Unscheduled, but DEMANDED Family Fun Hobbies demo:

[Knighthawk]

So, tonight at Family Fun Hobbies, I was DEMANDED to run a demo of Summoner Wars...like, I was basically ORDERED to leave, and get the stuff, then come back and demo.

Demo went well, with several players, and a number of on-lookers!

Got a number of inquires about why I can't vend it to them, including from the store owner (he was raving about the success of directly putting materials in his store, and how well things went with me supporting in-store demoes). I sadly had to explain to them what had been explained to me...
A large number explained they're holding off on buying the game till they can get it through me.

I'm sure they'll be waiting a long time, however I thought you guys would be interested in the fact that I got a DEMAND / Command performance of a demo.

You're welcome :-)

[PePe QuiCoSE]

wow, I ENVY you so MUCH it's ANNOYING me!

[Shockma Ranyk]

wow, I ENVY you so MUCH it's ANNOYING me!

I know, right.

[Setharillius]

I think it is in poor taste to hint once again that Colby should supply you with plaid hat products when he has told you in the past not to ask anymore.

(If I'm missing something here, my apologies)

But I am glad to hear that you are spreading summoner wars spirit!

[Knighthawk]

I bring it up, because I find it interesting that my local store is actually putting together a PETITION (yeah, I just found out!). I find it unfortunate to hope that someone will go to the site to buy a product after a demo, especially when surrounded by other games and demos immediately on hand.

And I think it's testament to my abilities as a demo-member.

[Knighthawk]

I know, right.

BTW, so glad that you guys envy me. I'm an experienced demo team member and coordinator, so if you guys have questions about how to make your demos even better don't hesitate to talk to me! :-)

[PePe QuiCoSE]

Oh YEAH dude, please TELL us how you DO it!

[prometheuslkr]

It's funny 'cause I'm not sure if PePe is being sarcastic...

[chardris77]

I find it unfortunate to hope that someone will go to the site to buy a product after a demo, especially when surrounded by other games and demos immediately on hand.

The only game I have ever impulse bought was an older medieval game that the employee at the game store was going to buy at the end of his shift. All other games have been meticulously researched and price shopped. Hence, most of my games, including ones I saw demos (demoes?) of, were bought online. Touché.



It's funny 'cause I'm not sure if PePe is being sarcastic...

Heh-heh. Same here.

[Knighthawk]

Oh YEAH dude, please TELL us how you DO it!

1) Be engaging. Don't just simply go about saying "this is the game, this is how it plays" and be done. Really talk to people, engage them. Find out what they're into and build from THEIR experiences, not yours.

2) Be honest. If there is a problem with the game, product's construction, or even perceptions of the company....address them! Bring them up ahead of time. Remember, vaccinating a person before the problem, especially when it comes to public perception, works amazingly well. Good example, when it came to the dice mechanic of SW, I addressed it on several grounds and levels. I also brought up the craptastic quality of the folding play-mats (BTW, good move getting rid of those!)

3) Know what's going on now, and what support for the game is coming. Expansions, edition changes, rule changes, etc.

4) Take criticisms from demo-participants, log them, bring them to the person you work for / with. When players and demoers feel their input matters it gives a feeling of ownership, participation, and community, which is a powerful drive to continue brand-loyalty.

5) Once you've baited the hook, but having limited quantities on hand (real or perceived), you can create demand. If you've done the above, and to good effect, you can reel them in and accomplish a sale. I once had a demo-participant who was skeptical when the game first came out (and when I first got involved with Plaid Hat Games, even before the formation of the corps), and I wound up selling them 2 starter sets and a deluxe board! Yep...I'm just that good! (Oh, consequently, I managed to sell them some of the games I designed as well! So yay for me!)


It's amazing how simple tactics, and ways of public relations, things you think you'd never use or thought were just BS you learned in college actually work.
This is why I have conventions full of followers. I've had amazing successes with multiple companies over the years, and it's not really about getting rich (believe me, if I can cover the costs of attending the cons, I'm happy), it's about helping other designers, and staying active in the gaming community at large.

I hope this helps you guys :-)

Hope to get another shipment of sellable materials.

Oh, and I'll be running another demo on Tuesday next week. Was sick and couldn't do it this week (plus taking care of the sick wifey)

[thenightsshadow]

I'll be one of the first to say that I agree with your methodology, since it's worked quite well for me before. The hardest thing to sell the general board gamer or card gamer is the dice mechanic, but pointing out things like "Hits are on a 3+, so you hit more often than you miss" helps to curb that sort of problem.

[Obsidian]

Got a number of inquires about why I can't vend it to them, including from the store owner (he was raving about the success of directly putting materials in his store, and how well things went with me supporting in-store demoes). I sadly had to explain to them what had been explained to me...
A large number explained they're holding off on buying the game till they can get it through me.

I'm sure they'll be waiting a long time, however I thought you guys would be interested in the fact that I got a DEMAND / Command performance of a demo.

You're welcome :-)


I bring it up, because I find it interesting that my local store is actually putting together a PETITION (yeah, I just found out!). I find it unfortunate to hope that someone will go to the site to buy a product after a demo, especially when surrounded by other games and demos immediately on hand.



Hope to get another shipment of sellable materials.



Knighthawk you receive 1 free copy of each product when it releases in exchange for demoing, same as everyone else. You will not receive extra product for your event as I have already told you via email.

Perhaps you should stop asking.

As I understand it, the demo team just demonstrates the products. We aren't responsible for distribution.

[PePe QuiCoSE]

1) Be engaging.
2) Be honest.
3) Know what's going on now
4) Take criticisms from demo-participants
5) Once you've baited the hook, but having limited quantities on hand (real or perceived), you can create demand.You are CLEARLY way above common sense, I would have never thought of these things! No surprise you have like a CULT following you convention after convention!
I FEEL Colby should really think things THROUGH and start sending you stuff, HE (and not YOU) would make LOADS of MONEY!

[Knighthawk]

See! You get it! Finally! Yeah, if he send me stuff I can vend it and help him really rake it in. So glad I'm not the only one who sees it!

Thanks for agreeing with me. Now let's pass along the word! :)

[chardris77]

See! You get it! Finally! Yeah, if he send me stuff I can vend it and help him really rake it in. So glad I'm not the only one who sees it!

Thanks for agreeing with me. Now let's pass along the word! :)

Let it go.

[Setharillius]

Yes, buddy, regardless of your possibly good intentions, IIRC Colby said he would ban you from plaid hat if you brought it up again.

[PePe QuiCoSE]

Thanks for agreeing with me. Now let's pass along the word! :)PREACH it BROTHER!

Shush the unbelievers!

[Knighthawk]

PREACH it BROTHER!

Shush the unbelievers!

I shall! I really wanna see PHG rise to the recognition levels of FFG or AH or even Mayfare! I think SW is a strong product, very good design, and great modularity and replayability! I just don't want to see it fall by the wayside! So let's see if we can get some proper support!

I want to run events for SW at DexCon 15 (www.dexposure.com) but it's not worth it without proper support.