1. What is Task Force Hail Mary?
Back in November, Quinch came up with the idea of creating a document that explained exactly what set COH apart from other games, why it should be saved and what a fantastic business opportunity it could present in the right hands. He recruited Victoria Vitrix (author), Ammon Johns (online marketing expert) and me (journalist who dabbles in PR).
We worked with people who had been very close to COH, who were in a position to give us information we might not have had otherwise. This forms the basis of the pitch, which is then re-written according to the company we are sending it to. The pitch outlines reasons why COH is a great game, it's importance to the community and perhaps more importantly, how it would nestle alongside the company's current portfolio to bring them profit and a unique place in the marketplace. The document explains that we do not own the game, but includes contact details of people they should get in touch with if we have piqued their interest and they would like to explore the matter further.
Our first target was Disney, and our current target is Google.
2. Why Google?
Rather simply, because a contact of VV's at Google asked us to send him the pitch.
3. Can I see the pitch?
No, sorry. As briefly outlined above, we were given a lot of information in confidence, on the condition it went no further than us, and the people we are trying to pitch COH to. We have to respect that request.
4. What happens next?
The pitch has been sent out to the contact at Google, and now we need your help. We need the SaveCOH community to show that this isn't just four people with too much time on their hands, but that we're backed by a community who want to play the game, would be willing to spend money, who support the game and want it back.
5. How do I do that?
Mail letters/postcards/whatever you'd like to send to:
Jeson Patel
Engineering Manager
Google Inc
Google Mountain View
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
It's worth googling (!) the contact if you have a moment. His interests are past successes are out there on the web for you to look at, and it might help you to get your letters underway.
If you've got a little time on your hands, you might also want to hit up:
Jamie Rosenberg, Vice President of Digital Content
At the same address, urging him to talk to Mr Patel with regards to the City of Heroes pitch he was sent.
6. Can I send emails?
Probably best not to. The last thing we want to do is interrupt their day to day work with loads of emails about COH, it won't make anyone sympathetic to our cause.
It takes time, effort and energy to send a letter and that's what we're after here.
7. Does it HAVE to be a letter?
If you have the time, energy and inclination to be creative, feel free. The more attention grabbing you can be, hopefully, the more likely they are to look at what you're sending. Just.. don't send them a finger or write it in your own blood or anything. We want to show support, not act like crazy people.
8. Yeah, but you're trying to sell something you don't own..
Not quite. We're trying to draw their attention to something that could be the perfect product for them, and giving them the information of the people they need to talk to if they'd be interested in taking it further.
9. Then what happens?
We're not under any illusions - like everything TFHM have done, we know it's a long shot, but if you don't try, then you'll never know. We've written something that outlines COH's strengths, weaknesses in the way it was managed that they could capitalise on and outlined a community desperate to see it's return. Letters from you guys will help to strengthen our pitch - to prove that you guys DO exist, and you DO want it back and we haven't just made the whole thing up because we get our kicks out of writing huge documents and sending them to people
After that, it's all in Google's hands. They need to decide a) if we're right, and it's something they should be interested in, and if so, b) then it all comes down to whether or not NC Soft are willing to sell.
10. And if it doesn't work?
Don't tell anyone, but we've already lined up the third target, and preliminary work is already underway on it.