That is quite the idea, Translanka. But why stop with spray paint? Stickers might actually be easier to produce, and certainly quicker to slap on things (moving vehicles, plastic trays at fastfood restaraunts, mail boxes, clocks, etc). A smaller stencil for use with a pen/pencil and a trip to your local library can open the world of Chrono to countless people (and maybe write a little line like "Lavos fell here" in geology and biology books that mention 65,000,000 BC). Though... it pains me to suggest that as defacing books cuts my soul.
I love the smell of gurrilla advertising in the morning (at least, this seems more like guerrilla tactics rather than viral marketing).
But if I might propose a somewhat intense idea, what if we Chrono fans organized a coherent advertising campaign? Such would show Square that there is interest (and money) to be made from another installment and it would also get more individuals interested (or re-interested) in the series. With the development of guerilla and viral advertising means, we are already in possession of the primary means needed to pull off such a campaign: time and desire.
PR firms do this to advertise their abilities (see
example 1,
example 2,
example 3), advocacy groups do this to gain a wider audience for their issues (see
example 4), and others just use advertising to spread general awareness (see
example 5).
If we are creative, we could put together a cheap advertising campaign to increase interest in the series and even in a new game.
Translanka's idea is a wonderful step in such a direction. However, I'd strongly suggest that we develope a specific goal and the steps needed to reach that goal. A "5-year" plan, as it were (though hopefully not 5 years). That way, each step can be specifically tailored to meeting that goal.
Now the various goals that the community might support are as follows, as far as I can see: increased Chrono Awareness, increased Compendium traffic, and increased interest leading to Square getting off their arses and making a new game.
To illustrate how advertising might be different, if we just wanted to increase Chrono Awareness, then Translanka's idea is quite well suited. Yet if we wanted to create hype and expectation among gamers that square is coming out with a new game (which might thus encourage them to take advantage of that hype and actually develop a new game), "Chrono is Coming" might be a better phrase. And if our goal is increased Compendium traffic, vandalism might want to be avoided.
1) Do you have a wireless network at home? Remove the password protection and change the networks name to "Chrono Trigger" or "The Chrono Compendium." You are advertising every time someone logs in.
DONE
Wow, really? I am quite curious if that idea would actually work. I thought of it when I was trying to figure out how indie rpg makers (like the good folk over at
The Forge) might market their games. Server names as advertising seemed like a cheap possible solution (especially in apartment complexes) There is also the possibility of “renting” the server names at a game shop, convention, or any wi-fi hub seemed like a good idea. As it is a, to my knowledge, untapped market I would suspect the prices would be dirt cheap.
6) Need a gift for a birthday, wedding, bar mitzvah, or hoe down? Give the gift that keeps on giving; give Chrono Trigger (or Chrono Cross). Nothing says love'n like some game from Japan.
Thats how I got cross, my B-day
Heh, you’d be amazed at how many people have gotten the complete series of Firefly since I’ve started doing that. Of course, not as many people wants or could play a video game as should want or can play Firefly. (oh look, subtle advertising right here!)
14) Spore is coming out soon; create Lavoids, Mystics, Demi-Humans, Dragonians, Reptites, etc. This content will then randomly be distributed to other players.
gimme a month or two 'till it comes out
Sweet. I’m definitely planning on making a Lavos species myself (and thus they’d be a xenophobic species bent on eradicating all life from the sporeverse).
