Introduction
Video games are a modern medium unparalleled for interaction; never before has the audience been able to control a narrative so fluidly. But, like all media before it, video games can be used to serve marketing bologna in unprecedented ways. While Super Mario is collecting rings and stealing cars, paradigms can be shifted, markets can be targeted, and Nielsens can be analyzed.
We are going to be taking a look at some of the more flagrant culprits of "advergaming". To avoid a philosophic debate on whether or not all video games are advertising/promoting something for money, I'll note that our "criteria" is a game meant to promote a product or a quick, lazy cash-in on some franchise (Though we're a bit fast and loose with what games we'd consider to be an "advergame"). Some are fondly remembered, others... not so much.
I'm commentating with my two bestest buddies in the world, DiaperMan and Anthony. Diaper and I both have accounts here on SA and will take turns playing through the games on our "Corporate Agenda". We come off as abrasive at first, but all three of us have hearts of gold. Our commentary style is just three chums playin' some games.
1 - Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool P1: The Unfoolables | blip.tv | Youtube |
2 - Chester Cheetah: Too Cool to Fool P2: Sky Chase Zone | blip.tv | Youtube |
3 - Super Trix: AHHRRGGHHH | blip.tv | Youtube |
4 - Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings P1: The Ugly American | blip.tv | Youtube |
5 - Izzy's Quest for the Olympic Rings P2: All that glitters... | blip.tv | Youtube |
6 - Welcome to My Underground Lair/Oh Behave!: The spy who aged poorly | blip.tv | Youtube |
7 - Avoid the Noid (DOS): Some Noids just want to watch the pizza burn. | blip.tv | Youtube |
8 - Captain Crunch's Crunchling Adventure: Mom knows best. | blip.tv | Youtube |
9 - The California Raisins: The Grape Escape: A raisin in the fun. | blip.tv | Youtube |
10 - Universal Theme Parks Adventure P1: It's a wild wild wild wild west. | blip.tv | Youtube |
11 - Universal Studios P2: Hollywood magic. | blip.tv | Youtube |
11 Bonus - Universal Studios Bonus: 40,000 points | blip.tv | |
12 - Taco Bell's Tasty Temple Challenge: U grandsonin' COOL ! | blip.tv | Youtube |
13 - Barbie: Groovy Games: Losing my religion. | blip.tv | Youtube |
14 - Chex Quest P1: Chex yourself before you wreck yourself. | blip.tv | Youtube |
15 - Mick and Mack: Global Gladiators: Robot computer bad guys. | blip.tv | Youtube |
16 - Cool Spot P1: Spottin' like menses, I dunno whatever. | blip.tv | Youtube |
17 - CHOMP! The Gummi Savers: Mambas aren't real. | blip.tv | Youtube |
18 - Cool Spot P2: Uncoola. | blip.tv | Youtube |
19 - Hooters Road Trip: I left my heart in Jacksonville... (probably not a great idea to watch from work) | blip.tv | Youtube |
20 - Cool Spot P3: Revenge and 7up are best served cold. | blip.tv | Youtube |
21 - Playboy: The Mansion: Angel is the centerfold. | blip.tv | Youtube |
22 - Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest P1: Maps, they don't love you like I love you. | blip.tv | Youtube |
23 - Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest P2: Ball-return Patti | blip.tv | Youtube |
24 - The Coca Cola Kid: Soup for dessert. | blip.tv | Youtube |
25 - Pepsi Invaders but we pretend it's Pepsi Man instead: One joke more than usual. | blip.tv | Youtube |
26 - Pepsi Man P1: Tragedy + time. | blip.tv | Youtube |
27 - Pepsi Man P2: Michael McJordan | blip.tv | Youtube |
27 Bonus - Pepsi Man Cutscenes Minus Jerks | Youtube | |
28 - The 13th Annual Edition of the Spook-tacular Halloween Episode of Men Trick-or-treatin': Bram Stoker's Draculer | blip.tv | Youtube |
29 - Sonny's Race for Chocolatey Taste: Bloomin' Onion. | blip.tv | Youtube |
30 - Little Caesars Fraction's Pizza - Go girl, get to know it. | blip.tv | Youtube |
Final Episode - Advergames Cheers & Jeers | blip.tv | Youtube |
Feel free to suggest, these are in no particular order.
- Chester Cheetah: Wild Wild Quest
Austin Powers Oh Behave/Welcome to My Underground Layer
- Barbie
- Chex Quest
California Raisins
- The Coca Cola Kid
- Kool Aid Man/Pepsi Invaders
- McDonald's TreasureLand Adventures
- Burger King King Games (Sneak King/Big Bumpin'/Pocket Bike Racers)
- Minority Report
Cap'n Crunch's Crunchling Adventure
Taco Bell's Tasty Taco Challenge
- Cheerios Playtime
Hooter's Road Trip
Playboy: The Mansion
- Sonny's Race for Chocolatey Taste
Cool Spot
Super Trix (not what you think)
- PepsiMan
- Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchard
- Darkened Skye
Avoid the Noid [DOS]
- Yaris (if possible)
- M&m's games
OnDiscDLC gives a peek into the LP Studio, off-hours.
A good poster shows us what John "Corky Romano" Romero does inbetween Daikatana sequels.
Entity411 provides some visualization to any Taster out there who plans on capitalizing on one of the many costume ideas thrown out during Draculer.