I’ve been talking to a lot of Ragnarok players lately, including ones that have already retired. You know what’s amazing? You can get more valuable information and insights from them compared to executive marketing genius consultants. As a marketer, I still have to filter the feedback and put it into context – which is the growth of Ragnarok and eventually Ragnarok Online 2. One very good friend of mine who was a very addicted pRO player and eventually made it big in RF, came up with excellent points why the gaming industry hasn’t boomed. Let’s take a step back and check the fundamentals – there is a very negative perception about gaming. Parents and the people with authority treat gaming as a bad habit, something that once you get into, you are no longer serious with life. This is the sad truth that we all have to face… and this is the challenge that we at Level-up Games have to overcome. Please indulge me in this post and hear me out.
Gaming, in moderation, actually has a lot of benefits that you can’t find anywhere else. Gamers are more analytical and more resilient. In games, you learn how to set goals and you work hard in order to achieve them. People also become more resourceful because you will research very hard to come up with strategies and tactics to win in the games that you play. Sure it’s not much of a physical activity, but it is a rigorous mental exercise. Online Gaming also opens up a whole new world where you can socialize. Always remember that there are real people behind those cute anime avatars that you see in-game. I’ve been very active in meeting gamers in Ragnarok Online, especially when I was still a player. Up to this day I am amazed on the network that I have built just by being a Ragnarok gamer. Some of my closest friends to this day are gamers that I’ve met in Ragnarok. They all have their own careers and some are even executives already in their respective industries.
So the question now is – How do we change the image of Online Gaming? Rather than just waiting for that day to come, I’d rather work hard for it, and I’m sure that a lot of the people here at Level-up are also thinking the same thing. As Jake San Diego, our Marketing Services Manager, once said: “Everyone is a gamer, those who don’t play just don’t know it yet.”
So how will we go about this? Well, as the weeks go by I hope you guys will see the changes that we are now planning for. It’s time to start a whole new wave again, instead of just going with the current of the river. To all the marketers out there, it’s time to get out of the Red Ocean and start life anew in Blue Ocean.
Do you guys have any ideas on how we can achieve this? Share your thoughts by posting comments and suggestions. If we actually implement something that you post, I’ll be more than happy to reward you with Ragnarok game time and rok points (hahaha).
Cheers!
Click here to read my Weight loss System which let me get rid of 50 lbs. in 5 months!
Randy on April 14, 2007
Let’s ROk ON!!!….. Hayz, mas magandang solusyon dyan, maglaro na lang sila ng ragnarok para namn mafeel nila kung gaano kasarap sa mundo ng mga addict, lalo na sa mga batikos ng batikos dyan. Tara Let’s.
HarryBoy on April 14, 2007
@Wauks
You forgot to mention that online gaming also releases stress build-up for some of us especially in the career level…
Seriously though, eversince pRO came out way back in the good ol’ 2K3 it kept me sane through-out the years… (Well exclude the time when the ever famous International IP Ban in late 2K4/early 2K5 was implemented… That was one helluva tough experience) XD
I had some neat stuff cooked up before… Trouble is I can’t recall ‘em… Maybe later when my brain is not so “fried” XD
Off-topic:
You mentioned that “The Memory of Ragnarok” will be out… Any definite release date? So I can send me mum to get me the CD and ship it where I am now… XD
Wauks on April 14, 2007
CDs will arrive at the office this Thursday. We still have to work on the backend system though (for the free in-game item). I’m planning to have it rolled out by April or early May. :no1:
Sir David on April 14, 2007
Haaay naku balik na naman ito sa mga araw ko sa business school… MARKET RESEARCH!! yokyokyok
Anyway wauks, the only thing that pops into my head is to market ragnarok differently. We see it being marketed to “players” only but the tatay, the nanay and even the lolos and lolas that are potential players are not reached.
The reason why is as you mentioned, they think gaming is just for the kids and have no room for their busy lifestyles. Level Up needs to show them that this is not so, That MMORPGs are social affairs and also serve as an escape from reality; that wisks you away to a world of no worries and pure fun.
So, my suggestion would be, run an add like this, or something similar to it:
Tatay gets home from work, kisses the kids, asks them if their homework is done.
Tatay: So ready ka na?
Anak: Opo!
Then they go to their own PCs (si daddy sa laptop siguro) then log on!
Or a single professional…
Narration (parang iniisip niya): Grabe nakakapagod kanina sa trabaho, araw araw nalang. Takes off his tie… (make it appear like its an add for multivitamins) buti nalang meron….
Tapos log in siya.
So on and so forth. Marketing isnt only to sell a product but also to mold the public’s perception of the product.
†ricks†er on April 14, 2007
how about this. your are thinking of opening the eyes of parents and other people w/ authoriity right?
if so why not let make an add about gamers that made it big in the industry and how gaming helped them as an individual.
let’s say someone like you. you played a blacksmith right? then how did playing a blacksmith help you now in your life? you learned to be resource full and how to invest how to take risk and beat the ods w/ the rewards thou sometime you fail you also learn.
also why not add a tagline let’s say
“I’m a “insert job here and position” , But also a gamer”
Wauks on April 14, 2007
@David
I completely agree with you on your major points – especially marketing being a told to mold perception.
@Trickster
I really like your idea since it’s kinda low-budget (we can do it web-based), and it is interesting enough to get media attention (Gaming/Tech Journals).
HarryBoy on April 14, 2007
@Wauks
Can I have mine reserved? XD
Wauks on April 14, 2007
@HarryBoy
Er, okay. :hmm: If I say yes to you though I’m sure a dozen others will do so and that will make life very difficult for me. :heh:
macy on April 14, 2007
cgro pkita sa tao not only young ones are gamers ^__^ mdmi din nmang successful na gamers, cgro like MastrerDiwa na artist o ayan ha MD :gg: or like kuya mak ^_^ ehhe madmi p cgro ako d nababanggit pero pkita cgro na d lang xa just a game ^_^ pde k dn mg succeed bec of it :@@2:
HarryBoy on April 14, 2007
@Wauks
I’m in a dire, serious situation and badly need those CDs XD
Seriously, I’ll even let my folks meet you personally and tie you… Errrr… Have a friendly chit-chat whilst getting my well-deserved item XD
Why not make the marketing campaign a bit more like what the city council are doing, like the Libreng Gupit/Check-up etc. stunt… Bring Ragnarok to the people itself and let them experience it first-hand, sorta like a mini-RPC…
pong on April 14, 2007
JC John SESE Cuneta on April 14, 2007
Actually the root cause is deeper than it initially appears. We are being targeted because of (no offense) irresponsible gamers and because of (online) gaming addiction. Secondary to that is the fact that, (at least locally) the non-gaming generation is still the ruling generation of the society.
Allow me to direct your attention to the blog posts, articles, and rants I posted over at gameshogun.ws BlogNet.
Category: “Gaming Addiction” -> http://gameshogun.ws/Games?cat=81
“Enkantadia Adiktus -> http://gameshogun.ws/Snow/2005/10/24/enkantadia_adiktus
“Are Addictive Online Games Destroying Productivity?” -> http://gameshogun.ws/Tech/2006/03/01/are_addictive_online_games_destroying_pr
“Adults Spend More Time Gaming Than Teens” -> http://gameshogun.ws/Snow/2006/03/23/adults_spend_more_time_gaming_than_teens
“Gamers – Will Soon Be War-Freak Adults” -> http://gameshogun.ws/Snow/2006/04/10/gamers_future_war_freak_adults
after that, all game addiction posts are inter-linked.
I posted suggestions there, though it is more of a “general”, gamer-wide and society-wide suggestion than a pRO suggestion.
Drop by, leave your comments, and help yourself get the Gamer status elevated. After all, it is all about YOU and me.
kenneth2230 on April 14, 2007
Hi im a retired pRO player :flag: and im 16 Yrs Old….
if someone have an idea or a solution bout this then it will be implemented…
it will take a very long time for very many parents will agree on it….
kasi on my part..napansin ko na many kids go to a computer shop then play games for more than 5hrs-8hrs..and kasama na dun yung mag skip sa mga classes nila….
Will parents agree about the new solution?
sorry for i am being a negative thinker….
i was like those kids before, playing more than 5 to 8 hrs but i don’t skip class cause i play at home (ayoko atang mabugbug ng tatay ko hehe)….. I started not to do the house chores,assignments, i gained low grades..those 87,86,85 tured into 83,84,80 :sob2:
“Gaming, in moderation, actually has a lot of benefits that you can’t find anywhere else.”
i agree on this statement
because i have learned very many new things as what wauker says you research for the things you have seen or known because you want to know it,master it! hehe
like on making a Guild Emblem on Ragnarok.. first i ask very many cyber friends on ragna on how to make it..they tought me about it…
1st i used Microsoft Paint.. i was not contened then i started to learn ADOBE PHOTOSHOP thru searching the internet and going to http://www.s13.invisionfree.com/smpac to learn more of it.. and after that i was the right hand of my computer teacher ^_^ i’ve become the graphic designer of the school :no1: for a short time in my high school time because i have to go to college hehe…
In our school we made a mini conference about Online games…
our aim is that the students will not skip class..and other aims and a little same as this topic right now…
because time will come parents will start to use PC and they will get attracted to games too…and they will not think that games are bad ^_^
we’ve invited 2 speakers for it… 1 from a computer shop owner and 1 from a church like priest,pastor…
after that mini-confe we saw only little percent of kids applied what they have learned from it….
I know God will make way to help us bout this ^_^
weeee parang na off topic na ako :sux:
mitski on April 14, 2007
IMO the reason why MMORPGs are viewed as a “bad habit” or as a “bad influence” is because of the… so-called “jologs” crowd in the online community, there are some people (especially the minor gamers) who can be influenced by these people.. I don’t think any parent in their right mind would allow their sons or daughters to enter such a community if they were aware that their kids can be exposed to such profanities.
I think you guys can start there, with trying to improve the quality of the community.. although it’s not really something that can be easily achieved, considering that each person is brought up differently. >.> But it’s just a thought.
kenneth2230 on April 15, 2007
i agree with you mitski
each person is brought up differently..i’m glad takot ako sa parents ko
:heh:
levin3d on April 15, 2007
if you can get willie revilliame, kris aquino, robin padilla and manny paquiao to endorse the game, you’ll pretty much succeed at getting gaming accepted in the technophobic sphere of society.
the general people ignorant, they will gladly feed on anything they see on tv. sad but true.
:gawi: :no1: :heh:
Dahkie on April 15, 2007
im a pRO player..and i hate to admit it but it really has brougt about negative effects sa studies ko..yun ay nung umpisa..dami q bagsak..
Everyting has bad effects..un ang sabi nila..pero pra sakin it wud still deffer sa kng paano m ttgnan ung ctwaxon..every bad effect that things would bring to you must be faced with a positive attitude..dpat icpin m lagi ka may matututnan. And learning how to respond to these kinds of situations WILL make you a better person.
Even if some people tend to get addicted in gaming/online gaming..still some still have control of themselves..ndi nman kc lhat ng gamer knakalimutan na ung ngyyari sa paligid nila..aq mdlas stressed 4m pressure sa parents q..panganay kasi..college pa..tpos dagdagan p ng iba’t ibang mga problema..and gaming REALLY CAN HELP FIGHT STRESS ..totoo yan..
nwie mxado na mhaba 2ng post..hehe..guys just rmmber to keep tings in moderation..actly sabi nga ni sir wauks dun sa isang post nya..gaming should be kept low while you’re still in school..at yan ang dpat natin matutunan.. /no1
JC John SESE Cuneta on April 15, 2007
@mitski
Not really the ‘jologs’ but the irresponsible gamers and those are already addicted… mainly, (online) gaming addiction.
That is the major reason why, almost no one in this country views and treats gamers seriously. I know a local gaming company who doesn’t want to hire “gamers” (especially those with years of experience), and if you look at their service, it really is very bad. They will even go hop to their competitors trying to buy the “people” as a package.
You can search google.com for more info about “irresponsible gamers” and “(online) gaming addiction”. I also suggested already that there must be a dialogue between the gamers (, anime otakus) and the parents, politicians.
Do you know that a provincial representative said that gamers will soon become “WAR-FREAK” Adults?
Glad (quoting waukeen) the “new Level-Up” is joining the fight and the cause to defend and elevate the status of the gaming industry and the gamers, though just within their turf, it is still a big step. A pioneering company is a great asset in this ‘war’ (if you will) than without.
Search in google.com and you’ll know more about how deep this problem really is.
Artemis on April 15, 2007
Ban the botters! Kill the AIs!…
okey nuff about my rants. :gg:
I am already old and a professional nang marinig ko ang tungkol sa RO. saw it’s ads on TV. Not interested. Some friends said I should try it. Not interested pa rin.
Then my nephew got hold of a free Juno CD. Ini-install sa computer ko. Naglaro. Nakipanood ako. Wooola! Got interested! Got my own account and created my very first RO character.
Almost quit though because of those bots. Then came Thor and thus I remained an addict and an anti bot.
Suggestion on how to get these young and old professionals with money to burn playing RO?
Send free RO CD’s to their offices! Let them try it for kicks.
Set up a ragnarok tutorial sa lobbies ng kanilang mga buildings. 2 computers with RO(para ma experience nila party system). Allow them to play for free or see the world of RO for several minutes. Some will defiitely get hook since most professionals are looking for excitement and outlets for stress.
Most of my RO friends na professionals use RO to escape stress and the monotony of their work. And these professionals are the serious gamers. Kids who still get their allowances usually quit and get bored in no time.
Yralyn on April 15, 2007
” I’ve been talking to a lot of Ragnarok players lately, including ones that have already retired. You know what’s amazing? You can get more valuable information and insights from them compared to executive marketing genius consultants.”
* the target market -> Nintendo was right on the money when they made their newest console [Wii] extremely user friendly; instead of targetting an already-saturated market of console gamers, they targetted those people who want to play but shirk at it because they feel as if console games are for geeks who sit at the corner with their fast finger/wrist twitching on those complex control pads…
Most MMOs target the same market, and rightly so, because it’s a relatively safe venture; all MMOs have similar interfaces and gameplays to keep the player from being alienated as they play a new MMO. But this also means that a lot of people [parents, grandparents, people who aren't used to the concept of computer gaming in general] are left out and confused, which all the more makes the negative views of gaming — right or wrong — all the worse…
* the visible effects -> although it’s primarily blamed upon computer games, computer addiction is not just limited to it. From Solitaire players to Friendster addicts to chatters galore, computer addiction is a very subtle yet degrading problem that would all the more hurt the image of computer gaming, and all the more online gaming (because unlike “offline” games, MMOs generally do not have a particular “end game” objective… in the end, all MMOs are basically playgrounds, where all the gamers end up either beating the crap out of each other or do something together like questing or grinding). Until the image of the online gamer — the lonely computer-hogging addict-looking geek whose only social life is in a virtual society — is fixed, the promotion of online games outside the people who already play it is difficult at best…
Mikey on April 15, 2007
There was a time when I was really into gaming, and I was really dedicated to helping make pRO the best RO community in the world. Back then, I would regularly scour the streets of Prontera, taking screenshots of flooders, scammers, illegal traders, etc., and spending LOTS of time reporting the offenders to Customer Support. It was very satisfying–I felt like I was having fun with the game and doing something RIGHT on top of that.
Then the issue of botting overwhelmed RO shortly after Comodo was released. I did what I could to report the bots I caught, but it shocked me to know that LUG “couldn’t do anything” about them. It didn’t matter how many incriminating screenshots I sent to Customer Support–LUG replied to my reports by saying I didn’t have enough proof, even when I reported one particular bot for the third time (WHO, on a surprising note, changed from a female to a male avatar on the third instance).
It wasn’t long before about 90% of the avatars in the game were bots. I got so disillusioned at how unfair the playing field had become, and I retired soon after.
That was over two years ago. I swear, if bots never came around, I’d still be playing RO until now. It’s a really great game ruined by a really retarded community.
I’ll have to agree with most of the other comments to this thread: If parents and the people in authority view gaming as a bad habit, it’s because it IS a bad habit for most gamers. I can’t see how gamers can learn to be more analytical and more resilient by programming bots to do all the work. All they actually LEARN are ways to cheat their way through life, always looking for loopholes in the system and advocating the “easy way out” of everything.
Joel S. Tan on April 15, 2007
If you’re gonna do an advert on the subject, why not take the idea from the film, “300.” You gather hundreds of players on a mountainous map of Rune Midgard, then go through the lines, ie. “What’s your profession.” Of course the players on one side would say what their real-life jobs are. Those on the other side, well… you get the picture. RAGNAROK PLAYER! RoK on!
valfogg on April 15, 2007
computer gamers comes from all walks of life and all types of businesses or educations.
best way is to collaborate gamers from all walks to try to incorporate these products into their respective works or schools.
gaming is a stress reliever. and unlike other stress relievers, this one acts on the virtual want syapses on our brain overtime.
however unlike real life there is only a few things able to shut down this synapse unlike real life.
so in this case, try to reward players with lives out of the game. it might hurt the business at the start, but the influx of new players as this project blossoms will be worth it in the long run.
Wauks on April 15, 2007
@Joel
That was a kick-ass suggestion. AHU AHU! :heh:
Guys, lemme read through all your comments first. Andami. Haha! Thanks for sharing your insights. :no1:
kulugo on April 15, 2007
let’s just admit it… gaming is bad!!! heheh
j/k
Wauks on April 15, 2007
@valfogg
Your suggestion is already in the works. We already have a meeting scheduled this week to revive the Level-up Honor Roll program for outstanding students. Maybe we can have the same for Young Professionals? I’m pretty sure that at the end of the year, companies give out awards like “Employee of the Year”, “Best Agent”, etc.
@Mikey
I totally agree with you on several points. There was a time when it would have been good to clamp down on the bots and it’s sad that we can no longer do that. In fact, we’re still trying to make that happen in Thor. With regards to learning – I still believe that gaming can help people become better. Let’s base the discussion on gaming as a whole and not just Ragnarok.
@Yralyn
Nintendo Wii is a good example of Blue Ocean Strategy. Instead of going head-on with competition, you make a product that transcends the category of console gaming as a whole. You reinvent the wheel (which is very dangerous). Online Gaming, when it started out, was also Blue Ocean. People were only used to Consoles, Arcades, and real toys. When Ragnarok came out, it was such a huge hit because it was the first online game in the market and it was such a novelty back then. With regards to talking to players, don’t worry, I plan to do that a lot. It’s really more effective and it costs less than hiring consultants.
@Artemis
Level-up is actually doing that already – hehe. Not with Ragnarok though, but with Freestyle and Pangya. We’ve actually set-up already at Pacific Star, Petron Building, and even Convergys. From what I heard from the Pangya Brand Manager, they’re planning to do one also at e-telecare.
@Dahkie
I’m sorry to hear that man. I agree with you that gaming should always be in moderation.
@levin3D
That’s a good idea. It would be good to launch RO2 with product endosements. However, I won’t just get a celebrity just because they’re famous. I want them to be real gamers – and I already know a couple of people who are willing.
@mitski
j00 are ebil. :gg:
@JC
Someday someone should make an Online Gaming Company association here in the Philippines. The thrust for elevating gaming from a bad habit to something good should be an industry move. I don’t think anyone has the budget to do a full-blast tri media campaign to get the message across, hehe.
@everyone
Keep your comments and suggestions coming! :no1:
kenneth2230 on April 15, 2007
@Wauks
about the Honor Roll Program.. can you advertise it on TV??? before classes starts??
and if possible send off some of your employees to go to a school in each region and advertise your program ^_^ hehehe :^^:
maybe it might help
kasi only few people know about it.. kahit nga ako late kuna yan nalaman :sob2:
pina register ko sana Valedictorian namin :gg: j/k
JC John SESE Cuneta on April 16, 2007
Perfect World
Holy Order of the Light
Istar el Adere (Alpha Order of the Stars)
Anthenuria Principality
@Yralyn
“I wonder why nobody thought of it before”
People thought of it before. When I was still with LU! we did it, when I moved to Mobius, we talked to the players, and so on. The problem is or are the marketing people and the top bosses
If they’re not gamers themselves “before” they worked or entered in the gaming business, their minds and ears are set to understand and hear only about the business-side of things. That’s how it is in the corporate world of online gaming 
@waukeen
“Someday someone should make an Online Gaming Company association here in the Philippines. The thrust for elevating gaming from a bad habit to something good should be an industry move. I don’t think anyone has the budget to do a full-blast tri media campaign to get the message across, hehe.”
Not really on that level. The industry, or the corporate world’s priorities and budgetting will not give much to it, they think “let them do it, if the government starts to restrict us, then we’ll do it”. And I’ve heard it countless of times.
So, instead of waiting for the corporate world to do it, let the gamers – you and me, initiate it. We just have to initiate it on the gamers/consumer level, then just tap the people with talents and skills out there. I’m 100% sure they will respond, after all, they will also be affected.
The Philippine government will move, there is even a group of law-makers who already started to right the bill for taxation of online game (on the consumer level – prepaid cards for example). I wish I can say who they are, but its election, and like you wauks, you know how the political world rotates :p
—
I really call on an association or something on the gamers level before the government do their’s. We will be on the losing end if the government comes out of their plans first.
While, us – you, me, and the rest of the other gamers working for the local gaming companies – take care of the corporate world.
So gamers, know more about Game Addiction, and how serious this is, lest you want your online gaming to be similar with Vietnam, Thailand, China, Korea – http://gameshogun.ws/Games?cat=81
Jec on April 16, 2007
Scene: Pacquiao stepped into the ring with Eric Morales but not to fight fight or drink beer, but to play pRO in PVP room