Ok, I am using the 8 hour trial and all I can say is that this game is great, but it is missing some things, which I would think that they would improve the gameplay.

#1:

Overhaul the main site. When I first came on the homepage, I thought this is going to be another cheap, boring game like many out there. Since I have a mac, I don't have much choice with MMORPG games, so I looked into this more. However, many Windows gamers will quickly base an opinion and close the page without actually trying it. A good graphic website will keep potential users to stay. It's an investment well worth spending. So, devs should hire a web designer and get something awesome that will be a magnet for newcomers.

#2:

Advertisement. I have never seen an internet ad for this. I have seen Evony all over the place, which is why they have 18 million accounts. Money spent on ads is a big issue that should be considered. The amount of users will greatly multiply, making the game a lot better with frequent activity all over the universe.

I hope these ideas will be considered and embraced. I know I don't understand the full aspects of the game yet, but from a beginner/novice, I can have the knowledge of what a new person would feel/do. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure I've read that the devs are planning to do a website overhaul already.

I agree that the sight needs an overhaul to attract new players. I disagree that it should revolve around graphics. Sure, some high quality pics of the game should be prominent. But what this game really lacks is documentation.

What is each tutorial mission about, and where is the online copy of the text for each of them? For all the missions for that matter?

The number one thing that screams that this game is under developed is the web sight, and the number one thing wrong with the web sight is one big pic of something ingame. The second biggest thing is online documentation of the game mechanics, and online tutorials/quick start guides/tactical guides. Imagine how much farther a newb could go on an 8 hour trial if they could learn %90 of the details offline.

I will repeat myself. The number one thing is a killer pic on the root page. When I go to http://www.vendetta-online.com I should see a pic that makes me want to log in right now. The page should know if the user has a wide screen and display accordingly. Much of the text on the main page is serviceable as is.

A graphics designer will typically muddy up the page and obfuscate the important marketing points. A marketer should dictate the page content, not a graphics designer.

I agree with you, Roda. However, I don't mean just high detail pics. A web designer needs to set a catchy color scheme, organize everything with topic and sub topics, create neat buttons instead of text that is just linked, and also a better logo with a catchy slogan. This is what really attracts new users.

I definitely agree with your statement about how 90% can be learned within the site rather than wasting the 8 hour free trial. Maybe when you download the game, you can be redirecting to the site where it will have a basic tutorial that can be still taught through text rather than 'tell and try it' way.

Thanks for your detailed incite.

Every good sight should have good web design. It is just so completely secondary to marketing considerations. One big pic that screams action packed adventure is worth a thousand graphics and web designers. Make a pretty looking website, and you got a pretty looking website. Dime a dozen and totally worthless. Content is king, and a marketer might be an idiot about web design, but he will know what should be on the top of the front page.

I have seen far too many sites that where all fluff and no content, and they get nothing sold fast. I have seen sites that where solid typewriter style text, but the text was exactly to the point, and did more to makes sales that the prettiest border, background, or sidebar ever did.

Yeah, man, if only we had a catchy color scheme and neat buttons instead of text, and maybe a better logo with a catchy slogan . . . then everything would be all better.

Hey, wait, how about this for a slogan: Soon^TM!

Does anyone read the forums first before they start assuming they have the idea that will make VO great

Apparently not so much, CS.

I recall reading somewhere that the devs are planning a site redesign, but I can't find it, and in any case, I agree that VO needs a dramatic rethinking of the site design, advertising, and documentation. As it stands, the current web site is incredibly dated and really does seem to indicate that the game sucks when, in fact, the game is quite unequal to its representation on this site.

Condescending to noobs doesn't help.

As nice as it would be for the devs to advertise the game I highly doubt that they would invest beyond a small sum into advertisement. Guild Software doesn't follow the well known saying "You gotta spend money to earn money". It's too bad they didnt because they could get a lot more accounts if they did so...

"you gotta have money before you can spend money" is another equally well-known saying Yuutuu1 :)

You have to admit, going to vendetta-online.com and looking at any image there, gives no sense of what playing the game is like.

There is not an image there that invokes adrenaline.

Yes. We have been working on a new site for some months.

We have also been working on acquiring more money, so we can advertise more.

Not too post a life sucking comment ..... but.

If Guild cant get a hundred new active players off a decent local cable TV ad then you are doing something severely wrong.

PaKettle: I don't know you, so please don't take offense. What is your experience with marketing?

I've seen a big, household name company spend tens of thousands of marketing dollars and not make *1* sale of a new product. And this was targeted advertising, not a cable TV blast.

You have to spend money to make money. But spending money doesn't guarantee that you'll make money.

What was the product, though?

The Sham-WOW!

It was a completely different industry, and a more expensive product. But my point is that you can't be sure an ad will bring tremendous response just because you put it out there.

As an amusing aside, have you SEEN the Evony ads? I'm sure VO would get plenty more players if they made it Boobs in Space!

http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/a-history-of-evony-ads-the-insanity-continues/

I have seen them, and I laugh every time. Totally irrelevant and exploitative, as far as I know--but why not? Boobs in Space ftw.

Evony went too far - I ignored the ads simply assuming it was some sort of sex fantasy game....

Sex does sell to be sure and a VO ad with a hot pirate chick jumping into a Valk might be a good place to start....

High dollar campaigns do not ensure success - in fact a well done low budget ad is often much more effective. As the population of Milwaukee is just under 1 million, Guild would only need to acheive a response rate of .01 percent to get 100 new customers.