Questions about marketing and team name

[sahara]

Do you guys call yourselves Phoenix Online Studios or Phoenix Online Game Development?  I've seen both names in different places.  The next question is what do you prefer to call yourselves as far as abbreviation goes?  POS or POGD?  Or just PO?  When I see "POS" I can't help but think of how that abbreviation is also short for a rude expression starting with "piece of..."  So maybe POGD or just PO is best?

Lastly, do you plan to put something on your website explaining that Episode 1 is more of a prologue, in several respects?  The description is currently this:

Put on your adventurer's cap as King Graham on a brand new quest in the Land of the Green Isles, featuring beautifully rendered cutscenes and enhanced 3D graphics which enable you complete exploration while on your Quest.

Reunite with the Royal Family of Daventry and learn more about them than you thought possible as you begin a new journey which puts you in control of Graham, Alexander, and Rosella.in[sic] a brand new point-and-click adventure.

As you explore the Land of the Green Isles, your journey is enhanced by an original breath-taking musical score, fully-voiced character and narrator dialogue with closed-captioning available for the hearing impared.

Is that the best way to introduce the episode to people who have not heard anything else about Episode 1 before?  Does Episode 1 really let you reconnect with the Royal Family?  Does it let you control Rosella and Graham?

Finally, you say this, as well:

Also, please do not redistribute The Silver Lining in anyway, including on Torrents.

Since the game is free, why don't you want as many people as possible to see your work?

[KatieHal]

Hi Sahara--re: the torrents, we are only allowed to distribute the game from our site per our contract with Activision. So we need to take whatever steps we're able to take to ensure that's how it works. We realize it's unlikely that will stop people who really want to put it on Torrents, but we're doing what we can.

The official name is Phoenix Online Studios. Yes, we're aware that we share an acronym with an unfortunate saying. Hence we try to avoid that as much as we can and usually abbreviate only as PO Studios if anything.

As for the description, reconnection, etc--that much is a matter of opinion and how you define things like 'reconnect'. As for adding that it's more of a prologue we haven't discussed it (as you can imagine, we're mostly focused on finishing episode 2!), but it's something to consider.

[sahara]

About the prologue-ish issue, it seems you're getting killed (figuratively) in reviews and on message boards over this point about false expectations.  This doesn't have to happen.  Letting people know a little more what to expect before downloading would probably lessen this criticism, since this reaction is often from people who are surprised after seeing the ending credits so soon and who are disappointed over the lack of puzzles.  It has been almost 2 weeks since the initial Episode 1 launch, when these criticisms were first seen to be an obvious issue.  How hard would it be somewhat alter the description on the site?  I think it would be well worth your while to do so!!  

[Fierce Deity]

I noticed that a lot of people on these boards use the "POS" acronym, so I started to refer to you guys as "Phoenix", but it hasn't caught on unfortunately. 

[KatieHal]

Thanks--and I encourage keeping up the trend regardless!

[Cez]

I'm actually just moving into "Phoenix Online" to be honest.

As for the description of Episode 1, that was very much an error in description. I have no idea how the whole "control Alexander and Rosella" got in there. I've now fixed that. Thanks for pointing it out!

[Fierce Deity]

I'm actually just moving into "Phoenix Online" to be honest.

As for the description of Episode 1, that was very much an error in description. I have no idea how the whole "control Alexander and Rosella" got in there. I've now fixed that. Thanks for pointing it out!

Controlling Alexander and Rosella? Is this foreshadowing for future episodes? That would be cool.

You guys should act like the "big boys" and say something like: Phoenix Online Studios does not comment on rumors and speculation. 

[wilco64256]

Phoenix Online Studios does not comment on rumors and speculation.

[Fierce Deity]

Phoenix Online Studios does not comment on rumors and speculation.

Thanks Wilco!