With the numbers of games being released on the channel at the moment, it's been tough to keep track of every title, and their relative merits and features.  I'm aproaching marketing time for my current project, about which I intend to make some moderately bold claims, and I want to check to make sure I'm not stomping on anyone's toes - this is a community after all :0)

For those of you who haven't had a look, Space Pirates is an Elite-esque 3D space combat, trading and mission game.  There are (currently) 3,000 individual star systems, an infinite number of missions and races, and endless trading possibilities.  I'm pretty confident that it could be called one of the most complex and comprehnsive games to be released (fingers crossed) on the service, but are there any contenders for the coveted "BIGGEST GAME on the service" title?

This isn't a call for "my dream project" posts, but I know there are a few of you out there who have more or less every game available to them (yes ZMan, I'm thinking of you!) who would be in a good position to at least give me a flavor of what kind of response using language like that would bring from the community.

Regards,
Mike

Whatever language you use has to be valid for the future as well. So whether it's true currently isn't your only concern. Definitely be vague. Look at existing marketing campaigns for things like Laundry detergent, etc. They specifically use words that legally protect them while still sounding like they just said they were THE BEST. I wouldn't personally make claims like "The Biggest Game on the Service" because someone could release something tomorrow much bigger and now you're a liar ;)

If real marketing people get wind of the fact that you are trying to put out honest information in an ad they'll find you and beat you.

I wouldn't worry about offending anyone with your marketing claims, that's half the point these days.

After the one massage game tried to claim it was the most powerful massager, I'd say you can probably get away with it. :P

Seriously, though, I wouldn't be worried. Nobody is going to sue you if tomorrow someone releases a "bigger" game and it always sounds cool in marketing stuff to say it's the biggest or best or whatever. Plus I doubt many games will meet that type of scope so you probably will be the biggest (in terms of in-game area) for quite some time.

I can always release a patch upping the number of star systems ;0)

Thanks fellas.  I remember the "most powerful massager" stuff and I must admit it made me a little cross, although that was in part due to the fact it was a massage app ;0)  I've played hours and hours and hours and even I have only been able to visit about 10% of the map...I recon about 112 gaming hours to visit all 3,000 in some meaningful way.  I must be off my chump!

Regards,
Mike

Is the "tomorrow" in your cover art located here: Cover Art, supposed to be misspelled?  Just double checking...

Dark Flow Studios LLC:

Is the "tomorrow" in your cover art located here: Cover Art, supposed to be misspelled?  Just double checking...

Oh holy cow!  I really am off my chump!  Thanks for saving a number of very red faces there...

Regards,
Mike

DrMistry:

Dark Flow Studios LLC:

Is the "tomorrow" in your cover art located here: Cover Art, supposed to be misspelled?  Just double checking...

Oh holy cow!  I really am off my chump!  Thanks for saving a number of very red faces there...

Regards,
Mike

No problem -- glad I could help.  :)  That's why it's always a good idea to have people help do a final "once over" on things like this.

Rather than talk about how big the game is, I'd be tempted to put it in more tangible terms. I doubt many potential customers are going to care if it's the biggest XBLIG or not, especially if they've not tried every other XBLIG. What I think might appeal to people more though is little stat about taking hundreds of hours to visit every system. That gives them an absolute idea of how much value for money they're getting, rather than a relative comparison to something they're unlikely to be familiar with.

Sound advice indeed, thanks Deej.  I'll focus on the more human terms.  Almost done now, so a little more time will tell :0)

Cheers,
Mike

George Clingerman:

Whatever language you use has to be valid for the future as well. So whether it's true currently isn't your only concern. Definitely be vague. Look at existing marketing campaigns for things like Laundry detergent, etc. They specifically use words that legally protect them while still sounding like they just said they were THE BEST. I wouldn't personally make claims like "The Biggest Game on the Service" because someone could release something tomorrow much bigger and now you're a liar ;)

1. Get someone to write a review of your game that includes the phrase "The biggest game on the service" (or something to that effect)
2. Quote the review
3. Cite the date

Now, not only are you not a liar (if there's any incorrect information, it's the reviewer's fault), but assuming the reviewer has correct information, the statement is future-proof, since the statement is attached to a date :)