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With Hyrum Savage switching from Minister of Propaganda of Super Genius Games to the more officious title of Marketing Manager for Paizo, what suggestions would you give him to expand the Paizo brand, especially Pathfinder. Example: Pathfinder app for Android.
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With Hyrum Savage switching from Minister of Propaganda of Super Genius Games to the more officious title of Marketing Manager for Paizo, what suggestions would you give him to expand the Paizo brand, especially Pathfinder. Example: Pathfinder app for Android.
Perhaps it would be best to let him ask that question before we all start telling him how to do his job? I'm sure he has to have some time to settle in and get acquinted with the overall marketing strategy he has inherited before telling the developers to start cranking out apps.
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Simple: There are a ton of gamers in Canada and, Amazon.ca aside, esssentially ZERO competition from online sources within Canada due to the difference in shipping costs and brokerage fees to Canada from the United States. All the competitors that are present in the American market are much less pronounced in Canada. There are a very large number of gaming shops in Canada.
Despite this, sales of Pathfinder are comparitively lower in Canada and Pahtfinder society play is virtually nil.
I not sure how to fix this, but I do know that in a situation where you have as large a market as there is north of the border which can essentially be serviced at the same cost as the American dmoestic market -- but which isn't buying your products to the extent they should be?
It's time to attempt to fix that as Paizo has clearly left some easy money on the table here. Pick it up.
Simple: There are a ton of gamers in Canada and, Amazon.ca aside, esssentially ZERO competition from online sources within Canada due to the difference in shipping costs and brokerage fees to Canada from the United States. All the competitors that are present in the American market are much less pronounced in Canada. There are a very large number of gaming shops in Canada.
Despite this, sales of Pathfinder are comparitively lower in Canada and Pahtfinder society play is virtually nil.
I not sure how to fix this, but I do know that in a situation where you have as large a market as there is north of the border which can essentially be serviced at the same cost as the American dmoestic market -- but which isn't buying your products to the extent they should be?
It's time to attempt to fix that as Paizo has clearly left some easy money on the table here. Pick it up.
this!
and an android app would be awesome.
What Steel_Wind said. Another idea is preferred stores who may get Pathfinder material earlier than non-Pathfinder establishments.
I don't know, that sounds like the sort of thing that can also throw up some roadblocks. Negative motivators for your distribution channels aren't generally a good idea.
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What Steel_Wind said. Another idea is preferred stores who may get Pathfinder material earlier than non-Pathfinder establishments.I don't know, that sounds like the sort of thing that can also throw up some roadblocks. Negative motivators for your distribution channels aren't generally a good idea.
WOTC is working on that model now, and it is creating some backlash amongst the stores, which is in turn pushing pathfinder (and other RPG)sales at those alienated stores.
With Hyrum Savage switching from Minister of Propaganda of Super Genius Games to the more officious title of Marketing Manager for Paizo, what suggestions would you give him to expand the Paizo brand, especially Pathfinder. Example: Pathfinder app for Android.Perhaps it would be best to let him ask that question before we all start telling him how to do his job? I'm sure he has to have some time to settle in and get acquinted with the overall marketing strategy he has inherited before telling the developers to start cranking out apps.
What a terribly reasonable answer to a thread. How can you sleep at night? :)
Goblin Onesies.
Goblin Onesies.
Onsies with pictures of goblins on them, or onesies for goblins to wear?
Simple: There are a ton of gamers in Canada and, Amazon.ca aside, esssentially ZERO competition from online sources within Canada due to the difference in shipping costs and brokerage fees to Canada from the United States. All the competitors that are present in the American market are much less pronounced in Canada. There are a very large number of gaming shops in Canada.
Despite this, sales of Pathfinder are comparitively lower in Canada and Pahtfinder society play is virtually nil.
Really? This is most interesting. For my first Traveller book, Canada represented a significant chunk of my sales. Odd to hear that Pathfinder is not as big there. If guessed it would have been huge. I've been wrong in my guesses before.
Goblin Onesies.Onsies with pictures of goblins on them, or onesies for goblins to wear?
onesies with pictures of goblins on them for goblins to wear.
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Really? This is most interesting. For my first Traveller book, Canada represented a significant chunk of my sales. Odd to hear that Pathfinder is not as big there. If guessed it would have been huge. I've been wrong in my guesses before.Simple: There are a ton of gamers in Canada and, Amazon.ca aside, esssentially ZERO competition from online sources within Canada due to the difference in shipping costs and brokerage fees to Canada from the United States. All the competitors that are present in the American market are much less pronounced in Canada. There are a very large number of gaming shops in Canada.
Despite this, sales of Pathfinder are comparitively lower in Canada and Pahtfinder society play is virtually nil.
How's Pathfinder doin' in Europe? I've also seen a few Aussies on the boards.
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I give Paizo my money fist-over-fist and I can explain quite simply the awesome marketing that got me hooked.
1. Word-of-mouth, of the 'OMG this stuff is awesome!" variety.
2. Free Products (Hollow's Last Hope, RotRL PLayer's Guide) which made me squeal 'OMG this stuff is awesome!' like an over-excited 12 year old girl.
3. First Product I bought (RotRL) made me squeal 'OMG this stuff is awesome!' like an over-excited 12 year old girl.
4. Continuing presence of products that make me squeal 'OMG this stuff is awesome!' like an over-excited 12 year old girl.
5. Awesome attitude to community.
But, but... none of these things have gone away. So, maybe Hyrum is going to add some more awesome elsewhere.
My only constructive thought would be - those cool christmas cards... Subscribers outside of the US get those in mid-January. Fix that and a Paizo advert sits on my shelf during the crimble period, rather than becoming an instant bookmark.
The big challenge for Hyrum will be when a Pathfinder Lite/Basic is about to come out.
[/inane ramble]
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I mean just imagine all the forum, blog posting that would generate.
Yeah. The complaints on the drop (and how!) in APs, mods, etc., as the staff focus on dropping the poundage. No sir-ree!
Getting back to the OP: Hyrum was involved with marketing at Upper Deck. How did that work (ala what exactly did that entail? Meeting with retailers? Magazine ads?)?
Designer tennies?
Lunch boxes?
Designer drugs.
The Paizopalooza free music festival.
The Seventh Wayfinder - an arthouse-flick directed by Ingmar Bergman's ghost, and starring John Malkovich and that kid from Malcolm in the Middle.
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Designer drugs.
The Paizopalooza free music festival.
The Seventh Wayfinder - an arthouse-flick directed by Ingmar Bergman's ghost, and starring John Malkovich and that kid from Malcolm in the Middle.
Oy vey!
Fine. How about the Paizo line at one of those model shows with Victoria Secret models dresses as Seoni, Seelah, etc.? ;-)
How's Pathfinder doin' in Europe? I've also seen a few Aussies on the boards.
I'll have a better picture of where the Book of Beasts sold in about 3 months. Right now, not much info.
a women of golarion swimsuit calendar
the iconic magus should be a young tian female (possibly a Wa Fauxlita)
Pathfinder Branded Cookies. Nuf Said.
The Seventh Wayfinder - an arthouse-flick directed by Ingmar Bergman's ghost, and starring John Malkovich and that kid from Malcolm in the Middle.
Whoa...
Pathfinder Branded Cookies. Nuf Said.Chocolate-chip!
A given...but what about Darkland Brownies? Varisian Spice Cookies? Think bigger, man! ;)
A given...but what about Darkland Brownies? Varisian Spice Cookies? Think bigger, man! ;)Pathfinder Branded Cookies. Nuf Said.Chocolate-chip!
Ustalavic garlic and belladonna biscuits (only to be eaten after consulting with your personal doctor).
Lastwall protein-shakes.
Taldoran cream cake, so fluffy you won't notice it's got nothing of any nutritional value whatsoever in it.
Minkai rolls (rice balls)
Quin Wontons (Wontons)
Xa Hoi Dragon Flakes (extra spicy corn chips)
I shall allow the inner man a momment of unrestrained comment.
We need a hoarde of cute paizo brand babies. Both male and female( i am all about the equal opertunity perving ;)) who can both stoke our love of pathfinder and paizo, and re-enforce our unrealistic views of beauty ;)
I just want Hyrum to know that Rone and I have already called the candy dice idea. However, if Wolfgang doesn't get a move on, we're willing to license the idea for Pathfinder Candy dice.
I'd buy Pathfinder boxers.
I'd also love a daily calendar of Pathfinder art. (even if it skipped weekends, or combined them into 1 page.)
Hugo used to make Pathfinder calendars for us, but he cut us off completely. Cut off!
Yeah, Hugo would make this pdf and I'd download it and print up a calendar and enjoy original Pathfinder fan art all year long in my office. Now, nada.
Ultimately, I think it will become necessary for Paizo to provide an easy way for 4th edition players to switch systems. Early on there was a (pretty obvious) market for people who wanted a new game 'kinda like 3.5'. As we move on though, there will be fewer recruits from this path.
Speaking as a clueless know-nothing with an opinion anyway - it seems to me that the days of billions of different RPG systems with players cheerfully switching willy-nilly between games is passing. D&D is going to have the brand-name advantage amongst newcomers to the hobby for quite some time, therefore most 'self-taught' gamers are going to come to the hobby via 4th edition. The two games are different enough that I think it would be good value to put some thought into developing a path for people to switch from 4th edition to PF.
There's also the issue of a Pathfinder-lite/basic/intro/whatever which I believe is at least being discussed at Paizo. I think this is likely to be a good thing at getting newcomers to the hobby, but I'm not sure if the 4th edition crowd and the hobby-newcomer crowd are going to have the same needs.
[/unwarranted opinions]
I like your point, Steve G.
Ultimately, I think it will become necessary for Paizo to provide an easy way for 4th edition players to switch systems. Early on there was a (pretty obvious) market for people who wanted a new game 'kinda like 3.5'. As we move on though, there will be fewer recruits from this path.
There are already a number of pathways, to get people who play 4e into playing pathfinder. Firstly, setting. Paizo provide an amazing setting in the form of golarion, and WotC have all but given up producing setting material. This does leave a gulf, which for a number of 4e players like Scott Betts from these boards, is fill by golarion.
Second paizo has the largest number of brand evangelists i have seen in any company other than apple. We all seem to love this game, and we talk about it a lot as a rule, be it IRL or across the interwebs. Where ever we go, we talk about the awesome and that mean that players of 4e hear about the awesome and have a route to discover the game. And it isn't just talk, the bloggasphere and arcane realm of the podcast are also well and truely stuffed with Pathfinder fans. And we have many of the hobbies greatest writers and designers producing material for pathfinder itself, or compatable material. So if your a fan of that work, yet another reason to leave 4e.
Ofcause, getting onto my next point, what i mean when i say leave 4e, is in fact play pathfinder as well. Why?
Speaking as a clueless know-nothing with an opinion anyway - it seems to me that the days of billions of different RPG systems with players cheerfully switching willy-nilly between games is passing. D&D is going to have the brand-name advantage amongst newcomers to the hobby for quite some time, therefore most 'self-taught' gamers are going to come to the hobby via 4th edition. The two games are different enough that I think it would be good value to put some thought into developing a path for people to switch from 4th edition to PF.
Because i think you have this wrong in a fairly major way. Now i might be wrong, but it seems to me that actually, in many ways the RPG industry is at about the healthiest place it has been in a while right now. We have Paizo, growing, taking on new staff. We have fantasy flight games publishing four successful licenced GW-IP based RPGs, in two seperate game systems, we have pinnicle with its pretty damned successful savage world system, as well as WotC with 4e.
I don't know a single game group that plays only one system, from grognards to teenaged players, a wider and wider number of games seem to being played.
The advent of PDF publishing, print on demand and digital play is actually seeming to fuel this, allowing games which might never have gotten anywhere at all in the past to become modest successes.