Nintendo’s cultivated an image as the most squeaky clean creator on game company block, but it wasn’t always that way. And by that I mean the ’90s were weird, you guys.
Gaming tumblr Pxlbyte brings us a smattering of old ads for the Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket, a few of which are oddly… sexual.
And then there’s this one, which is just… um.
Wow. Wooooooooow.
I did a little more searching myself and found a couple about how the Game Boy is — shockingly! — better than inflicting horrible bodily harm on yourself. I never would have guessed.
Those faces. Horrifying! That pun. Maybe worse.
So there you go: some hyper weird sexualisation, cultural insensitivity, and pure, unbridled terror. Because when I think of the Game Boy, I totally think of those things. Just like Quake always reminds me of nightmare-inducingly creepy family gatherings.
Comments
12 responses to “Old Game Boy Ads Weren’t Exactly Family Friendly”
Alternative title: “Gameboy advertising isn’t as good as it used to be”
I remember seeing the hole in the head one in an old mad magazine back in the day. No way could the first 2 get past review boards now days.
Man, those take me back.
haha i love that African one… that one was actually run in Australia in the NMS (Nintendo magazine System) pretty sure i still have the issue in the shed at home too.
So edgy lol
So, what Nintendo are saying is that instead of special nail polish, women should carry a gameboy pocket on them instead?
Oh dear god i remember these O_O
Exactly my reaction too.
Yep – I used to buy Gamepro, EGM, any gaming mag I could lay my hands on – those were the days (man alive I’m old!)
I had comics with these ads inside them, they were great.
I remember some of these including the TV Ad versions too.
I like how the screen looks like it was backlit
You forgot “More fun than a slap in the face with a cold fish”