[nubbles526]

If I was the president of interplay, I wouldn't be looking for innovative new game ideas on an internet forum.

Sad 

Why?

[phreak]

Because developing another WWII FPS will sell better than something original the masses are unfamiliar with.

[nubbles526]

Thats why space-themed games would die out....

[Snail]

Because developing another WWII FPS will sell better than something original the masses are unfamiliar with.

You know, this is one of the comments that is so true that it makes me sick.

[ShadowGorrath]

This is probably a stupid idea, and chances are it's not gonna happen, but what the heck.

Why don't we all HLP people put up some money and make a public TV trailer of the SCP ?

[Droid803]

And subsequently get shut down? Woot!

[Jeff Vader]

No one is shutting no one down, except if we include the infamous "Get FreeSpace 2 FOR FREE!!!11" line.

In any case, where were you planning on airing the "trailer"?

[Stormkeeper]

This is probably a stupid idea, and chances are it's not gonna happen, but what the heck.

Why don't we all HLP people put up some money and make a public TV trailer of the SCP ?

I'm pretty sure someone's suggested this before. Many times.

[KewlToyZ]

• I would look at the best immersion qualities in FPS gaming.
• Design the system for fan designed content with available interfaces.
• Make a stable easy to use add on system.
• Really look at the long term fan royalties with the implementation of the systems.
• Offer the development package for the same price as the game.
• Try to get a completed simulation package for atmosphere and space transitional with sudo Newtonian physics that brings the best of realism and arcade satisfaction with the least resource impact possible.
• Assess the largest most stable multiplayer packages.
  
• Look at community systems that cater to adult card holders having a space of their own vs. forcing a Barney wannabe policy over the entire community. Let adults be stupid. It's entertaining
  If systems need to be in place, let them be at most automated and spare volunteers as well as employees from domestic nonsense.
  
• Charge the fee's for regulated and monitored forums. If people want to scream their fascist diatribes of correctness they can pay for the enforcement. After all they are asking for a free babysitter the school systems are under budgeted to even control
  
• Dedicated people contributing to the system get free monthly membership durations according to their contributions.
  
• Volunteers can get factored amounts of membership based upon their time helping others.
  
• Use a member ticker to give and the number of members with a percentile affecting membership fees.
  Economics are the best way to influence any online community. Make a worthwhile use of the fact.
  
• Hire the work horses building FS2 Open builds. Beats the **** out of paying lawyers.
  

[WMCoolmon]

This is probably a stupid idea, and chances are it's not gonna happen, but what the heck.

Why don't we all HLP people put up some money and make a public TV trailer of the SCP ?

I'm pretty sure someone's suggested this before. Many times.

Actually, I haven't heard it before. Commercials don't cost all that much on local cable networks either, if the articles I've found on Google can be believed. Might be something to look into for larger areas. If there were a bunch of HLPers in different cities each paying ~$10-$50 for advertising you could probably get some pretty good coverage, and if the movement was well-document, organized, and publicized, the attempt could generate media attention all by itself. I've never heard of anybody doing something like that before. I'd be willing to put down some money, just to see how much attention it would get.

I don't think there'd be any problem with engine rights, so it could largely consist of footage from Freespace 2, although I'd be less certain of whether using game art elements design by or based on designs by Volition would be permissible in such a case. Airing stuff on TV is a whole different ballgame than putting it online somewhere on the internet. One of the more esoteric projects might have to become the SCP spokesperson for the commercial.

But aside from the copyright issue, I think it's the best idea I've ever heard for publicizing Freespace 2.

[Stormkeeper]

The only risk would be the failing Interplay seeing it and jumping "That's our game and our money!" and ordering a cease and desist, and making us cough up cash.

[WMCoolmon]

Right. Interplay doesn't own any of the engine, though, as I understand it, and I can only see good things stemming from this for Volition/THQ. It's good publicity for them, and their name doesn't have to be associated with the engine (In fact it's probably a lot better if it isn't). More people use the engine, and if the project gets a bad rap, they can always say that they played no part in development after releasing the engine. If it does well, they can claim credit for the engine in the first place.

As Michael would say..."Win, win win."

Only thing is that it can't be a for-profit enterprise, since that's obviously outlawed in the code. But, hmm, come to think of it, would the license rule out the profit the TV station would be making? It'd still be possible to make a trailer without any gameplay footage, I suppose.

[Stormkeeper]

Hmmm. Well. We could make a small trailer and put it somewhere as a test case, to gauge the response (like say on Gamespot or something) before putting it up on TV. I'm not sure about the ad costs for airing it on TV though.

[highwayman]

Big-Budget:
*TV spot w/gameplay & cutscene on G4, MTV, SciFi, Cartoon Network - emphasize both story and in-game features
*Previously suggested pre-movie 30-second spot (I remember Warcraft III did this before Revenge of the Sith, was kind of cool)
*Ads in print Media and on online gaming sites - banners, sidebars, etc.
*Flashy website with multimedia, downloads, etc.

Low-Budget
*"Official" trailer on Youtube, linking to the site
*Viral marketing - recruit a bunch of people with free time to invade other games' boards and compare/contrast with Freespace, drum up interest (in particular aim for wargames, scifi/space adventures and other flight simulators).
*Finagle some sort of spotlight, either in online gaming sites, or perhaps on G4 (one of those glorified ads where the host interviews a developer and different gameplay aspects are shown and discussed).