Two trailers are part of a new advertising push for upcoming World of Warcraft expansion pack Wrath of the Lich King. The first is the standard gameplay trailer, and the other is done in the popular movie-esque style. Increasingly, game companies are releasing these high-quality video commercials to advertise the game even though they have little to do with actual gameplay.
The most interesting thing to note about the trailers, however, is the timing: They are coming out as the new MMOG Warhammer from Mythic Entertainment is due to be released on September 18. While other MMOGs have attempted to dethrone World of Warcraft before, Warhammer has a pedigree behind it; Mythic is the studio behind the popular 90s MMOG Dark Age of Camelot. Mythic also has the marketing muscle of Electronic Arts, after being acquired back in 2006.
EA is nothing if not committed to marketing their games; after a recent YouTube fan video highlighted what appeared to be a bug in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, EA responded with a commercial incorporating the fan video "proving" that the "Jesus Shot" wasn't a software glitch at all.
Warcraft may already have the established user base, but if Warhammer fails, it won't be for lack of marketing.
Lich King game play trailer:
Commercial trailer:
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Comments
These ads aren't because Warhammer is coming out. It's because Wrath is coming out. They did the same thing for Burning Crusade -- was that in response to some competitive threat too?
I disagree. They'd have been advertising anyway, but the recent glut is definitely a response to the Warhammer release date. EA is beyond savvy at marketing, and unless Blizzard is asleep at the wheel, of course they want to make sure that Warcraft fans and potential n00bs know there is a new and better expansion pack coming out hot on the heels of Warhammer.
wow do you know how old that 1st video is LOL. Fail
I am agreeing with you. They were showing same response to competitive threat also. EA is at very low range in the market.
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Richard Arthur
http://www.hookup-tonite.com
Trey, sorry about that... it was a bad turn of phrase. Yes, the trailer has been out for ages, but I was thinking more of suddenly seeing it everywhere.
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