| As two industries that rely on the evolution of computer and information technologies, video game and social media have undergone tremendously rapid development in a short period of time. At the same time, both industries share a similar user group, too. The two similarities lead to the author's belief that there is a natural compatibility between the two seemingly irrelevant industries, and that social media is an effective and efficient channel for video game marketing and PR.;Therefore, this thesis is intended to explore the state of marketing/public relations activities of the video game industry in the new social media context. It explores the social-network presence of some popular video games, the online communication strategies/tactics employed by their companies, and the effectiveness of such activities. Based on these analyses, the author proposes a comprehensive social media framework for video games, and recommends corresponding PR/marketing strategies as well.;The thesis also includes the author's predictions on the possible social media trends for video games in the future. As conclusion, the author provides a primer that lists recommended social media "do's" and "don'ts" for game companies.;Key Words: video games, social media, public relations, marketing, communications... |
