The banners thread is seeing pretty good progress, but banners alone aren't all we need, so I figured it might be a good idea to make a checklist of things we need to set up and organize to have Call Jack covered on all angles.
Disclaimer, my opinions are my own, don't necessarily reflect anyone else's because vampires or something, I dunno, yadda yadda yadda, you know the spiel. Also, I'll be keeping the OP as updated as I can, so watch this space. No, not this space, the space below this space.
Banner art
The banner situation is a little paradoxical, as the messages of the banner ads need to influence two separate groups. The first, naturally, are the readers. The goal here is fairly easy, to interest and inform them which simplifies things because unlike most ads, we're not trying to convince them to give us money or stuff like that.
The second group is NCsoft and that's where things get complicated. On one hand, the banner campaign is there to remind them that we're still here and making unpleasant kinds of noises given how close Wildstar is getting to release. However, and as much as I hate it, we can't come off as threatening. Or rather, we can but shouldn't because they'll be much,
much less willing to work with us if that ends up making them look weak and willing to negotiate under duress. Consequently, we need to leave them a way to claim that they did this because they care about their players - given the situation, a fake benevolence is preferable to genuine dickery.
So, suggestions - place focus on City of Heroes and Jack's offer, and if possible, underscore it with subtle reminders to the readers about all the games NCsoft has closed down and sat on so far. Using NCsoft's own resources, such as their company motto or the blue-orange-white color motif {but not the actual logo or anything they have trademarked} to drive home the point that this is addressed at them and that they're being kept in the spotlight whether they like it or not. Also quotes from the PAX panel, AP33 logos {there was a wonderful "villain never stops, hero never quits" one that I can't seem to track down anymore - I swear I had it saved too} and the words "Call Jack".
Ad money and placement
We need to pool together enough money and I think we'll be able to.
However, we also need someone to hold and manage that money. I have to admit I know next to nothing in that regard, so we need somebody to step up to take the role. Personally, I'd volunteer TonyV, given that he's been trustworthy with money so far, but so far he hasn't involved himself with Call Jack much, so he may not appreciate being volunteered.
Remember, without someone to manage the finances, we'll be all dressed up with nowhere to go.
Information center
The banner ads will need to link somewhere and SaveCoH.com is the prime location. Question is, do we know who runs it, and would they be willing to either set up or have someone set up an information page somewhere under that domain?
Points to address;
- What is Call Jack?
- What is City of Heroes?
- Why was it shut down {we don't have an answer to that, but we can list the reasons it wasn't}
- What can they do to help?
- What did we do to try and save CoH {capes and masks campaign, dev dinner, open letters, Disney pitch, Gamasutra article about the buyout attempt, anything I've missed}
- Link to Titan forums
This is all I can think of for now - if anyone has corrections or additions about
anything, mention it and I'll add it to the OP.
So, to recap;
1} More ads. Dangle the carrot, but keep the stick in plain view.
2} Find someone to manage the ad money. That can be a multi-person job.
3} Track down whoever runs the SaveCoH site as well as someone who can put together a presentable information page.
