Work To Give The Gp2x Press!

[Rayek]

I've just emailed my two local newspapers, The Olympian and the News Tribune of Tacoma, and told them all the gritty details of the GP2X.

I wish I would've saved my message, as it was very formal, and one could use it as a template for informing the press.

Things to keep in mind when telling press about the GP2X:

1. Mention it's benefits over the PSP, technologically speaking.

2. Mention it as having a political stand for free software against the likes of Sony and Nintendo, and with the likes of the Linux community.

3. Make sure to give links to good sites, like the gp32x.de mainpage, the two Wikis that are out there, distributors that serve the area in question, etc. I linked to gp2x.us for a good comparison between the PSP and the GP2X.

4. Mention the community and all the developments we're coming up with.

5. Attatch the latest newsletter from letter@gp2x.info, if you get that. It gives a good idea of how quickly the GP2X develops within a month.

6. Touch on the problems that the GP2X has had, just to make the article in question more interesting for the journalist to pick up the story.

7. Mention the GP32, and use it as an example of what the GP2X is capable of.

8. Mention that it's a W.I.P. Give the press the idea that the unit will never be completed, that it's a growing, changing device that gets smarter as we do

For good or ill, people need to get interested in this. It's better that the press is more informed about the unit so we don't get a repeat of the EDGE article.

Make sure if you contact ANYONE about articles or ads on the GP2X, post them here.

 

[LIZARDKING]

Great idea! would have been nice if you had kept that letter so it could be sent foward...

 

[Rayek]

Yeah, I tried to find it after I sent it, but no use.

Oh well.

 

[Reaperman93010]

maybe the gp2x isn't really quite ready for primetime yet. Perhaps it would be better if everybody on the planet didn't get the impression that it's a piece of garbage. There are communities that would 'get' gp2x's purpose, but your average newspaper probably isn't the place for technology that's not available at walmart and user-friendly enough for your grandparents.

additionally its writer isn't going to have access to this hardware, and even if he somehow did have the resources to get one, he most likely wouldn't be able to get much running. With his opinion already circling the drain, he'd do the only research he can on the item, in complaint-filled forums like this one.

 

[yaustar]

Personally I would have waited till the 'official' release in Jan when GPH have ironed out more problems.

 

[Rayek]

Well, peice of garbage or no, people should be informed that there's a big advancement in open-source technology, and that people actually perfer their peice of garbage to Sony's handheld. Plus, if you supply the links for them, they can see what kind of information is helping people, and to what kind of community it caters to.

People need to be told that software doesn't have to cost money, and that hardware is better and cheaper from the little guy than from the big corporation. *Looks down and notices the hammer and sickle on his chest... literally*

 

[jmetal88]

Nice concept, but I think you're focusing too much on competing with the bigger companies. The 2X is really aimed at a different market, so in my opinion, comparisons are probably a bad thing. Besides, gp2x.us is biased. The guy means well, but he didn't exactly get all the facts straight.

Also, publicity could be a very bad thing before the bugs are worked out, especially among the mass market.



Don't take me wrong, I love my 2X, but the mass market I really don't think it's ready for the mass gamer market. I'd stick to tech journals.

 

[Rayek]

Personally I would have waited till the 'official' release in Jan when GPH have ironed out more problems.

​

Newspapers like to get an 'early start' on shit like this, they'll love the fact that the unit is not 'officially released' yet.

8. Mention that it's a W.I.P. Give the press the idea that the unit will never be completed, that it's a growing, changing device that gets smarter as we do

 

[jmetal88]

8. Mention that it's a W.I.P. Give the press the idea that the unit will never be completed, that it's a growing, changing device that gets smarter as we do

​

Much better attitude.

 

[Rayek]

Nice concept, but I think you're focusing too much on competing with the bigger companies.  The 2X is really aimed at a different market, so in my opinion, comparisons are probably a bad thing.  Besides, gp2x.us is biased.  The guy means well, but he didn't exactly get all the facts straight.

Also, publicity could be a very bad thing before the bugs are worked out, especially among the mass market.



Don't take me wrong, I love my 2X, but the mass market I really don't think it's ready for the mass gamer market.  I'd stick to tech journals.

​

But the website is soo good.. isn't it? Partially addressing most questions that newcomers want to know...

The reason I'm focused on competition is to get the newspapers interested. People generally get interested when things like this happen, intentional or unintentional. I mentioned also the type of audience this is designed for, not the average-joe gamer. That in itself sets it apart from the PSP vs NDS issue.

edit: it's truely hard to write on the GP2X without mentioning the 'competition'. It's better that the GP2X comes out in the media one step ahead of the 'competition' rather than behind it if it is to get good press. Even if one doesn't mentin the PSP, most likely the journalist writing the article will mention it as the competition anyway.

I have faith that most newspapers will have a positive outlook on the GP2X if supplied the links I mentioned. They are very different than gaming mags which have incredible ties to media companies that want to see the GP2X burned.

 

[OmarNawaz]

hmm good idea was planning on doing this once the bugs have been ironed out i got alot of friends in the local gaming stores.

was planning to ask if i could leave some leaflets around maybe someone could knock up a proffesional looking flyer that outlines the features and got good shots of the gp2x like all black and sexy looking.

could maybe even convince the smaller shops nearby to stock them

if we all pitch in with this guerilla marketing well make the gp2x do very well

GP2X GP2X GP2X GP2XGP2X GP2X

 

[Rayek]

I think DaveC has made a few ads, they're mostly to draw attention, not with stats or anything. Find one of his posts and click on one of the links in his sig, I think the links are switched, i.e. the one that says small is really the big one, and vice versa.

 

[Yuglooc]

Um, What happend to

http://www.gp32x.de/board/index.php?showtopic=20655&st=0

 

[Shotgun Dingo]

and that hardware is better and cheaper from the little guy than from the big corporation.

​

I know you most likely mean Sony when you say "big corporation" in this instance, but you still should check against other consoles made by "big corporations" before making claims like that quoted above;

GP2X = $189.99 / £124.99.
DS = $129.99 / £89.99.



As an aside, other handheld consoles cannot be easily or accidentally bricked (or brick themselves of their own accord) like a GP2X can, and it is easily possible to acquire a brand new DS or GBA with a few games for considerably less than a lone GP2X costs without the requisite accessories such as an SD Card, good quality rechargeable batteries, and a matching quality charger. The people you are trying to draw the attention of here may well not have all of these things, and are likely to logically see other devices out there as far better value. It would be worth bearing in mind that there is a place for free software, open source software, and commercial software, also.

As jmetal88 said, the GP2X is not at all something that can be compared to most other available handhelds: It is a slippery slope.

That noted, I have a small suggestion for you: Perhaps you should try to tone down the "political stand against paying for software"/hammer & sickle/"better and cheaper from the little guy" sort of approach. It may very well result in people getting the impression that the community surrounding the so-called wonderconsole is closed-minded and fanboyish, indicate to them that it is considerably more affordable than it really is, or imply that the hardware does not have any problems. I am well aware that most of the issues the GP2X does have can be fixed, but by saying that it is "better" when it does indeed have problems (no matter their origins) will probably backfire.

Good luck with your efforts and please inform us if you get a response from those you have contacted.

 

[Rayek]

Thanks for notifying me.. I got the idea while reading the latest newsletter frfom gp2x.info, so not that farr off

This thread could serve as a gouide to do so though, one issue they didn't cover in the other thread.

 

[Rico]

hey, thanks for doing the marketing where Gamepark couldn't.

 

[Rayek]

and that hardware is better and cheaper from the little guy than from the big corporation.

​

I know you most likely mean Sony when you say "big corporation" in this instance, but you still should check against other consoles made by "big corporations" before making claims like that quoted above;

GP2X = $189.99 / £124.99.
DS = $129.99 / £89.99.



As an aside, other handheld consoles cannot be easily or accidentally bricked (or brick themselves of their own accord) like a GP2X can, and it is easily possible to acquire a brand new DS or GBA with a few games for considerably less than a lone GP2X costs without the requisite accessories such as an SD Card, good quality rechargeable batteries, and a matching quality charger. The people you are trying to draw the attention of here may well not have all of these things, and are likely to logically see other devices out there as far better value. It would be worth bearing in mind that there is a place for free software, open source software, and commercial software, also.

As jmetal88 said, the GP2X is not at all something that can be compared to most other available handhelds: It is a slippery slope.

That noted, I have a small suggestion for you: Perhaps you should try to tone down the "political stand against paying for software"/hammer & sickle/"better and cheaper from the little guy" sort of approach. It may very well result in people getting the impression that the community surrounding the so-called wonderconsole is closed-minded and fanboyish, indicate to them that it is considerably more affordable than it really is, or imply that the hardware does not have any problems. I am well aware that most of the issues the GP2X does have can be fixed, but by saying that it is "better" when it does indeed have problems (no matter their origins) will probably backfire.

Good luck with your efforts and please inform us if you get a response from those you have contacted.

​

There is a threat of all you said backfiring, but I doubt they will quote some dude giving them newstips. I'm imploring them to draw their own conclusion. And this is definitely a really complex issue... How would one put out press for the GP2X?

a. Get people interested (PSP stats v GP2X stats insterted here)
b. Tell why it's a good thing (hammer/sickle thing)
c. Tell why it's a bad thing (problems we all know are there)
d. Mention about it's state of constant change, how bad things might not be bad tomorrow, etc.
e. Mention the audience/community it's directed at.
...

How would anyone do it? I would much rather people get the idea that the GP2X is a good thing rather than PSP fanboys saying that it sucks because the Seattle PI said it does (not yet... )

And as for the DS/GBA price thing, I wouldn't put the GBA or DS in the same category, per se as the GP2X. Neither of them tote their unit as a multimedia device. Of course there are ways, but then we're venturing into hacker/modder territory. For something that can support audio/video/gaming out of the box, it is a damn good price. Plus never having to pay for software if you don't want is a huge bonus. Overall, I'd even say that the GP2X is cheaper than the DS, just because of software prices. That alone should draw consumers.

 

[Alpha2]

advertisement of the GP2X is something that has to be handled carefully, as half it's publicized use is deemed illegal by many people (emulators). Because of this it's destined to only be a niche market device, It CANNOT be mass market, otherwise the next widely publicized story will be about some large company sueing GPH into oblivion (even if they have no basis for the suit GPH would die from over litigation before anything could be done.)

 

[dennis20014]

Yea great idea, but not ready for this type of media yet i think

 

[Rayek]

To Alpha:
That is true, and I'm of two minds when it comes to the GP2X being advertised, as I've stated in other threads. One mind is much like the P.O.V. you stated, where it could cause legal issues with the GP2X and NOONE wats that, but the other part of me is realizing what kind of product is being offered, and the more people that know about it's existence, the better. I can't stress it enough that people need to be aware that there are alternatives to Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, in both hardware issues as well as software issues. I realize after posting on this thread that it needs to be advertised as a niche product, rather than mass market. But as far as tech specs and politics go, it wipes Sony out. So how does one not mention that when advertising positively for the GP2X?