The next Galactic Civilizations II print ad design

The second transport, is away!

from GalCiv2 Forums

The new full page advertisement is done and being sent off to PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, and Computer Games Magazine this week.

We decided to take a bit different approach.  If you flip open your favorite game magazine, the typical ad formula (which our first ad followed)  for a one pager is pretty artwork at the top with a paragraph of text at the bottom with a couple of screenshots.  This time, we're doing something that's a lot more "busy".  We wanted to highlight the ship design feature since players seem to really like that feature a lot.  We are also getting ready to produce a 2-page spread series of ads.

 

 Update: Penny-Arcade, Gamespot and other ads now up too!

28,995 views 36 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Looks great! Almost makes me sorry I already have the game
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Not sure what your marketing team is up to, but I know I was driven here by something in Penny Arcade. Have you thought of also going to places like them?
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Breathtaking ad. Good job to the artistic team.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Thats totally awsome! and I have to agree, makes me want to go out and buy it again.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I think that putting the "bridge" notation in is a little misleading, unless you look at it from the "extra" perspective (then you can call anything whatever you want). But definitly a nice ad, I think it works better for the game then others would as the game caters more to a thinking, interactive experiance rather then a click-fest. Good color scheme, it stands out.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
GOOD GOOD!!!
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I think that putting the "bridge" notation in is a little misleading, unless you look at it from the "extra" perspective (then you can call anything whatever you want). But definitly a nice ad, I think it works better for the game then others would as the game caters more to a thinking, interactive experiance rather then a click-fest. Good color scheme, it stands out.


Yeah, I agree.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
oo you used my favorite altarian hull design...WUB
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
I also got the game after reading news posts and forum posts from Penny-Arcade. You would get a lot of hits if you went through them.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
But Sausage, if we have people coming here from Penny Arcade, why would we need to advertise there as well? The people who go there already know about the game. Advertising is meant to reach the people who don't.
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
But Sausage, if we have people coming here from Penny Arcade, why would we need to advertise there as well? The people who go there already know about the game. Advertising is meant to reach the people who don't.


Good point, but I only found out about the game from reading the forum. I know not everyone reads the forums, most people just read the comic and the news post. There have been several games I have purchased just from clicking ads that are on the Penny-Arcade main page. Just an idea I guess.

But, I think the most powerfull medium you guys' have at your disposal is the word of mouth. I know I've got two of my friends to buy the game too...mostly because I won't shut up about it.

Wow, I actually got a response from someone at the company. I think, thats the first time that's happened ever.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
No near naked women falling out of their overstuffed metal bras. It'll never work.

Obviously, I'm kidding.

If I had never heard of GalCiv before, that would get me to stop and read. Eye catching. Nice work.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
That really is a sharp, eye-catching ad. Strong work.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
What I like the most about this ad is the fact it's real... I mean, it's not the first ad to boast about moddability... but GalCiv2 actually has it, yay!
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It is true we could probably reach more people if we actually advertised directly on the site. We just have to weigh it against how many more people we could get advertising elsewhere on a place where most people don't know about it. Alas, we don't yet have the funds to plaster adverts across every site for a couple of weeks like some of the big-name games.

Thank you for convincing your friends to buy, by the way. Every copy makes a difference for us.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Looks great. Good eye catching design. Wait a second.....where is the mandatory scantily clad sci-fi chick with gun? How do you plan to attract all the 13year olds of the world? Are you trying to go against the grain ...you apostate!? The World Organization of Evil Marketing Monkeys is not someone you want to mess with.
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
It is true we could probably reach more people if we actually advertised directly on the site. We just have to weigh it against how many more people we could get advertising elsewhere on a place where most people don't know about it. Alas, we don't yet have the funds to plaster adverts across every site for a couple of weeks like some of the big-name games.

Thank you for convincing your friends to buy, by the way. Every copy makes a difference for us.


Wow, a reply to my reply! This must be my lucky day! Yeah, that's another good point you make. With how professional and down to earth this company is, it's easy to forget you're not huge and rolling in cash. It's rather unfortunate. Hopefully this game leads you guys to some great success and puts you on the map. Maybe I'll see if I can convince my boss to buy it too...
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
I think the ad is very snazzy, and I must say, it highlights the part of the game that I must spend at least 50% of the time on. The one suggestion I have is make the "Designer" part of the "Designer: You" more prominant. At first I thought that the giant YOU was an informal attention getting device used in conjuncture with the "It's Never the Same Galaxy Twice." Thus I thought it was "YOU! It's Never the Same Galaxy Twice!" Took me a while to see the tiny "Designer" part.

Just my two cents, otherwise that Ad is sure to catch some eyes. And I loved RichVR's post! Its true, this is the first SciFi game ad I have seen that didn't include some half naked chick in metal undies or a giant robot man holding at least 25 different guns. Although... have you thought about putting a half-naked Torian in his/her/its undies on the next ad...



Bitobah
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Excellent piece of work, great job guys!!!! What is the font type you use for the add?
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Very nice! I'll have to pick up a copy of PC Gamer just to see the ad!
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Pretty nice ad, certainly more original than most, and correctly highlighting the ship design feature as a central one. Kudos also on not including the scores from various reviews - that often looks like desperation, not good support. As commented the 'Designer: YOU' might perhaps benefit from a slight change in scales, because I had to look twice to see it properly, which didn't pull me into the idea the ad is showing more, it just made it look slightly badly planned. Nothing major though; the general style and aesthetics are very nice.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Great ad!... And I'll freely admit that there are times I spend more time in the ship design feature then I do actually playing the game. It has to be one of the hands down best features added to this type of game in well a decade
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To provide honest feedback here, that's a hell of a great ad, I think I will cut it out and use it as a poster. Very cool and I think a very intelligent angle to use for this game. Give your marketing lads a raise, they clearly are a clever bunch.
Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Not sure what your marketing team is up to, but I know I was driven here by something in Penny Arcade. Have you thought of also going to places like them?

Way ahead of you my friend.