Stolen Pixels #212: BUY THIS NOW!
- Thread starter Shamus Young
- Start date
But did YOU like the game?0
I know I did.
I'm glad the product placement was subtle, though.
Energizer is on the side of a flashlight when you first pick it up, and the camera angles on it. But at NO POINT does anyone in the game explicitly mention these products.
Alan: "Barry! I just fought off those guys with Energizer batteries in my flashlight! Duracell wouldn't have let me do that, they suck!"
Barry: "Yeah! Energizer batteries save lives!"
Alan Wake has good product placement, except for the gaudy battery packaging, but that made it REALLY easy to find the batteries in the dark environments...so...
I know I did.
I'm glad the product placement was subtle, though.
Energizer is on the side of a flashlight when you first pick it up, and the camera angles on it. But at NO POINT does anyone in the game explicitly mention these products.
Alan: "Barry! I just fought off those guys with Energizer batteries in my flashlight! Duracell wouldn't have let me do that, they suck!"
Barry: "Yeah! Energizer batteries save lives!"
Alan Wake has good product placement, except for the gaudy battery packaging, but that made it REALLY easy to find the batteries in the dark environments...so...
Can I point out that you actually get an ACHIEVEMENT for watching that advert on the TV! It's called Boob tube and the description is to "See what's on TV". I missed it the first couple of playthroughs!
I was the other way around to the average Joe that Shamus describes. I had mild interest in the game before it's release and actually bought it and played it the moment I could!
I love it, it's one of my favourite games! Most of my favourite games are flawed in some big way and are the sort others wouldn't bother with but I can see the charm. Alan Wake was made with thought and care and it shows, even if they did get some things wrong.
The product placement didn't bother me. I only noticed the Energizer batteries on my second playthrough and had no idea that Verizon was actually a real company! I've never heard of them. (I live in England. American only company?) I just figured it was all just tongue in cheek extras that were added to make the game world more believable, ala Max Payne.
I was the other way around to the average Joe that Shamus describes. I had mild interest in the game before it's release and actually bought it and played it the moment I could!
I love it, it's one of my favourite games! Most of my favourite games are flawed in some big way and are the sort others wouldn't bother with but I can see the charm. Alan Wake was made with thought and care and it shows, even if they did get some things wrong.
The product placement didn't bother me. I only noticed the Energizer batteries on my second playthrough and had no idea that Verizon was actually a real company! I've never heard of them. (I live in England. American only company?) I just figured it was all just tongue in cheek extras that were added to make the game world more believable, ala Max Payne.
Hmm... people cared about AW before release, then dropped it like a severed head? How erily (adverb form of erie, I think) fitting. Alan himself says at one point that the best mysteries are those that are unsolved, may the game no longer being in the dark have killed it's intrigue?
I would have bought it if they hadn't dropped PC support, but since they didn't release it for my platform(even though they said they would)I can't play it.
Waw, so not only do they make Alan Wake an Xbox-exclusive after being a multiplatform title for so long, they even have the nerve to release the game with in-game advertisements and a full price tag. Quite frankly, it's little wonder the game isn't selling well.
I was considering getting this if it ever came for the PC, primarily beacuse I enjoy these types of games and I do not mind linearity. But now that I know that it includes in-game advertisements, I am not sure I am willing to bother even if they do ever get around to releasing it on the PC.
I despise in-game advertisements with a passion that burns with the intensity of a thousand suns, so I am extremely hesitant on giving money to a developer who condones and uses such practices. If gamers have to pay a full price for something, there is zero excuse for having in-game advertisements.
Anyway, it might not be too late for Alan Wake to become a success. Who knows? It might become a sleeper hit like DJ Hero was. However, in order for that to happen, Remedy needs to do something to try and make that happen. Releasing a patch that removes in-game advertisements would be a good start (although, somehow, I don't expect that to happen due to contracts and all).
I was considering getting this if it ever came for the PC, primarily beacuse I enjoy these types of games and I do not mind linearity. But now that I know that it includes in-game advertisements, I am not sure I am willing to bother even if they do ever get around to releasing it on the PC.
I despise in-game advertisements with a passion that burns with the intensity of a thousand suns, so I am extremely hesitant on giving money to a developer who condones and uses such practices. If gamers have to pay a full price for something, there is zero excuse for having in-game advertisements.
Anyway, it might not be too late for Alan Wake to become a success. Who knows? It might become a sleeper hit like DJ Hero was. However, in order for that to happen, Remedy needs to do something to try and make that happen. Releasing a patch that removes in-game advertisements would be a good start (although, somehow, I don't expect that to happen due to contracts and all).
I LOVE Porn Flakes!!
Also "ooooohhh nnnoooo Alan Wake has one ad in it, it sucks!" stop whining ya pansies
Also "ooooohhh nnnoooo Alan Wake has one ad in it, it sucks!" stop whining ya pansies
Oh cut Alan Wake a break, its the best game I've played recently. The campaign and story are both simply amazing. The only thing holding it back from a must buy game is that it can be finished in about three days, and has nothing else to offer other than its awesome single player.
Seeing that the gameworld is the "real"world... I don't really see all the product placement as being that bad. If we were talking about Gears of War, then yeah I'd agree that the Pepsi billboard is a little bit much Bi-*Cough*-nic-*Cough*-mando-*Cough*. Frankly this is nothing new anyway, you don't hear movie-goers complaining about how the Manhattan fight scene in a given action movie had product placement up the wazoo.Shamus Young said:
Also, shame on you, Shamus. Didn't you write an article just a couple weeks ago talking about the ways companies make money to fund projects? Maybe it was Funk... Either way, product placement: Get used to it. Find a new hobby. Frankly I'm going with the former option.
I see more than 1 product placement... 1st frame, look on the table, is that what i think it is.
I don't know why; but I find this to be hilarious...perhaps due to the idea that the character would specifically reference it was a very battery orientated situation.PedroSteckecilo said:
No it's defiantly there; there's even, as other have mentioned, an achievement specifically for watching an advert on the television - you can see where it is on the "InsideXbox" video dedicated to the game.Antiparticle said:
That punchline was harsh... great work Shamus.