a statistical analysis of the games media
DESCRIPTION
The hard facts from the Develop Conference talk I gave on 10th July 2013 - I've deleted the case studies as they require context and discussion and should not be read 'cold'TRANSCRIPT
10.30am on a Tuesday morning
A statistical look at the games press
Simon Byron
director of Games
The experiment
To determine the optimum time for releasing information to the press
• Who is writing the most?
• When are they writing it?
• What can we do to make them write about our stuff?
The methodology
• 33 global media outlets monitored
• Just under 28,000 news pieces tracked
• All times BST
• All stories from specific ‘News’ RSS feed where available
The major caveat
• It was a fucking bonkers two months
– Dominated by two topics:
• E3
• Xbox One
Who writes what when?
Part one
Who writes what?
CVG
DarkZero
Destructoid
Edge
Eurogamer
Gamasutra
Game Informer
Game Reactor
Games Radar
GamesIndustry.biz
Gamespot
GameTrailers
Giant Bomb
God is a Geek
IGN Video Games
IncGamers
Inside Gaming Daily
Joystiq
Kotaku
MCV
Neoseeker
NowGamer
Official Xbox Magazine
Penny Arcade
Polygon PS3 Trophies PSU Rock, Paper, Shotgun Spong news VG247 Videogamer X360 Achievements Xclann
News stories 01/06 – 30/07
News stories 01/06 – 30/07
News stories 01/06 – 30/07
Who writes what when?
Days of the week stories are posted
Weekend posters
Morning coverage
Afternoon coverage
Total 24 hour coverage
Total 24 hour coverage ex E3
E3 influence % of coverage
Time of day
What people write about
May 1st – May 7th
May 8th – May 14th
May 15th – May 21st
May 22nd – May 28th
May 29th – 4th June
5th June – 11th June
12th June - 18th June
19th June – 25th June
26th June – 30th June
Recommendations
• Tuesdays most prolific
– Between 4:00pm and 5:00pm
– But consider slower times too
• Use social media where possible
– Wolfenstein reveal gained 25 per cent more coverage in first 24 hours
• Keep an eye on the trends
• Be mindful of events
