When it comes down to marketing styles, the gap between Europe and North America continues to widen. Nintendo of America's approach to selling Splatoon has been heavily focused on young gamers, in particular, while it's slightly more neutral in the EU so far. With a game that colourful, to be fair, targeting a young audience does have its merits.
The latest TV commercial for North America goes further, though, introducing a cheesy new theme song. It's not from the game - which is a pity as its music seems awesome - but sounds straight out of a Disney kids' show. It has lyrics that are pretty darn simplistic, too:
"Splatoon's a game / Splatoon is here"
"Come on and... *minor fit of post-production effects...* Splatooooooon"
Well, we're not sure about this, but perhaps we're just jaded old cynics. Check it out below and let us know what you think.
Comments 52
Seems like a song destined to be remade by a death metal band
This is absolutely terrible.
@Gerbwmu I would listen to that.
I...I have nothing to say hahaha
What's the Taylor Swift reference? Oh, I get it. Nintendo "attempts" to introduce a theme song, just like Taylor Swift attempts to make music.
Well... that felt like early 90s. Does that work anymore? No idea. Just hope this is targeted at Nick and Disney Channel. It could fit there, I think.
If there's one thing Nintendo is bad at, it's these commercials..
hahahahahahahaaaaaa
Is that the singer from the Flintstones movie theme?
I dont get why people are hating on this commercial I think its great and the theme song is catchy
I think it's good. And it's more Joan Jett and the Blackhearts than Taylor Swift, especially near the end.
It really is perfect for kids tv, it just is. Disney Jr, Nick Jr and Cartoon Network.
Haters gonna hate (somebody had to)
Edit: Yeah, Joan Jett. Now I want a Joan Jett amiibo that unlocks a playable Joan Jett in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvoV2Lfk7Qg
It brung tears go my eyes..Please, No.
That was so cringe worthy, I literally have tears in my eyes...
Is there are commercial for those of us who aren't tweeners with ADD? That was awful. Like really really re re re re re re re re re re re re BAD!
My ears are screaming in anguish right now... THE HELL IS THIS?!
Kids will love this!! Get over it "old folks", Nintendo is not targeting us whether we like it or not. They already have us, their marketing is about grabbing children to play just the same way they did with us in the 80's & 90's.
...I may need to get new eardrums.
@aaronsullivan definitely has that vibe to it.
and of course i'm out of brain bleach....
Now I'm embarrassed for buying this game...
Haha its not THAT bad. Sounds like a robotic Joan Jett...
@IxnayontheCK - That's b/c there's too much "autotune". Autone is the death of music but all the kids love it. Even Ellen covers it on her show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQbkPS8zCA
What did i just listen to? Dear lord NOA........
All of my yes.
Well...
...
It's a lot better then other junk I see on TV. It stands out and if it wasn't played too often then it wouldn't get too annoying. I like it.
Ugh, this is terrible... Just keep the song they've had before from the first e3 video n so on.
I think I'm in a state of shock. It had potential for a bit but then, just, why?
I'm really loving her Kenshiro impression near the end. Atatatatatatata...
These commercials really don't help me when my friends say Nintendo is for little kids xD
The game's aesthetic is straight out of mid-90's nickelodeon- I think the advert is pretty on point, in that regard
This game has rubbed me the wrong way ever since it was first introduced. That commercial did not help at all. I have zero urge to pick this game up. Hopefully a demo can convince me otherwise.
Nintendo are attempting to make this the new Pokemon. Personally I hate seeing the same god forsaken "Ginger" on the cover and the game previews. I wonder if this is the same in Japanese version. Considered it is called "Splatoons" It kinda makes me thing of "ba-cake" or something along those lines. Eitherway it is an cheap consumer exploit basically for an fun mini-game.
wow, that was super lame!
Teehee.. :>
@RegalSin
I think it's a play on words, "splat" and "platoon". In the Direct I read a line from Captain Cuttlefish in the single player mode, and he said something about being "recruited into the ink Splatoon", or something along those lines. So I think there's actual meaning behind it, even if it's not evident at first.
That was...interesting.
Not exactly something I'll be humming to myself at work, but I know I'll run to the living room if I hear that coming from the TV.
No. Just no.
And they say Splatoon isn't for kids.
not in my personal opinion a good song. The voice seemed too high that it became almost annoying. oh well. still a good commercial, music aside as it showed the basic idea of the game
I give massive credit to Nintendo (in Japan) for the amazing feats of wonder they achieve; Miyamoto-san is an emissary of gaming divinity to me. I do honestly though, and have for some time now, question the motivations of Nintendo of America.
Whether it's down to the suspiciously inauthentic guerrilla marketing campaign of Reggie Fils-Aime as some sort of a tour de force in gaming culture, or the recent product release decisions which hardly stand up to journalistic scrutiny, I can't seem to get past the notion that they're not just courting younger audiences, but they're also either negligently or deliberately excising mature audiences from their consumer base.
Call me a conspiracy theorist (I don't really feel that I am), but this latest cog in NOA's marketing machine is not only shallow and narrowly targeted, but it actually undermines the delicate balance between technical complexity, family integration, and accessible entertainment achieved by this (according to all accounts) well developed title. It's borderline sabotage if you ask me.
So, as a protective parent: if this was the first introduction I had to Splatoon, I would pass the title over for my children. It frames the game as having no depth, a lack of virtuosity, and an abundance of youth-targeted psychological techniques intended to manipulate my children.
And as a shareholder, I find myself further disgusted by the executive decisions emanating from NOA. I would be right-happy to see Nintendo excise NOA's executives rather than than the alternative (which is apparently NOA attempting to excise me and my entire generation from relevance).
I'm sorry. My sincerest apologies for the aggressive rhetoric, but I've been biting my tongue for some time now, and have found myself quite finally fed up with this latest foray into... Well... Whatever this "thing" appears to be.
And sorry for the run-on sentences..
You guys are totally missing the point of the song. Yeah, it's absolutely horrible, but that commercial looks and sounds like every single toy cartoon ever. I was half expecting a 6 year old boy to shout "I win!" at the end. It's PERFECT for the target audience that is actually going to see this commercial (all Wii U commercials are on kid's channels).
So early 90's, I feel like they're trying to sell me the classic super-soaker.
@day Wow, I couldn't agree more. Nicely said.
Once you get splat splat splat splat you just got to shake it off, shake it off!
Overall I don't mind the commercial even though its obviously aimed at the younger crowd (has the total nickelodeon vibe). Even with a serious commercial, it likely wouldn't of hit home with the COD fanboys or "mature" crowd but this can at least appeal to the child/family demographic that Nintendo depends on.
Awful.... I would have liked it when I was 8, though.
Omg, what a lame track!
Why the hell would you even post this here, NL? Just makes it worse, 30 seconds of my life wasted for trash.
Cynics
Please don't be in the game...
It is pretty awful.
Oh man, do I hate auto-tune. By the way, the real theme to Splatoon is pretty awful too!
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