Imagine Games Network Online
Imagine Games Network Online, http://www.ign.com; 150 North Hill Drive, Brisbane, CA 94005
Designed for gamers who want to know everything about what has happened, is happening or will happen in the games industry, Imagine Games Network Online claims to be the largest computer and video game site on the Web. 1-million-plus visitors hit the site each month. (Demographics: overwhelmingly male, ages 12-35, mostly college or high school students).
Section: News. The editors are looking for news on games and companies to post daily on the Web site. Unlike Multimedia Wire (below), IGN will use screenshots and transparencies to review games.
The three areas of interest to IGN are PlayStation, PC games and Nintendo 64 (N64) news.
Recently the site reviewed Koeis, a military action adventure game, and Probe's soccer game.
Editors/Lead Time: Editorial Director Julian Rignall Fax: 415/468-4686 Phone: 415/468-4684
Lead Time: as much time as possible
Methods: Call Rignall with story ideas, but be forewarned that he is very difficult to reach. He hates follow-up calls and will not tolerate PR executives asking him, "why didn't you print my story?"
Don't call after 5 p.m., PST.
Comments: Pitching to IGN online is beat -specific. Pitch the following editors according to story ideas: Doug Perry, editor-in-chief, PlayStation; Trent Ward, editor-in-chief, PC; Peer Schneider, editor, N64.
Look for IGN's new site today, as it changes design and navigation. In the next weeks, IGN also wants to expand its coverage of Sega news.
Multimedia Wire
Multimedia Wire, 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 300, Potomac, MD 20854; Main number: 301/340-7788
Multimedia Wire is a daily newsletter written for senior-level executives about news in the video game industry. PR practitioners should make calls short and sweet because editors have daily deadlines. Get to the point and don't waste their time by asking them to review titles - leave that to the game magazines. You'll get on the editors' good side if you present them exclusive information on industry news. It is a sister publication to PR NEWS.
Section: News. Multimedia Wire wants to scoop the competition, so call them with inside information about breaking news: development in games, mergers, business alliances, marketing campaigns, investments and sales strategies. They don't write game reviews, so offering a "screenshot" or transparency is not appropriate. This newsletter is a business publication.
Editors/Lead Time: Editor Simon Price Phone: 301/340-7788 ext. 2041 Fax: 301/424-8602 email: [email protected]
Assistant Editor Michael Sabine Phone: 301/340-7788 ext. 2146 Fax: 301/424-8602 email: [email protected]
Lead Time: for breaking news, one hour is appropriate. Otherwise, give as much time as possible.
Methods: The editors want calls because their stories warrant quick access to information. Deadline is 4 p.m. for copy, so call with breaking news before then (if possible).
The editors still are open to ideas after 4 p.m. for late-breaking industry news.
Comments: The editors jointly agree that PR representatives who are not familiar with the newsletter will not get far with Multimedia Wire.
"It's never the internal PR, but usually when the company uses an outside PR agency to call us with stories," Sabine says.
Waiting for PR pros to call him back is the "most irritating" part of the job, Price says. "If we're doing a story, we're doing it now." Returning calls is a must.