commercials
Latest
Steve Young Football for iPad ads spoof 90s commercials
Apparently there is an iPad game behind these crazy commercials, but we posted them mainly because they're hilarious. The spot above will be familiar to anyone who grew up in the '90s as a spoof of the old Crossfire commercials that took a mechanical board game way too seriously. You'd probably be forgiven for noticing that the game, Steve Young Football, which is an over the top wacky version of the sport itself, actually has a feature where you can network two iPads together for multiplayer. Pretty cool. The second spot, after the break, is just as hilarious, this time spoofing the old My Buddy commercials (oh man, the memories). Steve Young Football is available for $4.99 on the iPad, and just 99 cents on the iPhone, and no matter what the game is like, it's pretty much worth giving them the buck for the entertainment you'll get from these videos. [via Joystiq]
Found Footage: Case-mate will freak you out with iPhone case commercials
Case-mate has decided to promote its new iPhone and iPad case-making site (one tip, Case-mate: Don't create an iPhone case site that requires Flash) with some videos, and rather than put together images of how great the cases work or how good they look, the ad people decided to just jump right into the deep end of the insane pool. As you can see above, the first concept involves some kind of mystical girl in the mountains who can create objects with her mind, and has six arms, and ... well, just watch it for yourself. I already have a case on my iPhone (and it's not a Case-mate, I just use the iSkin Revo), but honestly, I prefer some crazy ads like this to, say, the FaceTime commercials. I can only take that "Baby, it is so short" commercial so many times. Case-mate tried to tell us that the second commercial they made wasn't quite as nuts, but man, it's even crazier. It's also kind of not-safe-for-work, too (some mild gore and implied nudity), so I'll just link to it by name: Living With Steel Wool Hands (How I Lost My Nipple). No, really. Watch if you dare. I don't know what they're putting in the water over in the marketing department, but maybe they should splurge for bottled.
New Zealand's TV3 apologizes to Sony with Marmite, Flight of the Conchords
The conflict between New Zealand's TV3 and Sony could have gone much differently than it did. Instead of suing TV3 into oblivion when it found out that the broadcaster had produced a commercial directly copying the PlayStation 3's "Montage" ad, Sony used the Kevin Butler persona to publicly absolve (and mock) TV3. In a PlayStation Blog post, Butler offered permission to copy all PS3 ads in exchange for "TV3's support in making the PS3 the OFFICIAL GAME CONSOLE OF NEW ZEALAND." And a Flight of the Conchords box set. As if this whole story weren't cute enough, TV3 sent Sony a package containing not only the Conchords set, but other local treats -- and a plaque proclaiming PS3 the "official game console of Aotearoa." We'd never have believed it if we hadn't seen it ourselves: two media companies settling a dispute in a friendly, joking manner instead of litigation. Maybe every company should bring in a few fictional executives.
More Droid 2, Droid X details surface in leaked commercials
We've already gotten a pretty good look at both the Droid 2 and Droid X and some of their purported specs, and it looks like we can now fill in a few more gaps thanks to a set of leaked slides for some new Droid commercials. The most interesting of the lot is the slide / script for a Droid 2 commercial pictured above, which not only confirms an expectedly sci-fi-themed ad for the phone (Gattaca-esque, to be specific), but Exchange support and a 1GHz processor (not 750MHz, as previously rumored). There's comparatively fewer details in the pair of Droid X commercials, but they do offer yet more confirmation of a 4.3-inch screen, and our first indication of a new EyeCon app that will apparently come pre-loaded on the phone and let you access and control media on your home network -- the script for the ad actually mentions a "720 dpi" screen, but we're going to chalk that up to adspeak rather than Motospeak. Hit up the link below for a closer look at the complete set. [Thanks, Kellen]
Sprint EVO 4G celebrates its 'first' commercial
"First is the beginning" -- tautologies notwithstanding, so debuts Sprint's inaugural EVO 4G commercial, now online and airing over broadcast television. Although evoking the same parallel syntax narrative style akin to the "Droid does" campaign -- as well as rocket-propelled imagery -- we gotta say, this one's much more comforting. Like the commercial says, first isn't later, first is... right after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Study finds commercial-skipping DVRs don't affect purchases, 'TiVo effect' may not exist
Two years back, consumer research told us the vast majority of DVR users skipped commercials; now, statisticians at Duke University say that's not the case. More importantly, even those who do hit that oh-so-tempting skip button aren't necessarily spending less on advertised products as a result. Pulling data from over 1,200 TiVo boxes over the course of three years, Professor Carl Mela and colleagues found that a staggering 95 percent of television was watched live instead of recorded, giving viewers no opportunity to skip, and even when there was an opportunity, users took it only 6.5 percent of the time. Moreover, every attempt the researchers made to find a "TiVo effect" failed -- comparing those who had DVRs with those who didn't, they found no significant difference in the amount TV watchers spent on nine different goods (including cleaning and grooming products) advertised. This could be for a variety of reasons -- perhaps advertising doesn't work, period, or perhaps those without DVRs "skipped" commercials simply by walking out of the room -- but no matter the reason, it seems these days television advertisers don't have quite so much to fear.
Halo 3's 'Believe' and PS2's 'Mountain' make 'epic ad' list
Halo 3's amazing "Believe" campaign and the less well-known PlayStation "Mountain" ad have found a place on AdFreak's list of "The 25 most epic ads that aren't [Apple's] '1984.'" The Halo 3 campaign made it all the way to the eighth spot, while "Mountain," with its 1,500 extras, climbed to 17th place. The PS2 spot just barely beat out the incredibly memorable US Marine Corp "Chess" ad -- yeah, the one with the wizards and knights. Halo 3's ad campaign was certainly an achievement, with atmosphere that eclipsed anything the game eventually provided. "Believe" had all those memorable elements: the diorama (wow, that diorama), the old men reminiscing, the History Channel feel of it all. It was the type of pretentious that works -- which is more than we can say for Halo: Reach's Nair boy and his Gatorade injections. Check out the "Believe" campaign and "Mountain" ad after the break.
AT&T announces expensive rebranding (sigh)
Stung by Verizon ads, and a slew of unhappy customers, AT&T is doing what most companies with image problems do: Fix their problems. Get a new logo. A new color scheme. New ads. "All of our communications across all of these channels is 'Rethink Possible' and this integration of design," Esther Lee, AT&T's senior vice president for brand marketing and advertising, said in an interview with Advertising Age magazine. It's reported that AT&T, which is one of the country's five biggest advertisers, spent $1.87 billion on marketing and advertising last year. The new company slogan, "Rethink Possible" is supposed to alert us that nothing is impossible if you are an AT&T customer. Right. I'm really enjoying that tethering. I guess "expanding the boundaries of 'can'" actually adds in a few values of "cannot." One good outcome of all of this is that the Luke Wilson ads will be going away. AT&T still seems tight with Apple, but if the iPhone does wind up going to Verizon then things might rapidly change. I've really never understood these re-branding exercises. Me: "Hey Mary, I know you hate AT&T but they have a new logo now." Mary: "Great, I'm going to drop my Verizon plan today and hook up with AT&T. And the color changes? Breathtaking!" You can get some samples of the new campaign at the AT&T website. I'm glad to hear how much AT&T is spending to upgrade its network. It still doesn't work in my house, but of course AT&T is quite happy to sell me a hardware doo-dad so that I can use my own internet bandwidth to get access to the AT&T network. Thanks for that one.
Monster Hunter Tri ads mock non-monster hunters
It's rare for someone to berate you for not being tough enough for a Wii game, but that's exactly what Capcom's Monster Hunter Tri spokes-character Ironbeard does in this surprisingly funny series of ads. The Scottish huntsman mocks people for thinking that hunting real, regular-sized animals is hard when there are monsters to be hunted in Capcom's upcoming Wii game. Not only are these ads, which you can view after the break, funny, they're also kind of effective. We don't want to look at this fictional character with shame! We want him to be proud of us for being man enough to hunt giant fake monsters. [Thanks, Kieran!]
New Xbox 360 Japan ads are ... interesting
Microsoft is rolling out some new ads for the Xbox 360 in Japan. Spotted on the Japanese Xbox.com and featuring a trio of businessmen, the ads certainly represent a big departure from the "Do!Do!Do!" ads of yesteryear. The three suits include "Sanrokumaru" (translated 3-6-0) a man with an Xbox 360 sphere for a head. Together, the group forms the Xbox Special Division, which goes forth in order to obtain big name titles for the Xbox 360. One such title is Monster Hunter, which has already been announced by Capcom for the console. In fact, at end of the Monster Hunter ad -- embedded after the break -- the text translates as "XXXX is next!" and then fills in "XXXX" with "Monster Hunter." As noted by Andriasang.com, the promotional site has several spaces filled with Xs, implying that Microsoft has some other game announcements up its sleeve. [Via Andriasang.com]
Verizon goes after Sprint's 'most dependable 3G network' ad claim
Looks like Verizon's addicted to the sweet taste of success: following its victory over AT&T regarding the Map For That ads, Big Red's complaining to the The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus about Sprint's "America's most dependable 3G network" tagline. Verizon says that a recent Nielsen survey shows its network drops fewer calls than Sprint's, and for now the bureaucrats agree -- the board's asked Sprint to stop airing the ads. For its part, Sprint says one study doesn't tell the whole tale, and it's going to keep showing the ads while it appeals to the National Advertising Review Board. In other news, Verizon's lawyers were seen heading to the local BMW dealership late last night, following a run-in with Sprint's attorneys at the Mercedes-Benz showroom.
Mr. T promotes the Mohawk Grenade
digg_url = 'http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/11/16/mr-t-promotes-the-mohawk-grenade/'; Not only is the Mohawk Grenade real and in-game, but Mr. T put it there. That's what we learn in this new commercial, a sequel of sorts to the old "Night Elf Mohawk" joke a long while back. Not only is T (not The T, just T) decked out in a Murloco's Taco's T-shirt, but he shows the in-game item in action. It's how he makes the World of Warcraft look good. I love it -- well done, Blizzard. Great kickoff to the holiday marketing season, and it's awesome that they've got the commercial (which we assume you'll soon see on television) promoting the actual in-game item in a quality way. Sure, The Old Republic and a few other MMOs might be knocking on WoW's door, but who wouldn't want to play a game where you can throw a grenade and make people look like Mr. T? Maybe this is where all those newbies will be coming from. %Gallery-78301% World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.
AT&T adds Verizon's Island of Misfit Toys holiday ads to lawsuit, demands they be yanked off the air
Well, you knew this was coming -- AT&T's amended its advertising lawsuit against Verizon to include Big Red's new holiday ads, including that oh-so-cute Island of Misfit Toys spot, and demanded that they be taken off the air. At question is the same map of AT&T's 3G coverage used in the other commercial, which Ma Bell says misleads customers into thinking it has no service at all in large swaths of the country. Best part? AT&T's lawyers had to describe the ad in their new filing, leading to passages like this: The spotted elephant, in a surprised manner, asks the iPhone "What are you doing here? You can download apps and browse the web!" and a Dolly for Sue asserts that "Yeah. People will love you [the iPhone]." Happy holidays, folks. Read - Digital Daily Read - AT&T's amended complaint [PDF]
Are DVRs actually going to save the network TV model?
Stay tuned for the network's latest DVR strategy: acceptance. Armed with the latest Nielsen data, ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox are rushing to tell advertisers that even with a set-top box and its bevy of pauses, fast forwards and 30 second skips at the ready -- we're guessing this doesn't apply to Media Center users on automated setups -- most viewers simply settle in and watch the commercials anyway. The New York Times breaks down the commercial-plus-three ratings system the networks initially opposed that could end up saving shows like Heroes from cancellation -- though a return to the old way of thinking might be worthwhile if it means an end to that show's now pitiable existence.
Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated)
Can't argue with a wig like that, right? Video after the break.Update: Two more added. Are these still fun?
Activision wisely promotes DJ Hero with Daft Punk
If Activision really wants to reach the widest possible audience with DJ Hero, TV commercials are probably the best way to expedite that process. If said TV commercials happen to feature Daft Punk's wonderfully catchy "Around the World," even better.After the break, see one TV ad starring a digital version of Daft Punk (though, since the band is ostensibly robotic, what's the difference?) and another featuring both a clip of Justice vs. Public Enemy, and an improbably shiny DJ Hero controller. And if you like those, Activision continues to upload preview clips of in-game songs to its YouTube channel.
Zune HD commercial hits major selling points, forgets to include unsettling female spokesperson
Looks like the Zune HD commercials are now hitting the scene, and unless multicolored flashing lights aren't your thing, this isn't likely to cause uneasiness or provoke blatant fanboyism. Instead, we've got a neon spectacle highlighting four of its big selling points: HD radio, video playback, wireless, and yes, games are there, too. See it for yourself after the break. [Via Dark Zune]
Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI
Turns out not everyone was amused by Sony's tongue-in-cheek PlayStation 3 Slim ad about internet rumors -- just ask the Nigerian government. The line in question, "you can't believe everything you read on the internet, otherwise I'd be a Nigerian millionaire by now," apparently caused a bit of a stir, and the local authorities demanded the company pull the commercial. It's now been replaced in the company's Viddler account with a slightly altered version that claims online FUD is "how World War One got started." Someone should tell Sony Director of Rumor Confirmation Kevin Butler that there's a certain assassinated Austrian Archduke who would beg to differ. Revised video after the break, and just for kicks, we found the old video on YouTube for comparison. [Via Joystiq]
Apple enlists David Puddy to take on the Laptop Hunters
Apple's created a whole new chapter in its "Get a Mac" ad campaign based on targeting Microsoft's successful Laptop Hunters series, and while at this point it's just a lot of muddled back-and-forth, the gang in Cupertino managed to spice things up a little by bringing in an all-too-recognizable face and voice: Patrick "David Puddy" Warburton. Mr. Brock Samson / Joe Swanson / The Tick comes on as the top-of-the-line PC who some say has a "much too fast" processor but prone to viruses and causing headaches -- you knew were the narrative was going. Video after the break, and you can go ahead and start work on your parody video, "You got a question about PCs, you ask the eight ball." [Thanks, Travis]
Video: PS3 Slim's Japanese commercials likely to cause fear, distress, and confusion
The folks at Palm may think they've learned how to make some creepy commercials, but let's face it, they've got nothing on Sony. The Japanese company has a long history of discomforting, unexplainable advertising that rivals a David Lynch movie -- in fact, Lynch even directed his own television spot back in the PlayStation 2 days, itself reminiscent of UNKLE's "Rabbit in Your Headlights" music video from years before. This latest set of videos for the PS3 Slim in Japan is no exception. Turn off all the lights, raise the volume of your speakers, and bow down before the masters of unnerving gadget promotion just after the break -- we included the Lynch ad, too, in case you were interested.
