Letterman scores a free DS with Brain Age

by John Bardinelli { Apr 12th 2007 at 4:30PM }

That guy who somehow became president of the United States, George W. Bush, snagged a sweet gift from Nintendo on his birthday: a DS Lite with a copy of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day. We had a good laugh at the subtle humor in that one. Now Nintendo is doing the same for David Letterman on his 60th birthday. They even sent a copy of the game to his mom! We could spend all afternoon debating the hidden motives behind Nintendo's generosity, but that would be too much work. Need brain rest.

Check out a close-up of the letter after the jump.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Tags: brainage, ds, letterman, nintendo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

K @ Apr 12th 2007 4:41PM

Bush > you. Quit whining.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 4:41PM

Is what nintendo doing ethical? I mean there is a conflict of interest in this situation.

Slaziman @ Apr 12th 2007 4:46PM

I think this is genuine generosity

or not.

Either way, I love it.

Gil @ Apr 12th 2007 4:50PM

Yea this really makes sense. Lets give away a DS lite and game to people that can afford to buy them by the dozens... Why not give them to disadvantaged kids????

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 4:51PM

Wether you guys like it or not, this is unethical.

AndrewNeo @ Apr 12th 2007 4:52PM

gir: There are people trying to buy iPods for congressmen just so they learn that DRM is bad. This is nothing.

mepaco @ Apr 12th 2007 4:52PM

How is this unethical? Name one company that doesn't give free stuff to famous people for publicity. You guys are ridiculous.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 4:54PM

Well, yeah, all these companies are sneaky bastards. It is unethical and I won't stand by it.

Slaziman @ Apr 12th 2007 4:59PM

What's unethical about it? They aren't bribing him or anything.

mepaco @ Apr 12th 2007 5:00PM

What makes it unethical? When the original XBox launched, Microsoft came to our campus and gave away some consoles to drum up some publicity. Is that unethical? Why shouldn't I be able to give some away if it is good for my bottom line?

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:02PM

Cause they aren't doing it for the good of it. They're doing it for publicity. They really don't care about him turning 60.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 12th 2007 5:02PM

Top 10 stupid things to say on an airplane.
10. There's something wrong with the phalange.
9. Bob-bomb
8. I'm using a wireless device without my belt on.
7. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
6. I got a gun!
5. We're all going to die.
4. There's something on the wing!
3. Fire (during the movie)
2. My lover needs to reunite with me so stop the plane.
1. BLLLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUE!

geekire @ Apr 12th 2007 5:06PM

@gir: Please explain why this practice is unethical. Don't just say it's unethical without citing examples, or how you arrived at that determination.

CowboyGA @ Apr 12th 2007 5:08PM

gir,

Just because they're giving him a DS for publicity doesn't make it unethical. Where are you getting that from? I assume English isn't your first language and something is lost in translation, because that makes no sense whatsoever.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:08PM

um its like bribing and they are only doing it to get publicity.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:11PM

Cowboy, you really can't see anything wrong with what they're doing?

mepaco @ Apr 12th 2007 5:11PM

@gir

That is just stupid. How many companies/individuals do things, not because they really care, but because of some other reason? Sometimes, I really don't care about the projects I have at work but I still go and do it because I want to get paid. Is that unethical? I work on Habitat homes because I'm doing something good but also because it looks good to my employer, increasing my chances of getting promoted. Is that unethical? I'm sure you've never had an ulterior motive in your life huh?

CowboyGA @ Apr 12th 2007 5:11PM

gir,
It's not bribing, it's hoping for publicity. For Letterman/Bush, these gifts are diminimus. A DS wouldn't bribe them if it was taped to a roll of twenties. They're hoping that Letterman will mention it as a joke on TV, or that Joystiq will post a thread about it.
Sorry, kid, but you're off your rocker.

nodnetni @ Apr 12th 2007 5:15PM

Adj. 1.unethical - not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior. - www.thefreedictionary.com

I see nothing here that would not be a proved of, they are giving something away, how is that bad? He may be rich, and can afford them, but I'm sure he will appreciate the gift. They are thinking maybe he will like it and tell other's, nothing unethical about that.

I can afford a piece of a smoked ham, but they give those way at the grocery store all the time, I may not buy some then, but maybe i will influence someone else to purchase some later because I enjoyed it.

For it to be unethical, they would be sending it those deprived kids written about above, and say the only way they get to keep it is if they work 100 hours in a Nintendo Shop.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:17PM

@mepaco

Right. But whats better, psp or ds? Now since letterman got a ds, he's gonna say good things about the ds, but he's never tried the psp. Now is that fair? It would have been ethical if nintendo sent him a psp and a ds and let him decide which one is best.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:19PM

just to let you guys know, I like nintendo. I'm not like that jack off tades guy.

Vidikron @ Apr 12th 2007 5:22PM

@gir

Quit being ridiculous. They aren't asking Letterman to review the DS. Using your logic it would be unethical for anyone to give anyone else a gift of any kind. This is a publicity stunt and nothing more.

mepaco @ Apr 12th 2007 5:23PM

@22

No, that would just be stupid. When did Letterman ever claim that the DS was superior and how would that be Nintendo's fault? There isn't anyone stopping Sony from sending him a free PSP. Your argument fails ... and hard.

CowboyGA @ Apr 12th 2007 5:27PM

gir,
Don't worry about it too much. No one's really "flaming" you. I was just thrown off by the word "unethical."
If it makes you feel any better, thanks for not resorting to name calling like some people do when they feel like they're being attacked.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:28PM

lol

This argument is funny. But didn't you say that letterman might put the ds in his act and say something funny about it. So by giving letterman a ds, this means that nintendo kind of paid him, and as a reward for nintendo sending him a ds (paying him), he gets to mention the ds in his act.

please don't hurt me :p

reppy @ Apr 12th 2007 5:31PM

Good job on figuring out how business works!

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:35PM

@reppy

Thanks reppy. I got it all from playing video games.

RogueJedi86 @ Apr 12th 2007 5:41PM

Today's my 21st birthday, where's my DS?

Oh and people need to relax. It's unethical to give people birthday presents? Is there ANYTHING people won't complain about? Now it's a war on having birthdays?

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 5:44PM

@RogueJedi86

That's different. Usually people who love ou gives you things. Such as your parents. Are you suggesting that it is unethical for your parents to raise you and pay for your food and living?

nintendo doesn't really love letterman. Theyre doing it to get something in return.

CowboyGA @ Apr 12th 2007 5:48PM

"nintendo doesn't really love letterman. Theyre doing it to get something in return."

Exactly, but that still doesn't make it unethical. :)

JodyAnthony @ Apr 12th 2007 5:49PM

"Theyre doing it to get something in return."

what difference does that make?

Tim S @ Apr 12th 2007 5:56PM

Getting publicity isn't unethical and it isn't a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is when someone in a position of trust is in a situation where they have a direct or indirect vested interest in the application of that trust.

For instance, a judge who has shares in a company shouldn't be allowed to preside over a case where that company is the plaintiff or defendant.

Giving things away, even to famous people, is not a conflict of interest. It's a pretty common way to get publicity. If Letterman says "hey, I got a DS for my birthday, it's pretty hella cool," then great -- but he's under no obligation to do so. Nintendo isn't getting anything from Letterman at all. Indeed, the reason that the letter is public is because they're trumpeting it themselves.

Ultimately, the ethics of it are all above-board. You might not like it, as a tactic, but not liking something doesn't immediately make it a conflict of interest or unethical.

dixonij @ Apr 12th 2007 5:57PM

@gir

Thats just clever business tactics for you.

Tim S @ Apr 12th 2007 5:59PM

Oops minor mistake:

A conflict of interest is when someone in a position of trust is in a situation where they have a direct or indirect vested interest in the application of that trust in situation that requires objectivity.

Andy O. @ Apr 12th 2007 6:00PM

@#4

http://www.penny-arcade.com/2007/03/21 - Gabe's post, third one down.

Now stop being so bitter that you didn't get one.

John @ Apr 12th 2007 6:00PM

you go gir. dont "stand by it" lol.....welcome to america everyone!!

Jeffrey @ Apr 12th 2007 6:40PM

gir is unhappy Nintendo didn't give him one.

CowboyGA @ Apr 12th 2007 6:14PM

Hell, I'm unhappy Nintendo didn't give me one.

NeverSage @ Apr 12th 2007 6:16PM

I prefer companies using this tactic for publicity rather than making fake viral websites. Trying to trick people is unethical, this is not.

Rubang B @ Apr 12th 2007 7:03PM

A DS is good. A free DS is better. A letter from DS that insults your intelligence and your mom's intelligence is the best.

Tanster @ Apr 12th 2007 7:20PM

Nintendo actually does give stuff away all the time to charities. I think i just read somewhere they donated 100 Wii's to the YMCA's. Now is it unethical to give one to a celebrity or is it more unethical to be an opportunist preying on the poor and needy? NINTEDO = EL DIABLO

Volcan @ Apr 12th 2007 7:26PM

@hvnlysoldr (#12):

You win with answer number one.

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 7:28PM

Yes, I'm very not happy that they didn't give me a ds. It would have been sooo ethical if they did :D

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 7:29PM

You guys wanna know why it would have been ethical if they gave me a ds? Anyone cares to guess?

Grant @ Apr 12th 2007 7:31PM

OMG!!!!
Birthday present?
or CORPORATE BRIBE?!?!!?

find out tonight at 11!

Grant @ Apr 12th 2007 7:32PM

"You guys wanna know why it would have been ethical if they gave me a ds? Anyone cares to guess?"

Because you're a tool. and shutting you up is a service to humanity?

gir @ Apr 12th 2007 7:40PM

hmmm, thats not nice Grant. I haven't disrespected anyone here. If you want to be ignorant and be controlled by the media, then that's your problem, but you'll never silence me.

Johnny Bloom @ Apr 12th 2007 7:47PM

47- Fight the power!
Everyone else (who is taking it seriously, such as Grant. Actually, only Grant)- What did gir do to you. We're having an actually clever argument about the English language and business practices and the ethics thereof. Relax.

Sign,
The Most Honorable Commodore Johnathan S. Bloom, herein known as Johnny Bloom.

Grant @ Apr 12th 2007 7:47PM

Dear gir,

That was officially your fourteenth(14) post in this thread.
Not a single one having any real substance or evidence to back up your claims. A publicity stunt is in no way unethical unless it has negative by-products, such as they had to murder a bunch of baby seals to make a special case for Mr. Letterman.
also, you keep talking random non-sense.
Celebrities are people too, and they do occasionally have birthdays. People who can't easily pick this out as publicity deserve what they get from such.

Good luck leading the revolution, but i'm sure i speak for everyone when i say the following:

Say something of decent quality, or shut up.