TiVo promo goes "behind the scenes" of Wii ad
by Kyle Orland 
{ Dec 2nd 2006 at 11:30AM }
If you've watched TV at all over the past few weeks, you've probably already been bombarded with the Wii's first American TV ad campaign. What you might not have seen yet is the Nintendo-produced companion piece that is now showing up on TiVo boxes around the country.The "meet the people" clip is part of an offer to "Experience Wii ... the season's hottest gift" that shows up at the bottom of the main TiVo menu in a random cycle with other TiVo-sponsored ads. In the clip, the silent "average joe" characters featured in the Wii TV spots finally speak about their experience with the creepy Japanese guys. Unsurprisingly, each participant harps on how easy-to-use the Wii is and how much unexpected fun they had playing it.
The performances are in general pretty stilted, but we have to admit we loved the Latino grandmother who kept calling the system "the why thing." See for yourself below (apologies for the bad video and audio quality).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kimosabae @ Dec 2nd 2006 11:44AM
"They called it, 'Wii'. For you, me; everybody!"
Nintendo just HAD to shove that in there, huh? It came across as pathetically forced and contrived.
Promo was okay, I guess.
-SynikaL
Patrick @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:16PM
Each time I see these ads, it just makes me feel like the big N is focusing less and less on the gamer. =(
adolph vega @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:19PM
viral marketing is great isnt?? very intresting I think NIntendo should run this as a add as well.
Maybe during a TV show.
Like during "Dancing with stars" the first ad pops up in the first break, and this part pops up in second commerical break.
good stuff
Stevo @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:29PM
Because the gamer is going to buy it anyways. Games are a niche market. If you can get everyone who is NOT a gamer, as well as a chunk of those fanboys and then some that are going to buy it anyways... huge success.
Brian (the REAL Brian) @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:22PM
It's too scripted-looking. Just like professional wrestling.
MikeG @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:35PM
My question is, if it's called Wii because it's supposed to be like "we" as in "us"... Then why is it still called Wii in other non-English speaking countries? The French version isn't called "Noo".
Seriously, though. I love my Wii! Got one on day-1.
spil @ Dec 2nd 2006 12:52PM
heh, Noo. But how come they dont call it the Jouer-Station Trois? Or the X-cadre trois cent soixante?
Jules @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:23PM
damn i was hoping that the teen guy from the first house in the commercials was gonna get interviewed. he's hot :)
JoeSchmo @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:39PM
Every person I have let play my Wii...now wants one...that is advertisement enough for the "gamer". Everyone of my friends is a "gamer". These commercials aren't for the gamer, you are right. That isn't who they are marketing to...the gamers should get it already. I have had no problem convincing non-gamers to play either.
adolph vega @ Dec 2nd 2006 1:40PM
#6 they could play it off .
Nintendo Wii : yes to fun. Yes its for me. Yes its for you... now say that in French and that'll be golden
other languages it means nothing, but it is something any person can say.
virtua @ Dec 2nd 2006 3:24PM
Off to a different subject,
Nintendo die hard fans will like this!
http://www.boomtown.net/en_uk/articles/art.view.php?id=12958
enjoy!!
Babylonian @ Dec 2nd 2006 3:56PM
The Hispanic woman wasn't saying "the why thing", she was saying "the WHITE thing". If it wasn't obvious just from listening to it, there's also the fact that it's impossible for the letter 'i' in Spanish can't make any sound but the 'ee' sound.
Jason @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:39PM
I watched their "Wii want to play" promo and thought it was really good - it made me want to buy the system and I'm a diehard MS fanboy.
Bill @ Dec 2nd 2006 7:41PM
These performances are too stiff and directed--which sucks because the ad would have worked just fine without "professional" actors/actresses in a true documentary style--think Spike Jonze. The Wii really *is* that fun, but these come across as bad cariacatures of people enjoying the Wii.
I think they were trying for "Waiting for Guffman"...they ended up with "Schizopolis".
bobbyj @ Dec 2nd 2006 8:53PM
How were the guys in the middle of nowhere (w/ the chickens) able to get wifi to "check the news and the weather" its not like the wii guys brought a wifi adaptor even if they had internet of any kind.
justin cook @ Dec 2nd 2006 8:52PM
that's awesome, I want one. And then I want to be stereotyped in a commercial
some person @ Dec 2nd 2006 9:10PM
so your saying that this was real, no actors?
Tacoman @ Dec 2nd 2006 11:39PM
"15. How were the guys in the middle of nowhere (w/ the chickens) able to get wifi to "check the news and the weather" its not like the wii guys brought a wifi adaptor even if they had internet of any kind."
You do know the Wii is wi-fi enabled out of the box just like the DS, right? You don't have to buy an adaptor. I find it more interesting that the News and Weather channels aren't up yet, though they are referenced.
Gavin @ Dec 3rd 2006 1:29AM
Absolutely true story: Two weeks ago, my g/f and I were in a local EB Games. This father was at the counter with his ten or eleven year-old kid buying something or other. The kid is reading the banner above the cashier's head about system launches and asks:
"What's a Doubleyou Eye Eye?"
The clerk says "It's pronounced Wheeee and it's the new Nintendo system"
"Uh...that sounds gay" The kid says.
I had to hold the laughter in.