There Is No Escaping the Stranglehold
If Midway and their marketing blitz has anything to say about it, that is.
Published: August 31, 2007
It all started with the True to John Woo contest back in April and climaxes with a non-stop barrage on dozens of gaming web sites, TV networks, gaming mags and retail stores. Stranglehold is coming, and before it arrives on the PlayStation 3 at the end of next month, you're going to be inundated with adverts for the game.
"Our strategic and unparalleled marketing campaign for Stranglehold has produced immense awareness among consumers," grinned Steve Allison, Midway's chief marketing officer. "We've reached outside the typical marketing campaign and tapped into new avenues to reach the mass consumer."
Those new avenues include a demo of the game (though it's hit the Xbox Live Marketplace, we're still waiting for our PSN version), contests with other sites, co-branded web portals -- the works. Just how much has Midway spent on getting the word out? Well take a looksee at this list of stuff we copied and pasted because it's Friday and there's drinkin' to be done:
-National television advertising campaign on multiple mainstream broadcast and cable networks such as Spike TV, ESPN, MTV, USA Networks, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network.
-Outdoor advertising such as billboards, bus shelters, trolley cars and wallscapes in top markets including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles
-Sponsorship of Spike TV's Saturdasian Invasion Film Marathon on August 18 beginning at 2pm ET.
-Aggressive online campaign to top-tier enthusiast and mainstream consumer sites including MySpace, IGN, Team Xbox, IMDB, GameSpot, GamesRadar, and Rotten Tomatoes.
-Demo on Xbox LIVE! Marketplace, PlayStation Store and PC
-National pre-sell programs at select retailers, where gamers can pre-order Stranglehold and receive Stranglehold branded items such as a shot glass, Xbox faceplate skin, and a special edition John Woo comic book.
-Dedicated web presence at www.strangleholdgame.com, strangleholdcentral.ign.com, and www.myspace.com/strangleholdgame
-Special, limited edition PlayStation 3 collector’s edition featuring the game and a full-length version of John Woo's critically acclaimed action film "Hard Boiled" together on the same high-capacity PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray disc. While supplies last.
-Various video vignettes and trailers on enthusiast Web sites highlighting various game modes
-Press events where enthusiast and mainstream, print and online, media can play pre-release versions of Stranglehold
-Stranglehold's True to John Woo Short Film Contest which received over 300 entries
-Various sweepstakes with different partners including; PLAY! Magazine, GamesRadar.com and IGN.com
-Cross promotion with Genius Products in conjunction with their Dragon Dynasty DVD collection, including the recent release of "Hard Boiled"
-Sponsorships of major U.S. Asian film festivals in Los Angeles and New York
See? Lots of stuff. So prepare yourselves for the blitz, because it's starting.... nnnnow. We're going to celebrate with tequila shots! To the bar, gents!
"Our strategic and unparalleled marketing campaign for Stranglehold has produced immense awareness among consumers," grinned Steve Allison, Midway's chief marketing officer. "We've reached outside the typical marketing campaign and tapped into new avenues to reach the mass consumer."
Those new avenues include a demo of the game (though it's hit the Xbox Live Marketplace, we're still waiting for our PSN version), contests with other sites, co-branded web portals -- the works. Just how much has Midway spent on getting the word out? Well take a looksee at this list of stuff we copied and pasted because it's Friday and there's drinkin' to be done:
-National television advertising campaign on multiple mainstream broadcast and cable networks such as Spike TV, ESPN, MTV, USA Networks, Comedy Central, and Cartoon Network.
-Outdoor advertising such as billboards, bus shelters, trolley cars and wallscapes in top markets including New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles
-Sponsorship of Spike TV's Saturdasian Invasion Film Marathon on August 18 beginning at 2pm ET.
-Aggressive online campaign to top-tier enthusiast and mainstream consumer sites including MySpace, IGN, Team Xbox, IMDB, GameSpot, GamesRadar, and Rotten Tomatoes.
-Demo on Xbox LIVE! Marketplace, PlayStation Store and PC
-National pre-sell programs at select retailers, where gamers can pre-order Stranglehold and receive Stranglehold branded items such as a shot glass, Xbox faceplate skin, and a special edition John Woo comic book.
-Dedicated web presence at www.strangleholdgame.com, strangleholdcentral.ign.com, and www.myspace.com/strangleholdgame
-Special, limited edition PlayStation 3 collector’s edition featuring the game and a full-length version of John Woo's critically acclaimed action film "Hard Boiled" together on the same high-capacity PlayStation 3 Blu-Ray disc. While supplies last.
-Various video vignettes and trailers on enthusiast Web sites highlighting various game modes
-Press events where enthusiast and mainstream, print and online, media can play pre-release versions of Stranglehold
-Stranglehold's True to John Woo Short Film Contest which received over 300 entries
-Various sweepstakes with different partners including; PLAY! Magazine, GamesRadar.com and IGN.com
-Cross promotion with Genius Products in conjunction with their Dragon Dynasty DVD collection, including the recent release of "Hard Boiled"
-Sponsorships of major U.S. Asian film festivals in Los Angeles and New York
See? Lots of stuff. So prepare yourselves for the blitz, because it's starting.... nnnnow. We're going to celebrate with tequila shots! To the bar, gents!