SSJBlastoise said:
Not really sue how this is relevant, there are so many examples of sports stars making shameless appearances in movies, Shaq wasn't the first and he sure as hell wont be the last.
It's relevant because the shameless don't give a fuck about the quality of their work, only that it gets them a paycheck or a wider market presence. Unless you mean to tell me that the original Shaq-Fu was just misinterpreted. Which I admit would be incredibly amusing, if only for being outright insane.
I guess you don't watch much basketball.
I don't, and that only strengthens my point.
In the 90s, I knew about Shaq because basketball was everywhere; it was thrust upon the national consciousness (and me) whether we were previously invested or not.
Which gave his presence greater marketability than today. And with that marketability, he chose to sell out.
He ceased to just be "Shaquille O'Neal, Godly Center" and became "Shaquille O'Neal: Terrible Actor and Walking Punchline", the latter of whom went on to produce an incredibly awful video game and star in two terrible movies just to cash-in on his fame; none of which had anything to do with basketball.
So you will have to forgive me if I'm somewhat dubious of his intentions here; since he's once again trying to appeal to GAMERS and not just basketball fans. I dunno, maybe deep down the guy really wants Shaq Fu to succeed for reasons beyond money, but based on the history of the infamous title, I seriously doubt it.
Shaq is doing just fine at the moment, what with his analyst work on TNT and still getting a fair few endorsement deals. Also, if he really wanted to get some easy money he wouldn't be using a lot of his own money to make this game or donate 5% or profits to charity.
Then why the kickstarter? To gauge consumer response?
Oh yeah, I'm sure that will go over great with all those gamers who even remember Shaq Fu.
Because it's remembered so fondly, no doubt.
As for the charity line, who are you trying to fool?
It's a tax-write off and PR move; and the oldest play in the book.
Hell, if Shaq shops around he might be able to find more tax-credit incentives by hiring a developer from the right region (I hear Montreal is still pretty VG Developer friendly). Though chances are, Shaq's probably already considered that, since he has an MBA.
As for advertisements.
Shaq might still be signing ad-deals and the like today, but then again so is William Shatner.
Neither of whom are exactly foremost in the mass-media consciousness today. I'm not expecting to see them appear on Good Morning America, or even E!, let alone attain any real presence online. (George Takei has a bigger online presence just making fun of weird shit on Amazon than Shaquille O'Neal does)
