Social networking sites as market research for games
by Andrew Yoon 
{ May 6th 2008 at 12:15PM }
Facebook has allowed Gnosis Games to share a small taste of these games, such as the surprisingly addictive "Sugar Blitz" (pictured, above). Not only does the application offer organic word-of-mouth marketing for the team, it gives them valuable feedback on what players like and dislike. Yes, the comments and Wall posts offer good clues, but Facebook's tracking tools offer even more insight into the habits of gamers. Through the Facebook application, Gnosis can see how players find the game, how long they play, and where they go within the application. If a cheap Flash-based game does well on Facebook, will it translate to retail success? That's what Gnosis is hoping for.
Plans for integration with social networking sites goes beyond simple market research data. The community encourages competition and bragging. Imagine if unlocking an achievement in the retail game unlocked avatars for display on one's Facebook page. The Xbox 360 Live Gamercard application already has us showcasing our conquest for more Gamerscore. The interaction between social networking and video game marketing has only begun -- expect it to become prolific as more marketing teams jump on board.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ May 6th 2008 12:22PM
My gad, I swear Facebook is going to take over the world at some point, horrible invasive marketing nonsense, it will one day become SKYNET!!! And then we will all have to deal with the horrible corny sayings like "my CPU is a neural net processor" when inevitably machines from the future come to save us from Facebook.
brandon_r87 @ May 6th 2008 12:40PM
Proud holdout of social networking sites. My thinking is, as a gamer and computer science major, I spend more than enough time at the computer. It would be unhealthy to live my social life on it.
BigD145 @ May 6th 2008 2:10PM
"Chances are, you're on one (or all) of the major social networking sites out there"
Gamers? Social? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
No, really. Was that supposed to be a joke?
LAWL @ May 6th 2008 6:27PM
Cool.
Another way to reach the casuals,let the crusde continue! we will convert everyone into the gamingz.