Growing the playerbase: Advertising, Incentives, Ideas

[TECForever]

"If you're looking for a game you can really sink your teeth into, with a world in which you can become a true character, this is it."

- Michael Wolf, PCGamer

This quote was asked to be removed from the main page of the website by members of this game's community in 2010. It since has not referenced the review from 1998.

[Insigniared]

Originally Posted by rebel69s

Once this is all done or begun email all players that have not been playing for the past 3 months and offer them a Tier 1 vet character package and tell them to come join the new war efforts!

Uzak, how difficult would that be?

What brought me back to TEC (and got me paying) was the advent of free accounts. Once every three months~ Shannon should be circulating e-mails among those on the mailing list.

[Sceadu]

-Update Veteran Character packages...I personally think that if you increased the GSP a little and made it to where the stat increases actually increase the potential of the stats and I think the Veteran Character Packages would be legit...and something actually worth using.

It has been fixed where increasing stats within the Veteran Character store also increases the potential.

[Apresvous]

For old players..we're hooked..just got to dangle things under our noses...every so often we sober up when RL becomes more important or we get those negative consequences IG and we need to pull away from. Yes keep offering us TEC crack and we'll pay and pay

Now the real question comes..how to attract New Players (potential addicts)?
Marketing 101 for TEC is like any other business. Who are potential customers? How to reach them? How to hook them and reel them in.

Many new customers will come by word of mouth by other satisfied customers who report the product is good.

Many of us would be willing to help. I've been amazed how literate and productive the playerbase is in RL.

[Armataan]

Originally Posted by Sceadu

It has been fixed where increasing stats within the Veteran Character store also increases the potential.

Is this retroactive?

[Supercat]

I started a page on TVTropes for TEC, which may help. It's a media-focused wiki with no notability requirements. I've found several webcomics, TV shows, and games just by browsing it.
http://www.tvtropes.org
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...TheEternalCity

Linked it from a few places already.

[Attica]

Originally Posted by Supercat

I started a page on TVTropes for TEC, which may help. It's a media-focused wiki with no notability requirements. I've found several webcomics, TV shows, and games just by browsing it.
http://www.tvtropes.org
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...TheEternalCity

Linked it from a few places already.

Super Gato! I miss you!

[HotMoltenLava]

Originally Posted by Apresvous

Many of us would be willing to help. I've been amazed how literate and productive the playerbase is in RL.

Yes, it's quite amazing. Even the idiots that play TEC are rather intelligent. But really, I guess that shouldn't be too surprising, we're all a bunch of book nerds. You have to enjoy reading to enjoy TEC.

So where to look for such creatures? The libraries would be a good start. Though I'm not sure they would allow for games even the likes of these to be advertised. It's worth a try.

It's too bad we couldn't advertise through book stores, as the ultimate in neverending stories.

[britta]

well, per libraries.

Oddly enough, both Underreckoned and myself work in libraries. (even odder, in the same city..weird) Most libraries do have bulletin boards where such is allowed to be advertised. Same goes for college campus' (where the library I work is located). I already offered to print and hang multiple fliers, and I doubt I'm far from the only one. Even if only a quarter of the player base would be willing to do such, I'm fairly certain it would draw in at least a few new players.

[Vladmir]

I'd hang up some posters. The local library even has an adult gaming night I could leave some flyers for.

[rebel69s]

Another idea to add some kind of incentive is to have a flyer or ad that is printable somewhere on the website or main page and have players post it up somewhere and take a picture of it and then send the picture to the GMs for a small reward of like lets say 25rps.

Could be funny...

[Mizzy]

Originally Posted by rebel69s

Another idea to add some kind of incentive is to have a flyer or ad that is printable somewhere on the website or main page and have players post it up somewhere and take a picture of it and then send the picture to the GMs for a small reward of like lets say 25rps.

Could be funny...

Thats actually pretty cool idea.

[UzakGM]

Originally Posted by Insigniared

Uzak, how difficult would that be?

What brought me back to TEC (and got me paying) was the advent of free accounts. Once every three months~ Shannon should be circulating e-mails among those on the mailing list.

The last time e-mails were sent, it was done by someone on Skotos' side of things and if I recall it was a lengthy and tedious process. We could always try it again once we have some more important announcements to make. We'll definitely keep this option in mind for the future.

Originally Posted by rebel69s

Another idea to add some kind of incentive is to have a flyer or ad that is printable somewhere on the website or main page and have players post it up somewhere and take a picture of it and then send the picture to the GMs for a small reward of like lets say 25rps.

It's a good idea. If we ever end up using this idea, there would have to be a relatively low amount of RPs that can be handed out for it and would likely be a one-time thing for the account. Otherwise players could just post it up, take a picture and remove it. They'd gain RPs without contributing to the cause.

[Vladmir]

Originally Posted by UzakGM

It's a good idea. If we ever end up using this idea, there would have to have a relatively low amount of RPs that can be handed out for it and would likely be a one-time thing for the account. Otherwise players could just post it up, take a picture and remove it. They'd gain RPs without contributing to the cause.

You just completely shot down my idea for asking hotter librarians to post next to the poster on their bulletin board to verify its location and presence when I sent the photos in for my reward.

I guess I'll just have to use my inevitably late books as the 'in' before I start flirting, like I have been.

[Armataan]

Originally Posted by Vladmir

You just completely shot down my idea for asking hotter librarians to post next to the poster on their bulletin board to verify its location and presence when I sent the photos in for my reward.

I guess I'll just have to use my inevitably late books as the 'in' before I start flirting, like I have been.

Get them to play tec.

Then say "Hi, I play Vladmir. The creepy old guy that gives off the polygamist stalker vibe who ISN'T Culexus... wanna get a coffee?"

IF they are already playing TEC, this has a 99% chance of succeeding.