The lights are on
Busy night and got side tracked by a different video game endeavor, so tonight's blog is going to be somewhat abbreviated.
By now everyone in the world of gaming has probably heard about the poke in the eye that Bad Company 2 gave to Modern Warfare 2. If you're one of the only people in the world left that hasn't heard about it, basically the squad of soldiers in Bad Company 2 makes a pointed comment about special forces and guns with heartbeat sensors in an effort to mock Modern Warfare 2. It was subtle but for those paying even just a little attention, the diss was obvious.
I thought it was classic.(Apparently there are a few digs - including one that makes fun of snowmobiles - catch a clip here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqLr0CSroSo) (the insert link function isn't working)
Well, a few days ago the creative minds behind Sony's new motion controller - the "Move" - poked it's primary competitor in the eye when they mocked the new Microsoft Natal motion controller. Basically the commercial says, "Come on, who wants to pretend their hand is a gun? What is this, third grade?” Butler asks, while stating that the Move offers “what we in the future call ‘buttons’ which turn out to be pretty important to those handful of millions of people who enjoy playing shooters, or platformers, well, anything that doesn’t involve catching a big, red ball” — the latter in reference to a Natal demo."
I thought this was classic too.
See it here - http://mashable.com/2010/03/18/ps-move-mocks-natal/In fact, I think the rivalry between competitors brings a certain amount of hilarity and edginess to the whole field of play. It's like a good boxing match (although I prefer MMA). You want the person you're pulling for to sock it their opponent, while not taking any face shots.
I want to see more of it. I want to see it in marketing. But even more than that, I want to see in game references slinging mud at their primary competitors. I don't want anyone to get hurt in the ordeal, but I think I could tolerate a few hurt feelings in the name of poking fun at one another.
I'm sure these aren't the only instances of mocking your competitor. If anyone can think of others, I'd love to hear it.(I do recall a time in Splinter Cell when Sam Fisher makes a comment and Lambert replies with something to the effect of "this isn't a video game". I know that's not quite the same, more of "self-mocking" but still funny to me.)
I really don't think it started picking up until BC2 did it. It's not often developers will make fun of other games. But with EA and Activision, it's bound to happen. And Microsoft and Sony. It's just how it works.
Pretty much everyother product has commercials mocking competitors. They just aren't funny. Take a look at laundry detergent adds. One company will say they make whites whiter by some percentage and the other brand will say that they are some percentage softer.
Or cellular service providers. (AND THIS ONE IS TRUE, just watch the commercials) One service will say that they have more 3G coverage than the other company, while showing 3G coverage maps. Then, the other company rebuts by saying that this is false, that they have the most coverage, while showing the map for non-3G coverage. If you aren't paying close attention, they might fool you.
I love to see rivalry between companies.
Microsoft's xbox got sony off their @$$. And now with all of this rivalry hopefully we'll get decent motion controls.
I hope they don't get too much politics in my gaming.
I don't like it as much. The Bad Company 2 one was funny, but the Playstation Move commercial and then their comment on the Nintendo 3DS reminds me too much of Bobby Kotick and honestly is turning me off from their products completely.
I like the ribbing why not...it's part of everything in life, from Football players talking trash, to politicians (particularly British Parliament, I mean have you ever watched that stuff it's hilarious), it's a part of life and done well it can be funny...if things get too heated they will find themselves settled down through law suits and other appropriate action, but ribbing for the sake of ribbing is just harmless...
Being that these two companies are rivalry entities in a competative field, they are going to try build customer loyalty? And what easier way to build customer loyalty than to make fun of the other company?
@ Saint- In Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Lambert tells Sam that there are alarm systems installed, and the conversation goes something along the lines of: Sam replies 'So let me guess, three alarms and I'm done?' Lambert comes back with 'Of course not. This isn't some videogame Sam, but the more you alert the people, the better armored they will be'