Arenanet has marketed GuildWars 2, during the past few months in various ways. However, they may have just passed the ‘WEIRD’ mark with this new contest they are presenting to the general public. Can you swear you will play only one MMO? Can you pledge allegiance to Guild Wars 2? If you can, you may as well get a free copy of the game.
Called ‘The Great MMO Migration’ Arenanet has announced a contest, which requires you to read a rather strange oath. The oath you have to say, basically lets you state that you don’t like to pay monthly subscriptions fees in order to play an MMO game and that it is far better for the MMOs to be free to play, that is why you choose Guild Wars two.
The advertisement for the campaign is simply hilarious, as it is basically a hidden-cam video. ArenaNet redesigned the interior of two cabs, in a cozy Guild Wars style and the drivers were transformed into citizens of Tyria. You can watch the whole thing here and get a few laughs.
All you have to do to enter the contest is say the oath. Of course, everything seems like a simple, funny idea. You get your camera, you say a few words that you hate subscription fees and you pledge your allegiance to Guild Wars, and the game may magically appear, after the contest is over of course, in your hands. However, there is a catch – you must be at a public place when recording the video.
ArenaNet has definitely taken a wrong turn with this Guild Wars 2 contest, simply because it is wrong to make people your advertisement pieces. It is almost like a big marketing scheme, don’t you think? Get your camera, get out, say to people you play Guild Wars, because it has no subscription fees, and you may get a price.
If A-Net continues on this road it may not gain, but lose some of its players, as this move is simply wrong. If you are making a contest, don’t make it an advertising one. Yes, contests are mostly made for advertisement; however don’t use your players as pawns. And if you are going to give out free games, don’t make players make an oath they are only going to play your game.
It is definitely a strange world we live in today, and is getting stranger by the day. Do you support arenanet in their decision and will you pledge your oath to them? It is up to you. Yes, everything may be done for the greater good and this Guild Wars 2 contest to be a fun social experience for the MMO players; however, it just doesn’t seem like it. There are already ‘new citizens to Tyria’ who have pledged their alliegence to the game and you may check them out here. Regardless, Arena.NET has either really went bananas, while thinking of a way to advertise their game, or are helping the greater good, by helping people stop losing their money over other MMOs.