Over the weekend, Marvel Avengers Alliance unlocked Thane as a playable character players can attain. He was listed as the Son of Thanos. Today, word is getting around that Marvel AR is announcing Thane as the Son of Thanos as well. This is an interesting marketing move by the company.
Spike Interest in Supplemental Products
First off, Marvel is giving average readers a reason to play Marvel Avengers Alliance and look into Marvel AR. This is a strong move. Readers are going to see the Thane / Son of Thanos information as information being released first in areas other than comics or comic book news and information sites.
Increase Numbers
By increasing the number of people playing Marvel Avengers Alliance or using Marvel AR, Marvel sets a stronger foothold in the comic book community. This is good for Marvel and for any partners they have on the game and the augmented reality software.
Cause DC Comics Slip?
Marvel has sent a message to DC Comics and all other publishers that they are releasing important comic book information outside of the printed pages and outside of general press releases. This puts publishers in a bind as they have to figure out a way to compete with Marvel Avengers Alliance, Marvel AR, and any other supplemental medium Marvel has for releasing information. When companies are rushed into decisions, mistakes are made.
I think releasing the Son of Thanos information through these variant methods was a strong move by Marvel. Who knows – we might see releases such as this in future games, or even on a show like Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel is changing the game in a slight way, but it is a game changer none the less. I am intrigued by the idea of the other companies on the block trying to figure out how to battle this move.
