A History of Classic Videogame Commercials

[John Funk]

A History of Classic Videogame Commercials

Gameplayer [http://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/GameCommercials.aspx?Page=1] has assembled 19 commercials for videogame consoles in a chronology of how advertisers have tried to make gamers want their products - from the Atari 2600 to the PS3.


A good commercial sells the product to the viewer. A great commercial becomes a memory, discussed and relived on Internet forums ad infinitum: "MOOOORTAL KOMBAAAAAAAAT," anyone?

Some of the 19 commercials assembled here are great and memorable: The banned 360 gunplay advert shown above, or the classic Super Smash Bros. sunshine-filled brawl - just to name two. Others... well, they didn't work quite so well (just ask the Atari Jaguar and 3DO).

It is interesting to see how the fake enthusiasm of actors pretending to be playing (and enjoying) games continues almost across-the-board. "Intense!" exclaims a young gamer after a rousing session of Zelda ... and for some reason, the Sega Saturn is advertised as a product that will make you lose control of your sphincter. Gee, I wonder why it didn't sell.

It's also interesting to watch the evolution of graphics. Just going from NES -> SNES -> PSX -> N64 is a huge leap, and it really is impressive how far we've come.

Also, just a question: Did anyone understand that one David Lynch PS2 commercial? Anyone at all? Ever? (No, David, you don't count.)

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[willer357]

I liked that one Ratchet and Clank commercial 'it's a wonderful world'

 

[Tich]

That ad actually made it to TV here, it was very funny.

 

[profbaker11]

I absolutely loved the XboX 360 ad, it is sad that people can become so insecure with themselves that they will actually limit the creativity of others. Favorite part by the way was the grenade.

 

[KaZZaP]

That 360 ad was great... its a good thing they banned it tho because after seeing that I just have this uncontrollable urge to go on a massive shooting spree. Seriously did they think anyone would actually think this? It was probably a lot of effort to make that commerical, what a shame.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

That 360 ad was great... its a good thing they banned it tho because after seeing that I just have this uncontrollable urge to go on a massive shooting spree. Seriously did they think anyone would actually think this? It was probably a lot of effort to make that commerical, what a shame.

I'm going to guess it was the guy falling off the banister more than anything that got the commercial banned. You know how impressionable kids are these days... unfortunately.

EDIT: Hadn't seen either of those Playstation 2/3 ads... I thought the ones I *had* seen were creepy and confusing...

 

[Cousin_IT]

I had to get to Page5 before the Gamecube ad came up which was the first I remembered on that list. First console adds I remember in total were Chris Cunninghams PS1 Mental Wealth add [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d16fkjy59g] & the Dreamcast Play Online [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuF_l0u5pC8] ones

 

[Maikan Bacon]

I remember seeing that ad on TV - only twice though.
Have to agree with Profbaker, why complain about this ad? It's fun (not killing people) the general theme of the ad - running around shouting bang - it's funny.
Sidenote: Favourite bit would have to be the guy on the phone at the end. ;D

 

[Frizzle]

Man, I remember too many of these commercials for my own good. Especially the super nintendo one. Good times back then. Even with the N64 when you had to buy more RAM so your Star Wars game would look better.... those dirty scammers....

 

[Eruanno]

Oh my god, that Xbox 360 commercial was hilarious
...Also, the PS3 commercial was... well... I liked it, somehow.

 

[damselgaming]

The one marketing scheme that sticks with me is "Sega does what Ninten-don't".

 

[ZakCanard]

Sony need to reuse or remake that David Lynch ad, but not for the obvious fanboy baiting "third place" reason. Sony have always been renowned for WTF ads, and we need a really good mind frack of an ad so we can quicky return to their glory days of ads like the PS2 Pornstars [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OKnBmbJj40] one.

 

[randommaster]

Sony, just WTF?!?!?!?

I remember seeing the N64 SSB commercial for the first time. I couldn't stop laughing.

Also, the 360 commercial is always fun to watch. It akind of got cut from the youtube version, but my favorite part is around the middle when the guy is at the bar and casually shoots the guy coming up from behind, then goes on reading the newspaper.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Wow, that 360 ad was really funny. Lot of effort seems to have gone into it.

 

[WinterSoldier]

Wow, that PS2 commercial was weird. Same goes for that PS3 commercial. I don't get how those were supposed to be selling the console.

I like the PS2 online commercial were they had the huge pile of people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLU0EPLn_Gk

 

[Susan Arendt]

Bah. Fail for lack of "Sega!", not to mention the old "Hey, plumber boy!" Crash Bandicoot ads.

 

[LeonLethality]

All we had here for the xbox 360 ad was a stupid guy/girl with the back of there head cut off and like a stage of games in it

 

[Hydrus]

Haha!
"The Nintendo system - your parents help set it up!"

Is that a recommendation or a promise?