Note: This rant was written before the hidden pages of Island of Rhodes were found. Which is still stupid, because all it leads to is another countdown. For more info, check out the comments.
That pun was 100% intended, by the way.
Countdown timers are amazing things. They can tell you when you should take that lasagna out of the oven, or make speculators cream their pants. They’re also a great PR marketing strategy that HAS TO STOP.
Countdown timers are the latest fad in the PR marketing strategy of the videogame industry. It’s the greatest strategy since I Love Bees, the viral marketing for a little game called Halo 2. It’s a simple concept: Make a website (preferably about a well-recieved game) with a countdown timer on it. Make sure to include some stuff related to your game behind the timer! Hide a link to the website inside a game or commercial or message board post. Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. The internet will buzz around like flies, and all you’ll have to do is upload some announcement or video when the countdown is done. Done deal.
These sites are expected to hide some “big” secrets. But these sites don’t usually hide much. Just look at GTA IV, one of the forefronts of the countdown strategy. A huge countdown timer all leading up to a dissapointing trailer for the upcoming GTA. Now, it’s great we have a new trailer…but I was expecting something better. I mean, if you’re having a countdown for a trailer, you better make the trailer spiffy.
And now, we have the latest in countdown crap, Island of Rhodes. Revealed in a YouTube video, the link was unlocked after getting a 999,999 hit combo in God of War 2. The hit counter led up to the website with teasers like “The mystery is unfolding”, “More hits, more hints”, and “The secret is near”.
And just what did we find?
A video commentary of the first few levels of God of War 2…great…really…..thanks. No, seriously! I love it! Is the receipt in the box…?
What I’m trying to say is that countdown clocks for upcoming games are some of the biggest letdowns, as well as a horrible strategy if the announcement isn’t huge.
Filed under: Opinion
Nice Rant! But it seems the Island of Rhodes saga isn’t over just yet. Some people found that there were some hidden greek letters on the page. Clicking on them to spell Kratos revealed another video, and another puzzle. Past that was guess what… another timer! This one with part of a new games title partially revealed. PSP game? PS3?
Oh yeah, it also showed to to enable HD mode for God of War II.
http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/isle-of-rhodes-site-unlock-gow-2-hd-mode-new-countdown-251824.php
Do you even know what PR is for?