Dead Space 2 TV Advertisement Embraces Negative Media Image

[Legion]

I'd call it backwards and outdated personally, especially considering how computer games are the new 'Movies' and 'Rock and Roll' in terms of scapegoats for kids bad behaviour.

It's intentionally aimed at kids which is never a good thing if you are making a game such as this because it just adds to the argument of gamers being immature, especially the line mentioned in the OP: "It's revolting, it's violent, it's everything you love in a game, and your mom's gonna hate it."

That said, it will probably work like a charm for getting the kids to want it.

I agree.

However, what I dislike even more is how the advertisement doesn't even appear to attempt to hide that it is targeting kids.

Its an M-rated game, and an extremely violent one at that. Yet they the advertisement brags about how "your mom is going to hate it". But if your mom would hate the game in the first place, then why would she buy it for her child?

Heh.

Kind of what I was thinking.

 

[I-Con]

If you think about it too much, like I always invariably do, this ad works on two levels.

Sure, it seems to be targeted towards the younger/less mature market, but think about it, cause I know you are. You're in this thread. Not only are you in this thread, you're posting about it. You're talking about it, then thinking about it once again. Giving it attention.

You could say this ad is doing everything they wanted it to do and more, but I don't think it's necessarily that. I think this ad is doing exactly what they wanted it to do.

 

[ww666]

what i find strange is for a commercial to a game that is supposedly for 18+ years old,
show how your mother would react.

if the mother of a 18 years old tries to stop her son or daugther from playing a game what do you think would be the answer?

 

[Randvek]

what i find strange is for a commercial to a game that is supposedly for 18+ years old,
show how your mother would react.

Kind of my reaction. The game your mom doesn't want you to play? What's your target audience for that, 12 year-olds?

 

[maddawg IAJI]

I've already decided that I'm gonna get it, the Demo managed to convinced me.

This AD didn't do squat for selling their game in my mind. The only thing it managed to do was remind me that Dead Space 2 was coming out in a bit.

 

[psivamp]

What you need to remember is that the sample they chose were mothers from the heart of Republican territory- the kind of over worrying religious zealots who would complain about their own shadow because it represents all the dark things about humans!.

You do realize that several of the states that support California and are attempting to bring their own video game restrictions forward are largely Democratic states, right?

OT: This ad campaign is at best silly and at worst ammunition against the ESA in court. I liked Dead Space, but this commercial actual makes me less interested in the sequel.

 

[Legendairy314]

Marketing strives on getting some kind of entertaining concept to keep you watching. Considering the mainly male demographic it's mostly just poking fun at what most guys went through during their teenage years. In some of these ads they even go on saying they aren't associated with EA or Visceral games in any way. It's stupid but it catches the eye; exactly what they wanted.

 

[PerkoApple]

I guess it might attract kids. If it does, good for the marketing team. I just wish video games would care to pretend that they care about their 21+ market. I really wonder how many games are bought for 15 and under kids and how many are purchased for adults? Especially "M" rated games.

Looking at the commercial from a realistic stand point also makes you wonder what the hell the point is. It's like, ok so they sit down women in their 50s to watch some scenes from a video game they probably never even heard of? To me, this would be the same as showing some music video from a Scandinavian death metal band to a black Jamaican guy and showing his reaction. And then hinting that since he hates the music that means you should want the cd. It's fucking dumb.

 

[alimination602]

What you need to remember is that the sample they chose were mothers from the heart of Republican territory- the kind of over worrying religious zealots who would complain about their own shadow because it represents all the dark things about humans!.

You do realize that several of the states that support California and are attempting to bring their own video game restrictions forward are largely Democratic states, right?

OT: This ad campaign is at best silly and at worst ammunition against the ESA in court. I liked Dead Space, but this commercial actual makes me less interested in the sequel.

I admit that i'm not from America so i'm not completely up to date but the main feeling that i've been getting is that it's the Religious groups from the hard core states who are the driving force behind censoring not just video games but pretty much everything controversial.

 

[GiantRaven]

Can all the people suggesting that this is good advertising please explain how. Because I'm really not seeing it.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

It's smart, I for one enjoy seeing old ladies scared from something as small as this.

I'm not getting the game since it's not really my cup of tea but they're just showing that the game is not a casual flop made for old ladies like more than a few wii titles.

 

[Vie]

This is a game, for adults, being advertised as "Your mom's gonna hate it."

So this is aimed at people who are old enough to buy the game, but still live with their parents?

Or aimed at kids who aren't old enough to buy it?

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Judging by the age of the "moms" in the video I'd say it's for the 20something shutins, yes.

 

[MasterMakayo]

I guess it might attract kids. If it does, good for the marketing team. I just wish video games would care to pretend that they care about their 21+ market. I really wonder how many games are bought for 15 and under kids and how many are purchased for adults? Especially "M" rated games.

I wouldn't say it 'attracts kids', so much as it targets kids. They were kinda blatant with the voice in the advertisement trying to sell the game to you. "... and your mom is gonna hate it..." implies that you are at an age where your mother cares - or even has a say in - what games you play. The only folk whose mothers affect their acquiring of video games are those who are not in the ESRB/PEGI/etc. suggested age group, which is often pushed as the age group that the game was 'developed for'. That, and those with über-controlling mothers who control everything they do up until their mother finally expires.

 

[rddj623]

A step backwards in the games as art conversation but a nifty and effective marketing campaign none the less. Any type of publicity is good publicity...

 

[nokori3byo]

Just an observation, but I didn't get the feeling that most of the "moms" depicted in the add currently have have young kids. The seemed rather to be the parents of grown up kids.

As for the core message, I think it's more of a "strictly for the hardcore" type of thing. In other words, "Moms might be into casual gaming these days, but you know what you like, PLAYA! yadda yadda yadda..." That said, I'm buying the game for reasons largely unrelated to this commercial: a) I played the first one and liked it; b) it's getting good reviews.

 

[Tony2077]

Its dead space 2 for crying out loud it a bloody gorefest and so was the first one. so truth in advertising is at work for once

 

[default]

I loved it! It's great! A badass piece of advertising!

It's meant to get negative reactions!!

High five to the brave and clever marketer who came up with this!

I'm gonna go play DeadSpace now...