A week ago we shared a TV commercial for Splatoon that had been released by North America, which replaced the funky tunes of the game with a new effort that featured some rather simplistic lyrics. It didn't go down well with everyone, but with a target audience of young gamers and - arguably - the Disney TV crowd, it made a good deal of sense.
Since then two more of these TV commercials have been released. First up is "Squid Kid", below, which this writer doesn't feel is particularly catchy and, again, has pretty poor lyrics.
Yet the most recent TV spot, "Ink It Up", seems a good deal better; to these ears the tune and lyrics are an improvement.
These commercials undoubtedly show off the different aspects of the game, and considering the fact that this marketing in North America is employing stars of Disney TV shows and real-life 'splatting' events, there's at least consistent messaging. If playing on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, these are the sorts of commercials that arguably make an impression.
In any case, that Ink It Up commercial has warmed us up to the campaign a little. What do you think of this marketing for Splatoon?
Comments 35
Both utterly terrible....
The first is terrible. I actually like the second one
Prefer the music in this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3AFJWKDLFE
Although for a TV advert I can understand wanting some sort of voice-over or catchy song. Both attempts above are very very very generic and are likely to grate once you hear them a few times.
But I guess they're inoffensive enough for young kids.
Before watching the second spot - ink it up - I had Kiss' "Lick it Up" in my head so it seemed all wrong when watching it.
First video had no rhythm lyrically but at least the music and voice was better.
Am glad they stuck w/ the Joan Jett autotune for consistency, but dont think they'll ever outdo the first one based on "Bad Reputation".
Question - isnt the paintbrush featured in the 2nd ad not due out until August? Or was it Day 1 DLC? There really was a lot in that 33 minute Direct, hard to keep track of it all, but I remember that paintbrush.
Hope they announce another server test for this weekend, how much could they have figured out in 3 hours? Best to keep the momentum going I say And the following weekend is Memorial Day in the US, hopefully they have something planned for that as well.
Despite the US getting screwed on the $60 price I'm pretty close to Day 1 on this ATM.
oh god, these ads are so lame I will now be embarrased to even have a quick look at splatoon game in a shop >_< they should have used the main theme we heard on E3 last year? that was so good, catchy and inky fits the game perfectly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JHPeVMR96A
Well that was...interesting. Nintendo is employing stars of Disney shows? Has Disney got rid of all their good singers?
That first one was pretty cringe-worthy but the second one was fine. Whatever appeals to today's kids, I guess...
The gameplay shown looks great, but my ears are considering suing you guys for subjecting them to that:/
For the particular demographic they are targeting, they are great. I still think they don't need to aim so low though - the kids appeal is obvious, so sticking to actual music with the footage does gets the job done fine, and could probably go out to more channels than just the Disney kind.
I'm not complaining though, it's great that an effort is being made here and based on my 1.5 hours playing it really deserves all the ads Nintendo cares to commission.
I hated all the songs from these US commercials. But, they're obviously not aimed at me... getting the game Day One regardless! Can't wait!!!
くコ:彡 くコ:彡 くコ:彡
Oh my god, can I sue the freaks who are responsible for this? This... trash isn't music anymore, it's a lousy "buy it" jingle, and a horrible one at that!
...but with a target audience of young gamers and - arguably - the Disney TV crowd, it made a good deal of sense...
This is such a stupid reason, and I keep hearing it constantly for everything aimed at kids that does this kind of crap. That's basically saying that effort is wasted on kids, so drown them in horrible cringeworthy junk instead. Damn, I'm glad this isn't airing in germany...
I don't care if commercials look bad to me, I hate a lot of things kids love and the product itself, the game, is really good. Besides, Nintendo is advertising, something they seldom do.
Day 1, won't regret a single dime of the $60 I will be depositing on the eShop. $70 if I count the ethernet adapter I ordered for this.
@Captain_Gonru - My 12 year old who hates music didn't like the new ads - though he did like the earlier one that looked just like a Nerf gun tv commercial they see all the time on TV. My younger one who will grow up to be a headbanger and start a band in my garage liked the last one but he hasn't seen these 2 yet. He really wants the game though - he's THE target audience - 10 yr old boy all about the gun fun.
Also funny, I decided just this morning a couple of hours ago that I was buying the game but not the amiibo. Hopefully there will be enough in the online, single player and balloon battles w/ the kids I won't notice the missing costumes. Well at least by the time we get to Sept and all the pieces have been released an assembled. Easier just to decide not to get them than look for them I reckon. Though I'm not opposed to buying them w/ any type of money saving special offer. And I would probably buy a 2 pack of the Singing Squid Sisters, they're adorable.
It's fine.
Reminds me a lot like the opening of a cartoon or something.
Anyone here calling it horrible, doesn't know what they're talking about.
It's catchy, punchy, and since the game is colorful...it's colorful. Easily will grab the attention of children who are watching Nickelodeon or Cartoon Network.
"But I showed it to my nephew and he hated it..."
Yes. I'm sure it was a controlled environment where your nephew was not predisposed to any sort of negative opinions of the ad; that they saw the ad the way it was supposed to be viewed: in a natural viewing session. And then, I'm sure you nephew is a good representation of all the children who saw the ad while watching it on television.
This isn't an ad for gaming enthusiasts. OUR ads have been the Nintendo Directs.
But hey, I have a degree in advertising, so its not like my opinion matters.
Perfect adverts for the audience Nintendo are going for, after all these ads wont be on at 9pm they'll be morning ads on cartoon network!
Well they're definately earworm-ish; but what commercial isn't like that?
@Captain_Gonru - "cost them at least one 9 year old who is, otherwise, a shooter fan"
Now that you mention it, my 10 year old may be gaga over Splatoon b/c I don't let him play any shooter games. Outside of guns in SSBU and 1 female character in Xenoblade we don't really play any gun games in our house. Oh, Ratchet and Clank, but that isn't exactly Call of duty. Unless they've added guns to Minecraft I don't know about?
So for my 10 year old this is his chance to let loose and shoot literally everything in site. Hadn't thought about it like that before, but it makes perfect sense. My 12 year old really just wants Mario Maker.
Flat mate sat laughing her whaps off at the first one, weirded me out
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
It's a totally fine commercial for its target market. People my age (mid 20's) who own a Wii U already know about this game and have already made up their mind to buy it or not.
Child age group,. this will be fine. But once they get to T and YA... good luck =.= The internet controls their minds and if the internet thinks its bad, they will too. And who runs the internet? People our age [I have no clue how old you guys are, but still ]
Child age group,. this will be fine. But once they get to T and YA... good luck =.= The internet controls their minds and if the internet thinks its bad, they will too. And who runs the internet? People our age [I have no clue how old you guys are, but still ]
The game's awesome, but the commercials all suck.
Now I just hope for fewer airtime lol:)
For the pre-teen demo. This works great.
Actually a great commercial for kids.
It supposed to be musical with all the auto-tune and what not, but it doesn't feel smooth. It feels like the music doesn't flow right and it's just not very appealing.
People complaining need to understand Nintendo is 99% about KIDS.
Some adults have issues with this and try to pretend that this isn't the case, because they love Nintendo games.
Nintendo fans say CoD and 18+ Rated games are played by kids trying hard to be adults.
Does this mean Nintendo kiddie games are played by adults that refuse to grow up?
Many adults read kiddie books (Harry Potter). What's wrong with adults playing kiddie games?
The reality is that the vast majority of adult gamers will not be seen dead playing Splatoon. Other gaming sites and YouTube comments clearly confirms this. (The fact that kids also don't want to play kiddie games is another subject).
Nintendo knows this so that is why they are pushing it at kids. If you are an Adult that like the game that's fine.
"I am a KID I am a squid" is aimed NOT aimed at adults.
@Hotfusion
When Skylanders first came out "adults" claimed they never would touch the game and aren't interested in picking up kids toys. Then it turned out adults are a large part of the audience. What people say, especially on something like youtube which is only about whiners trolling, means squat. Animal Crossing was another game that "adults" didn't want to be seeing playing and in the end adults play all iterations of it. This isn't a Leapster game, and can very well get adults involved. That also though reflects the problem that Nintendo hates to market its games toward the 16-30 crowd. Even with AAA titles like Mario, they settle for generic family oriented commercials that only kids and soccer moms care about. They never have any sort of epic ads that appeal beyond that small audience. It would help if the had ads/trailers with combat focus that didn't include some kid pop singing that makes people vomit and miss what the games about aside from the obvious.
I'm getting such a 90s vibe with the color and song. Like the old toy commercials with the yoyo ball and socker boppers.
@Captain_Gonru - "a bit more "grown-up" than Splatoon."
They just need to port Kid Icarus: Uprising to Wii U. I've never played that game, but feel like I know all about it b/c my kids STILL haven't stopped talking about it and they got it at launch. Maybe Sakurai can work on a Wii U sequel now that SSB is done?
The 10 year old will move on to X1 I'm afraid. Well maybe X2 or whatever they'll call it, all his friends own Xbox360s - our neighborhood is too working class for X1 yet. My oldest I may be able to keep on PS4 and PS5. And Nintnedo will be 3rd party after NX fails so I'm not too worried about it.
Oh, and I haven t played BW either - only just recently played AW when it ported to Wii U VC - but yes, something like that would be great. Something that looks like Codename: STEAM but real time on the Wii U, my oldest would like that.
Personally I don't like gritty either - I'd much rather play Starfox Adventures on Dinosuar Planet than Last of US - real life colors are boring - but I'm still waiting for Starfox Adventures 2: Cystal's Awakening where it turns out Cyrstal is a princess or sorceress or something. Along the lines of Witcher 3 but w/ the Nitneod aesthetic. I have hope for Zelda U but those games are SO boring. Same for Metroid. BOR-ing. That's why I played Last of Us, not boring.
It's nice to see the star of the Disney Channel with their clothes on for a change ☺️
Why the hardcore, super kid friendly audience all the time Nintendo? yall at like its still 1990, my kids love this game and cant wait for it but think that these ads are dumb along with the music. I think ur not taking the trends of game marketing today seriously.
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