Well we better win this then 
We need Xboxās help on this.
If youāre a US citizen with political views such as my own youād understand that itās difficult to wake up on the right side. Donāt trigger me! 
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Youāve got to remember, we are all bias here. We on these forums want MS to scream KI from the roof tops. All KI, all day (and night) long.
That is obviously never going to happen, but there is no doubt that KI could be pushed more.
Another thing to think about, is that the only people pushing for KI within MS, is the small team KI team within working on it. KI gets to advertise at big MS conferences like E3 becauseā¦wellā¦ALL MS properties get that spot light (especially when they are shedding other titles like crazy; Fable, Scalebound and others). But there is always more they could do weekly, monthly, whatever.
Honestly this is why I loved the S2 model more so than the S1 or S3 model of releasing things. I loved the monthly fervor around KI during that timeā¦even though it was hell on the Dev team.
Iām glad to see that MS is getting behind tournaments like the Ultra Tour though, I mean, better late then never. No downside to this. I hope they blow this out more.
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Itās easy to criticize from a place of very little knowledge. If you just assume MS has infinite funds, infinite time and infinite personnel to generate marketing materials, buy airtime etc. and that KI would, with additional marketing, recoup infinite investment then itās easy to carp about all the great marketing they arenāt doing.
But I have a lot of doubts about whether additional marketing would actually expand the audience for KI. And I guess Iām willing to concede that maybe MS has thought about it at least as much as I have and actually knows a little something about what they are doing. Maybe thatās not the case but itās at least as likely as (no offense to anyone) the collection of students, mechanics, night shift workers, etc that haunt the forums coming up with a better marketing plan for the game.
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As a mechanic, I readily admit that marketing is not my field of expertise. I am also sort of inclined to agree that it might be a little late for a magically funded marketing campaign to prompt an explosion in our numbers.
However, when my shop was down profits for 2 months in a row, we spent some petty on making drink coasters and beer cozies and distributed them to the local bars, and saw a ~20% increase in profitability over the following year. Knowing your audience, and where your potential for growth lies, and advertising to them can yield results on the cheap. That said, these principles may not apply to what is essentially a free service, and some bum mechanics anecdote isnāt exactly qualified marketing solutions.
Iām talking out me ā ā ā ā at this point. Pretty much just what @UncappedWheel82 said.
Also, @DeathBlooms2K8 sorry I got so hyphy at you. Maybe I, too, oughtta try climbing out the right side of bed. Iāve never been āemotionallyā attached to a game like this, at least not since I found out they were replacing the MvC2 cabinet at the airbase w/ a pinball machine when I was eight. Itās a pretty damned weird experience, but at the end of the day weāre all still friends, right? Well, virtual acquaintances, anyway. <3
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Just to clarify, Iām not suggesting that anyone isnāt capable of understanding the principles of marketing and making logical suggestions. Itās the vehemence of peopleās statements that I object to. Everyone seems certain that if MS would just invest more than they are that the game would blow up. And I just donāt see it.
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I think it could be as simple as a card board display for stores such as Game Stop, Walmart, ect..
If every game stop had a huge card board display of Fulgore and Jago or TJ and Maya as soon as you walk in. Every single person would see it, eventually recognize it and every kid would at least be a little bit intrigued if not down right buy the game.
Now how does that work with a free to play game? Well technically KI is no longer just a free to play gameā¦ you can buy the Definitive edition just like any normal SF or MK game. FTP wouldnāt even cross peoples minds if the DE is the one being advertised in store. (Which technically is all the store sales anyways besides that old Combo breaker S1 edition.)
It worked in 1994-1996ā¦ it could have worked in 2013-2017 as well. To late now?
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I think thatās the thing many of us want to believe, yes.
I worry that the reality is actually past tense - if MS had invested more, this game could have blown up.
But this is what Iām talking about! Even if a cardboard cutout campaign were decidedly too expensive, what about the boxes that XB1 is packaged in? What about pre-installation of the ādemoā? There are so many ways they could be drawing attention to the product, and it really does seem like they WANT more people to be playing KI, it just doesnāt seem like they are putting forth much effort to achieve such a goal.
Unless they really are working on a āsequelā of a sortā¦ but thatās a whole 'nother derail.
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Great ideas! I like it!
Pre installed demo (Like at all the GameStop displays that havenāt been updated since end of S1 LOL)
Console box advertising or KI themed console
Is it too late is my question?
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My wallet canāt take this abuse.
I have a KI themed console! but I had to create it myself 
They have a Quantum Leap or whatever that game is console and other smaller games besides the big Gears, Battle field, ect.. why not a KI?
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That is funny. My gamestop has not updated theirs from the start of S2. Newest characters are TJ and Maya.
When I talk about Ads for KI, I am most just shocked that they did very little to help it, and could have done so much more. Most of it taking very little time or effort.
I know this will upset people, and that is not my goal, but I canāt believe some think they would make a sequel after such little effort on this one.
The only thing I do know is that after the new system comes out, there will be a permanent ad āeyesoreā for the next console. Just like the X1 ad that is always on the Xbox 360.
My gut is worrisome, but I am also hungry, so maybe my gut is just waiting on this water to boil.
I really donāt think it is too late though - at least, it doesnāt have to be. Maybe itās silly, but I think a huge part of the KI scene (and the modern FGC at large) consist of ā'09ersā (which is NOT an insult), and likely hold SF4 as the golden standard. SF4 remained relevant for 7 years, content updates included.
I mention this because I think that SF4ās longevity should be what a good fighting game aspires to match or exceed.
I hope MS & IG agree. Honestly, 10 years is too short a shelf for a fighting game. Look at 3S, people still discover tech in that game to this day. In a game as bloody deep as ours? We can bank on 10 years easy, if the big names in the community (who are basically advertisements unto themselves) can stop actively trying to sabotage the games lifespan (and maybe if we didnāt have to rely so completely on MSās server upkeep?).
You never heard JWong or Tokido or Diago or Ricki drooling incessantly about how their game was dead or dying; but look no further than Sleep or Rico or Pink Diamond to find a bunch of misspelled and unthought nonsense about their community being trash and their game being dead. Hell, itās a good thing that FB group is private, lest every possible noob actively avoid us.
Now Iām rambling though.
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Well, PR Balrog is actually playing KI. In fact, he streamed yesterday. So thatās one. 
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Wait..WHAT???!!! O_O
So I faced the real PR Balrog!!! 
OH My GOSH!!! 
I assumed it was a fan of him, and when I saw the level I thought he was trying out characters so I picked Gargos to try the match up.
I can not believe it!! I even stood still for some seconds because my headset disconnected, thatās how relaxed I was. I would have been trembling if I was aware who he really was!! (See? thatās something I have to work about, being so nervous while playing players like that).
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Yeah, donāt be. Thatās actually what can cause you to lose matches. I mean, everyone gets nervous. Even the Hardened pros that play, but you have to be calm. How did you do, without knowing that was him?
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See, thatās where you are wrong. Balrog is a smart player, heās a very renowned player, but he does not play KI as much as you or a lot of us. Giving a top player that much respect is what makes you play inadequately. While you can admire and even be slightly intimidated, you still want to win. Whether or not you think heāll beat you doesnāt matter, your focus in any match should be is to play your game, not play off of his.
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Of course! thatās why I said itās something I have to work on. Being focused in my game and not being intimidated by the name alone.
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I expect a full Gargos Beatdown 
Think about it though. Without knowing, you fought THE PR Balrog, and did well I assume.
Just because they have Tourney experience, and are well-known, donāt be intimidated by the name.
I actually fought Justin Wong and Maximillian in UMVC3 without knowing at one point. I did well, and freaked out later because I realized who they were lol 
Maybe Balrog can help us out with more exposure for KI?
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Gargos can be a hard mu for the ones who know it imagine for someone thatās not used to it. Yeah, did well (thank you Hercules minions XD ).
Itās normal to be a little intimidated but you know it will be interesting. The problem is deal with the anxiety so you can play as you usually do. I want to do my best, no matter who Iām playing =)
Balrog caught my attention the first time I saw him playing SF in EVO. I can say I rooted for him at EVO too.
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