Weirdness: When Publicity Pictures Aren't Worth It - Aaron Paul With Wii Fit U

Wow Nintendo... He looks so depressed. It's like they're holding his family hostage.

Haha, so enthusiastic!

"Yeah... and stuff..."

I have to ask a question here. Is there no communication within this company? Wouldn't someone say, You know... He doesn't look to happy...maybe we shouldn't release this...

The expression on his face suggest that he is really bored with the game and does not give a s*** about playing it, why would Nintendo even use this one on their social networking pages its hardly projecting a positive image that their games are you know actually fun to play.

Who cares if he's unimpressed? Not everyone likes the same games. XD

@Superstick
the picture makes the game look lame, because a celebrity advertising the game is not having a good time. that makes people think the game is stupid.

whoever put this picture up needs to be fired, lol. nintendo, you suck at marketing.

LOL. I'm sure he didn't expect a picture to be taken or something, dunno.

Don't worry, he always looks like that. Even when playing Mario Kart.

a great job ad advertising the WII U? In Europe? i haven't seen one one spot since Christmas.

To be fair, that's about how excited I would look if someone was taking a picture of me while I was playing a Wii Fit game.

He looks like he's thinking " fine, I'll make a U with my arms, but with my I don't give a **** face. They won't post it then". Well Aaron, they posted it. On a related note, I have the same amount of enthusiasm for his Need for Speed movie.

#NintendoOfAmericaSucks

Is this really news-worthy? It's just a random photo of a celebrity playing the Wii U, posted on Twitter. You can't surmise so much information based on one little photo.

Also, he'd rather be playing something like:
[youtube:w9-2Z1cO5AE]

Nintendo must really be desperate. How is that pic in any way appealing? They've just thrown it onto twitter because it's Aaron Paul with their product. Never mind the fact he looks utterly unimpressed by it.

They sent Reggie to Sundance armed with a pistol and a digital camera.
'Stand beside the TV now! Do it you b*****d!'

I guess whoever is in control of the NOA Twitter account is about as enthusiastic about their job as he is in the pic. Why would you post that?

he looks a bit spaced, probably buzzed and very tired.
looks like hes had enough publicity shots.
probably burnt out on yhe whole celebrity thing-
lookslike he didn't ge a very good jump either.

Jesse played many games on Breaking Bad including SEGA's Sonic Transformed and Mario Kart Wii. lol

yeah why make him play a lame game to stay fit? I didn't buy my Wii U to get healthy.

the wii fit u games are a fun way to get a motive for getting fit,but as fun as they may be for a work out you would feel stupid if someone was watching let alone taking pictures. snap one of me wial im ski jumping,yea see what happens we'll be wii boxing in no time

@Baum897 Unfortunately advertising for the Wii U is still fairly non existent in the UK. Good to hear that they're doing a great job in Germany though! Maybe the fact that Nintendo Of Europe's headquarters are there helps.

@ColdingLight
I agree 100%...shouldn't have released this photo of him, period.

It is the photographers fault I bet. This wreaks of the "just one more shot, keep smiling. ok just one more. one more" until it is impossible to look enthusiastic.

Doesn't he ALWAYS look like that though?

He looks like that because of all that blue crystal he does! if you know what i mean lol!

This week on "Breaking Sad", Jesse struggles with depression after playing Wii Fit U while Walter has a run in with crazed drug kingpin Iwata.

There's nothing wrong with that picture. Still, as much as I like Wii Fit U (I mean that- it's an excellent workout game), I'm not sure why Nintendo didn't have a game like Pikmin 3, NSMBU, Zelda Windwaker, DKC Tropical Freeze or Super Mario 3D World. People are losing interest in Nintendo not because Nintendo stopped making great games, but because Nintendo has stopped SHOWING people those great games. We're in the know, but most others aren't. No Nintendo, not Wii Fit U, not Wii Party U, not any of that stuff. Zelda, Mario, DKC, Smash, Pikmin, Mario Kart... THOSE are the games that will catch people's attention.

Ughhh. I love Nintendo but they really frustrate me sometimes.

@MrWalkieTalkie Somebody likes to go to WiiUDaily and steal jokes LOL. Honestly I think that was planned. A lot of celebrity's do the quirky no smile thing to come as neurotic and weird. Look at every photo Michael Cera takes haha

People will always complain about trivial stuff like this article. If its not your thing: don't click on it!

Somebody needs to start photoshopping this pose onto every single publicity photo Nintendo puts out from here onwards. Make it happen

I never heard of him

Wow. He looks so happy.

But he looks like that all the time isn'it? with or without the Jesse character... what is depressing in my opinion is this: "--this is the only official picture of a celebrity playing Wii U from the Sundance Festival." Not even celebrities care of Wii U anymore, even if they are telled to pose for the "yay this is fun" photo. Maybe if NoA had used other appealing and more exciting demos like Mario Kart 8 or Donkey Kong TF...

I like the picture, actually. It's unrealistic to force people to smile for photos when they are not feeling like smiling. Personally, I don't smile or laugh when playing games unless something super funny happens. Rock on my man!

Jeez ninty this guy should be playing smash. Julia Roberts is who you want for wii fit and The Lord of the rings folk for zelda. It's not hard.

photoshop please

lol I don't know this guy, but get somebody charismatic, with a lot of positive energy. Get Will Smith, amongst others, not this lame-as* dude. Wayne Brady was perfect in those commercials back then. Robin Williams would do a good job. He is a Zelda fan anyway, so they should get him advertising again for the next Zelda game.

@SphericalCrusher I guess that explains why he's got both his arms in the air in a "woohoo" fashion.

So they should not post this pic, but there are almost 50 comments about it here? Good or bad, it made an impression and it probably has people talking more than if it would have been an "OMG I am so happy playing this!" kind of pic.

@LunaticPandora Could be. Again, he may not have expected it. They could run by, yell. "Picture Time" and without time to react, snap it. Lol

Be very amusing if he took some legal action against them. (Presuming he won.)

@unrandomsam Actor who plays a meth dealer sues the family friendly video game makes who created mario. Ya that would be a smart move

@IlovedemRPGS Wii U Daily? I don't think I'm too familiar with that site.

@faint Nintendo ran a love hotel (That you can book for say an hour or two at one point) about as un family friendly an activity as you can get.

Maybe he used some of the blue stuff?

@MrWalkieTalkie Oh well I just found it funny the day before they posted that exact .gif with regarding this news and making the same joke. Must have been a funny coincidence.

@unrandomsam I am aware but that is not how the New York Times would print it. It was also a very long time ago. Very very long time

Like most games in Wii Fit U, it can be intensive and befuddling to play. What type of reaction should we see? I think the timing of the shot is bad. If he didn't want to be in it, they wouldn't have posted the shot. You guys are reading WAY TOO MUCH into it

This needs a 'Please, kill me' caption.

This isn't the only time Nintendo have done this. I think it was on facebook they've linked reviews slaughtering Wii U games and the odd 'upcoming game' interview where the tone was anti-Nintendo!

@Baum897
green green...
(i'm still new at this)

@MrWalkieTalkie nice find

I can't believe the amount of people misinterpreting the look on his face as "unimpressed." He's very clearly making a "Who's the man?" or a "Let's see you beat THAT!" -type gesture. People generally don't do that with a smile on their face.

There was nothing at all wrong with posting this picture on Twitter.

@JaxonH Same here, and it is so frustrating. Nintendo doesn't understand the Wii Sports, Wii Fit, and Wii Party/Play gamers have moved on from that fad. Yes, Wii did amazing in drawing in a huge crowd, but it didn't keep many of them around for long once they caught onto the fact games everyone else was playing was on OTHER systems and they moved on. they keep trying to ride on and duplicate the success of the Wii and it ins't happening and never will.

Nintendo of America is clueless, impotent, and pathetic. Reggie is a spineless yes-man, and NoA's idea of marketing is this kind of backwards stuff that looks awful to consumers. Those awkward, goofy commercials with nimrod adults playing Wii Party and the stupid hot buttered popcorn kid? You better believe those ads are on NoA, and people deserve to be fired over them. Starting with Reggie.

You know why Nintendo is getting crushed? Because they don't cater to the west, or understand what the western gamer respects and thinks is cool. The best possible thing Iwata could do is not to start making cell phone games, but to can his entire NoA staff and install Emily freaking Rogers as NoA President.

@Technosphile

I don't buy that. I've been around since Reggie started. NoA is under strict orders from Japan. Japan micromanages the western strategy. Which is why we're hearing IWATA say that HE needs to do a better job reading western trends, which, let's face it, he does. I'm encouraged with his latest statements. It sounds like he gets it. Time will tell. All I care about is getting as many fun Nintendo games on the Wii U and 3DS as possible. The selection of titles which release over the next several years will determine my overall satisfaction. Though I will say I'm fairly satisfied thus far with the 3DS library, and the Wii U library as well. Particularly the games they have coming this year. We'll see how it pans out.

And don't get me wrong. Wii Fit U is actually an excellent game. I just bought it and I'm impressed with the range of difficult exercises and overall package. It's great, but it shouldn't be at the forefront of what Nintendo has to offer. Nintendo became famous in the first place for their core games. That's why we're all fans today. And those are the games that will continue to make new fans, sustainable fans. I want Wii Fit U, I want games like Wii Sports Club (I LOVE the golf, it's brilliant), but I feel there hasn't been a large enough focus on the more complex, skill based games.

@hcfwesker

Like I say, I adore Wii Sports Club. It's a VERY well designed game, and the golf is one of THE most creative and realistic approaches I've ever experienced for a video game. And it's very fun and addicting. Wii Fit U- best workout tool I've ever owned. It blends digital gaming entertainment with the natural rush of endorphins. Win-win if you ask me.

BUT, like you say, those shouldn't be the games leading the pack. It's fine to have those games, but it shouldn't be all they advertise.Every ad I see, every single time they market the Wii U to the public, they ONLY use those games. That's their blind spot imo. And it's catching up with them. It's not that Nintendo doesn't make core games, it's just that they don't flaunt those core games. And that's a serious problem.

But, that is THEIR problem, not mine. I want them to do well, but I'm just a meager gamer, and my first priority is playing fun games. So I do hope they wise up, but I'm happy playing my Nintendo games regardless...

@JaxonH "NoA is under strict orders from Japan. Japan micromanages the western strategy"

The western strategy is not working. Those strict orders should be being questioned, challenged. Instead, it's "Yes, sir!".

Look, I know you and others think Reggie is funny and charming. But he seems as much in a delusional bubble as everyone in Kyoto. NoA needs more decision-making power, and it starts with someone in charge with guts and gumption.

Nailed it... I remember having that same expression on my face as a kid during Christmas. I still remember opening up that large box to find a knitted green and red sweater with white snowflakes all over it...

The guy looks so unhappy with the system, he does not even care. This is awful. What is more awful is that the people at NOA actually thought it would be a good idea to post it. I am scared enough by the current Nintendo situation already, I really do not want them to keep enforcing the image that management has utterly failed and its over.

This is terrible. Like what was the photographer thinking? Did they like pay him or something?

@Technosphile

How do you know it's not being challenged? How do you know that it's "yes sir"? The boss is the boss. They call the shots. Speculating about things we know nothing about is not fair to those with the finger pointed at them. Not to mention, how is anyone to know the strategy wouldn't work until they actually follow through with it and find out? Sure, it's easy to say it's not working NOW, but before, no one knew that.

It's nothing to get upset over though. Personally, it doesn't matter one way or the other if Nintendo loses money or isn't making the right calls marketing-wise. That stuff is so far removed from my living room, it's beyond irrelevant. I'm surprised so many people are obsessed with financial analysis, and barely even talk about games any more. Who cares if Nintendo is losing money. Who cares if Iwata or Reggie is to blame for something. As long as the games keeps coming, I really couldn't care less. When Nintendo announces they're bankrupt and will be discontinuing their console business, then I'll start caring.

We talk about that stuff from time to time, but I just can't wrap my head around why some people care to the point of getting upset, where they start calling for CEO's heads and stuff. Idk, I wish these gaming sites would stop shoving financial analysis down gamer's throats, because A) it's irrelevant to gaming and B) gamers know less than nothing on the subject, so they buy into whatever spin the author deems appropriate. We've got guys running around saying Nintendo's gonna get bought by Sony or Disney. We've got guys saying Nintendo is gonna stop making consoles. It's ignorance. People don't understand business analysis, so they're very easily persuaded to believe whatever they hear, right or wrong.

I say, the heck with Wii U's commercial success- it sells what it sells. Let's just get back to playing those great games we all love. Speaking of which, we have two very nice additions coming in the next few weeks. Bravely Default on 3DS Feb 7, and DKC Tropical Freeze on Wii U Feb 21. AND, Breaking Bad Season 5 Pt 2 comes to Netflix Feb 24. Yeah buddy...

@JaxonH It doesn't take a Masters in Business to understand that a $335 million dollar loss in a year is very, very bad. Clearly many people within the company are making some extremely poor decisions, I'm not in the boardroom and you better believe I know that; its plain as day.

You say you'll start caring when Nintendo exits the console business. Well, with inept people like Reggie Fils-Aime and NoA's crack marketing department in charge, I think you'll care sooner rather than later.

I'm going to give you some recommended reading. I think this is a great glimpse into all we've been talking about: the gap between Kyoto and Redmond, the weird mix of powerlessness and arrogance in place at Nintendo of America, and just what kind of "challenger" Reggie really is. Given how similarly dire the Wii U situation is to the Gamecube's, I'll bet a dollar that nothing has changed in regards to the corporate mentality:

http://www.notenoughshaders.com/2013/08/15/the-struggles-of-marketing-the-gamecube/

Tagline was exactly what I hoped it would be. Good job, NLife!

I don't see what the problem is with this pic?

I would look like that too if someone said they were gonna upload it onto crappy twitter or facebook

@Technosphile
With all due respect, no, I really don't think it's gonna be sooner than later. Nintendo's a corporate giant. Iwata and Reggie have been around for most of Nintendo's highest successful years, which everyone forgets. They focus on ONE bad year, which we already knew about. Nintendo could make the same loss as 2013, and they still have enough cash on hand for 50 more consecutive years just as bad. That's just from doing the math.

Look, Nintendo had a rough year, so what. You conveniently forget the 10+ SUCCESSFUL years work these guys in place. I'm sorry, but the media is deceiving you. Things aren't that bad. They're not.

Consider this, even the best mess up and have to learn from their mistakes. Sony loses money on an annual basis, for over a decade now. Vita is selling worse than Wii U. And has little in store for it. Jack Tretton has a much less successful and profitable tenor. Yet no one thinks twice about that. Wii U has almost surpassed Vita sales in half the time, and 3DS isn't just outselling PS4, but PS4, X1 and Vita combined. And Sony's not goin anywhere.
That's some perspective to chew on.

Sorry, but people are blowing this up to be bigger than it is. This is the first BAD year Nintendo's had in almost a decade. Lighten up. **** happens. They'll be fine. I watched alot of people eat humble pie with the 3DS. Wii U may not go on to extravagant success, but it'll go on to have a normal life.

But again, who cares. 12 billion cash on hand is enough for another 50 years of 2013 losses, and we all know that is NOT going to happen. Nintendo isn't as dumb as you think. And they're not gonna lie down. Just take breath, relax, and play some games. I promise you, Nintendo's not going anywhere

Hands in the air, like you JUST DON'T CARE!

@MrWalkieTalkie Is he playing Dankey Kang?

It looks to me like he's trying to make some sort of baddonkey cheering face. Is he succeeding? I suppose that's an intellectual argument.

This really is like some sort of Rorschach test, as a lot of people here are suddenly calling for the head of everyone at NoA. Perhaps you just see what you want to see.

I bet they payed him just to stand there and look a wee bit happy xD