In lieu of recent events concerning Sega’s ANYTHING BUT ad campaign – it seems Sega is going back to the good old humor of thier old ads.
People had recently complained that Sega’s ads just werent cutting it. Sonic Adventure and Resident Evil got decent coverage ad wise, but it had seemed that on Television and other ads of print medium, Sega had been giving its games the short shrift – specifically with the recently realeased Space Channel 5 and upcoming Seaman.
After Space Channel 5, only two ‘In the Box’ ads remain, World Series Baseball 2K1 and Seaman; the new commercials, beginning with NFL 2K1’s this fall, will retain the trademark Sega humor, but will focus on the gameplay and quality of Sega’s wonderful lineup. Sega acknowledges that two to three seconds of in-game action just isn’t enough, and plans to sort out a mix of around 50% gameplay, 50% new ad concept per thirty-second spot. Naturally, the company’s hesitant to reveal its new concept so early, but it’s said to be flexible enough to keep the comedy for some games but approach others straightforward. Case in point–Sega already plans to sell Shenmue more like a movie than an actual game, sporting perhaps a trailer-esque mix of voiceovers, in-game action and cut-scenes.