Post by: Smash_Brother on November 06, 2006, 02:26:15 PM
What gives?
Anyone seen a REAL Wii ad on TV? There are some fake US ones up on youtube but nothing I've seen looks like an actual ad.
Anyone? I'm starting to wonder if Nintendo doesn't believe that they don't need to spend money on advertising with the prehype they've already generated...
Post by: MaryJane on November 06, 2006, 02:28:11 PM
No but seriously, the US is flooded with PS3 ads, and all I've seen of the Wii on TV is when a multiplatform game bears the insignia.
Seems Nintendo got almost everything right for the Wii, except marketing... again.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 06, 2006, 02:31:13 PM
Seriously, it's rapidly reaching the "sh*t or get off the pot" mark for Nintendo. Wii launches in 13 days and they could do nothing better than to ensure that the Wii does indeed hold its predicted title of "hottest xmas toy".
Post by: ginx619 on November 06, 2006, 02:31:23 PM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 06, 2006, 02:32:16 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ginx619
Honestly, the intial shipments will sell to the hardcore whether they advertise or not.I think you'll see more as we get closer to Christmas but there's really no reason to advertise before the console releases.
I think building up a bit of launch hype is a good idea, though.
Were there ads before the GC launch? I can't remember...
Post by: Pittbboi on November 06, 2006, 02:56:42 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ginx619
Honestly, the intial shipments will sell to the hardcore whether they advertise or not.I think you'll see more as we get closer to Christmas but there's really no reason to advertise before the console releases.
I think the whole point of advertising is getting the product into the mind of the potential and desired consumer. Which, in Nintendo's, are people who probably don't even know the Wii exists yet.
Post by: Pittbboi on November 06, 2006, 02:57:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: PittbboiQuote
Originally posted by: ginx619
Honestly, the intial shipments will sell to the hardcore whether they advertise or not.I think you'll see more as we get closer to Christmas but there's really no reason to advertise before the console releases.
I think the whole point of advertising is getting the product into the mind of the potential and desired consumer. Which, in Nintendo's case, are people who probably don't even know the Wii exists yet.
Post by: blackfootsteps on November 06, 2006, 02:59:02 PM
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 06, 2006, 03:04:43 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: blackfootsteps
Geez those Japanese ads aren't all that inspiring, they have a very sterile feel to them.
THANK YOU!
Glad to know I am not the only one who thinks the JP ads are monotone. The idea itself is pretty good, and they do a really good job of showing off what the Wii can do, and most importantly, shows off game footage, but the narrator SUCKS ASS! Seriously, its like they hired Japanese Ben Stein for the voice over...
As for the commercials, SB, considering that we just GOT the demo units I wouldn't be surprised if they start advertising either this week or the next.
In fact, I see the newstory now...
"First Wii ads hit the airwaves!"
Post by: Cortez the Kiler on November 06, 2006, 03:05:16 PM
Post by: wandering on November 06, 2006, 03:09:30 PM
Quote
its like they hired Japanese Ben Stein for the voice over...
Ben Stein....that's actually not a bad idea. "With Wii you don't just play the game, you experience it. Wow."
Post by: Mikintosh on November 06, 2006, 04:12:37 PM
Besides, the Wii's gotten a huge amount of buzz from the news, magazines, etc, so I'm sure they have pretty good penetration into the minds of those who can afford the Wii. I love TV ads but I know they're largely unneccessary to sell products (with the exception of stuff kids pester their parents for them to get, and the Wii's a lot pricier than an action figure anyway).
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 06, 2006, 04:31:26 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Mikintosh
I have a feeling that Nintendo's holding off on major advertising until the Christmas season. The marketing team at Nintendo has a limited amount of money (probably not a small amount but still) and since they're guaranteed good sales for the few weeks after launch, why blow money then? Use the commercial money stategically.
Actually, Nintendo has assloads of cash after the $800 million in profit (that's post expenses) that the DS brought in for them.
Nintendo could bury the PS3 ads right now. I'm not sure why they aren't...
Then again, it's not like they have to blow all the hype for launch.
The best time they could likely send the advertising machine into full tilt is after the launch of both consoles when you just can't get a PS3 anymore.
Still, I do find no advertising a surprise...
Post by: Spak-Spang on November 06, 2006, 04:33:47 PM
It actually pisses me off, and I am sure it does the same to many people.
What you are advertising a cool movie I can't see for a month...I want to see it now, but in a month I won't care. The same is true with gaming products. You can do teasers, but teasers really don't attract new audiences, but the crowd that already knows about the product. You can generate interest with a teaser, but once they see the product all interest can go away, because they were interested in that type of product to begin with. It is better to create advertising that explains the product and gets you interested...when you can buy system in the stores.
Post by: TerribleOne on November 06, 2006, 04:42:56 PM
Post by: Arbok on November 06, 2006, 05:19:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang
What you are advertising a cool movie I can't see for a month...I want to see it now, but in a month I won't care.
Uh, yeah, no. A month is not a long time to wait, and advertising for most films begin several weeks before the film is released to build hype, while trailers will begin playing in theaters long before that as that is a core group that is most likely to see the product. I mean, really, if I saw a advert for something and really wanted it, I doubt a month's time would change that unless something better came along.
Anyway, ads for the Wii need to be out now, no excuses. They need to build up a reputation and position the console in the market. At the moment they are leaving almost all of the work up to word of mouth and hopeful media attention, which will work to attract those who would probably be already semi-interested, but will do little to affect "non-gamers". Also, for word of mouth to be really effective they need to at least get people talking about the console in the first place; something that ads, to create awarness, are there to do.
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 06, 2006, 05:36:22 PM
Like I already stated, I wouldn't be surprised if they start advertising sometime next week. Even Nintendo knows that they NEED to advertise the Wii. We all have seen the measures taken by Nintendo so fars (ads, demo stations etc.), so the TV and print ads should follow suit.
The ads will come, trust me.
Post by: Ceric on November 06, 2006, 05:46:51 PM
Nintendo's never been the It's coming type of advertiser. I do see plenty of DS ads in different programs. There getting there core audience as it goes. After launch they might need to really ramp up. Though I doubt it even then. I think there being smart with there money at the approach they are taking.
Post by: Nephilim on November 06, 2006, 06:31:36 PM
but a jamster style pommy phone scam ad, but still get to see 5secs of wii footage yay
Post by: Blue Plant on November 06, 2006, 08:01:36 PM
Post by: DRJPDX on November 06, 2006, 08:46:51 PM
Nintendo probably has a very specific plan for when they want Wii to become popular. Right now in North America DS is selling like never before and is likely the most popular video game machine in the world because of it. The advertising is at full blast and people are gobbling them up. I think this Xmas DS numbers in the US will be astounding. We are a year behind Japan.
I was in Japan last year and I saw Nintendo advertising in full swing. It was Dec/Jan and the machine was on sell out everywhere. On the damn transit trains there were LCD monitors advertsing Brain Training 2. The TV spots were very similar to the current US TV spots. The hype for the machiine was huge
I believe they will hit hard with the Wii ads at the latest possible time. They've got the cash its all about timing.
Post by: Plugabugz on November 06, 2006, 09:14:37 PM
It's likely they will push it as close as possible to release to create more OH MY GOODNESS IT'S OUT ALREADY hype.
Post by: Arbok on November 06, 2006, 09:58:51 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: DRJPDX
I think this Xmas DS numbers in the US will be astounding. We are a year behind Japan.
Actually the US got the DS before Japan did by almost a month.
Post by: WuTangTurtle on November 07, 2006, 12:57:12 AM
As for commercials maybe it is best Nintendo waits a week or two after the system release. Let me explain, Nintendo's Advertising is known for not promoting but out right killing a products chance at sales. Killing a products sales may be a bit overboard though. Just remember Super Mario Sunshine and the original Nintendogs commercials....
P.S. sorry for making you remember those commercials.
Post by: Rhoq on November 07, 2006, 03:26:34 AM
I figure I'll hit GameStop during my lunch break on the 15th and buy the 4 Wii games that I was going to pick-up on the 19th (all 4 of them are scheduled to ship on the 14th) that way I'll only have to worry about finding the console in a store on launch day.
Post by: JonLeung on November 07, 2006, 03:50:46 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
The best time they could likely send the advertising machine into full tilt is after the launch of both consoles when you just can't get a PS3 anymore.
Still, I do find no advertising a surprise...
Agreed on both counts.
It would be a smart idea to bury everyone in Wii ads when PS3s will be extremely scarce. People who are holding out, waiting for the next shipment of PS3s, will be susceptible to all the Wii stuff they'll see. Initial shipments of Wiis and PS3s will sell out regardless, but by saving their dollars for later, Nintendo can slow down the selling of future PS3 shipments.
Then again I'm not in advertising so I don't know jack. Though I pretty much expect that the Wii doesn't particularly need much advertising right now to sell out.
Post by: Ceric on November 07, 2006, 04:03:51 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Plugabugz
When the BBC started advertising for Torchwood (spin off to Doctor Who), i only began to see it just over a week before it started.
It's likely they will push it as close as possible to release to create more OH MY GOODNESS IT'S OUT ALREADY hype.
On another note. How is Torchwood?
Post by: Spak-Spang on November 07, 2006, 04:08:14 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on November 07, 2006, 05:06:19 AM
Maybe Nintendo is just trying to ramp up demand (actually it's definitely trying to ramp up demand) but maybe Nintendo is also being sincere, and that's why it sees no need to start advertising two weeks in advance. I do believe we'll see ads, in fact I think they'll start this weekend, but with all the hype coming from the likes of Toys R' Us and the media, Nintendo may not see the need for a huge campaign.
This could be a bad move, but you have to admit, more one of us is afraid of not getting a system on launch day, even with 1 million to choose from. Personally, if Nintendo doesn't feel like adding that much extra competition to launch day, I'm not going to complain.
Post by: Zach on November 07, 2006, 07:07:24 PM
Post by: ThePerm on November 07, 2006, 07:11:08 PM
Post by: Mikintosh on November 07, 2006, 07:23:49 PM
Post by: Pittbboi on November 07, 2006, 07:42:58 PM
My mother, who knows jack about gaming always mentions the PS3 when she hears me mention video games. I never talk about PS3, I couldn't give a damn about that system, I only talk about the Wii. However, my mother and sisters always bring up the PS3 when they hear me talking about the Wii because they don't know much about the Wii, but they watch a lot of TV, so they know about the PS3.
Nintendo has done enough to get gamers interested in the Wii. And I think they feel that's all they need to do. I think they're making a mistake by not getting their console out there in mainstream media so that people who don't give a ish about gaming websites atleast know of its existence. I think we'd all be surprised by how many people STILL don't know about the Wii console, especially in comparison to how many people know about PS3 and Xbox360.
Post by: King of Twitch on November 07, 2006, 10:16:28 PM
Post by: Mario on November 07, 2006, 10:20:20 PM
Post by: Hocotate on November 07, 2006, 11:27:17 PM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on November 08, 2006, 12:22:46 AM
But seriously, I think it'll be more like ThePerm said, instead of a costly spread out month long pre-launch ad campaign, they take all the same money and airtime and cram it into a wiik long pre-launch Wii ad campaign.
Post by: BlkPaladin on November 08, 2006, 12:35:57 AM
Post by: Hocotate on November 08, 2006, 12:46:42 AM
Post by: BlkPaladin on November 08, 2006, 01:15:31 AM
Post by: Spak-Spang on November 08, 2006, 02:41:00 AM
Right now you can only see PS3 commercials on like a few cable channels that are predominantly male audience.
If Nintendo could hit Oprah, and Food Network, Home and Garden, Comedy Central, ESPN, then also hit prime time television and Saturday morning cartoons, it would be set to reach as many people as the stupid PS3 commercials have.
Post by: wandering on November 08, 2006, 05:08:54 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Hocotate
Yeah, there is This US Red Steel commercial, but I'm not sure if it's been aired yet or not.
I don't like the 'floppy i' logo they ended with. You'd think, after watching 8 years of successful playstation commercials, Nintendo would get the idea that picking a strong ending logo/tone for commercials, and then sticking with it, is important. I like the one with the circles they use on the website...why didn't they go with that?
Post by: Dozy Boy on November 08, 2006, 05:33:22 AM
Post by: wandering on November 08, 2006, 05:36:06 AM
Post by: couchmonkey on November 08, 2006, 06:11:01 AM
Post by: Ceric on November 08, 2006, 06:21:15 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 08, 2006, 07:12:35 AM
But the only piece of marketing I've seen for the Wii at all is a little sticker on the counter at EB shaped like the remote with the launch date on it. I've seen no ads of any sort and there are no demo kiosks in any of the stores in my area. No one I know who doesn't follow gaming online knows that the Wii even exists and those that do don't know it's coming out next week. I'm not getting one at launch so I don't know the launch date off the top of my head. I SHOULD. There should be enough marketing that I can't not know when the launch is. I know the release date for movies I never want to see all the time so it shouldn't be difficult to make me know this.
I don't get this. They've done such a good job of building interest with the hardcore community but I see nothing marketed towards the non-gamers which is supposed to be the whole point. If you're going to target non-gamers then market to them. If you're only going to market worth a damn to hardcore gamers then make a console designed with them primarily in mind. Nintendo is attracting the wrong group with the wrong console.
Post by: ThePerm on November 08, 2006, 07:21:46 AM
when I go to EB games its just like that
I think its just your area, from what I can tell Nintendo spent alot of money on promotional displays.
Also, first thing you see when you walk into Wal-Mart is a big Wii.
The eb games nearest my house has a shelf with all the Wii games on it already there. They are display boxes, but its like the systems already out.
last week at Wal-Mart I was pondering whether i could afford to buy a mario shirt, at the same time I could visibly see some Wii ads, and on the intercom speaker above my head they were telling me to buy Nintendogs.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 08, 2006, 07:32:16 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Hocotate
Yeah, there is This US Red Steel commercial, but I'm not sure if it's been aired yet or not.
BWAHAHAHAH! That was great!
"Bah, get the gun..."
Sorry, but we need in your face commercials like this to get people's attention.
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if Ubi winds up doing better advertising than Nintendo. In fact, I remember seeing Red Steel for the first time and saying, "This is JUST the kind of press the Wii needs: press which makes it look like a serious console and not a child's toy."
Post by: Ian Sane on November 08, 2006, 07:35:29 AM
My Toys 'R' Us has a poster, maybe. I can't say for sure but there sure as hell is no huge display. Now I am in Canada so I guess any weak advertising in my area is due to Nintendo of Canada. I don't live in the sticks or anything like that. Hell our theatre got Borat opening night! Surrey, Abbotsford and Mission didn't. Only Langley.
Ideally I think at morning coffee my co-workers should be saying "have you seen that new Wii thing? That's looks pretty cool." Lord knows everything else gets brought up. The Xbox 360 did and the PS3 is currently getting talked about a lot. Ideally the middle aged women at my office should show interest in trying the console out, not being completely oblivious to its very existence.
Post by: ThePerm on November 08, 2006, 08:00:29 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 08, 2006, 08:12:02 AM
Well that's good. Let's b!tch out NofC then.
Post by: IceCold on November 08, 2006, 01:19:24 PM
QuoteImpossible. Must be because Sony is screwing up.
So far I've been quite impressed with how much Nintendo's reputation has improved with the gaming media and with the online gaming community. This is a lot more interest on forums and such for the Wii then there was for the Cube.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 08, 2006, 06:11:22 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: IceCold Impossible. Must be because Sony is screwing up.
Honestly, a lot of Nintendo's favor in the media IS, in fact, due to Sony being a shining example of how NOT to launch a console.
The anti-Nintendo sentiment was typically always from a pro-Sony standpoint. When they said, "Nintendo sucks.", they meant, "Nintendo sucks, compared to Sony." Without the comparison, there can be no judgment. Nintendo didn't do a BAD job, just a worse job.
With the former market leader goofing up so badly, Nintendo can't help but look immensely better by comparison.
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 09, 2006, 08:00:20 AM
While the PS3 ads are pretty bad in terms of selling the console, at least Sony is TEASING the masses and hyping the release. Why isn't Nintendo doing it?
If by next week no commercials for the Wii pop up (not counting the Red Steel one), then Nintendo are definitely pushing their luck.
Post by: SixthAngel on November 09, 2006, 10:01:16 AM
Post by: Ceric on November 09, 2006, 10:53:36 AM
Post by: ThePerm on November 09, 2006, 05:56:44 PM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 09, 2006, 06:16:04 PM
Now to actually see one on TV...
Thanks to Rhoq for finding it.
Post by: Hostile Creation on November 09, 2006, 07:08:15 PM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 09, 2006, 07:39:36 PM
Japan is bringing fun to YOU!
Post by: couchmonkey on November 10, 2006, 05:04:43 AM
That ad, if it actually gets used, is not too far off from what I was expecting. I like how it really emphasizes playing...totally different from Sony's commercials.
I wasn't tracking the length of the segments, but it's almost like it was four TV commercials stitched together. Start each ad off with the Smart car approaching a destination, the two dudes saying "Wii would like to play" and then people playing. Then show the whole thing in theatres.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 10, 2006, 05:58:29 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on November 10, 2006, 08:11:06 AM
Post by: ThePerm on November 10, 2006, 11:05:39 AM
Post by: ThePerm on November 10, 2006, 12:55:43 PM
Post by: BlkPaladin on November 10, 2006, 03:47:20 PM
Post by: segagamer12 on November 10, 2006, 04:01:00 PM
Post by: BlkPaladin on November 10, 2006, 04:06:07 PM
Post by: segagamer12 on November 10, 2006, 06:34:14 PM
Post by: Jin-X on November 11, 2006, 08:19:09 AM
While there's been plenty of talk about the PS3 and Wii, television ads have been scarce. Sony (Charts) started running some unusual PS3 ads in the past week, but Nintendo has been silent. Fils-Aime said that's very deliberate.
"Core gamers know when we're coming out. They're prepared," he said. "The advertising and marketing is for casual gamers. We want to get them excited when they can actually go out and get something, so we'll start next week."
Link
Post by: Ceric on November 11, 2006, 08:25:43 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 11, 2006, 05:23:45 PM
I suppose that will make Wiis easier to come by for hardcore gamers who want them on launch but still leaves plenty of time before xmas to whip people into a frenzy.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 12, 2006, 02:46:14 PM
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 12, 2006, 02:51:58 PM
Q: do the forum pages show up corrupted to anyone else? Right now, it's randomly showing up with really big text and a crappy pink background. Has pgc been hacked?
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 12, 2006, 02:56:55 PM
Screenshot?
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 12, 2006, 03:35:12 PM
back to work
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 12, 2006, 03:50:35 PM
.Although, I WAS beginning to get worried after Sony has shown off their 4th PS3 ad and Nintendo had nothing.
Slightly on topic, but on the commercial for the Cars videogame on the XBOX 360 they make mention of the Wii coming out soon and they show off the Wii package.
Post by: Caliban on November 12, 2006, 04:46:19 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: BiLdItUp1
Q: do the forum pages show up corrupted to anyone else? Right now, it's randomly showing up with really big text and a crappy pink background. Has pgc been hacked?
I've already seen the pink background twice, on the login page and some other page that I can't seem to remember.
$200 million? Cool, I seriously want to see Wii ads flooding our TVs.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 12, 2006, 05:00:50 PM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 12, 2006, 05:01:39 PM
They have a week to get the Wii into the eyes of the mainstream.
I really, REALLY want to see Nintendo blow the doors off this one...
Post by: Edfishy on November 12, 2006, 05:01:58 PM
Quote
$200 million? Cool, I seriously want to see Wii ads flooding our TVs.
Let us hope they'll be a little less abstract than the GameCube "objects in a cube" commercials. Those were just bizzare, and even rival Sony's PS3 Crazay-Baby.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 12, 2006, 05:03:47 PM
But the Wii ads, according to that link, will include the same theme of people playing with the controller and having fun that we've always seen in the Wii experience videos.
Post by: Edfishy on November 12, 2006, 05:13:19 PM
Quote
Most of the GC ones at least showed gameplay.
But the Wii ads, according to that link, will include the same theme of people playing with the controller and having fun that we've always seen in the Wii experience videos.
That's not a bad thing for the Wii, due to its weaker visuals. The mysteriousness of what those people could be having so much fun with by swinging a TV remote around should drive plenty of public interest.
Atleast one would hope.
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 12, 2006, 05:16:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: EdfishyQuote
Most of the GC ones at least showed gameplay.
But the Wii ads, according to that link, will include the same theme of people playing with the controller and having fun that we've always seen in the Wii experience videos.
That's not a bad thing for the Wii, due to its weaker visuals. The mysteriousness of what those people could be having so much fun with by swinging a TV remote around should drive plenty of public interest.
Atleast one would hope.
Heck PS3 has better visuals yet they hardly show them in the commercials lol. Really I don't think it would be detrimental to show gameplay footage in conjunction with how the Wiimote is used, because there are still some visually appealing games for Wii, like Red Steel, Rayman, and even Twilight Princess.
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 12, 2006, 05:17:51 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 12, 2006, 05:21:41 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
The showing of Wii gameplay is definitely high on the priority list and Iwata mentioned at one point that they were looking into ensuring that the Wii commercials do the Wii proper justice.
Well I hope so, nothing I dislike more than gaming commercials that do not show true gameplay, but instead show either CGI or some live "skit".
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 13, 2006, 05:45:09 AM
Post by: EasyCure on November 13, 2006, 06:24:44 AM
it shows a guy standing in his living room swinging the wiimote around like a sword, then gameplay, while a Sensei of sorts yells at how horribly he's doing. He then shouts "all right, bring out the gun" when the sword wont suffice and the commercial goes in to more gameplay. Its back and forth with the actor and gameplay, making sure to highlight his movements and they way they work in game, he twist the remote "gangsta" style and the in game hand does the same and pics off a few enemies. They show the cover of the Red Steel box, available Nov 19th, then the Wii logo from the nintendo video (where the two eyes flop fowered then back into place) and near the bottom of the screen in a faded grey font the name Nintendo, barely visible because the Wii logo stands out so much
Post by: bustin98 on November 13, 2006, 06:28:02 AM
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4055501125533217339&q=wii+commercial&hl=en
Um, I like totally didn't see Easycure's post above mine.
Post by: archioverload on November 13, 2006, 06:44:44 AM
I work in advertising and I wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Not that this is the definitive post in that regard--just some observations. But the availability or non-availability of the TV spots is only part of the story. In fact a lot of advertising is shifting away from television. In order to see whether the Wii is getting saturation, you have to take into account WHO they're trying to reach...it all comes down to demographics.
1. Print is geared toward older people, general--you know, reading-type people--and so this could be flying under our (i.e., fanboy...that's me!) radar...
2. Out of home...billboards (interactive or otherwise), mass transit...saturation in public places.
3. Sponsorships and trade shows. The AARP trade show is a brilliant example of that.
4. Broaden what people think of "marketing." I think that South Park episode I saw last night with Cartman in the future and the Wii will prove to be a better "commercial" than any weird doll blowing up Rubik's Cubes, or whatever. It was essentially an infomercial for Nintendo. Did Nintendo pay for this? Probably not. But they were able to create advocacy for the Wii.
So what's going on in these other areas? What have people seen? Only then can you get the true picture. And since marketing is so targeted and niche these days, a lot of these attempts at reaching people might seem "invisible" if you're not in the target. The action and the marketing $ isn't in the 30-second commercial like it was even a couple of years ago.
Post by: BiLdItUp1 on November 13, 2006, 06:57:53 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on November 13, 2006, 07:12:22 AM
Although we had it linked a few pages back in this thread as well.
Post by: Pittbboi on November 13, 2006, 07:12:37 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: archioverload
I work in advertising and I wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Not that this is the definitive post in that regard--just some observations. But the availability or non-availability of the TV spots is only part of the story. In fact a lot of advertising is shifting away from television. In order to see whether the Wii is getting saturation, you have to take into account WHO they're trying to reach...it all comes down to demographics.
1. Print is geared toward older people, general--you know, reading-type people--and so this could be flying under our (i.e., fanboy...that's me!) radar...
2. Out of home...billboards (interactive or otherwise), mass transit...saturation in public places.
3. Sponsorships and trade shows. The AARP trade show is a brilliant example of that.
4. Broaden what people think of "marketing." I think that South Park episode I saw last night with Cartman in the future and the Wii will prove to be a better "commercial" than any weird doll blowing up Rubik's Cubes, or whatever. It was essentially an infomercial for Nintendo. Did Nintendo pay for this? Probably not. But they were able to create advocacy for the Wii.
So what's going on in these other areas? What have people seen? Only then can you get the true picture. And since marketing is so targeted and niche these days, a lot of these attempts at reaching people might seem "invisible" if you're not in the target. The action and the marketing $ isn't in the 30-second commercial like it was even a couple of years ago.
But that's the point: Wii advertising shouldn't be invisible to anyone because they're targeting "everyone."
And one thing I don't understand is Nintendo waiting to do their "marketing blitz." The whole purpose is to get into the minds of the consumer, and since Nintendo is now targeting families and people who don't usually play games, they really need to get the Wii out there, everywhere, so it's atleast in their minds (especially with Black Friday coming up). I don't think a last minute blitz is going to work as well as everyone thought. Whether Nintendo admits it or not, they are competing against Sony and Microsoft, atleast in marketing, and both companies have already started their heavy advertising. People who may not be interested in games know about the PS3 and the Xbox360, you can't not know about those two consoles at this point. However, not so many people know about the Wii, because the brand isn't as out there as the others, and it's not going to be so easy for Nintendo to just come into the marketing game LATE and take attention away from both Microsoft and Sony who have been out there for weeks getting into the minds of the consumers.
Also, I was listening to a podcast over at thewiire.com and one of the guys made a good point: Japan has had commercials for a while now and the Wii doesn't launch there until December. I don't get it...
Post by: Dirk Temporo on November 14, 2006, 05:02:08 PM
Post by: Kairon on November 14, 2006, 05:40:15 PM
-Retailer promotions and ads
-Mass coordinated drooling media impressions everywhere from Time to Forbes to PC Gamer
-Viral Wii Fusion tours
-Viral Wii Ambassador parties
-Wii give-a-ways left and right, from 7-11 to Comedy Central, EVERYONE seems to have Wiis to give away to viralize people who would't buy at launch anyways
All these methods are more focused and can get Nintendo more bang for their buck. THEN, all Nintendo needs on TV is:
-punctuated tv ad blitzes
that fire small spikes of overhype into the machine. Wrap it all up in Christmas hysteria and you're going to do fine. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT EVERY CONSOLE SELLS OUT AT LAUNCH ANYWAYS!!!
I've never believed in big TV ad campaigns. People don't need to know that the Wii exists, they need to get excited over it. And you need viral for that, you need something less manufactured and more earnest. Something less flashy and glitzy and hollywood, yes, but something less artificial and less manufactured as well.
After all, playing = believing.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on November 14, 2006, 09:54:24 PM
Post by: thejeek on November 14, 2006, 11:05:09 PM
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on November 14, 2006, 11:10:04 PM
The Wii ad is the one called first TV commercial November 15.
Post by: couchmonkey on November 15, 2006, 04:28:35 AM
Post by: Pittbboi on November 15, 2006, 05:35:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
I'm not exactly ready to buy that a long, sustained TV blitz is the best way to use money. I rather like Nintendo of America's new strategy of subtler advertising through:
-Retailer promotions and ads
-Mass coordinated drooling media impressions everywhere from Time to Forbes to PC Gamer
-Viral Wii Fusion tours
-Viral Wii Ambassador parties
-Wii give-a-ways left and right, from 7-11 to Comedy Central, EVERYONE seems to have Wiis to give away to viralize people who would't buy at launch anyways
All these methods are more focused and can get Nintendo more bang for their buck. THEN, all Nintendo needs on TV is:
-punctuated tv ad blitzes
that fire small spikes of overhype into the machine. Wrap it all up in Christmas hysteria and you're going to do fine. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT EVERY CONSOLE SELLS OUT AT LAUNCH ANYWAYS!!!
I've never believed in big TV ad campaigns. People don't need to know that the Wii exists, they need to get excited over it. And you need viral for that, you need something less manufactured and more earnest. Something less flashy and glitzy and hollywood, yes, but something less artificial and less manufactured as well.
After all, playing = believing.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
You can't get excited over a console you don't know exists. Period. Mass hysteria doesn't just happen over night. Mass hysteria (for whatever season) is the product suspense and hype, news blurbs and word of mouth, and knowing that something that you've been wanting and waiting for is FINALLY on its way.
That's what MS and Sony did with their marketing, and they've been doing it for a lot longer. Nintendo isn't the only company to make use of viral marketing and give-a-ways. They're still really late no matter which way you slice their strategy. I'm not at all interested in a PS3 but they've still been pretty effective with generating hype. And, as a result of that, it's highly likely that not only are PS3's going to fly off the shelves REGARDLESS of that godawful price, but the public outcry and demand for more PS3's is going to be deafening. Shortages are going to be reported in just about every media outlet, and your local news at 10 is going to air videos of people doing wacky things to get their hands on one as well as stories of people buying PS3's resold on Ebay for three--maybe even four-- times what they're actually worth. All of this is going to raise the "percieved" value of the PS3 and more than likely attract some of Nintendo's target non-gaming audience. Sony is creating that hysteria early, and hysteria is WHOLE lot of free publicity. The PS3, regardless of its MAJOR flaws, is going to be seen as something people NEED to own because of Sony's expert hype machine. Don't expect Nintendo to just come out of nowhere at the absolute last minute and just steal their thunder.
In short: it'll be the PS2 launch all over again.
Sure, Wii's are going to sell out at launch, and I'm going to be camping out for my very own, no doubt. Nintendo has done all they've needed to do to attract their established fanbase. But this target audience they're going after doesn't even know it exists yet for the most part. Because of this, I think Wii's launch is going to be a lot quieter (Which will make early adopters happy, as I'm sure it'll be a lot easier for them to find a Wii at launch than it was for any other console). It'll still sell, but don't expect the market demand to be as great when the launch stock is all gone, and because of that, I think Nintendo's missed out on generating a LOT of free and effective publicity.
Post by: Kairon on November 15, 2006, 07:08:47 AM
Just look at the Nintendo DS, it's launch was lackluster but a strong viral effort puinctuated by relatively few commercials is sustaining it to record sales.
Marketting the Wii will be a marathon and not a sprint: it will be a slow burn. And that means we need to start with a soft sell, not a hard one. Only enthusiasts like you and me overrate hype (and masculine adrenaline-based posturing) so much at a time when a sell-out is assured no matter how something is marketted.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Pittbboi on November 15, 2006, 07:26:23 AM
I'm glad Nintendo is investing so much in their marketing as far as money is concerned. They're showing that they can throw major money into a project like Sony and MS, and that they're not some baby company that'll go bankrupt at the slightest loss of revenue (something not even most fanbois give them credit for) But as for strategy, they're not really doing much that the competition isn't. Not only are Microsoft and Sony advertising through alternative means for the long haul, but they also hit the ground running early and now they have much more widescale recognition to show for it. More people know the Xbox and PS3 exists than do the Wii, and that counts for something.
This gen for Nintendo is about more than just sustaining themselves. I'm confident that they'll atleast do that; I refuse to believe that Nintendo will lose more of the market this gen. I refuse to believe that that's even possible. But I really want them to RECOVER marketshare, because as a Nintendo fan that means more for me.
Post by: couchmonkey on November 15, 2006, 07:28:44 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Pittbboi
Don't expect Nintendo to just come out of nowhere at the absolute last minute and just steal their thunder.
In short: it'll be the PS2 launch all over again.
Sure, Wii's are going to sell out at launch, and I'm going to be camping out for my very own, no doubt. Nintendo has done all they've needed to do to attract their established fanbase. But this target audience they're going after doesn't even know it exists yet for the most part. Because of this, I think Wii's launch is going to be a lot quieter (Which will make early adopters happy, as I'm sure it'll be a lot easier for them to find a Wii at launch than it was for any other console). It'll still sell, but don't expect the market demand to be as great when the launch stock is all gone, and because of that, I think Nintendo's missed out on generating a LOT of free and effective publicity.
I agree that Nintendo isn't that far in to the general public's mind yet. The system has been mentioned in the news, but people who don't pay attention to the news don't know what Wii is. So yeah, marketing is necessary. And it has begun.
The other side of the coin is that Nintendo can't possibly match Sony's "free" shortage publicity because PS3 is coming out in extremely limited quantities. The only way to do it is to cut launch shipments (intrestingly, Nintendo is supposedly saying 500K-700K instead of 1 million, I wonder if that's a real shortage, or a plan to capture some of that free publicity?) Here's the point: Sony's shortage publicity isn't "free" after all, because once Christmas has come and gone, demand for the system will drop dramatically. By having such major shortages, Sony is giving up its chance to capitalize on the hype.
Edit: But in the end, if the question is one of marketshare, Nintendo will win that through games that grab the attention of the target audience. Just as PSP has nothing to compete with Animal Crossing, Nintendogs or Brain Training, Xbox 360 and PS3 will have nothing to compete with Wii's killer apps...if they exist!
Post by: Kairon on November 15, 2006, 07:50:22 AM
They are not being watched due to their advertising, consumers only know them because of their brands. For example, when a ton of people still believe that the PS3 will cost $300 at launch, then that suggests that all that consumers know about the PS3 is that it is the PS2 + 1, and that they're not really paying attention to most media.
I still believe that big TV commercial campaigns are NOT the way to go if you want really smartly targetted marketting. You need them, sure, but especially for videogames it'll take more than the usual hype for anything to sustain sales. Just look at the commercial campaigns for Perfect Dark, Conker's Bad Fur Day, and the GameCube.
This is why I believe that Nintendo isn't making any major mistakes: the more money they spend on slow-burning, more direct and targetted and actually play-based marketting, the more likely they can generate sustainable hype throughout next year that'll be remember long after a commercial spot is forgotten in lieu of the cliffhanger of Heroes.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: King of Twitch on November 15, 2006, 08:43:29 AM
"We would like to play" vs "YOU SUCK!"
One of those could've been a Reggie line, the other is Nintendo's longtime cowardly lion approach. Needs more Reggie.
Post by: couchmonkey on November 15, 2006, 08:55:11 AM
Post by: JonLeung on November 15, 2006, 12:21:53 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Yeah, cause "you suck" is just what non-gamers have been waiting to hear.
In one of Nintendo Power's videocassette promos back in the Super NES days, "Invasion Of Nintendo", two older gentlemen (I assume they're custodians by their uniforms) are sitting at a table. (Like the other snippets in that video, people who you wouldn't think would play video games make mention of Nintendo games.)
The dialogue, regarding Killer Instinct, goes like this:
"Jago rules."
"Riptor rules!"
"Jago rules!"
"...Jago sucks BIG TIME."
"...YOU suck."
The delivery of "(pause) YOU suck" is the ABSOLUTE BEST "YOU SUCK" EVER delivered by Nintendo. I have yet to hear Reggie ever say that but if you saw it too you would have to agree.
That said, I suppose trash-talking doesn't fit with the Wii's image, so I'm sure they'd never say that.
Post by: Dirk Temporo on November 15, 2006, 12:31:12 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
Yeah, cause "you suck" is just what non-gamers have been waiting to hear.
Tell me I've been bad...
Post by: SixthAngel on November 15, 2006, 02:39:40 PM
Pittboi it isn't going to be the ps2 all over again. This time every time the news mentions a ps3 sellout they will also bring up the very recent competition, Wii, which will also be selling out but in much higher numbers. High ebay sales will be the only thing ps3 has going for it over the Wii. Wii will be selling out simply because it is launch and it is Christmas stealing much of the ps3's thunder, you overestimate the hype do to the ps2 being basically the only kid on the block at the time and not launching beside competition.
Post by: NWR_pap64 on November 17, 2006, 07:10:13 AM
It starts with a shot of people waiting for the bus on a down hill. Suddenly, a gush of wind goes through them, taking their clothes with it. It is then revealed that the gush of wind was caused by Tony Hawk and his co horts of Downhill racers. It then proceeds to show gameplay footage, as well as footage of how the game is played with the Wii.
It then ends with the Wii logo.
