Burger King Deposes King Character

[Greg Tito]

Burger King Deposes King Character


Burger King retires King mascot making its advergames instant collector's items.

Companies often need to reinvent themselves in order to stay current with the present generation. In the early Oughts, Burger King brought back an old image from the 1970s - the masked King character - in a memorable commercial with the monarch awakening in a bed with a twenty-something dude. Since then, Burger King used the silent King in an unorthodox campaign targeted at teens, especially with the debut of three "advergames" on Xbox 360 in 2006. But now that Burger King has new owners and a new ad agency, the decision to ditch the King in favor of a healthier approach is meant to attract more foodies and mothers rather than crazy teenagers.

"People want a reason to go back to Burger King," say the Burger King executives. "There was a time when price value was king. Now, healthy choice and quality drive the category."

Part of the new push will be for fresh foods like the new California Burger which features avocado for a limited time. "There are no plans to bring the King back anytime soon."

This means no more quirky ads with that freaky King dude, which I have to call a win. Also notable is that PocketBike Racer, Sneak King, and Big Bumpin' all just got a bump in value on collector's shelves as the chances of these games being reissued any time soon is probably nil.

Then again, if games based on retired corporate mascots like Spot from 7UP [http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Yo-Noid-Nintendo-/56227371?_dmpt=Video_Games_Games&_pcategid=139973&_pcatid=2&_refkw=noid&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A3%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5427&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14] are any indication, these games will only be worth about 10 bucks in twenty years.

So if you used to sneak around trying to give sandwiches to strangers in Sneak King, at least you'll be able to sell the game at a loss to some Burger King fanatic on Ebay in 2033.

Source: USA Today [http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/story/2011/08/Burger-King-freshens-fast-food-image-kicks-King-to-the-curb/50046768/1]

Permalink

 

[Loop Stricken]

Burger King, WHY YOU DO THIS?

You don't see McDonalds retire Ronald, do you? I mean they SHOULD, really should, outside of Japan at least where he kinda makes sense what with them being weird people.

 

[Alphakirby]

WAIT WHAT. MY SNEAK KING,BIG BUMPIN AND POCKETBIKE RACER (When I find it) ARE NOW WORTH MORE MONEY!!! Holy shit I need to find out how much they're worth!!! ...wait...

Then again, if games based on retired corporate mascots like Spot from 7UP [http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Yo-Noid-Nintendo-/56227371?_dmpt=Video_Games_Games&_pcategid=139973&_pcatid=2&_refkw=noid&_trkparms=65%253A12%257C66%253A3%257C39%253A1%257C72%253A5427&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14] are any indication, these games will only be worth about 10 bucks in twenty years.

Damnit,I should've known it was too good to be true...

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

It's really a two horse race in creepy characters.

Ronald McDonald and the Burger King. Both are just the most terrifying embodiments of corporate violation you've ever seen.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

Aww man.. I really liked the King commercials. =(

 

[Drago-Morph]

NO! DEAR GOD WHY?

In all seriousness, this is stupid. Nobody is going to come to Burger King for healthy foods, that's ridiculous. Getting rid of the Burger King is just going to make you less memorable, and switching your foods to "healthy" items will not only fail to attract anyone looking for actual health foods, but also lose the customers you have there looking for regular fast food products.

 

[Arkvoodle]

Guess they got sick of saying "ELEPHANT!"

 

[Xeraxis]

Ditch the King in favor of a healthier approach?? YOU'RE A FAST FOOD CHAIN! What kind of tactic is that?! No one goes to a burger joint for a salad! What the hell is wrong with you?

 

[Mumorpuger]

I once convinced my room mate to buy Sneak King, because I said I'd get Pocket Bike racers the next time.

We never went back. Mwuhahah.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Also I've just watched the linked video. Egg, and meat and cheese, AND MEAT AND CHEESE!

And Burger King want to get RID of this divine ambrosia?! Damn them!

 

[alrekr]

Oh FFS I'm going to have scrap my plan to rob a bank; we need new masks now. Thanks burger now not only is your food over priced under tasty, your adverts no longer contain any funny. So now its only McDonalds who have creppy masochist mascot.

 

[faceless chick]

Burger King, WHY YOU DO THIS?

You don't see McDonalds retire Ronald, do you? I mean they SHOULD, really should, outside of Japan at least where he kinda makes sense what with them being weird people.

they already did. a few months ago, it was in a news article.
they want to turn mcdonalds into a 'mature" cafe so they can reel in the teens and hipsters that starbucks is squeezing sweet, easy cash out of.

so, it's a fad, like everything else. kinda sad really. no matter how stupid these mascots are, they are representative of their brand. they make the chain stand out and by removing it they turn it into yet another generic, boring cafe.

 

[blaqknoise]

I kinda liked the King though...

Well, more than I like Ronald I guess.

 

[mandaforever]

tjheyre trying to market to healthy moms instead of teenagers??? Hahahahaahaha, there is so much wrong with that picture

 

[Sir Shockwave]

Why do I get a feeling the Nostalgia Critic is going to make a joke about this next week?

ELEPHANT!

 

[Jake Martinez]

Burger King, WHY YOU DO THIS?

You don't see McDonalds retire Ronald, do you? I mean they SHOULD, really should, outside of Japan at least where he kinda makes sense what with them being weird people.

they already did. a few months ago, it was in a news article.
they want to turn mcdonalds into a 'mature" cafe so they can reel in the teens and hipsters that starbucks is squeezing sweet, easy cash out of.

so, it's a fad, like everything else. kinda sad really. no matter how stupid these mascots are, they are representative of their brand. they make the chain stand out and by removing it they turn it into yet another generic, boring cafe.

I think you're believing a lie. A carefully crafted lie.

McDonalds wouldn't retire Ronald because of this. They would lesson the role of the character, especially with a public press release or a campaign, to draw attention away from the charges that they use cartoon characters to influence children to prefer their food. Which btw, is something they totally do (try to imagine how times, "Moooooom, I want McDonalds" comes out of the mouths of American children every day).

The best, absolute best, resolution for McDonalds is for them to have it both way - continue to advertise to children, yet not reap any criticism from parents that they do so.

Frankly, I feel for the parents - Advertising aimed at children is just plain evil and you as the adult have to deal with the endless begging for useless crap. I've seen family members just literally cave before the onslaught of two or three kids whinging about some fast food joint or shitty toy.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

so is it Burger Capitalism now or just Burger?

 

[PureChaos]

if there's no King, will it become Burger Republic or something?

 

[TonyVonTonyus]

Just another thing that's awsome lost to new age yuppies who ALWAYS eat healthy, drive hybrids and say everything politically correct.

 

[synobal]

Thank goodness I really hated those commercials and that burger king guy was creepy.