See yet another new ad for Halo 3

by Justin McElroy { Sep 13th 2007 at 8:00AM }

We mentioned yesterday we wouldn't be surprised if Halo 3 ad "Museum" stirred up some controversy, but the follow-up ad for the FPS is genuinely offensive. No, it's not in a "trying to make you feel sad for a man in a fake war" way, it's more like a "creepy Being John Malkovich vibe" way.

Listen, maybe this will be enough to get you totally pumped for Sept. 25, but, we like to play video games so we can avoid thinking about unpleasant things like a world of living dolls that sporadically carry grenades. Maybe that's just us though.

[Thanks, Rob]

Oh, and lest we forget:

Tags: ads, halo3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Zoruon @ Sep 13th 2007 8:05AM

Intresting says it will come out 26 9 07

Rususeruru @ Sep 13th 2007 11:45AM

European Date

Anonim @ Sep 13th 2007 4:01PM

Rather "Most of the world date"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_date

Except some stuck in past medieval, nonmetric, countries...

DDMagnaS @ Sep 13th 2007 8:05AM

that was kinda creepy, but I still liked it.

Shane @ Sep 13th 2007 8:15AM

The 26.9.07 is because it is a UK URL....

Trogdor 24601 @ Sep 13th 2007 8:18AM

Ah, Chopin. Good choice for the music. By the way, that's one of his "preludes." As in just a tease before the show really gets going. How appropriate.

OnimushaSoki @ Sep 13th 2007 9:09AM

Glad someone knows.

LoL Fredrick "F*king" Chopin. ;]

Rami Selim @ Sep 14th 2007 2:50AM

Do you know which prelude? I'd like to know. thanks!

Samuraijax @ Oct 4th 2007 8:16PM

pretty sure it's Prelude in D flat major, "Raindrop"

daniel @ Sep 13th 2007 8:19AM

the adverts and screens we've seen make it look like there are proper large scale battles instead of master chief and a handful of marines against loads of covenant , which i think is a good thing, the confusion of a large scale battle will make it more challenging, they should have friendly fire in this version, would make you think about where your shooting a lot more, why so much advertising though, half of 360 owners will probably buy it anyway, and theyll be plenty of people buying a 360 for it

Miles Pulsford @ Sep 13th 2007 8:29AM

They've all had friendly fire so far, I doubt theyll change it any time soon.

Well, the advertising is doing a great job of increasing anticipation so far, and I bet its pulling quite a few people who werent going to buy it before.

Miles Pulsford @ Sep 13th 2007 8:21AM

Wait now why is this offensive?

I liked it very much.

Neon Jebus @ Sep 13th 2007 8:23AM

"Malkovich, Malkovich Malkovich Malkovich."

Malkovich

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Sep 13th 2007 8:52AM

It does it in an interesting, but some may find it too out there to enjoy it. Sadly, that includes me. I much preferred the Museum ad over this.

Intentless @ Sep 13th 2007 9:05AM

I'm at work so I couldn't listen to the audio but the whole limp Master Chief (defeated) then lifting his head was very cool. Gives you that, can't keep him down feel... very cool

0ldb0y @ Sep 13th 2007 9:17AM

Spoilers much?

A possum-play/suicide grenade by Master Chief? I'm just speculating, but I hope these ads don't give away the ending. As from the Museum teaser, the vet recalls, "When Master Chief armed his grenade," alluding to a key moment in the storyline.

I'm pumped for the release, and I'm enjoying these ads as much as any Halo fan, but I want to finish the fight on my own terms, not have it fed to me via over-zealous marketing.

d-pad @ Sep 13th 2007 9:20AM

So how exactly is this even remotely offensive? Was this supposed to be funny?

"...we like to play video games so we can avoid thinking about unpleasant things like a world of living dolls that sporadically carry grenades. Maybe that's just us though."

Yup.

Just you.

FatOprah @ Sep 13th 2007 9:28AM

Offensive? Not at all. A different angle (and a welcome change) for a videogame commercial? Hell yes.

Methinks the attempt at wit in this Joystiq post was an abject failure.

Homer 918 @ Sep 13th 2007 9:31AM

How is this video offensive? All you're doing is regurgitating what some purported could be an issue with the other video. You are simply making a lame attempt at bringing controversy where there is none.

There is nothing wrong with this video, and I'm sorry to hear that you would rather games don't touch certain areas, like the realities of war. I think that this is a special opportunity for video games to make us really think; but God forbid you do that!

Platinum_Skeet @ Sep 13th 2007 9:38AM

Is he gonna die or is something cool about to happen...

Badboy1979 @ Sep 13th 2007 11:50AM

We won't know until the 25th I guess... it's quite possible that the scene is just a turning point in the battle and not its climatic end... ex., Master Chief sticks the brute chieftan with the grenade, brute drops chief in an attempt to remove grenade, Chief narrowly escapes with partial shields remaining.

I love these two new Halo ads... they're different but in a good way. As a gamer, I'm glad to see video gaming becoming more and more of a 'norm' and hitting the 'casual' mainstream with things like the Halo 3 marketing campaign and the Wii exposuring more and more people to gaming as a whole.

(More gamers mean more money in the video game industry which, in turn, means more games being produced for gamers)

dunlop @ Sep 13th 2007 9:45AM

Yeah, I am really starting to see an Anti-MS bias from this site. Lately every post will have some kind of "subtle" RRoD jab or whatever. It is unfortunate, because I was thinking this site was a decent source for psuedo journalism, now I kinda lost my respect for it putting ut a little higher than Destrucoid.

I am not a Halo3 nut (of course I am buying it) but I think these advertisement are very well done. I am not even a MS fanboy (I have a Wii, 360, PSP so they all get my money) but a site this sizes should not be trying to push it's bias on it's readers.

ukickmydog (NDF - Heart Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 10:28AM

Exactly, at first it was really anti-sony, now they seem to bring up RRoD in almost every xbox related post. It was funny for like 2 posts, other than that, it looks like they're trying hard to either get laughs or hate on MS

Ska Oreo @ Sep 13th 2007 11:47AM

God it seems every day Joystiq is anti something.

Yesterday it was Anti-Sony now it's Anti-Microsoft. Jesus Christ Joystiq!! Pick your bias and stick with it!!!

0ldb0y @ Sep 13th 2007 9:45AM

The sarcasm of the "offensive" remark seems elusive to some...

...com'on people, morning coffee, wake up.

Jeff @ Sep 13th 2007 9:53AM

I don't know about the rest of you, but these ads make me feel like an uncultured swine, who will contribute nothing to 'the fight' come September 25th.

Damn me and my my PC gaming. I'll be stuck playing the Crysis demo-- a single tear running down my cheek-- knowing that someone will ruin the Halo ending before I get to play it.

Slaziman @ Sep 13th 2007 2:20PM

word.

Same situation here :(

I can't stay away from the internet for 2 years (halo 3 on pc), but not staying away = MASSIF SPOILERS :[

bearattack79 @ Sep 13th 2007 10:10AM

Im pissed off. 2nd RROD Sept 10 2007. Hate!

WTangoFoxtrot @ Sep 13th 2007 10:24AM

@Jeff

not necessarily dude. i stayed away from the Halo2 spoilers for 2 freaking years and finally finished the game on my 360 just a few months ago. its not that hard...

Jeff @ Sep 13th 2007 12:45PM

Wow. That's skill.

Idk, my friends aren't that kind/ my curiosity that easy to fight. =P

Louis @ Sep 13th 2007 10:31AM

I don't know why you aren't loving these ads. These are the first things that have made me excited about Halo3. First, I wonder if this happens in the game, the first commercial referenced "when Masterchief activated his grenade," and here you see him holding a grenade while being shown off as dead.

Either way, this is a brilliant commercial. They are obviously trying to replicate some of the success of the atmospheric Gears of War commercial.

Much better than any video game commercial on TV right now.

DownAztlan @ Sep 13th 2007 10:36AM

I think this "Believe" campaign is fantastic, actually.

It was clever to take the medium totally out of it:

The dioramas and music remove video games and just focus on the "the war story you about to experience is legend for future generations" idea.

Really cool, IMO.

Mike-453 @ Sep 13th 2007 10:57AM

People can complain about hype all they want, but really, it's what all companies strive for, it's called marketing their product.

And Microsoft just knows damn good marketing, happened with Gears and now it's happening on a larger scale with Halo 3. Well, ok ok they suck at marketing in Japan.

Mike-453 @ Sep 13th 2007 10:59AM

Oh, also, I really like these ads because they don't appeal to the stereotyped gamer or even the stereotyped pre-teen and fratboy Halo player. Shows why Halo has a fanbase outside of simple slayer matches.

Brandon @ Sep 13th 2007 11:00AM

Am i the only one that felt it looked like a warhammer 40k table of figurines?

Travis @ Sep 13th 2007 11:44AM

10 bucks says Master Chief is going to sacrifice himself to save humanity.

Ska Oreo @ Sep 13th 2007 11:48AM

Yeah I don't think Master Chief is gonna survive this battle.

BUT I SWEAR TO GOD IF THEY SHOW HIS FACE, I'M GONNA KILL EVERYONE IN BUNGIE!!!

ukickmydog (NDF - Heart Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 12:12PM

SPOILER ALERT!!!

master chief is black =O

Ska Oreo @ Sep 13th 2007 1:03PM

Spoiler Alert!!!!

Master Chief is Denzel Washington

ukickmydog (NDF - Heart Ring) @ Sep 13th 2007 1:49PM

actually the coolest twist would be if he takes off his mask and he looks like the samuel L. Jackson from coming to america

Negativecool @ Sep 13th 2007 12:09PM

Holy god Sony marketing REALLY needs to take notes!

You don't see any creepy wierd ass crying baby advertising this do you? No fur balls yelling at eachother in extremely annoying stereotypical minority voices? No stupid, confusing, or esoteric messages here.

This add reminds me of the Gears of War add that, instead of showing big showy explosions and FPS action which is what the game is actually all about, tries to convey a sense of deeper emotional investment. These adds are the only gaming adds so far that have made me think..."Me too? Me too dammit me too, I want!"
In short, Sony marketing r retard.

Edog Lost @ Sep 13th 2007 12:11PM

Vid got pulled! anyone else have a link?

I

Edog Lost @ Sep 13th 2007 12:12PM

I heart the haloz

Scott Beeson @ Sep 13th 2007 12:18PM

I WANTED TO SEE THIS.

link anyone? A quick google was unlucky on my part :(

Geist @ Sep 13th 2007 12:18PM

Here's the thing: I dislike Halo. I don't like the gameplay, the design, the story etc etc (these are all my opinions, I'm not saying they're bad, I just dislike them). I am never going to purchase Halo 3.

That advertisement got me excited about a game I don't ever want. That is some damn fantastic marketing.

Brandon @ Sep 13th 2007 12:25PM

Does anybody have this video?

It's no longer hosted on youtube, i can't find it

Somebody please send me a link...

Thanks,

Bourne

HaleysComet @ Sep 13th 2007 12:35PM

The vid does not work anymore it seems.

Damn I knew I should have been late for class and watched it earlier when I had the chance.

Also Joystiq is not and has never been Anti-sony. The ONLY reason the fanboys think that is because Joystiq is a NEWS site and regardless of how many times they want to deny it...its NEWS that the ps3 is not selling well. Its news when a ps3 game is DELAYED. Its news when sales numbers come out every week and the ps3 isn't doing so hot. Its news when a game goes from being a ps3 exclusive to being multiplatform. Joystiq does the same thing regarding exclusivity for ALL consoles.

However Joystiq IS Anti-MS and Anti-Nintendo. Proof? Every article they put up here that has to do with Nintendo or MS they find a way to include "Waggle" or "RRoD".

We get it Joystiq. The 360 is capable of self imploding. WE KNOW. We know it has a serious condition in which "3 flashing red lights" means the end of the excellent gaming that a person has been enjoying. We know you get a coffin and that you need to get it sent to TX where they do God knows what and return it to you (hopefully completely fixed).

My point is that theres no need for you to bring it up anymore unless its actually NEWS. Like "effective immediately all 360's must be returned for hardware repair".

As for Nintendo you can quit with all this "Nintendo is going to destroy gaming" bs. Quit all the "Nintendo is all hype" crap that you like spewing with every article that is written about the Wii. Its not Nintendo's fault that THE PEOPLE have chosen them to be the popular kid on the block.

Get over it and get over yourselves.