The latest commercial from the "Believe" campaign called "Being Hunted" continues the eerie sensation like we're watching The History Channel. "Two Soldiers Reminisce" may have almost gotten us there, but this latest one feels completely like a documentary. It feels so real because they implement that classic cringe-inducing device of making the subject feel like they're back in their horrible circumstance they're talking about. You've definitely seen the concept used before in Holocaust and Rwanda genocide documentaries -- if you watch those sorts of things.
What makes the "Believe" campaign work well is it comes close to touching documentary clichés we know very well without crossing a line. Think they'll have one with a Michael Moore-type character busting into a corporate building and demanding who profited off the Halo wars? We're waiting for the one where a soldier holds a picture of his wife and says the Master Chief helped make it possible to see her again -- oh come on, you know it's coming!
Dude, this is halo3 we are talking about, how in the hell is showing gameplay going to make that much of a difference. If you were eager to see in game footage then you can find stuff all over the internet. For halo1 and halo2 they showed in game footage of the games on commercials but in halo3 they are obviously trying to think outside the box and for the most part I think its working. Some may not like it but for the most part I think they have done a incredible job considering its just over a videogame.
the only way to make this game easier to sell is if the manual and cover insert were made out of uncut money sheets.
They don't need gameplay footage or screen shots, thats what teh internetz is for. Common, you're on joystiq, Microsoft apparently knows it's audience better than some of us know our selves.
you guys are forgetting that hol3 advertisments are not for fun. Their to help sell their game. Just because this is the internet, and you and me know everything about halo 3, doesent mean this ad is for us. Advertising for any game has a target audiance of people who dont know about/of the product being advertised. As some1 who does not know about halo 3, this commerical would just confuse them and not convince them at all to go buy halo 3. If I showed this commercial to my brother (who plays wow and hasent really seen anything about halo 3) he would be like WTF and forget it ever exsisted.
These adds are super cheesy! We all know halo is a cool game but this is retarted. "I was sitting in the bush, waiting for master chief to save our assess..." These commercials make me laugh so hard.
I'm at my office working and I have no time to go over this. I write as fast as i can so i can close the page. Sorry for not being perfect for this video game talk. :\ We all know how important this conversation is...
Nice try Mike, everyone has that excuse. But I've seen so many people spell it that way. I know it's not a mistake. A++ for replying under such duress.
Firstly, from the perspective of these ad campaigns, humanity's armed forces (and their reliable single person) ultimately succeed, so that would make at least one species' (the Covenant's) armed forces to be even worse.
Secondly, I hope humanity's future does not require a military.
I must say, Halo 3's Ads and Marketing Campaign are the best I've, probably ever, seen for a video game. The commercials, along with the live action shorts, make me want to have a movie about all of this. I want to hear the story of the Marines waiting for Master Chief.
The game should give us the story and the fun. The movie should tell us what happened behind the scenes.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Word of the street(IDF-Digital Ruler). @ Sep 24th 2007 2:51PM
Neat,I like it but I have to say the first 2 ads (Museum and the creepy dolls)were the best.
mike @ Sep 24th 2007 2:53PM
im a halo 3 fan, and that commercial was crap IMO. Show some gameplay footage of the game your trying to promote, not a guy standing in the woods.
rdj75 @ Sep 24th 2007 2:59PM
Dude, this is halo3 we are talking about, how in the hell is showing gameplay going to make that much of a difference. If you were eager to see in game footage then you can find stuff all over the internet. For halo1 and halo2 they showed in game footage of the games on commercials but in halo3 they are obviously trying to think outside the box and for the most part I think its working. Some may not like it but for the most part I think they have done a incredible job considering its just over a videogame.
Grant @ Sep 24th 2007 3:12PM
the only way to make this game easier to sell is if the manual and cover insert were made out of uncut money sheets.
They don't need gameplay footage or screen shots, thats what teh internetz is for.
Common, you're on joystiq, Microsoft apparently knows it's audience better than some of us know our selves.
mike @ Sep 24th 2007 5:46PM
you guys are forgetting that hol3 advertisments are not for fun. Their to help sell their game. Just because this is the internet, and you and me know everything about halo 3, doesent mean this ad is for us. Advertising for any game has a target audiance of people who dont know about/of the product being advertised. As some1 who does not know about halo 3, this commerical would just confuse them and not convince them at all to go buy halo 3. If I showed this commercial to my brother (who plays wow and hasent really seen anything about halo 3) he would be like WTF and forget it ever exsisted.
Eric @ Sep 24th 2007 2:54PM
The whispering ruined the entire commercial for me.
valdemiro @ Sep 24th 2007 2:56PM
When is "Halo 3" the Ken Burns' edition coming out on PBS?
Jonah Falcon @ Sep 24th 2007 2:58PM
I prefer the "Enemy Weapon" video to this one.
ill trooper @ Sep 24th 2007 2:59PM
Worst of the bunch.
Jonah Falcon @ Sep 24th 2007 3:00PM
If you want some hot action:
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/last-one-standing/halo-sweeps/halo-sweeps.html
Mike @ Sep 24th 2007 3:02PM
These adds are super cheesy! We all know halo is a cool game but this is retarted.
"I was sitting in the bush, waiting for master chief to save our assess..." These commercials make me laugh so hard.
Kristof @ Sep 24th 2007 3:26PM
Not even being able to spell retarded kind of diminishes your point.
Mike @ Sep 24th 2007 3:29PM
I'm at my office working and I have no time to go over this. I write as fast as i can so i can close the page. Sorry for not being perfect for this video game talk. :\ We all know how important this conversation is...
Kristof @ Sep 24th 2007 3:53PM
Nice try Mike, everyone has that excuse. But I've seen so many people spell it that way. I know it's not a mistake. A++ for replying under such duress.
Mike @ Sep 24th 2007 4:32PM
I totally didn't realize there was another Mike on the site. Is there a way to change my name?
Mike @ Sep 24th 2007 4:33PM
Actually, I've been a member about 18 months longer than the other Mike, so I'll keep my name.
Ska Oreo @ Sep 24th 2007 3:19PM
I liked that one alot. Not as good as the museum ads though.
Zakamoko @ Sep 24th 2007 3:25PM
What is HALO 3...??
Korova @ Sep 24th 2007 4:06PM
Its killing with feeling!
NATO_Duke @ Sep 24th 2007 5:46PM
Todays headline on Yahoo-
Ahmadinejad's Urges All to Buy Teh Haloz!
The Iranian president, in a tense NYC speech, questions those who don't buy the Haloz.
And you don't know what it is? Iran is so gonna invade you.
Zamzoph @ Sep 24th 2007 3:27PM
I certainly hope humanity's future military that's suppose to protect us from alien invasion isn't ridiculously reliant on a single person .__.
Worst armed forces ever.
rivaldi22 @ Sep 24th 2007 3:34PM
I get the impression it's hard to prepare for something you don't know about.
0ldb0y @ Sep 24th 2007 3:35PM
Firstly, from the perspective of these ad campaigns, humanity's armed forces (and their reliable single person) ultimately succeed, so that would make at least one species' (the Covenant's) armed forces to be even worse.
Secondly, I hope humanity's future does not require a military.
Korova @ Sep 24th 2007 4:09PM
I think the regular army is demoralized and they need MC to rally them. The ad is trying to convey that but with out un-army-like self analysis.
Hashbrown_Hunter @ Sep 24th 2007 3:33PM
Wow. That was actually frightening. The best one since "Museum" in my opinion.
Korova @ Sep 24th 2007 4:02PM
"All we could do is sit and wait for Master Chief."
A nod to all those who will be camping out till 12am tonight. lol
Grindstone @ Sep 24th 2007 4:14PM
Nice. And it even refers to me. Sitting around, waiting for the MC...
AmishPhysicist @ Sep 24th 2007 4:05PM
I think it's some kind of new gum or something.
Dragod @ Sep 24th 2007 5:15PM
I must say, Halo 3's Ads and Marketing Campaign are the best I've, probably ever, seen for a video game. The commercials, along with the live action shorts, make me want to have a movie about all of this. I want to hear the story of the Marines waiting for Master Chief.
The game should give us the story and the fun. The movie should tell us what happened behind the scenes.
Clack @ Sep 24th 2007 5:42PM
Bleh, the Mad World Gears of War commercial was better than any of these.
NATO_Duke @ Sep 24th 2007 5:47PM
Mad world was pretty damn amazing for a game, gotta agree.
Korova @ Sep 24th 2007 7:08PM
Were these commercials what the Halo Peter Jackson movie thing was all about? Did PJ direct these? Cause they are damn inspired.
Shimekiri @ Sep 24th 2007 6:57PM
On that Wife picture idea. Maybe if he said: "Master Chief di my wife!"
Alexisonfire @ Sep 24th 2007 11:18PM
"All we could do is sit there and wait for master chief."
Funny how that parallels the million or so people waiting for the game tonight.