When are we expecting news?

[2 quid is good]

Me and my brother were talking about this marketing issue a while back, and it occurred to us that everyone and their mothers knew FFXV was a Thing, that it was coming out, it was happening, there were bus stop posters for it in the fairly remote village I would pass through on my way to college back then.

I don't know if much of this is due to how few people own a PS5 or whether Square ACTUALLY doesn't care to do nationwide, physical marketing anymore, but the drop off was quite big. Even with KH3, I'd see adverts for it on London buses but as soon as I'd be out of the city there was nothing, the most shocking thing to me was there was NO UK tv spot for KH3.

In 2019, linear tv was still King amongst children, and it was still the case until about 2022, not too sure now. Even 2.5 remix had a tv ad campaign.

I know these are very traditional methods of advertising but they DO work. If you only use social media I think you run the risk of ONLY advertising to people already locked on, creating your own sort of echo chamber. I still laugh at that ridiculous Rebirth campaign where they built a Buster Sword out of PS5 controllers in Birmingham.

I know SE are trying to position KH as a third pillar of sorts but I have to agree somewhat with what @Phoenix is saying. I'm sure there's fans of the series working there, but it doesn't feel like they know how to sell the franchise at ALL.

 

[xenosaga]

I would expect similar with KH4, just change Switch 1 to Switch 2.

 

[Squood!]

I know SE are trying to position KH as a third pillar of sorts but I have to agree somewhat with what @Phoenix is saying. I'm sure there's fans of the series working there, but it doesn't feel like they know how to sell the franchise at ALL.

I mean, if you look at discussion about the series anywhere online outside of...well, fan-specific areas...hell even IN fan specific areas, I wouldn't be surprised if SE just can't tell what the "majority" of people want or something since discussion about this series kinda goes all sorts of ways even amongst people who haven't played it. That is if SE looks in these areas.

 

[Darkspawn]

It's Dragon Quest day apparently, and SE put a teaser online for the Dragon Quest 2D-HD remake. No footage or date but platforms were included. I figured if they were teasing its reappearance then they'd be confirmed for SGF but I guess it could be at Sony, Xbox, or Nintendo's live streams.

It'd be nice to get as many platforms confirmed for KH4.

My guess is it’ll be at the Nintendo Direct. Midori is claiming sources are telling her the same. It’s possible they’ve expanded this to the whole Erdrick trilogy which would be incredible.

So that would leave SGF and the PS/Xbox events to KH and Visions of Mana.

If the PS event gets announced for Thursday, maybe we will get a KH4 trailer there with an online drop for Missing Link pre-registration since the latter is most likely starting around the 31st.

Or they start pre-registration without a trailer but debut it at SGF. Could be a good SGF teaser strategy. “Pre-register now and tune into SGF for a new look at the game!” or something.

 

[Phoenix]

I mean, if you look at discussion about the series anywhere online outside of...well, fan-specific areas...hell even IN fan specific areas, I wouldn't be surprised if SE just can't tell what the "majority" of people want or something since discussion about this series kinda goes all sorts of ways even amongst people who haven't played it. That is if SE looks in these areas.

But we're talking about normal marketing things. Curate your trailers, have good native ports to games, put up a billboard advertising the games, tweet something funny sometimes.

I'm not a Marketing major, but goddamn, sometimes it feels like they're barely doing anything to get the word out. Compare how FF gets treated to KH. They're both core properties. You can't tell me KH is getting the same love FF is.

 

[Launchpad]

The advertising for FF is more granular than KH. There's usually a trailer or two that's like "The new Final Fantasy game is cool because you can do this, and this, and upgrade this, and this character can do that, and there's this side mode" while KH trailers are just full of character dialogue, spoilers, and flashy animations. There were like two KH3 trailers that had a lot of combat, but no trailers ever made it the singular focal point.

 

[Chaser]

I hope they retired the half and half trailers from KH3. Half gameplay, half cutscenes with a musical gear change in the middle that's abrupt and ruins the flow. And less random lines from all over the place stitched together.

 

[Liodin]

I imagine if Sony ends up doing something they should announce it today, right?

 

[xenosaga]

I mean personally I don't mind using Utada music in the trailer with half story half gameplay as long as it's done well

My favorite KH trailer ever is still the BBS Jump Festa 2010 trailer and it's similar to some KH3 trailers in a way, just done way better imo

 

[1millionsquats]

Speaking of trailers and music, do you think they'll unveil the new theme song next time KH4 is presented? A new remix of Hikari based off the new version, perhaps? Don't Think Twice got really old really quick with those terrible trailers...but it's a great song!

 

[Chaser]

That is the best trailer they've done imo, and none of KH3's comes close to how good that one is.

I just re-watched the final battle trailer and going from the start with the cutscenes and gameplay with quiet sound effects and voices muted to the random spats of dialogue just don't hit the same.

"In time I awakened to a new purpose."
"Kairi's right, we're all in this together Sora."
"Please I have created enough victims."

Like what.

 

[xenosaga]

Speaking of trailers and music, do you think they'll unveil the new theme song next time KH4 is presented? A new remix of Hikari based off the new version, perhaps? Don't Think Twice got really old really quick with those terrible trailers...but it's a great song!

It seems a bit too early. I do expect a brand new Utada song since this is a new numbered entry. But I think we won't hear about the theme song until we are much closer to the release of KH4.

 

[Darkspawn]

Speaking of trailers and music, do you think they'll unveil the new theme song next time KH4 is presented? A new remix of Hikari based off the new version, perhaps? Don't Think Twice got really old really quick with those terrible trailers...but it's a great song!

if they’re following Rebirth’s pattern, it may debut at the Game Awards. I wonder if they could convince Utada to perform the song live?

I also had a random thought about the song. With the Versus XIII/XV influences KH4 has, what if Florence Welch collaborated on a song with Utada this time? It could be interesting if they did something where Utada represents Reality while Florence represents Unreality.

 

[HakaishinChampa]

I imagine if Sony ends up doing something they should announce it today, right?

Tomorrow because today's memorial day

if they’re following Rebirth’s pattern, it may debut at the Game Awards. I wonder if they could convince Utada to perform the song live?

I also had a random thought about the song. With the Versus XIII/XV influences KH4 has, what if Florence Welch collaborated on a song with Utada this time? It could be interesting if they did something where Utada represents Reality while Florence represents Unreality.

Y'know, I kinda forgot that Skrillex and Utada collabed for KH3.

I do wonder who we'll get this time. I would be down for Skrillex again but I think Droeloe or Illenium would be good picks too.

Maybe the return of M-Flo collabing with Utada? They remixed one of her songs before.

 

[Darkspawn]

I imagine if Sony ends up doing something they should announce it today, right?

If it’s a State of Play, it will probably be announced tomorrow and air on Thursday.

 

[Liodin]

Tomorrow because today's memorial day

If it’s a State of Play, it will probably be announced tomorrow and air on Thursday.

Guys, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm from the future.

A future called Europe.

 

[Chaser]

Guys, I know it sounds crazy, but I'm from the future.

A future called Europe.

I had the same thought being an Aussie haha. I was like "well if they do the news at 11pm like usual then it is today."

But I do hope the announcement is within the next 12 hours, that'd be nice.

 

[Phoenix]

In NZ, same thing. Ask me for lottery numbers, Americans!

 

[Chaser]

In NZ, same thing. Ask me for lottery numbers, Americans!

Oh I didn't realise you were a neighbour! Kia ora!
You have better version of shows (Taskmaster NZ, Traitors NZ) and funnier comedians. Sorry that game prices are so high over there.

May whatever game show that peaks your interest this season be streaming at a reasonable hour for you!

 

[Squood!]

...you and your fancy schmancy time travel time zones while I gotta deal with Eastern Standard Time ;A;