Let the Viral Marketing Commence

[Moon-Safari]

It started yesterday I think. All the media released online and they just happen to be playing a marathon of tr 1 and 2 over and over again on TNT? I usually hate advertisers because they put their message everywhere, and you can't escape, but tomb raider and Lara Croft are things I wouldn't mind being reminded of on billboards, buses, commercials, the internet, TV and radio. I think the mystery that Cloverfeild created around it by their "less is more" policy of advertising, worked wonderfully. If we never get to hear Lara speak in commercials, people would be enticed by the mystery of it all. Lara is one of the most recognizable video game icons in history. It would make people curious about what Eidos is keeping to themselves. Pick a few good clips of game play and maybe have Lara emerge from a shadow and give an angry look, and boom, the public is drawn in. Anniversary's commercial with Lara's voice over was nice, but corny. I think underworld's visuals can speak for themselves. People will see this, want to investigate online, and they're already invested and think that buying the game was their idea. Keep it simple and cryptic. You don't have to try hard to convince people to buy the game. Lara's presence, the graphics, and the awesome reviews this game is getting, will speak for themselves.

[lara_lover999]

for a game like tomb raider is built on suspence, the thrill of the unknowen
so why not use those basic elements to advertisise the game
building suspence increases curiosity
instead of just shoving tomb raider in peoples faces why not make them want to find out
instead of tellinging them about every corner of the game let them find out for themselves.
but you do need a certain amout of info, to reel in those who have never played before (and as crazy as it may sound) have never heard of lara or tomb raider.
so what we need here is balance
enough info to keep the public informed about what tomb raider is and what its about but also create the element of suspence
though if they hold info bak it might drive a few of us on this forum crazy *mainiatic twitch in eye*
:)

[tampi]

Interesting.
Many times I think that just show Lara's boots running in the jungle, it is enough to want to get her boots and run with them the game. :)

[Conway]

Ooh, viral marketing FTW! Seriously, I think fans of the series can do a better job of marketing the game. :p Although we haven't seen what CD has got up their sleeves for marketing this game.

[navinloveslara]

Viral marketing is the best form of marketing ever. Look at Cloverfield. (By the way, that was another brilliant movie:D)

According to the Guinness World Records 2007 book, Lara Croft has "transcended the boundary of the video game and become a recognizable figure in mainstream society, making her more successful in terms of global recognition than the likes of Chun Li (Street Fighter), Pauline (Donkey Kong), and Jill Valentine and Claire Redfield (Resident Evil series)", and is the "most successful videogame heroine".:jmp:

[Just for info, the most successful non-human videogame heroine is Ms PAC-MAN]

I agree 100% with this statement. While you could show me a picture of Jill Valentine and I'd immediately know who it was, I still feel that a picture of Lara Croft would draw my attention like no other. "Lara Croft is just like Madonna and James Bond, timeless." (this was someone's signature, I can't remember whose.)

Just imagine a poster with Lara standing right there, like the promotional poster for the first TR movie, but staring you right in the eyes, with her guns drawn. And at the bottom: Tomb Raider Underworld. Out DD/MM/YY.

:yik:

Trailers that show a ton of action and mayhem and destruction and then Lara's face in this dread-locked stature would be just brilliant.

[spelunking]

When some vids of the game are released, let's create our own 'commercials'. We'll have to make do without corny voice-overs and with scant few action sequences, which would go a long way to help create the Cloverfield effect you're talking about.