Regarding marketing for RB...

[Brock_Landers]

I want this game to do HOOGE numbers at retail--as I'm sure we all do (more consumers for EA means more/cheaper DLC, sequels, and bigger licencing for us in the future, after all).. so let me just take this moment to say that I hope they don't get too caught up in all the innovations and whatnot when it comes down to promoting it.

Because while we love all the new detailed wankery, we're buying the game anyway. Hell, that goes for most of those who have enjoyed GH.. they don't really need the hard sell (well, maybe some of those tightwads who balk at buying a new guitar but that's a different story).

The mass public and all those due to be watching the adverts on MTV between The Reel World season 23 and Celebrity Poledancing don't need to know all that stuff. All they need to know is that you can easily pretend to be a rockstar by hitting some buttons/pads, and--this is the most important bit--that you can buy just one instrument and still get your moneys worth (too many people seem to think that unless they sell a kidney to buy every instrument they're going to get gyped).

I'm sure RB will end up with people more qualified than me to come up with a marketing strategy, but you never know... Just keep it simple is all I'm sayin.

(Coz the game can sound quite intimidating if you don't know better)

[sa_nick]

There should be a crazy marketing campaign and Harmonix should plant USB in the toilets of concerts of bands appearing in the game. On the USB there will be footage of the future showing how big Rock Band has become.

[Magnet]

I think showing the players playing and the gameplay splitscreened would be a great way to advertise the game. Choose a song (or two) to play during a commercial. Show someone playing an instrument (say bass) along to Easy. Then someone playing the next instrument, say drums, on Medium. Show someone singing to the song. And then have a guitar solo done on Expert. You're effectively saying the game is easy to pick up, but it also can be challenging. And you're showing off how awesome the gameplay is as well. I think it'd work well.

[sushi111]

They better market this game like crzy, because it would break my heart if it sold poorly.

[Edgehopper]

I think showing the players playing and the gameplay splitscreened would be a great way to advertise the game. Choose a song (or two) to play during a commercial. Show someone playing an instrument (say bass) along to Easy. Then someone playing the next instrument, say drums, on Medium. Show someone singing to the song. And then have a guitar solo done on Expert. You're effectively saying the game is easy to pick up, but it also can be challenging. And you're showing off how awesome the gameplay is as well. I think it'd work well.

That would work. Please don't do anything like the GH2 for XBox 360 ads, which gave me the impression that I would play air guitar until I caught a falling meteor, then spike it. I was disappointed to not see that in the game :)