TNT Racers

Boom! has been appointed by one of Germany’s leading games publishers to lead the PR campaign for the UK launch of TNT Racers, a multi-platform video games title.

Hamburg-based dtp entertainment AG develops and publishes entertainment software for all interactive entertainment platforms. Boom! has been briefed to maximise consumer awareness and generate trial of the new racing game which will be online in August 2010 on the Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network, and will appear on PlayStation® Network for PlayStation® 3 and PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) and on Nintendo Wii™.

Soren Winterfeldt, Senior Product Manager at dtp, said “We were highly impressed with Boom!’s response which demonstrated a real focus on delivering results, a high return on investment and also great creative thinking. We are excited to work with Boom! and look forward to seeing their ideas in action, launching TNT Racers in the UK.”

This appointment follows a series of new business wins for the fast growing consumer and entertainment-focused agency.

These include Supermassive Games, the UK’s largest independent brewer Wells and Young’s and specialist magazine publisher Future UK.

Justin Crosby, Boom!’s founder, said “It’s great to add dtp to our client roster as we strengthen our portfolio in the consumer and entertainment sectors. TNT Racers is a classic action-packed console racing game and we’re looking forward to bringing the title to the attention of online console gamers across the UK.”

We’ve been briefed to support the brand’s new advertising campaign that aims to build awareness for its iconic ‘Take Courage’ slogan.
Boom! will provide social media strategic consultancy and traditional media outreach to build awareness for the campaign which aims to celebrate Courage’s rich heritage and role at the heart of pub conversations.

Joanna Dring, PR Manager for Wells and Young’s and one of PR Week’s current ‘29 under 29′ said “Boom! showed a strong understanding of the market and the consumer, and came up with a robust strategic approach and an insightful creative platform. We’re excited to see the results of this campaign and look forward to working closely with the agency in this exciting phase of the Courage brand’s development”.

“We’re delighted to have been appointed by the UK’s largest independent brewer to work with an iconic British beer. Utilising social media and traditional channels, we’ll be reconnecting Courage with its loyal and passionate following.” said Justin Crosby, Boom!’s founder.
The Courage brand has over 200 years of brewing pedigree across it’s ever popular Courage Best Bitter brand and premium cask ale Courage Directors.

Our appointment coincides with our first birthday and our move to new offices in Clerkenwell.

Leading UK video games developer Supermassive Games™ today announces the Autumn 2010 release of ‘Big Match Striker’, a unique and free to play downloadable PC football game where real fans battle head to head in the ultimate championship of tactics and trivia.

Players will need to combine all the skills of chairman, manager, player and fan as the title blends the best in football management strategy and animated trivia games. The exciting new title is highly competitive and will challenge all levels of football fans knowledge and strategic skills as they battle in one-on-one leagues to meet the games main objectives – to win titles and silverware, and attract more fans to their club.

Players succeed by answering a selection of both constantly updated and historic football questions from English football’s top four tiers keeping the game concurrent with the real life action.  Players can win possession and tackle the opposition by responding quicker to questions, requiring a decent level of football knowledge and quick thinking.

The reward of winning matches is gaining fans and in-game currency. This can be strategically used to buy players, upgrade stadiums and even install hot dog vans to attract more fans and progress to the leagues higher echelons.

“With a fun, entertaining and humorous style, ‘Big Match Striker’ is a new kind of game and we think it will appeal to football fans of all ages and persuasions” commented Supermassive’s Online Publishing Director Geraint Bungay. “The only requirements are a PC, an internet connection and a love of football. Our vision is to become the online destination of choice for football fans to contest, celebrate and share their knowledge and passion for the beautiful game.”

Player interaction will be a key aspect of the game experience. The games main entry point and community will be hosted online and will contain regular news and features from the game’s editorial team, weekly podcasts with lively chat and debate on the game’s latest talking points and discussion forums for players to interact with each other. The initial game download and subsequent updates will be available from the game website.

Key features

Question Engine: One of the games unique features, an innovative and unrivalled question generator with a resource of thousands of football questions. It is updated daily with latest news and results from the English football league ensuring the game remains up to date with the real life football action. Categories are: Up-to-date Premier League, Up-to-date Championship, Up-to-date League 1, Up-to-date League 2, Player and Team records, World Cup 2010, World Cup Historic (1930 – 2006), Recent League Historic (last five years), Older League Historic (more than 5 years ago) and Trivia.

Big Match Bucks: Effectively your ‘wallet’ for buying additional stamina to play more matches in more competitions, or to exchange for in-game currency ‘Smackers’.

Smackers: The in-game currency which players accumulate as they win matches. The currency is a key part of developing and growing a club, as they can be spent on various assets such as larger stadiums, improved infrastructure, stamina, and new players.

The Community: There will be a website acting as the game’s entry point and the home of the game’s community, buzzing with players discussing all things football. As well as forums and chat rooms, there will be regular news and features stories from the games editorial team.

Weekly Podcasts: A specially created weekly podcast will be available for free download featuring latest news and gossip and lively chat covering all the football worlds latest talking points.

Player Stamina: As in the real life game, stamina on the pitch can only last so long. There are two main ways to manage stamina levels; topping up with Big Match Bucks, and staggering games to ensure that stamina is not used up too quickly.

Trophy Cabinet: Each player has a cabinet where they store their winnings.

Club Strategy: It’s not just a game of football knowledge, players are rewarded for effective management of all their strategic club assets. These include stadium expansion plans, revenue streams such as catering, merchandise and team playing tactics.

League Seasons: Each League season lasts three weeks in real time, creating the pressure and excitement level of any league competition whilst allowing enough time for each player to play the game as and when best suits them.

Artificial Intelligence: Whenever a player plays a match the evolving AI system stores their success and measures their playing style across all question categories, including speed and accuracy, and mimics the player’s behaviour when an opponent plays against them allowing players to play when they wish, not when their opponent is also available.

Challenge your friends: Players can invite their friends, monitor their progress and compare performances, current league standings, and number of fans.

Quality graphics: Compared to many online free to play downloadable games the graphics and quality of the game are far superior.

Specialist cup competitions: There will be various cup competitions for players to enter and demonstrate their skills and knowledge. These cup competitions are played alongside your normal league games, just like the real football leagues.

Commentary: Adding to the friendly and fun challenge, the commentary is supplied by an in game commentator, adding a twist of banter and humour.

You will play a leading role in driving audience engagement for our consumer and entertainment brand clients in the social media space. You’ll have a strong grasp and demonstrable knowledge of social media, being immersed in it personally as well as professionally.

An experienced user of social media platforms, you will be a natural online publicist. You’ll have experience of running social media campaigns for consumer brands and will be an expert in instigating and participating in valuable consumer conversations on behalf of our clients.

You will be able to produce excellent written materials and understand the importance of creating engaging content and maintaining the appropriate etiquette. You will have a broad experience with a variety of monitoring and evaluation tools and may also have some basic HTML and image manipulation skills.

In addition to your social media expertise, you’ll have accumulated a detailed knowledge of the traditional media’s editorial agenda, having built relationships with consumer & trade media and key bloggers. You’ll have a strong agency track record in traditional consumer lifestyle campaigns, either as Account Executive or Account Manager.

This is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself and play a key role in a new agency. If you are a self-starter with a hands-on approach to work and a passion for digital communications then we’d like to hear from you. In return we offer a competitive salary, the opportunity to work on some great brands and excellent career potential.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement social media campaigns, in line with agreed client objectives
• Develop and manage the online presence of clients on social networks and forums
• Monitor and participate in online conversations using a range of free and paid-for tools
• Identify the relevant influencers, advocates and detractors in a range of communities
• Train and support clients in social media best practice and participation strategies
• Monitor media and liaise with traditional and new media contacts on a daily basis
• Devise and deploy acquisition strategies/ incentives to encourage fans and followers to our clients’ social media profiles
• Craft excellent written materials on behalf of our clients including campaign documents, proposals, press releases, presentations, status reports, evaluation reports
• Support the agency team at live events, i.e. press conferences, corporate events, photo calls
• Play a key role in contributing to digital aspects of the agency’s new business pitches
• Present effectively in a variety of situations
• Using Wordpress, upload a regular blog and news and onto the agency website

Position Requirements:

• Experience in leveraging social media on behalf of clients
• Good understanding of internet principles and best practices
• Excellent copywriting abilities
• Attention to detail is critical
• Proven track record of generating impressive online media coverage
• Comprehensive understanding of social media and functionality of the key social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace
• Administration or moderation experience in forums and online communities
• MS Office, Keynote, Photoshop
• Confident user of Apple Mac computers
• Familiar with web analytics software (Google Analytics, Webtrends or Omniture)
• Good understanding of how to measure and monitor conversations online
• Excellent time management and prioritisation
• Willingness to learn and proactive approach to acquiring responsibility
• A finisher/completer with high level of personal ownership of team performance
• Self-driven, results orientated with a positive outlook, and a clear focus of high quality and business profit

Desired Experience:

• A knowledge of video gaming and gaming communities
• Familiar with a structured campaign planning process
• Consumer brand client experience
• Basic HTML, and experience using Wordpress or similar CMS
• Good image manipulation and demonstrable design skills in new media
• Experience with SEO management and best practices

Please email your application with a covering letter to justin@boomdialogue.com

Closing date for applications: 30^th June 2010

The Agency reserves the right to vary this job description in consultation with the post holder

This job description is current as of the date shown below.  In consultation with the post holder, it is liable to variation, to reflect or anticipate changes in the job.

You will play a leading role in promoting our consumer and entertainment brand clients in the media. You have an accumulated knowledge of the media’s editorial agenda, having built relationships with consumer & trade media and key bloggers. You’re creative and can craft captivating angles, stories and materials that stimulate interest in the media and generate standout media coverage for our clients.

We’re looking for someone who’s smart and tenacious, with a nose for news. You’re a consummate professional who demonstrates grace under pressure. Well-connected and familiar with both traditional & new media, you will have a strong track record of generating positive coverage.

With existing agency experience under your belt, you will have worked with consumer lifestyle and/or video games brands. However, just as important as experience and ability is attitude. If you’re a tenacious, creative, self-motivated PR professional looking for rapid career progression we want to hear from you.

Position Responsibilities:

• Monitor media and liaise with traditional and new media contacts on a daily basis
• Craft excellent written materials on behalf of our clients including campaign documents, press releases, presentations, status reports, evaluation reports.
• Write comprehensive briefing documents for agency suppliers
• Lead event planning and management i.e. press conferences, corporate events, launches, photo calls
• Play a key role in contributing to the agency’s new business pitches
• Commission and analyse research including surveys and focus groups
• Develop and implement PR programmes in line with agreed client objectives and strategy, and develop contingency plans
• Work in collaboration with senior agency staff to maintain excellent levels of client management and relationships
• Manage all financial aspects of your client, including fees, budget management, invoicing
• Organise and chair internal, client and supplier meetings
• Present effectively in a variety of situations

Position Requirements:

• Consumer brand client experience
• Proven track record of generating impressive media coverage & genuine passion for all aspects of the media
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-driven, results orientated with a positive outlook, and a clear focus of high quality and business profit
• Willingness to learn and proactive approach to acquiring responsibility
• Attention to detail
• Can perform well under pressure and turn around written documents quickly
• Experience in leveraging social media on behalf of clients
• Excellent time management and prioritisation
• A completer/ finisher with high level of personal ownership of team performance

Desired Experience:

• Familiar with a structured campaign planning process
• Video game industry PR experience

Please email your application with a covering letter to justin@boomdialogue.com

Closing date for applications: 30^th June 2010

The Agency reserves the right to vary this job description in consultation with the post holder

This job description is current as of the date shown below.  In consultation with the post holder, it is liable to variation, to reflect or anticipate changes in the job.

We will handle media relations for the project including seeding with key opinion formers, social media activity and developing media partnerships. The campaign kicks off with immediate effect.

The as yet unannounced release for the Guildford-based studio is a unique, persistent online title and showcases the innovation that Supermassive has become renowned for in console-based game development.

The win follows the agency’s recent reappointment by Future UK to handle the PR for the biggest night in the videogames industry’s calendar – the 28th annual Golden Joystick Awards.

Geraint Bungay, Supermassive’s Online Publishing Director said “Boom! demonstrated a real understanding of the market, the personas of our target audience and some strong creative ideas. We’re looking forward to working closely with the agency to launch this unique new property”.

“We’re focused on utilising both social media and traditional channels to build awareness and a community around the launch of a revolutionary new title from Supermassive Games. We’re delighted to have been appointed” said Justin Crosby, founder of Boom!

Boom! was founded in Summer 2009 by Justin Crosby who has over 15 years experience working in the games and entertainment industries creating award winning campaigns for brands such as Microsoft Xbox, Activision, Eidos, Carling, Philips Electronics and Miller Genuine Draft.

2009’s campaign exceeded the target of 1 million votes and reached 1,223,646 public votes cast – the biggest haul of votes in the event’s 27 year history and a 47% increase on the previous voting record.

We’re placing a higher emphasis on social media in our 2010 campaign. Whilst our expanded blogger outreach programme and media relations/ partnerships will still form a vital element of our remit, social media activity presents a huge opportunity to engage the gaming community more than ever before. We’ll be creating content, stimulating debate and implementing some exciting creative ideas across all the major social media networks.

Watch this space for campaign developments – we’re setting the bar even higher in our second year promoting the world’s biggest public voting video games awards! The Joysticks 2010 is set to be the biggest and best celebration of the thriving video games industry yet!

Brands are shrugging off their specialist image and are being increasingly positioned as suitable for everyday use, i.e. for hydration, boosting mental alertness, snack replacement and/or boosting general health.

This shift in positioning has been a deliberate move by brand owners to gain wider acceptance in strong markets such as Europe to mirror the success witnessed in the US over recent years. Health, convenience and premium positioning are the three leading trends driving the market forward.

We think there are some fascinating communications campaigns being created by some of the market leaders – particularly Red Bull, Monster and Relentless.

Over the next couple of weeks we’re going to take a look at these three brands and assess what they are doing to differentiate themselves. Starting this week with Relentless – check out our blog

MSN, ShortList and Bliss are all partnering with the event, reflecting the increasingly mainstream appeal of the video games industry in 2009. The only UK industry accolades voted for by the the gamers themselves, The Golden Joystick Awards approaches its 27th year with each of the partner’s readers and subscribers being encouraged to vote for their favourite games of 2009.

2009’s Golden Joystick Award for the multiplayer category will be renamed ‘The MSN Multiplayer Game of the Year’. Microsoft’s portal is involved in the awards for the very first time this year and will be supporting the event by showcasing the nominated categories by creating a rich range of content editorial features to complement it’s impressive existing gaming coverage and MSN will also be hosting a voting mechanic. MSN will take the Golden Joysticks Awards to a whole new audience this year and will be providing live content from the awards event.

“MSN is delighted to sponsor the Multiplayer Game of the Year award,” said Alastair Bruce, MSN Tech & Gadgets manager. “Our involvement with the Golden Joystick Awards goes hand-in-hand with our comprehensive coverage of the video games scene at MSN Tech & Gadgets. With so many great titles having been released over the past year, we’re sure the awards will be a huge success.”

ShortList are also partners with the awards for the first time. The UK’s biggest mens lifestyle magazine is on the rise with a circulation of 505, 970* representing over 28% of the men’s magazine market and a 9.3% rise in circulation year on year. Voting for ‘The ShortList One to Watch Award’ will be hosted on ShortList.com and the weekly magazine’s involvement reflects their increasingly strong gaming coverage.

“ShortList is proud to be a media partner for this year’s Golden Joysticks Awards. ShortList celebrates all that’s most important in a man’s life – climbing the career ladder, forming a lasting meaningful relationship and scoring a 20-yard screamer from the safety of your own sofa.” said Terri White, Editor of ShortList

The Golden Joystick Awards are delighted to welcome Bliss as the girls lifestyle magazine media partners for the third year running. Bliss is a leading lifestyle magazine for sassy 13-17 year old girls offering them a fantastic fix of fashion and beauty, exclusive celebrity gossip, and jaw-dropping real-life stories. The new-look monthly Bliss launched in April 2009 to rave reviews and continues to be the most exciting and relevant magazine in the sector due to it’s understanding of the evolving trends in girl’s lifestyles.

“We are delighted to partner with The Golden Joystick Awards again on the Bliss Handheld Game of the Year.  The universal appeal and accessibility of handheld consoles means that more and more teenage girls are playing games. The interest in gaming amongst teenage girls continues to grow and Bliss aims to provide its readers with varied content on some of the hottest games that are in the market “said Jess Tadmor, Marketing Manager at Panini UK
“The Golden Joysticks continue to grow and we are delighted to welcome readers from MSN, ShortList and Bliss to have their say on the games they believe made the last year and the ones set to occupy the nation’s living rooms in the months ahead. They form the strongest media partnerships we have had in place for the awards to date. We look forward to announcing additional sponsors and partners over the coming weeks” said Emma Parkinson, Publisher at Future UK and organiser of the Golden Joystick Awards.

The Golden Joysticks are the games industry’s most-loved awards and the industry’s acceptance as a mass market form of entertainment looks set to be reflected in the popularity of 2009’s event – a record-breaking 700,000 votes having already been cast by gaming enthusiasts.

Featuring 15 gamer-voted categories, the event is the world’s longest-running video games awards, first held back in 1982. Votes cast now at www.goldenjoystick.com will directly decide who scoops a prestigious Golden Joystick when the winners are announced in London on Friday, 30th October.

27 July 2009 Former Taylor Herring and Manning, Selvage & Lee director Justin Crosby today launches a new PR and creative communications agency called Boom!

The agency is a communications shop offering strategic PR consultancy and creative activation solutions to both entertainment brands and consumer brands operating in the entertainment industry.

In over 15 years with Kazoo, Cake, Taylor Herring and Manning, Selvage & Lee, Crosby won and led award winning, entertainment-focused accounts such as Microsoft Xbox, BT Openworld Games and Music, Philips Electronics, Carling, Miller Genuine Draft, Celador and Eidos.

“As the marketing and PR disciplines converge and brand budgets are coming under greater pressure, we believe clients are looking for quality, experience, creativity and effectiveness.” said Crosby. “Having gained experience in the marketing and PR disciplines whilst working for both boutique and major agencies we have developed an exciting new proposition as a creative communications agency with PR at it’s heart”.

The Boom! mission is to build an admired communications agency renowned for it’s creativity, talent, value for money and great client service. The agency offers both strategic consultancy and campaign activation, harnessing the team’s PR, marketing, digital, experiential activity, events and sponsorship expertise.

Consumer insight and research is at the heart of the Boom! proposition. The agency will be publishing a regular series of consumer insight studies and products. Unique to the consumer brands and entertainment sectors and free to subscribers, the reports will also  feature interviews and think pieces from key media and entertainment industry figures. Subscribers can register at www.boomdialogue.com.

Sectors the agency will specialize in include the food & drink, technology, video games, music, entertainment, sports and kids industries.

For more information about Boom! please contact Justin Crosby
on 07966 228361
justin@boomdialogue.com

About Boom!
Boom! is a brand new pr and creative communications agency. Established in 2009, the agency offers marketing and communications solutions to entertainment brands. From media relations to event management, strategic consultancy to digital outreach and most points in between, Boom! is dedicated to creating innovative consumer communications campaigns. See www.boomdialogue.com for a menu of agency services and expertise. The agency’s team has years of experience working with some of the world’s biggest brands and entertainment franchises and using this knowledge we are committed to delivering high quality and high value communications solutions for our clients. We aim to become renowned and for our creativity, insight, energy, talent, value for money and great client service.

Boom Dialogue Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 6923452)
whose registered office is at 66 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2SB