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Portables (Games)

Nintendo Gets Suggestive with DS Marketing 52

Posted by Zonk from the more-than-a-little-disturbing dept.
miller60 writes ""Touching is good" is the suggestive theme of the launch campaign for the Nintendo DS handheld, which appears designed to help Nintendo go beyond its kid-friendly image and appeal to older gamers. It's also advertising in Maxim with a campaign titled "How To Score." The company says the campaign represents a "different, bolder approach for Nintendo.""
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Nintendo Gets Suggestive with DS Marketing More

Nintendo Gets Suggestive with DS Marketing

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  • If I recall correctly, Nintendo has been trying to push the "We can appeal to mature audience" thing ever since it announced on GBA SP. So the above wouldn't be so new

    As for the slogan "Touching is good", let us remember that in the middle age, you used to get your hands cut off for touching :)

  • Touching (Score:5, Funny)

    by Dixie_Flatline ( 5077 ) * <vincent@jan@goh.gmail@com> on Monday October 25, 2004 @12:34PM (#10622360) Homepage
    There's a downside to touching [vgcats.com], sometimes:

    • Aw nuts, I was totally going to link that, but you beat me to it. Of course that comic was the first thing that came to mind when I read about "touching" the DS.

  • But I have to know... (Score:3, Funny)

    by CodeWanker ( 534624 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @12:42PM (#10622444) Journal
    Is it good touch or bad touch?

  • Older gamers? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Pan T. Hose ( 707794 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @12:50PM (#10622522) Homepage Journal
    "Touching is good" is the suggestive theme of the launch campaign for the Nintendo DS handheld, which appears designed to help Nintendo go beyond its kid-friendly image and appeal to older gamers. It's also advertising in Maxim with a campaign titled "How To Score."

    Such childish references to sex can only appeal precisely to kids. Older gamers don't need sex in advertisements because they can have real sex any time. I assume that they know that the culture in Japan and the attitude towards sex is completely different than that in the United States. (An outrage caused by a piece of breast during softball, anyone?) Neither the nonchalant attitude towards lawsuits in general remains insignificant. Have they done any studies to assure them that they will not get sued by mothers concerned that their children are being bombarded with produts with sexual overtones? I really hope they know what they are doing because I really wouldn't like their prices to increase to cover the expences of frivolous and irresponsible lawsuits.

    • Re:Older gamers? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by over_exposed ( 623791 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @12:54PM (#10622577) Homepage
      Oh please... You don't think sex is used to advertise for products aimed at adults? When is the last time yous aw an ad for beer (or any other alcohol), deoderant, cologne, or cars? Sex in advertising works. Period. Age-group be damned.
    • What? you mean, that sex cannot be used to appeal older people!?

      You haven't watched TV since 1950...

    • Re:Older gamers? (Score:2, Insightful)

      by antime ( 739998 )
      The people who whine how Nintendo is only for kiddies need sex in their advertisement. Boom, it's "mature" and you can buy one without your friends pointing and laughing!

    • Re:Older gamers? (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Guppy06 ( 410832 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @02:24PM (#10623618)
      "Older gamers don't need sex in advertisements because they can have real sex any time."

      You must be new here.

      At any rate...

      "Such childish references to sex can only appeal precisely to kids."

      You're forgetting that the average adult in this world still acts like they're in high school, and tend to make purchases that way. Just because they can legally buy pr0n and alchohol doesn't mean they're suddenly beyond the "Mmm... Sex..." phase (if they ever would be).

      Let's face it: including the press, the only people that have a problem with a lack of so-called "mature" games on Nintendo hardware are 13 years old, mentally if not necessarily physically. They're more worried about looking like an adult than being one.
    • "Such childish references to sex can only appeal precisely to kids. Older gamers dont need sex in advertisements because they can have real sex any time."

      Actually, being a gamer has a negative affect on one's ability to get real sex at any time.

      • I agree. I can't imagine anyone thinking that the DS can enhance someone's sex appeal. If you're a kid with a DS, you'll probably look cool among your peers.

        If you're an adult with a DS you'll either look like geek or a professional who is wasting time, depending on the circumstances.

    • Yeah. There's no way that sexual advertising would appeal to the people that say Nintendo games are bad because they aren't bloody enough.
    • Older gamers don't need sex in advertisements because they can have real sex any time.

      I don't understand. Please explain and cite references, HOWTOs preferably.

      Thanks.

      • What's so hard about sex people? (Score:2, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward
        > > Older gamers don't need sex in advertisements because they can have real sex any time.

        > I don't understand. Please explain and cite references, HOWTOs preferably.

        What the hell is wrong with you people! Sex is not that hard! Occasionally even a Linux developer can get laid [bbspot.com]. I know that this is only an anegdotal evidence. Do you want HOWTO? Here it is: Sex Tips For Ugly Virgin Losers [catb.org] by Eric S. Raymond himself [catb.org] (ESR of OSI, I kid you not). If he [catb.org] can get laid using those tips, so does everyon
    • yes i am with you on that one. real sex is always better than advertised sex. the nintendo campaign is really not all that impressive. we as consumers are bombarded by sexual advertisements everyday i will not look at the ds and say oooooh sexy. I will be an educated consumer and research it for its games and playability and if i find i like what i see i will buy it. i would hope that all people most of all /.ers would purchase there electronics in an objective maner.

  • Nah... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Fred Or Alive ( 738779 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @12:56PM (#10622600)
    It's advertising in Doctor Who Magazine that'll give Nintendo the real edge. ;-)

    (Entirely true, an advert for NES Classics is the only non-Doctor Who related advert in the magazine for at least the last year).

  • suggestive? I think not. (Score:4, Informative)

    by MORTAR_COMBAT! ( 589963 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @01:01PM (#10622644)
    The "touching is good" ad only closes with that line. The rest of the ad is about precise control using the touch screen, not any sexually explicit or suggestive message at all.

    I guess with some people, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail, right?

  • Image change? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by eamonman ( 567383 ) <eamonman2@ho t m a il.com> on Monday October 25, 2004 @01:12PM (#10622778) Journal
    Well, somehow I don't think Nintendo's goal of more mature themed games will even touch their 'core' characters; Mario won't ever use a chainsaw to gib people, Pikachu will never be a cold & vengeful mass murderer (he could be however, if you think about it), Link would never be a regular in a red light district, and there won't ever be a transparent armor mod for Samus.

    The old core characters could coexist with new, more 'colorful' ones, if Nintendo could take a risk and allow such games.

    Maybe they could be like Disney/Touchstone/Miramax; create a sub-company that would rebranded (and understood) as a company that tends to have more edgy, provacative games. Call it "Games for the M and up."
    • Well, somehow I don't think Nintendo's goal of more mature themed games will even touch their 'core' characters; Mario won't ever use a chainsaw to gib people, Pikachu will never be a cold & vengeful mass murderer (he could be however, if you think about it), Link would never be a regular in a red light district, and there won't ever be a transparent armor mod for Samus.

      And this would make for better games because?
    • Nintendo doesn't have to be like Todd McFarlane to become more mature. All they have to do is make games with more serious storylines (and maybe a little blood here and there).

      They've done a good job of this with the Metroid series so far, and it is likely that the Zelda series (remember Ganon bleeding in the last battle of Ocarina of Time?) may also become similar.
    • ...and there won't ever be a transparent armor mod for Samus.

      Oops, too late. [google.com] The original game had a code that allowed the player to see Samus under her armor...

    • Seriously, the original metroid let you play with Samus unsuited (either by beating it in under 2 hours or with the JUSTIN BAILEY code). I'd've loved to see that in Prime.(Heck, for all I know it's there; I got sick of the game toward the end and refused to play through it on the harder difficulty levels. I really wanted to see the Fusion suit in full 3D too, but never bought a GBA.) Maybe in Prime 2. I 3 Metroid.

  • Sweet (Score:2, Funny)

    by RyoShin ( 610051 )
    So I can expect Pokemon Miller and Pokemon Budweiser some time soon?

  • Maxim advert (Score:4, Interesting)

    by superstick58 ( 809423 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @01:19PM (#10622853)
    I admit I did like the maxim advertisement. Only thing is, I had no idea it was for a Nintendo DS. I kind of caught me by surprise. Here i see a chick telling me why touching is good, why two are better than one, etc. Finally, at the bottom is the little nintendo name. Go figure.
  • This is hardly Nintendo's first attempt at "suggestive advertising":

    "Octorocs, Tectites, and Leevers too
    But with your help our hero pulls through!"

    Sick!

  • PSP has already won (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    This only strengthens my belief that Sony PSP has already won this round.

    What? Oh, we're only supposed to post comments like this when the story is about the PSP. Sorry, new here.
    • If anybody wins this round it will be the Game Boy, just like it's been for, what, 15 years now? I suspect a lot of the initial DS sales will be because of its backwards compatability (I know I'll buy it if for no other reason than it looks more comfortable to hold than an SP) and it will probably ride on the wave of GB popularity, at least initially.

      At this point I don't think even Nintendo could dream up a Game Boy killer.

  • This is silly. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by JavaLord ( 680960 ) on Monday October 25, 2004 @02:49PM (#10623944) Journal
    Nintendo was the one game company that was above all of this. Sure, they have a special bond with a niche of gamers (kids). Nintendo is known for Mario, Quality games, and being a kid friendly company. There is a generation of 20 something women who are having children or will have them soon that grew up playing super mario brothers. Why not market to your niche and aim for the kid/family friendly audience? Why turn off these people with quotes like "Touching is good" and "How To Score."? Is this the handheld that mothers will want to buy for their children? Sure the kids might like it, but I think nintendo will be turning off more people than they attract with this sort of thing.

    Plenty of adults will still buy your platform just for various Mario games, Metroid and Zelda. Plenty of kids will buy it for that reason too. There is no need for the raunch, they should focus on putting out quality games. If they want the adult crowd then they should focus on making a damn good rated 'M' game. But just saying things like "Touching is good" is likely counterproductive to their reputation.

    • Re:This is silly. (Score:2, Insightful)

      by GR1NCH ( 671035 )
      Nintendo already has the kid niche secure. They are going to sell a million copies of whatever Pokemon game they come up with next regardless of their ad campaign. These ads are an attempt to expand their market, not a betrayal to their niche. It's very smart of Nintendo, if you just sit on your niche forever your company never grows, and growth means success in big business.
  • This is just the latest in poor taste and immoral activity on the part of Advertising Firms all for the quest of the almighty dollar. I invite everyone to actually pay attention to some of the commercials that are being shown to kids these days during prime children hours in the afternoon.

    The way adults are depicted in some commercials is quite disconcerting. The only good role model adult in these commercials is Ronald McDonald. Most other adults are portrayed as idiots who children should ignore.

  • odd (Score:2)

    by Down8 ( 223459 )
    Odd that "touching is good", when the thing has wireless capabilities. Hehe.

    -bZj

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