Kotaku Australia » commercials

PlayStation 3 Wins The Console Ad War With A Little Montage

Michael McWhertor — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Sony’s revamped PS3 marketing campaign has won us over, thanks to the efforts of unexpected console mascot Kevin Butler, VP of whatever the job requires. Tapping into the power of a good montage, SCEA’s latest spot is its best yet.

Sure, it could use a little more footage from games that aren’t Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Gran Turismo, Madden, The Beatles: Rock Band, Assassin’s Creed II, Killzone 2 and Resistance 2—some Demon’s Souls would’ve blended in quite naturally—but its clear Sony is starting to get epic.

Wii Advertising Wins Advertising Award

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:30:00 +0000

What are the odds! One minute, someone pokes fun at Wii advertising (and the Wii itself), the next minute, said advertising goes and wins a prestigious international advertising award. Ad agency Leo Burnett, who were behind Nintendo’s “Wii Would Like To Play” campaign, picked up the top prize at the 40th Annual Effie Awards, held in NYC on Wednesday. In explaining away the decision, the Effie’s organisers said:

The ‘Wii Would Like to Play’ campaign chose not to embrace an obvious strategy, namely fawning over the prized teenage male gamer. Instead, Wii targeted his mum, dad and grandmother. While the competition catered to a narrow audience, Wii invited everyone to play. As a result, the Wii has been sold out nationwide since the launch and ignited a cultural phenomenon in how people experience video games.

They can thank targeting all they want, I’m sticking to my theory that it was commercial’s music that got inside your head more than those two Japanese blokes turning up on your doorstep.

‘Wii Would Like to Play’ Wins Grand Effie Marketing Award [GameDaily.biz]

Metallic Rose DS Gets Superstar Launch

Mike Fahey — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:40:00 +0000

As is always the case, mere weeks after I pick up a new DS, Nintendo goes and releases a new colour. The metallic rose DS, originally sold as part of a holiday Nintendogs bundle, will be hitting stores later this month in stand-alone form, and Nintendo has recruited Ugly Betty star America Ferrera and American Idol-born country singer Carrie Underwood to appear in ads promoting the new shade. The commercials will begin airing on Monday, May 19th. Along with those two, Liv Tyler will also be appearing in commercials hawking the crimson and black variant.

Strong female role-models America and Carrie will surely inspire many young women to pick up one of Nintendo’s handhelds, while the Liv Tyler ad will have men who are subconsciously attracted to Steven Tyler to the stores in droves.

Live Action Jeanne d’Arc

Brian Crecente — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:42:22 +0000

This almost makes me not want to play the game, and I’d been waiting for it since it was first announced.

Commodore Vic-20 Commercial With William Shatner

Flynn De Marco — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0000

It’s the wonder computer of the 1980’s! Or at least so says William Shatner in this old commercial for the Commodore Vic-20. Not only does he think it’s great, but even takes a jab at good old Atari and Intellivision. After all, Atari and Intellivision don’t have a real computer keyboard! And it’s under $300 which according to the inflation calculator would be about $800 today. A true bargain.

Coleco Tabletop Arcade Commercial

Kotaku US Edition — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0000

This really gives a new meaning to portable gaming. In 1982, Coleco released these miniature versions of classic arcade games like Pac-Man, Galaxian and Donkey Kong. This commercial is classic 80’s from beginning to end. We even get the never seen before or heard from again, Mr. Arcade, an 80’s cool cat with some killer shades and the power to shrink arcade machines. Those kids seem awfully excited with their new tiny arcade games, I just wonder how they felt when they got that thing home and realised it was absolutely nothing like the original game…Poor little bastards.