Imperfect

last place publicity

Inspiration

Rio's Last Place goes as follows:

Everyone talks about the person in first place, but what about the person who wins last place?

I believe there is an under-marketed opportunity for last-place.

Imagine entering into competition after competition and publicizing you came in last.

It's as I wrote in response to someone calling everyone losers:

Every defeat accrues wins, every victory incurs losses, and vice versa.

I see being last place (or even plain losing) as under-marketed from two main perspectives: remaining or springboarding upward.

Remaining

Dedication to longevity can be considered exceptional. The longer you play the game, passing by burnouts and retirees from top to bottom, the taller legends around you can grow. If a player consistently placing last attends every single open tournament they feasibly could since starting their activity of choice, how many others receive the luxury of the same compound interest? I think about tidbits like the dwindling amount of players who attended each and every single premier tournament for their e-sport so far. Whether they placed first, last, or in the middle, such a tidbit being noted is worth something.

Achieving or pushing the boundaries of minimum viable participation is worth embracing. People who place last in events, with or without significant disabilities, injuries, or other limiting circumstances, sometimes get rewarded with attention or celebration. A successful event's end is worth celebrating. It might as well be done with the last place competitor to round out the event. In some cases, all parties win by the competitor either rising up to or lowering the skill floor necessary to compete. Surviving against all odds is cool.

Springboarding upward

Hitting rock bottom can be a catalyst for spiraling up. Abysmal circumstances can drive individuals to change or transform. While publicity can be a great motivator for doubling down, it can also reconfigure your senses toward climbing back up the ladder. I can imagine this strategy works better the more receptive you are to pressure.

When is the last time you heard an epic underdog story? Many love seeing underdogs face up against the competition. Many of them love an unexpected upset unfold before them. Narratives of perseverance and upsets create compelling dramas around innate human fallibility, overcoming adversity over time, and outsized triumphs once improbable challenges are overcome.

Discovering uncharted territory is an alluring yet often elusive endeavor. Take the example of a speedrunner constantly losing competitions because they repeat untapped, under-explored, or unpromising actions. Missing the bar of theorycrafting or execution can take its toll. Add to that the pressure of world records, personal bests, and other incentives which can also apply to personas from casuals versus speedrunners. However, enough training, play, and serendipity can find them breaking through in ways that them and their audience can commemorate.

How else could you market losing or achieving last place, whether once-off or consistently?

P.S. It's nice seeing someone return to an activity after almost half a decade. Even with only a few posts to their name, it shows how much room there can be to return gracefully.

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