It illustrates quite well how pro and anti CIG people argue.
And the point gets missed.
The question - if there is one - is why was Sandi appointed as the whatever she is of marketing when she has no apparent experience in marketing games? Whether she is or isn't married has no real bearing on the wisdom of that appointment - she either is a good choice or isn't.
But instead of asking the real question the antis kept focusing on "Why did CR appoint his wife as the whatever of marketing?"
Which then allows the pros to answer "Prove that she is married - nowhere does it say they are married."
The CR says "Were married"
At which point the answer changes to "Well of course we always knew they were married it was obvious from the start - but it's still irrelevant" referring to the "obvious" clues in videos that were strangely never referred to prior to CR statement about his marriage.
And still the real question is ignored.
Like the Reddit guys now picking on silly mistakes Scott Manley made which have no real bearing on the discussion whilst completely ignoring the points that do.
It's just how arguing works on the internet isn't it?
In my defense (since probably people refer to me as one anti-SC) I think that the most important question is exactly the one that you referred. Derek Smart actually mentioned that too, that the issue was not been wife, but what that implies. But then, the back and forth of she is not wife... oh she is... provoked by the WK (not by the Black Nights), transformed the issue, was if the main questions was if she was wife or not, instead what that implies.
The fact that she has no skill neither as VP of Marketing, support/hr, nor as actress, but she is put in these important roles, even as "co-founder".
The thing is, that its pretty obvious that if she wasn't wife, she wouldn't be in these roles. Period.
And that means the owner of the company misusing the backers money in its own benefit. It could be acceptable in the beginning, but after so many leads leaving,
actual professionals, it does not make sense than an actual professional is not hired to be in charge of the marketing area to make something that is not shortsighted, as are always the CIG plans, always looking for quick/easy money, disconnected of the reality of the capacity of the company to deliver into the hype/promises made through marketing. To do not mention the tons of bait-and-switch that are against the law and made the company unprotected/liable.
A "good/successful marketing" depends of the purpose. If it was just make money for CR/Sandi's personal plans, obviously was a great plan. But in terms of keeping
a company that is starter growing instead screwing its reputation, consumer trust, specially because they work for a hardcore niche, with a game specific for a restricted public
(due hardward requirements too), their marketing was suicidal for the medium/long term of the company. And all these side effects already started to be felt since a few months ago,
and the trend is only to become worst.
Why the hell they would make such effort to bring so many people earlier, knowing that it causes disappointment in many? That is not been consumer-oriented. Not thinking in retention... the most important factor of any MMO... That is not what a good marketing strategy is. Disconnected to the reality of the market, how gamers behave, etc. But well... to feed this nonsense marketing plan of selling concepts/ships, they risk to lose a good chunk of a public that is already tiny by default.
So, what was the plan? Making money for CR future ventures in the Movies/personal objectives? Boost Sandi's actress career? Expand their Hollywood network? Then I agree. Great plan. But for the game, for CIG, for maintenance of trust on crowdfunding of potential/general consumers, was the worst possible.
