Viral
Latest
How we learn the jargon
We get a lot of requests here on the site from researchers trying to study you World of Warcraft players. Everybody with a research grant, apparently, wants to study you -- your psychology, your interaction, and the relationship you have with your avatar. We get so many requests, actually, that we usually have to pass -- we're not smart enough to choose which ones are legit and which ones aren't, and if we posted them all, we'd do nothing but post requests for survey answers all day. But I like the way alckly has done her research over on WoW Ladies LJ: she posted a question about WoW jargon, and you can see everyone's answers right away. We definitely have lots of jargon to go around, from LFG to twinks to PuGs and a lot more. But what's most interesting about all of these answers, to me, is the way it spreads. There's a little bit of Googling and research going on, but really it's a very social thing -- you see "wtb" in the trade channel, and then you ask someone you know what it means (rather than looking it up somewhere else). Thus, definitions of the terms are very organic: "pst" could mean "pssst, here's a whisper" or "please send tell," and yet because they both mean the same thing, both meanings propagate. Likewise, usage tends to be a very social thing -- the person who types "LFG strat need heals" won't type "would u like 2 go to strat?"
New Army of Two: The 40th Day viral video has its priorities straight
All work and no play may make Jack a dull boy, but for the folks at EA Montreal making Army of Two: The 40th Day, playing is no longer an option -- unless they're playing their own game as a part of their job. That's what this latest viral video marketing the game shows, as Rios and Salem continue checking in with their developers and try to keep them on the right track. One thing we will say is that this new video is decidedly more downbeat than the pair's previous jaunt through the office. What's the matter, guys? Does somebody have a case of the Mondays?
Bill O'Reilly doesn't exactly hate naked ladies in new Guitar Hero 5 ad
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/bill-oreilly-doesnt-exactly-hate-naked-ladies-in-new-guitar-he/'; What's better than naked ladies covered in sultry lyrics from Guitar Hero 5, you ask? How about putting them right next to Bill O'Reilly's head while he commentates? Talk about two great tastes that taste great together! Alright, it's not quite bread and olive oil. Rather than spit his usual slurry of vitriol and nonsense we're so accustomed to, O'Reilly initially calls the commercial's actresses "pinheads" but quickly retracts judgment. "Are the ladies pinheads? I guess it depends on your point of view," O'Reilly wondered aloud on his show, The O'Reilly Factor. Frankly sir, we're appalled. Shouldn't you be cutting its mic and saying it's demeaning for everyone involved? Madness, we say! Hit the break to see the O'Reilly spot as well as the viral ad in full and judge for yourself!
Comic-Con 2009: BioShock 2 gets real
Ever been to the mysterious BioShock 2 website, www.somethinginthesea.com? We first heard about it in March, and it is randomly updated from time to time with new bits of information from an obsessed searcher looking for clues about mysterious lights in the sea, and the disappearance of young girls from villages and cities near the ocean.2K Games decided to take things one step further by recreating the entire website in real life at Comic-Con by letting fans actually read the papers on the desk, follow the clues on the bulletin board, check out the mysterious glowing symbols inside the box on the desk, and rummage through the filing cabinet. It was incredibly detailed, right down to the roller skates.It was a bit hard to focus on details when you're getting jostled left and right by people dressed as Spider-man and Wonder Woman, but you can check out all the details in the gallery below.%Gallery-68768%
Viral vid warns of Japanese monster outbreak spreading to the West
The monsters are coming. Capcom released this viral video not too long ago, and we have to admit it's very cool. This documentary-style video captures the terrifying hunt of four Japanese civilians. They must work together in order to take down these beasts -- but alas, it looks as though the monster infection is spreading beyond Japan.Does this sound familiar? It should. Capcom is trying to recreate the success of this PSP game for the Western audience. So long as Capcom continues this edgy marketing, it may actually succeed.You do know what game we're talking about, right?
Video: LG's LGenius presentation lays out totally fake, remarkable TV advancements
Not that we haven't seen completely off-the-wall viral marketing ads before (including one from LG, in fact), but this one just takes the proverbial cake. In a perfectly staged LGenius presentation, we're informed about a few astounding up and coming TV advancements. The first one intelligently replaces all swear words with baby laughter or eerie silence, while the "Happy Time" feature automatically detects when a program is too sad for one's health and adds random images of cute puppies and kittens. Finally, the "Family Time" feature turns any sensual scene into one with cartoon characters, making even the steamiest bedroom romance seem perfectly acceptable for innocent eyes. Seriously, this one has to be seen to be believed -- mash that play button and have a gander.[Thanks, Kellen]
Onechanbara takes to the streets
At the risk of recycling the same joke a little too often, D3 has pressed on with its range of live-action viral videos promoting Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers. Today's pop culture-spoofing clip tells the tale of zombie rap duo "Rest-n-Peace" bemoaning the alleged unwillingness of Asian girls to sleep around. So yes: although tongue-in-cheek, this could be deemed fairly offensive.That's why we're giving you fair warning now: if you thought the most recent videos in this series were a bit close to the bone, you're probably going to find the clip past the break more distasteful. The amount of female flesh on display here means this is NSFW -- unless you have an incredibly tolerant, slightly pervy boss.%Gallery-28067%
Guild Wars 2 marketing and release date speculated
When it comes to Guild Wars 2, you could say the folks at Massively are a bit excited about the game. You could also say we're a bit of a MMORPG news and features site, as well. The problem is that there just hasn't been much information to discuss about the sequel. Well, as it turns out, Kill Ten Rats has a little bit of meat for us to chew on -- but only a little.In a conference call held in early November, it turns out there was some discussion about Aion. How is this pertinent to Guild Wars 2? Well, it seems that NCsoft is quite pleased with the marketed generated through buzz and online viral videos for the game. As of right now, the game is having an enormously popular Korean beta. So, the reasoning goes then that they'd like to see this approach taken with Guild Wars 2, as it saves NCsoft money -- something they apparently need a lot of right now -- and created plenty of awareness.As for a release date, after being pestered by an uninhibited analyst about said date, NCsoft was willing to admit their interest in a holiday 2009 launch. The intriguing part of this whole shebang is that there appear to be "options" for the game's release, and the analysts aren't too pleased with the inevitable decline in Guild Wars' business. So, could we see the game earlier than next winter? Maybe next summer? Possibly, just possibly.
Star Wars: The Old Republic goes Web 2.0
It's never been easier for an MMO to promote itself with the growing prevalence of social networking plaforms. Star Wars: The Old Republic, only officially announced this week, has already established a following on Facebook. It's also on the usual suspect MySpace, and you can follow BioWare's frequent Twitter updates on the game. Star Wars: The Old Republic also has a Flickr photostream up and running. BioWare has stated that even more is on the way, with plans for a YouTube Channel as well as Digg and Delicious integration. It seems that most in-development MMOs are seizing onto the fact that Web 2.0 and all that it brings are crucial to making gamers aware of what they're doing. Is it overkill? You decide. But it should be interesting to see how MMOs leverage social networks as time goes on. A good example of what's possible may very well be what's happening right now in Superstruct, a multiplayer game played out almost entirely over social networks and the web. Interesting times. BioWare has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details -- from liveblogging the announcement to screenshot galleries and more. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!
Terminator 'MMO' comes to iPhone
Sci-fi fans of the revamped Terminator IP may have something else to be happy about: a Terminator iPhone MMO called "Ambush." Based off Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Ambush is a game played either online or through an iPhone. Gameplay is centered on predicting the movement of enemies through a virtual city, setting traps to eliminate the opposing side while evading their attempts to find you. iPhone 3G users can use their device's GPS to avoid such traps while racking up points. The game was developed by 65 Media, a marketing firm known for its past work on interactive and alternate reality games (ARGs). Ambush may not be a true MMO in the client/leveling/loot sense, but has a system of points gained through employing traps and counter-traps. It's perhaps more akin to Aurora Feint's debatable label as an MMO title, which has already proven to be very popular. Such titles are the earliest forays into that grey area of 'MMOs' for the iPhone, and more are certainly on the way. Ambush is free-to-play and available for iPhones with the 2.0 Software Update, downloadable at the Apple App Store. More information about the game, and how to play it on both the iPhone and online, can be found in the Ambush FAQ. [Via Spoiler TV]
Sony Ericsson goes viral with Xperia X1 marketing
Sony Ericsson is taking the viral route on marketing with its forthcoming Xperia X1, launching a new "alternative reality thriller" centered around a mysterious character named Johnny X. There's not much meat in the video the company is desperately trying to sneak into your daily YouTube diet, but at least we get to see action-packed chases, Memento-stealing plot points of the highest order, and one weird, seemingly backmasked utterance of "Johneeeeeeeeeee... X!" Hit the read link for the full clip, and check out another video after the break which helps to unravel the mystery.[Via Pocket-lint]
It's not a glitch, Tiger is just that good
A video response to a classic YouTube video that poked fun of a glitch in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 where Tiger makes a shot for Par while standing on water is making the rounds this week online. EA Sports has released a new promotional video that tries to disprove the animation was a glitch by showcasing the skills of the real man himself. The video above, which was created in good fun, shows the real life Tiger Woods walk on water to a lost ball only to sink the shot with a slick chipshot. The video, which is used to promote the upcoming Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 release, concludes with the line, "It's not a glitch. He's just that good." Great viral video that will unfortunately be taken out of context. Enjoy it now on YouTube or wait for the CNN Special Report.
Fallout 3 Vault-Tec phone number decoded
Pete Hines from Bethesda shattered our crystalline dreams yesterday when he told us that the Vault-Tec 800 number for Fallout 3 means... absolutely nothing. He and Todd Howard had argued about it, and Pete wanted it to actually have something hidden inside for fans, but he got vetoed.Although Bethesda would love for rabid Fallout fans to kick down the door of a 68 year old woman's house in Texas in search of hidden editions of the game, it just ain't happenin'. Listen to the actual audio dialogue below which busted up our hopes for a Rain Man level math secret hidden in the phone message.
LG Secret viral ad aims for sexy, ends up squarely at creepy
Look, LG, it's all well and good the Secret has a touchscreen and that sweet DivX-capable 5 megapixel camera, but making a viral video that can only be described as early-90s softcore voodoo porn and ends with a sheepish phone call from the dude's mother is probably not the best way to highlight those qualities. Video after the break -- warning, it's just a hair on the NSFW side.
Haze promo: making the Mantel difference
Here's an interesting promotional vid for the upcoming PS3 shooter, Haze. Mantel, the corporation behind Nectar, is seen advocating the "Mantel difference." It doesn't take a genius to realize that these guys are creeps and totally "evil." This video doesn't reveal much about the upcoming game's story, but it sets the tone for an impending release, doesn't it?
GTA IV ads go guerilla in New York City
With its April 29 debut only three agonizing months away, it's time for Take-Two and Rockstar to up their marketing for Grand Theft Auto IV. Citizens of New York City may stumble across wanted posters (pictured above at Lorimer and Grand in Brooklyn) asking for tips in capturing Niko Bellic (GTA IVs protagonist). If you've seen the guy -- or just want a special jpeg from Rockstar -- send an email to tips[at]libertycitypolice[dawt]com. If anyone stumbles across or can scan a cleaner image of the viral ad we'll be sure to post it.
GTAIV viral marketing: wanted posters
Now that Grand Theft Auto IV has an official release date, it's time to let the viral marketing begin. Enter this scarily realistic wanted poster uploaded by Flickr user freshyill. Honestly, is that the kind of face you'd want to see at your car window late at night? The answer to that question is an emphatic no. Actually, we're a little curious to see if these posters raise any stink, because they could be mistaken as real posters by those who aren't in the know. Let's just hope the folks behind the viral marketing don't take it too far and actually rob a bank.
Viral videos focus on Gabe Logan's moves
Gabe Logan isn't dead. Logan's Shadow, winner of PSP Fanboy's coveted Game of the Year award, is striking the internet yet again with a series of new viral videos on YouTube. They focus mostly on the various moves that Gabe can perform, but a few get very bizarre.[Thanks, Lorderk!]
What is this viral Site of Champions stuff?
A new Microsoft backed viral marketing campaign has gone live, references to video games, and is odd in the purest sense. Clicking over to the Site of Champions website you'll be greeted with a locked door and a keypad. Enter in the house number 82207 and you'll be in. Once inside the house you'll be able to click on various objects that showcasing a father who is trying to teach and prepare his son for some sort of event. It's kind of like 300 spartan training. Oh, there's also a never ending game of pong to play too. But most interesting is when you click on the A Christmas Story inspired leg lamp, the lights turn off, a laser shoots out of the deer head's eyes and outlines of Master Chief, a Warthog, and a Shadowrun character glow. It's very crazy indeed.Also, The Above Domain did some googling and found a personal blog for the actor who plays the father in the video. On his blog, he talks about the Site of Champions going live and says to "enter the 'house number' in the key pad (it's the product release date)". Well, the house number is 82207 which would translate to August 22, 2007 and this talk about product release date ... well, we have no idea about that. What we do know is that this is an official Microsoft site, it's odd, it's viral and it's eluding to some kind of gaming announcement on August 22nd. Come on fanboys, let the speculation begin![Via The Above Domain]
When laptops attack, Nokia style
Nokia has kicked off a clever new ad campaign for its N95 over at jealouscomputers.com. It features videos, "victim reports" and the like from ordinary unsuspecting citizens attacked by their once-faithful-but-now-green-with-envy laptops. The site is definitely worth a good once-over as some of the content -- we really thought the beach scene was a good laugh -- is pretty well done. Other highlights include downloadable content such as camouflaged ringtones, where the Nokia tone is disguised as somebody whistling or a dog barking. Hit the link to get in on the folly.[Via Core77]
