Mercedes-Benz Representative Explains the Company's DLC Deals with Nintendo

Mario is italian, so he need italian cars, why not add alfa romeo cars to the game?

Really, her name is Caroline Pilz?
Pilz is the german word for "mushroom".

@DrVollKornBrot The plot thickens...

Personally since it hasn't ruined the integrity of how fun these games are still, I say bring it all on! These kind of product placements, even though they have their purpose, add diversity which can add a twist to the fun to the game.

Will Link be ditching Epona for a nice shiny new Mercedes-Benz in the new Zelda game? Maybe that's why it's delayed 😂

It doesn't faze me as long as it doesn't cover up stuff, slow down gameplay/loading and isn't in dialogue.

The level is actually pretty good!

"While we received a lot of positive feedback on the campaign and the integration of our cars into Mario Kart 8, we also learned that many gamers are skeptical about brands appearing in their games. So we made sure to put a lot of effort and passion into designing the actual level."

Youre telling me, that a car company does listen more to the gaming community than most AAA devs ? O.o
But in all seriousness, the Mercedes Brand deals are one of the least offensive ones. They are free, they are stylized and they dont directly come off as blatant advertising.
All in all, if this is an opportunity for devs to increase their funding without harming the consumer, im absolutely down with it

Really wasn't into it...

I never understood why people reacted the way they did about the mercedes cars in MK8. It's not like it's an annoying thing!!

I like the level.

@fungusar
Or maybe a Ferrari, or a FIAT. Yes, Mario in a FIAT 500 would be pretty fun to see.

I actually think the level is really well done and tbh I also liked the cars in MK8. I'm more of a motorbike kinda guy but my partner always uses the Mercedes cars.

@carlos82
That's gonna need a LOT of rupees.

It never bothered me either way; it was just a bit of an odd "why is that there?" feeling I had. But hey, if they want to do that, why not?

@carlos82 I'm still hoping that you can trade your horse for the Master Cycle.

I generally don't like product placements in anything other than adverts, but I don't mind this Mercedes-Benz stuff so much since its optional extra content that can be ignored and it hasn't changed anything else on the game. The level was decent, but I'll probably not use the car costume unless I come up with a very gimmicky level idea that needs it.

If I ever consider buying a German car, I'll buy a BMW instead thanks to these horrible additions to games that should be as far removed as possible from realworld brands.

People at Mercedes-Benz actually made the level? Really, that surprises me. I figured some Nintendo devs made it and they just plunked in the car/brand.

I'm surprised more companies don't target the older gaming crowd. There are a lot of us and nostalgia can be a powerful tool for selling. Not all gamers are online FPS junkies living in their parents basements.

The Mercedes karts never bothered me. There was already all sorts of odd karts in the game. Plus it was FREE DLC. Not something I would probably ever pay for, but it was a welcome addition to the game as a free download.

I never use them anymore(tend to stick with my trusty blue falcon now), but I still see quite a few people enjoying them in online races and they often race well with them.

@CB85 It is no problem to find an intern at Daimler-Benz that can make a Super Mario Maker level. Of course the intern can't make coffee for that one day but it's like that interns are getting paid...

I don't know about anyone else, but I thought their stage was great.

I think they did a good job with the stage.

That does not really explain it.

I don't know if people have forgotten about this, but... Outside advertisement in games (at least those where it doesn't really blend in, which includes the Mercedes-Benz ads in Mario Kart and Maker) used to be considered a no-no, morally, ethically, and business wise. (With a few exceptions, including games based around a sponsorship, like 7-up's Cool Spot, or games where real world products are a natural fit, like Gran Turismo.) It is an indication that you do not truly have faith in your own company's ability to make enough money, so you have to rely on outside sponsors. (For example, Sega had KFC ads in Phantasy Star Portable 2... Now look where they are, without outside ads or Sammy to prop them up)

It used to be considered that collaborating in the real world is fine, but as soon as you put these products into games they don't inherently belong in, you are crossing a threshold where your business model begins to rely and lean on outside influences, rather than internal guidance and good management. It has also been a contentious point for so long, because it is a slippery slope. One can say it is harmless, but if it is, where does it end?

If we say the current ad revenue reaching is okay, what's the harm in putting even more advertisements in? Why don't we start adding in cars from every manufacturer into Mario Kart, and a full list of levels from corporate sponsors for Mario Maker? Or how about making characters eat and drink Coca Cola and McDonalds in Pokémon, or using Lockheed Martin rifle and rocket launcher skins for weapons and Halliburton oil for ink in Splatoon? They might not look/sound appropriate, but they're about as relevant as a real car is to Mario Kart, right?

I would say that Mercedes-Benz has a home in Gran Turismo, but it has no place in Mario Kart, even if it is free DLC. Accepting such offers with increasing regularity shows that we don't care about the integrity of the product, thus inviting the floodgates to be opened for superfluous advertising.

It's a nice addition especially when its free DLC.

@PlywoodStick
Do not forget that this is a business, and like any business, revenue is needed to keep running.
I know it is annoying ads wherever, but always there is something called ignore. Now, in this case, these agreements do not provide something really annoying, instead, they provide a "little" more of fun without you really see that it seems an ad, or do you really clog when you play? (in Mario Kart 8, I don't see ads or signs of Mercedes on the tracks or stages; opponents also don't use Mercedes cars).
As stated before, these ads are free DLC, which need not download them if you do not want, either Nintendo or Mercedez "force" you to download them. Then, I repeat, this is business and wherever you will see it, but as in this case, here you can ignore that and still happy that you don't have force ads in your games.

don't like it, you can have the most insane fantasy world in a game, compared to the colorful mario world that car is an eye sore.

And the level is certainly really well made and full of little details. Whoever made it did a good job.

@PlywoodStick but nitnedno is a bizniz and bizniz exits to make muney dont u now abuot biznizes i now all abut bizniziz cuz i am very clevre.

But in all seriousness, I agree with you. I don't understand how people seem more interested in showing off how they know that 'businesses exist to make money' than in assessing the quality of the business's products. Which, as consumers, you think they'd be more concerned with.

It's like complaining about a faulty or poorly made product, only to have some smug geezer appear out of nowhere to tell you that you have no right to take issue with it because 'it's cheaper for the business to make them like that', and at the end of the day, 'businesses exist to make money'.

Yes, businesses exist to make money, but consumers have the right to pass judgement on how they do so, and on the products they end up with. No, the Mercedes-Benz stuff is far from game ruining, and yes it's free (though free advertising is hardly a novel concept). However, it's not entirely optional, given that it exists in games with a large online component, so you only need to come into contact with someone who has used it in order for it to be part of your experience. It's hardly worth boycotting playing other people's levels for, but it's wrong to say that it's completely optional.

My main issue with it is that it comes across as tacky, out of place, and exists purely to provide an external source of income in a game I've already payed pull price for. It's by no means huge problem at its current level, but it could easily not be a problem at all.

Just another way to place a product in front of your face. Not my cup of tea.

@fungusar Exactly! I hate when I see Italian people driving Volkswagen or Mercedes... Those unpatriotic bastards!

Corporations -> MONEY -> Movies (product placements)
Corporations -> MONEY -> Television (product placements)
Corporations -> MONEY -> Magazines (product placements)
Corporations -> MONEY -> Sports Clubs (product placements)
Corporations -> MONEY -> Internet sites - incl. Nintendolife (product placements)

Sports game developers -> MONEY -> Corporations (to use sports brands)
FPS game developers -> MONEY -> Corporations (to use gun brands)
Car game developers -> MONEY -> Corporations (to use car brands)
Corporations -> MONEY -> Nintendo (product placements)
Nintendo is the exception.

I felt an explanation was in order for these dlc's. I guess this makes sense.

I think they did a great job on the level! I died a couple of times because I was expecting it to be easy/I suck lol still waiting on that SLS and AMG GT in my Mario Kart!

Having any ads in a Nintendo game is below them (NINTENDO). Having Mercendes ads in particular is annoying as someone firmly middle class and far from ever buying a new Mercedes.

Sometimes, automobile industry advertising with japanese "pop" culture can make enjoyable things:
My favourite one: a Toyota spot with Char (Gundam antagonist) playing in: https://youtu.be/j9-hF7g5Ilo
A Mercedes spot using Sadamoto (Nadia, Eva, .hack//) character-designs: https://youtu.be/qv7PodxyyWs

Ugh. Product placement has its place, but when it's done obtrusively it's really annoying and makes me lose respect for the company. Having Dole bananas in Super Monkey Ball was product placement done right. Mercedes-Benz cars in Mario's world is absolutely how it shouldn't be done. It doesn't fit the tone of MK at all.

@carlos82 see, right now you're joking bout it..lol

@DrVollKornBrot So she's a... Toadette?