Added by Ryan on Nov. 17, 2008
36 comments
With its barrage of inscrutable
This is Living vignettes and
thumb-penis imagery,
Sony Europe has been the undisputed cham-peen of unsettling and obfuscatory video-game advertisement for the past few years, but it looks like we may have a new contender. Microsoft has really been bringing it this holiday season, starting off with those (presumably) unintentionally disturbing ads featuring what appears to be the result of putting a shotgun in your mouth while playing Xbox games. If you don't know what I'm talking about, and you've already given up on that whole feeling-alive-inside thing, here's one of the commercials in question.
Brr! When it turns from her blankly pleasant expression to reveal her hollowed-out head full of tiny video-game people, I can't help but think there's a subtext here about being lobotomized by your Xbox. Keeping up the pace, there's a new ad for Microsoft's upcoming karaoke game Lips that makes you wonder what left-field ad agency pitch Microsoft might
not green-light.
It's a memorable spot, so I guess it's effective, though only if Microsoft's desire was to instill a deep irrational fear of ambulatory mouths, tiny finger-feet, A-Ha, parties, and ever going to sleep again.
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on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
That was an awesome ad :D
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 17, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
I don't see it as any creepier than, say, the Pillsbury Dough-Boy or the Hamburger Helper hand thing.
In fact, I find that little mouth guy positively adorable.
on Nov. 18, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
And man, do you know where i can get a A-Ha singing mouth? that would be awesome.
Man that reminds me of the time where You and Homer sang Take On Me on your former gig. man that was comedy. In Fact, whenever that song is played i automatically replace the real tuning with yours!
on Nov. 18, 2008
Whatever you do, no sudden movements. No harsh words, no loudness unless the song calls for it.
If you startle it, your only hope is to run. If you're forced to run do NOT look back, just keep moving until you can vault over something that will take a while for it to negotiate. Keep moving, and maybe, eventually, it will just start singing again and forget about you.
If it bites you... If it bites you... We all have to perform according to our personal philosophies. I am not saying that ending your life is required, but please, if you choose to live through the hours of agony that follow, when the bumps begin to rise on your face and abdomen that you will put yourself in a place where the lips that burst from your writhing body will not be able to climb with their cold, soft feet.
on Nov. 18, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
on Nov. 18, 2008
Still, I think the PS3 launch TV ads hold onto the crown for creepy video game advertisement. The Rock Band 2 one is really weird and no doubt there's probably 100s of more effective ways to market it, but at least there's some sort of context in the commercial connecting it to games, the PS3 commercials are just abstract with the branding tact on.
But in general, I am of the opinion that the advertisement industry douche bags who are constantly patting each other on the back and crying out "Genius!" for the ideas that turn into dumb commercials like these. For every great and entertaining commercial, there are many more that only the ad agency and marketing people can love.
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