Dead Space 2 TV Advertisement Embraces Negative Media Image

[Lancer723]

I don't know if anyone else has seen the new ad spot for Dead space two, but it came on tonight and I have to say, I'm pretty disappointed.


The ad basically takes people who don't play videogames, presumably shows them footage from the game, and records their negative reactions. For me the highlight of me is the quote "It's revolting, it's violent, it's everything you love in a game, and your mom's gonna hate it."

With all the negative media that videogames get, and everything gamers are current battling to make people understand and accept them as respectable media, this is the last kind of thing that should come out. How can we as gamers expect to be taken seriously when stuff like this comes out, basically extolling all the things that the media labels videogames with as attributes that make it worthwhile.

What are your thoughts escapist? Is this the sort of thing we want people to see? Is this how we want games to be portrayed?

 

[oplinger]

....I like it. Be mad all you want. But it's great marketing.

Also I don't think it matters. That's how it is sometimes. That's how it'd be even if they made a commercial trying to show it off as something different.

that black ops commercial springs to mind. The finger guns commercial...

People hate everything. This isn't going to matter.

 

[mindlesspuppet]

I saw this during the Packers game today, second best advertising campaign for a game ever.

 

[RatRace123]

Screw the non-initiated that's a clever bit of marketing.
We wouldn't want every game to be portrayed like this, but Dead Space? Hell yeah, that works for Dead Space.

 

[AvsJoe]

It made me smile, so that's something.
I'm still not going to buy the game though, which I guess means the advertisers failed to do their freaking job.

 

[Internet Kraken]

The main reason I don't like this ad is because it makes me feel immature. Like if I were to pick up this game, it would just be to spite my parents and revel in their negative view of its content. TAKE THAT MOM, YOU DON'T OWN ME!! I'd rather my parents be okay with what I'm playing.

I wonder how all those 13 year olds will convince their parents to get this game for them when the commercial directly insults them.

Also I thought Dead Space took itself a bit more seriously than Duke Nukem, but I guess not.

People who don't like video games? I'm gonna hazard a guess that's code for paid actors.

Of course, though their obviously imitating responses they've received.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

I laughed.

This is what dead space does; it shocks you, it scares the crap out of you, or at least makes you go "what twisted mind devised this abomination whose limbs I am currently removing?"
I do think the "your mom's gonna hate it" wasn't necessary, though.

I wonder what the dripping sound at 11 seconds is?

 

[Neverhoodian]

Oh hoo-bloody-ray, I'm positively pumped for this now.
/sarcasm

I hate commercials like this. It's like those stupid Apple Jacks commercials they used to run on Saturday morning cartoons. You know, the ones that go "You're a kid, you're cool, your parents aren't, buy our stuff!"

I have been on very good terms with older generations my entire life. I take every opportunity to talk to older people, particularly war veterans. Their wisdom can be most enlightening. I get along just fine with my parents, and many of their friends are my friends as well.

It would be well worth pointing out the aging gaming population as well. Many gamers are in their 30s, 40s and above. Indeed, there are many gaming grandparents out there who have wonderful experiences playing with their children and grandchildren.

Screw you, marketing vultures. Stop playing to stereotypes and insulting my intelligence. I get more than enough of that in other entertainment mediums.

 

[Thaius]

Really EA? Really?

That is absolutely terrible. It's like EA thinks no better of us than freaking Fox News does. They really think the best way to make gamers as a whole want their name is to say it's a terrible game their moms will hate? That does nothing but paint us as the angry, rebellious for no good reason, perverted people society thinks we are. We don't need this, EA, you bastards.

 

[Lurklen]

I just couldn't believe that someone was useing angry parents as an ad campaign for a violent video game. It just seems kind of like they're asking for the wrong kind of attention, they shouldn't be marketing to people who have to worry about their mothers opinion on video games.

 

[lovest harding]

This is ammunition. Ammunition for some politician who decides they want to jump on the video games are bad for children bandwagon.
It practically admits that it's selling it to children (I mean, at 21, I certainly don't feel the need to rebel against my mother).
Whether right or wrong, I can almost promise that this will be used to support someone's anti-video game legislation/court case/etc.

As for a marketing campaign, it's effective enough. The game comes across as immature though. And from what I know, Dead Space isn't.

 

[The Wykydtron]

Hell i thought it was funny, a lot more imaginative then most other game marketing material which usually involves "This is a SUPER SRS game for super MANLY MEN with fucking POWER ARMOR and SUNGLASSES!"

 

[alimination602]

As a marketing method its original at least- Dead Space is supposed to be a horror game (Despite the first one not being particularly scary, just startling) and showing how the average person is repulsed by it should intrigue the conditioned mind of a gamer.

What you need to remember is that the sample they chose were mothers from the heart of Republican territory- the kind of over worrying religious zealots who would complain about their own shadow because it represents all the dark things about humans! I personally look forward to seeing what they can make out of this sequel- if their fears really were founded.

However I do fear that this will once again be misused as more ammo for the politicians to say games are evil and child warping (Despite it being rated M so kids shouldn?t be playing it anyway). But I think this ad is more just a parody of the issue- a message to the world saying ?Yeah games a violent and creepy and here?s one right here. We?ve shown you how much your mother will hate it which means you?re goanna love it?.

However if it just turns out to be another fangless startle game then the whole point is rendered moot. Chances are this will be another 'Modern Warfare 2'- the developers intentionally include something controversial to stir the media pot and gain it more publicity from the people who want it banned.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Meh... When I look for a new game 'parental disapproval' isn't one of the criteria I use in making my selection.

If EA really want to sell me on Dead Space 2 they could run a ad like "Dead Space 2: This time the PC controls aren't sludgy and unresponsive."

 

[Fawful]

Oh boy! Dead Space 2! It's just like the first one but even less subtle and it's still not scary! Look at the disgusted mothers! LOOK AT THEM! (To say that another way, I still don't care about Dead Space 2.)

I also found the "I think it would make a person go insane" line rather funny because Issac is supposed to be going insane in DS2. Quasi-Irony! Those clever marketing chaps.

 

[OniaPL]

It seems they are trying to do the same that the sex scene controversy did for Mass Effect...

Kinda low, though. My brethren, take your arms, and prepare to take down the demonic devil, known by the name of Electronic Arts.

 

[migo]

Awesome. You can totally tell they're marketing to teenaged boys whose moms are overly controlling hens.