Visceral Proves Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2

[Kimarous]

Alright, I have to admit--that was both awesome and hilarious. I mostly approve of this marketing tactic.

HOWEVER.

Isn't the mainstream public opinion of videogames ALREADY bad? I mean, do we really need to subject clueless mothers to the most violent and disturbing imagery that games have to offer? That's just ASKING them to crusade against videogames.

Putting aside the potential lashing out against games that this may cause, that was fantastic. I mean, just watching someone say "Fire... It's very fireful" made me almost fall out of my chair. Visceral, I salute you (but be warned that conservative Americans are about to rip you apart).

This pretty much sums up my own opinion. Good for a chuckle, but bad for PR.

 

[Kimarous]

Alright, I have to admit--that was both awesome and hilarious. I mostly approve of this marketing tactic.

HOWEVER.

Isn't the mainstream public opinion of videogames ALREADY bad? I mean, do we really need to subject clueless mothers to the most violent and disturbing imagery that games have to offer? That's just ASKING them to crusade against videogames.

Putting aside the potential lashing out against games that this may cause, that was fantastic. I mean, just watching someone say "Fire... It's very fireful" made me almost fall out of my chair. Visceral, I salute you (but be warned that conservative Americans are about to rip you apart).

This pretty much sums up my own opinion. Good for a chuckle, but bad for PR.

How so? This isn?t the first time censorship groups have been insulted or the first ad to emphasize violence as its appeal.

My logic is along the lines of "Dead Space 2 is rated M. Taunting that 'parents will hate this' implies a teen audience. This could be construed by zealots as promoting extreme violence to teens, despite the mature rating."

I don't think it's that bad, but I'm the type who doesn't like to poke sleeping giants.

 

[beefpelican]

Am I the only one who would feel immature playing this game now? Like I'm just doing it to spite my parents? It makes me feel like some preteen who tries to be edgy just to get a rise out of people.

Yeah, it seemed like kind of a dick move on Visceral's part. Imagine telling all of these women afterwards "We don't actually care what you think, we think you are stupid and your opinions are stupid." I understand many game devs are bitter about the whole video games cause violence thing, but still.

 

[beefpelican]

Gonna strap in with my turtle beach and an adult diaper for when it scares the shit out of me.

"Turtle beach?" Please, sir, do not shit on the turtles.

 

[The Seldom Seen Kid]

Who is this marketed for, exactly? Clearly not the type of audience you'd assume: grown adults 17 and over who don't give a shit about what their mothers think about their hobbies.

 

[Oliver Pink]

These guys...are possibly the greatest trolls I have ever seen...except Valve.

What about Team Meat? They tricked PETA into creating 'Super Tofu Boy' as a form of free advertising for them, and then proceeded to include Tofu Boy in their own game as the worst playable character - putting the nail in the coffin by posting a blog message reading:

"How many PETA members does it take to change a light bulb? None - PETA can't change anything."

 

[ecoho]

.....my mother lived during the depression yeah this shit wouldnt of phased her.

 

[MaVeN1337]

"It's a mind altering, demonic, weapon"

"It's very firefull"

First off firefull is not even a word... Second Showcasing these kinds of games to the feminist, moronic populace that want games gone is a terrible idea. This is the shittiest advertising ever.

 

[Electrogecko]

"There was a lot of fire. It's very.....fire-full."

 

[PrototypeC]

I don't understand what you're all talking about. They chose this focus group because the game is so violent and aggressively juvenile, and they wanted these kinds of disgusted reactions. They want to take this data and appeal to the kind of kids who actually liked the original and wanted more, and would be turned on by the idea that their mother thinks the game is gross.

You're seeing this, right? "A mom's disapproval has always been an accurate barometer of what is cool." Doesn't that say something about what Visceral thinks is cool, and what they think of their teenage customers? Doesn't that make you not want to buy their game?

 

[RandallJohn]

I don't understand what you're all talking about. They chose this focus group because the game is so violent and aggressively juvenile, and they wanted these kinds of disgusted reactions. They want to take this data and appeal to the kind of kids who actually liked the original and wanted more, and would be turned on by the idea that their mother thinks the game is gross.

You're seeing this, right? "A mom's disapproval has always been an accurate barometer of what is cool." Doesn't that say something about what Visceral thinks is cool, and what they think of their teenage customers? Doesn't that make you not want to buy their game?

I agree. In addition, I think that this is feeding the negative or immature image that gaming already has in society. I know the commercial isn't supposed to be any sort of "ambassador," but still. It's feeding the stereotype that gamers are either addicted couch potatoes, gore-hungry nuts, or twelve.

 

[biGBum333]

awesome ad! cant wait for dead space 2

 

[neoontime]

Wow, I do love this approach.

 

[The9mm]

Not only my mom will hate this, but i will too.
Poor Dead Space 2 people, they know their game has nothing else going for it.

 

[Mechsoap]

This should be shown to every mother on the continent

Im so getting this game!

Cause you know thats not gonna effect the supreme court case at all.

No it won?t, honestly you people need to relax.
How is this any different to ads for TV comics book and films that emphasize sex and violence? If they can do it then why not games?

People still think games makes their children and youths corrupted, showing this to every mother in America would certainly change some peoples opinion, and support the non-free speech for video games.

 

[Astalano]

This game is for people that are 18 and over. This is the stupidest marketing I have ever seen and just adds to the arguments of people like Jack Thompson who accuse the game industry of marketing violent games to children.

Nice job EA, why don't your marketers jump off a cliff while they're at it.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

What the hell was the point of that?!

Seriously... couldn't they have done something better than prove that mothers don't like bloody horror games?

It's humor. A joke.

A joke is funny, because it sets up a familiar pattern. In this case, moms not liking video games. A joke can then either avert the pattern, which is unexpected and can make you laugh. That would be if the moms enjoyed the game, or at least some of them. The joke can also play the pattern straight, to ridiculous degrees. That is done in this case by having over 200 moms, and a very scientific-looking set up.

In fact, taking something commonplace and acting as it is very serious or important is a comedic staple.

The purpose of this ad was to make the viewer laugh, which causes a release of endorphins and makes the person happier. The developers are hoping this assosciates good things with the game, which will make the viewer wish to buy it, thus funding the developer.

The ad also showed several clips from the game in order to entice the potential player. On top of that, much of the core demographic revels in violence or horror. Showing how horrified people are of it would potentially make them desire to play.