this game they would know instantly what it is just take a look at the box art a great big flaming stuka being shot down by a spitfire wouldnt take a genius to work out what the game was about would it ??

i think they should leave the brand name as it is

[Revvin]

Originally Posted by Cwl

my arguement isn't flawed.

the sturmovik is something nobody has ever heard of, apart from a few hardcore PC guys.

the spitfire is something most people know.

Take a look at the box then, there's a group of Spitfire's shooting down a Stuka. The more you keep harping on the IL-2 and ignoring the box art makes me wonder if you actually own the game at all.

Originally Posted by Cwl

create a new brand.

this would increase sales.

so far the sluggish sales of this game prove Im right.

They have a brand, its the established 8 year old IL-2 Sturmovik brand. Known worldwide by many which for a niche product is better than starting from scratch. They take those many users familiar with the name and then add those new to the flight sim genre and build from there. Sluggish sales? really where is your data to back up that claim? The data we have had is very encouraging that the demo was downloaded over a million times. Flight sims are a niche product on the PC format, until now we've had flying themed games on the console but nothing as realistic as IL-2:BoP. Its breaking new ground and was never going to sell like Halo or Gran Turismo.

[akuma]

Originally Posted by Cwl

If they want this game to sell they need to change the name.

the IL2 Sturmovik may be known in Russia and the Former Soviet Union but that isn't a huge games market- at least not for Xbox 360 or PS3. apart from plane buffs few people know what a Sturmovik was.


If they want to sell this game they need to capitalise on the brand power of the Spitfire in Great Britain and Commonwealth countries such as South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

In America they need to capitalise on the P51 Mustang .

If they did this I guarantee it would boost sales 10x.

Normally the basic concept of your post makes sense, but this is possibly one of the few exceptions to the rule.

This game will only really appeal to flight combat gamers, and most FCG fans already know IL2.

I dont think renaming it to Spitfire X, would attract more sales than a pre-established brand.

[ensoenso]

lock this thread please, this is getting stupid

with that being said, in case most of the posters ITT are older then 12
most of you should already know. that to boost sales you need exposure, and a good title alone cannot do this, let alone a NEW TITLE

what you need is MARKETING, i.e. lots of commercials, trailers, demos, etc
what OP should've recommend is to put more of those, not change the title.

now, the decision to use the title IL-2 is because it's already an established brand in the flight game/sim community. so anyone that would like to play this game already knew this game is going to be released.

take for example coca cola zero! you don't market it with a new brand, you use coca cola +, zero because everybody that likes soda already knows coca cola. a new brand would require more marketing resources to achieve the same effect!

i don't really see a reason that justifies OP's proposal other than blind nationalistic pride, ignorance, and or 12 year old USA USA USA!.

[tootingdog]

"IL-2 Sturmovik" should have received the smaller font and "Birds of Prey" the large font. Birds of Prey really illustrates best what this game is about which is several types of fighter aircraft. In fact, I consider "Birds of Prey" the true title of this game.

It's too late and thus it is moot for any name change because the product has shipped. However, naming this game after one airframe type is wrong and misleading anyway. So nope, no reason to name it "Mustang" or "Spitfire."

The front of the case does not include an image of an IL-2 nor does the back and thus they are not trying to push this particular airframe, it seems. The images speak louder than words as to whom the company is trying to market to and I see lots of Spitfires all over a game titled IL-2 Sturmovik.

The franchise name is just not going to be as much of a draw on the Xbox. At least not yet. And thus why I scratch my head as to why it receives most attention on the cover.

To you historians, congratulations that you know some of the lesser-known aircraft to westerners; but, I am certain this game is not being marketed only to historians. The cover *image* is going to draw people to the game much more than the name but that name might keep a few people away.

Why not make a game titled "George" in big, boldened font with a smaller font below that which states: "fighters of the Pacific war."

[Pup]

Originally Posted by tootingdog

To you historians, congratulations that you know some of the lesser-known aircraft to westerners; but, I am certain this game is not being marketed only to historians.

I guess you totally forgot to read the rest of this (now silly) thread then.