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Blinded Iraq war vet raids with a little helpLimited edition WoW cups coming to ampm stores
by Mathew McCurley 
Jan 26th 2012 at 4:00PM
World of Warcraft is entering over seven years of operation and still going strong, enough so that regional advertising campaigns at widespread retailers are an attractive move. WoW has definitely eclipsed the video game market and is instead focusing on attracting new players because, for the most part, a lot of the home team market is dried up. By putting WoW in places where less typical gamers might encounter it, Blizzard has a great chance of attracting new people.
Can we please get the dataminers on this and tell us what size cups these are, as well as the materials used to make them? I love those study plastic cups. I'm waiting patiently.
Filed under: News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bynde Jan 26th 2012 4:08PM
Never heard of 'ampm'.
What do they sell? Digital clocks?
DaSandman Jan 26th 2012 4:16PM
Not sure if this was sarcasm, but if not its a chain of convenience stores usually as gas stations, kinda like 7-11.
Erebos Jan 26th 2012 4:30PM
Not sarcasm, I've never heard of it either.
But then, I'm convinced Sonics don't exist... Have yet to see one.
Arrohon Jan 26th 2012 4:37PM
Quoting Drakkenfyre from last night's Blue Posts and Other WoW News,
"Fail promotion.
am/pm only has stores in 12 states. Why couldn't Blizzard go with someone who's nationwide? You know, like 7-11? There's only like 5 Slurpy cups per each new big movie. Did it make too much sense to go with someone who's known for doing tie-in cups? Seriously, what the hell?
This is going to be a heyday for people selling them on eBay at $10 a pop.
Seriously, we can't get BlizzCon on the East coast for obvious reasons, but can't we get a promotion like this at a store chain that's at more than 1/5 of the nation?"
Matheus314 Jan 26th 2012 4:47PM
Yeah, because Wow sells only for U.S.
Arrohon Jan 26th 2012 5:10PM
It's a US based company. You generally expect a large US company like Blizzard to focus heavily in the US. People wouldn't feel nearly as entitled if Blizzard was based in another country. Also, being able to purchase some nice looking merchandise for $2 a piece is a nice incentive... when they are being sold in the same state as you.
johnthediver Jan 26th 2012 5:59PM
Blizzard is also a West Coast company, and AM/PM is pretty ubiquitous here in CA, like 2-3 in every town from San Diego to the Oregon Border. It makes sense that they would enter a marketing deal with a company they know.
Drakkenfyre Jan 26th 2012 7:56PM
Erebos, I have like 6 within 10 miles of me.
Try finding a Sheetz. It's an East coast gas station.
http://fwtc.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/sheetz-altoona2.jpg
http://www.wideawakeinwonderland.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/sheetz2.jpg
James Jan 26th 2012 10:41PM
Could be worse.... I love Slurpees and live in Oklahoma. The nearest "Real" 7-11 is in Texas. Due to a business deal, back in the 50's, that gave Oklahoma 7-11's autonomy, Items from the national chain can't be sold and promotions that come through "Real" 7-11's don't come through Oklahoma. Needless to say there are no nachos to be had and no hotdogs either. Instead we get cold sandwiches and "Icee" drinks which are always the same 4 boring flavors.
If you have to pay a little extra for those cups because there isn't one close enough, there are worse things in life.
lownwolf Jan 27th 2012 12:38PM
I'm sorry, but I think you're all missing the point...
As stated in the article, Blizzard is going after ancillary audiences by promoting the game in venues that are outside of their normal scope of marketing. At the same time Blizzard has been posting a drop in number and has cut an extremely expensive convention in order to focus on the development and release of new content/games. The point is, they're being smart and saving money.
Now, even if you don't have any knowledge of marketing, I'm sure you can come up with the answer. Which do you think costs more money? A cross-promotion with 7-11, a company that exists in 16 countries, or with AMPM, existing in only 12 states.
The point is, when going after a smaller market you're not expecting huge returns on investment, they're just fishing, so they're not going to spend the money to go worldwide or even nationwide. They're going to play it safe and see how it plays out. If they get a surge in numbers, we'll probably see more campaigns like this through other, larger markets.
Greg Jan 31st 2012 9:59AM
@James
I live in Oklahoma. I drive right by two 'real' 7-11s every day-- gas station pumps and everything.
There's one on Sooner Rd less than a mile south of the 240 right outside OKC. And there's at least one more in Moore. I've never gone on a 7-11 safari, but since I found these two without even trying I have to believe they aren't the only ones in the entire state.
clogan618 Jan 26th 2012 4:10PM
They will make a lovely addition to my collection of collector Slurpee cups! :D
Boz Jan 26th 2012 4:10PM
Merchandising, merchandising: Where the real money from the game is made!
World of Warcraft, the T-shirt! World of Warcraft, the Coloring Book! World of Warcraft, the Lunch box! World of Warcraft, the Breakfast Cereal, World of Warcraft, the Flame Thrower!
(The kids love that one )
And last but not least, World of Warcraft, the doll.
"May the Light be wit' ya!"
Malnore Jan 26th 2012 5:04PM
Haha! This can't be up voted enough. Love space Balls!!
Matheus314 Jan 26th 2012 4:14PM
(as i said in the braking news in the morning)
You know where there's A LOT of am/pm stores?
In Brazil. Thousands and thousands of am/pm stores. My town has about 150k hab. and we may have about 10 of those here.
I hope they send some of these to us... [/dreamer]
FireMaster Jan 26th 2012 4:17PM
I'm hoping for it too.
FireMaster Jan 26th 2012 4:15PM
This promotion will be only in USA?
DaSandman Jan 26th 2012 4:17PM
Cant upvote this enough.
"So, I see your schwartz is as big as mine!"
"Oh, you're helmet, its so big!"
SOOO many hilarious quotes from that film :)
DaSandman Jan 26th 2012 4:18PM
Ugh reply-fail, was meant to be to Boz - I'm sure I hit Reply and it actually said "replying to Boz [Undo]" :(
yab Jan 26th 2012 4:21PM
Instead of KJ they could have put MC Ragnaros in there to show some classic WoW love. Not sure why the would put 2 bosses from TBC. But cool none the less.