Call to Action: Thank the media

[Golden Girl]

We've hit CNN:

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-837330?ref=feeds%2Flatest

[dwturducken]

Not exactly, but it could get on air with a little community support.  It really only mentions the petition, not all of the directions being coordinated here, so that needs a tweak.  It's certainly worth creating an account to log in and comment, but it does need a little more of the info.

[Golden Girl]

I know - the fact that we're on the first step of the CNN news ladder is important, and everyone should register there to recommend the story for further attention.

[emu265]

Not exactly, but it could get on air with a little community support.  It really only mentions the petition, not all of the directions being coordinated here, so that needs a tweak.  It's certainly worth creating an account to log in and comment, but it does need a little more of the info.

GG is right, this is incredible.  These efforts have already exceeded my expectations.

This is an amazing first step to mainstream media.  It's not perfect, of course.  Making an account now.

[pogoman]

Hi all! I just posted this on the Virtue forums in City of Heroes:

Aside from playing City of Heroes..our beloved game, I play a facebook game- Wrestler:Unstoppable. My character is Hollywood Rick Brutal and a friend runs a blogtalk radio station. On Tuesday nights 10pm to midnight est (sorry Shecky) I do a talk show called The Unstoppable Super Show!
I was discussing our situation with my friend and she said if I wanted to, I can do a special show Thursday evening as long as we're done by 10:30pm.
I thought this might be an excellent opportunity to use the power of my/our voice(s). I was thinking, we could explain the situation, how the listeners can help, etc. I would, once the show is set up, spam my facebook feed with the link to get it out there.
Any takers, suggestions, etc?

I hope this is the right place to post this.

[Zombie Hustler]

I just posted this on the CNN article:

"Over the last 8 years, City of Heroes has grown well beyond its roots as another MMO- albeit one of the few superheroic themed ones. It has become a community; a network of people engaging in friendships that extend well beyond the computer screen, and into the real world. It is as viable a community as any neighborhood or family or social group that might exist outside our own door. Indeed, in this increasingly technology driven world, often personified by faceless, non-personal interaction, City of Heroes might be among the first of a more sustainable hybrid community- a strange admixture of the virtual and the tangible. As Shakespeare said, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." In City of Heroes, all the players are also men and women like everyone else."

[Taki]

Well I've turned into an internet creeper!

I found the guy who plays in the background on the show Big Bang Theory in the comic shop wearing the Statesman Shirt

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=nerdfitti.com%2Fimages%2Fcoh%2Fcaptainsweatpants.png

...and I wrote him the following email...

Okay I know this is both odd and reaching, but I've seen you on the show Big Bang Theory wearing a City of Heroes shirt a few times, and I'm taking that as you're a fan of the MMO.

I am one of those desperate players who is trying anything and everything to rally attention to the game to save it, apparently this now includes being an internet creeper and stalking a guy who plays in a TV show.

I happen to make video game decals and shirts out of my basement, and I made a shirt with the Statesman Star on it and a black band across it both on the front and the sleeves.

If I made you one (free), would you consider wearing it on the show??

It does not in any way have text, links or any such nonsense to point to my site. As a matter of fact I've removed them from my site (as well as all COH graphics)   just because it seemed appropriate.

If you can that would be fantastic! If you don't want to or can't, I fully understand. If you could I make them in black on a Hanes shirt and I can go up to 6XL, or if you don't like black I can order another color to put it on.

Thank you for your time, I hope I didn't offend you by this request.

~Eric

It's reaching but I figure if Oprah can mention a shop or book she likes and suddenly they become overnight successes... maybe if "Captain Sweatpants" shows up in an episode wearing a shirt to make a statement about COH that it will gain that sliver of attention needed to save the game?

Here's what the shirt looks like
https://images.weserv.nl/?url=nerdfitti.com%2Fimages%2Fcoh%2Fripcoh.png

I figure the worst that happens I'll be out $20 and my time but totally worth it in the grand scheme of things if helps!

[dior]

Excellent work Tony V et al.

Please bear in mind, anything we do MUST continue until the last day. 3 months is a long time in the world of media, and, with elections/natural disasters/sports fixtures etc, it will be really important to keep any media contacts you make informed, updated and above all, interested.

One thing I have noticed being in Europe, is that my sorces of information are either Sals Badgehunters on Facebook or the CoH European forums - are our fellow players from the US also doing anything, and could somebody perhaps compile a list of links to the various forums etc?

Once again, thanks to anyone and everyone who is championing our cause.

Makes me proud to be a CoX'er! 

[Soundtrack]

I know - the fact that we're on the first step of the CNN news ladder is important, and everyone should register there to recommend the story for further attention.

I rarely create accounts JUST to comment or add support, but I did this time.

It's easy to do and it's worth it.

Imagine if we got CNN to cover this? That would be mind-blowing.

[Mister Bison]

We got personnaly covered by gamerzines as well as official coverage of Alpha Wolf's annoucement in game.

http://www.gamerzines.com/mmo/rumour-paragon-discussions-heroes.html

[Vulpy]

I found the guy who plays in the background on the show Big Bang Theory in the comic shop wearing the Statesman Shirt...

If he agrees to this, why be subtle? If the Big Bang producers would be okay with it, why not have him wearing a shirt that says something like "Save Our Game!" with the Statesman star on it. That's hopefully vague enough to avoid lawyer attention, but blunt enough to make a statement to fans of the show that don't know much about the game.

Of course, this assumes that they'd be filming episodes that would air before November 30, or the gesture could be moot. Still..."if you don't ask, you never find out."

[Taki]

A valid point.

Well lets see how he deals with the internet creeper tracking him down and sending him an email & we'll go from there  ;D

There's a lot of "if's" but it's a start!

[Rae]

http://www.examiner.com/article/efforts-underway-to-save-city-of-heroes just featured us :D

[Thirty-Seven]

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/09/05/a-mild-mannered-reporter-requiescat-in-pace-city-of-heroes/

Massively just ran a story on the closing!  I made sure to add a comment about the effort to save the game, I am the first, so its sure to get read!!

[Vulpy]

http://www.examiner.com/article/efforts-underway-to-save-city-of-heroes just featured us :D

Thank you! I've been looking for a link legitimate enough to try to post to a certain snarky news aggregation website. If I get greenlit, I'll post the link here.

[eabrace]

https://images.weserv.nl/?url=nerdfitti.com%2Fimages%2Fcoh%2Fripcoh.png
That's some excellent work, Taki.  I, for one, would be proud to wear one of those on TV.  Sadly, I'm not on TV.

[Vulpy]

Thank you! I've been looking for a link legitimate enough to try to post to a certain snarky news aggregation website. If I get greenlit, I'll post the link here.

Redlit. I'm undeterred, though; I'll look for other ways to tell our story.

[TomFury]

Some blogs have mentioned us:

http://www.scifiwright.com/2012/09/save-city-of-heroes/

http://joederouen.com/?p=314

Also, a couple more articles;

http://iqu.com/blog/paragon-studios-to-be-disbanded

http://www.gamingcentrum.com/2012/paragon-studios-in-discussions-to-save-city-of-heroes/

[eabrace]

http://www.gamingcentrum.com/2012/paragon-studios-in-discussions-to-save-city-of-heroes/

Could someone copy/paste the headline for this one so that I can add that to the twitter feed?  (The site is blocked at work because it's categorized as a "gaming" site." Boo!)

[TomFury]

Paragon Studios in Discussions to Save City of Heroes (Gaming-Centrum)