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Nintendo Gets Suggestive with DS Marketing
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.""
"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.
Sincerely,
Pan Tarhei Hosé, PhD.
"Homo sum et cogito ergo odi profanum vulgus et libido."
Actually they've been pushing the mature audience thing since Mortal Kombat II for the SNES.
When you get to hell -- tell 'em Itchy sent ya!
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."
0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC
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.