Anti-smoking organization Tobacco Free Florida recently released a local TV spot featuring a fake FPS title, which for all intents and purposes, may as well be titled Haylo, created by little-known developer Spungie. The ad shows the unwisely unhelmeted hero laying waste to a squadron of robo-baddies, then lighting up a moke-moke, which quickly drains his health, leaving him very dead in the enemy stronghold.
Gaming news site GameCouch recently interviewed the ad's creators, who explained that the fake game theme was chosen to grasp the attention of the coveted 11-17-year-old demographic. It's certainly not the least clever anti-smoking PSA we've ever seen, though we never knew that smoking a cigarette led to immediate death. They should really put that on a warning label or something.
Reader Comments (85)
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:03PM (Unverified) said
Now I'm a paraplegic and I know why!
*Why man?*
Cause I got high, because I got high, because I got high!
La-da-da-da-da-da
Reply
*Why man?*
Cause I got high, because I got high, because I got high!
La-da-da-da-da-da
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 9:12PM (Unverified) said
A convincing representation of a modern game in a non-gaming commercial. Times are a changing. Usually these commercials use Pac-Man clones and Atari 2600 beeps and boops to represent videogames.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 9:22PM (Unverified) said
Moorio dude that was cruel and yet f*cking awesome.
Where is Justin? He needs to give this fine gentleman his Burn of the day award.
Where is Justin? He needs to give this fine gentleman his Burn of the day award.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 9:28PM Peter Moore said
No... having to keep on scrolling down a stories on this (or any other site) only to be greeted by the most irrelevant and infuriating word that could possibly have been typed for the first comment, and THEN being told that it's supposedly witty and that I must not understand it. No, THAT, my friend, is cruel. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THAT. This is how aneurysms are formed.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 9:38PM (Unverified) said
Bravo sir,bravo sir.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 1:01AM PyrosNine said
Why don't they ever make a Metal Gear Solid anti-smoking commercial?
Snake's particular brand is so lethal, you can kill yourself with them after 2 packs!
Snake's particular brand is so lethal, you can kill yourself with them after 2 packs!
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 10:13PM enReturns said
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Posted: Jun 29th 2008 10:18PM (Unverified) said
masfresa?
Suena como un sitio dedicado a pornografia gay,lo digo sin ofender.
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Posted: Jun 29th 2008 10:20PM Obienator said
Moorio = Epic Win
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 10:49PM KeenCommander said
OK, that was stupid. I don't smoke and never will, but quite frankly I think this whole anti-tobacco ad campaign should GTFO - it's stupid.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:06PM Frylander said
He's just sleeping
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:36PM Gwr said
LEVEL COMPLETE!
...seriously? Lol so old.
...seriously? Lol so old.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:37PM Gun Barrier said
Eighteenth Comment!!!!
///sarcasm///
///sarcasm///
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:39PM Gun Barrier said
That commercial was awesome! I have never seen it so Its new to me. If it wasn't for Joystiq, i would never have seen this commercial, since i don't live in Florida.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:44PM (Unverified) said
That was better than the current Truth ads.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:49PM DarkRookie said
I live in Florida. I thought that was a national ad.
Well i think it is a good anti smoking ad. Half the time I think it is a new game that is coming out. Looks like fun to play
Well i think it is a good anti smoking ad. Half the time I think it is a new game that is coming out. Looks like fun to play
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:53PM Spiritbeast said
This was missing a talking dog that told me not to get high.
Well, thats not smoking tobacco, but you get the point.
Well, thats not smoking tobacco, but you get the point.
Posted: Jun 29th 2008 11:58PM Anticrawl said
First Resistance, I'd like to welcome you to Joystiq and am looking forward to hearing your views on the topics here. I'm welcome to help you out. I also appreciate you letting me know the order in which you posted, I would have been lost without you man.
Have a glorious evening.
Have a glorious evening.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 12:14AM Lijik said
My favorite bit is the killer robot that comes up and starts preaching about not smoking to the already dead protagonist.
Best fake video game ever.
Best fake video game ever.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 12:28AM Ranko said
We have worst things in Florida. Like hurricanes.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 12:35AM Happyman said
Snake must be tough then, it takes at least a minute or so for his life to get that dangerously low while smoking.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 1:04AM SpaceSpace said
God I hate this commercial they play it alot!
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 1:13AM beez1717 said
so if I use the cigarette gun then it's an insta KO for my enemy?
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 1:49AM (Unverified) said
Am I the only one who thought of the new Tiberium shooter coming out when I saw this?
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 2:35PM (Unverified) said
Solid Snake would be pissed.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 5:21AM (Unverified) said
But hey, on the plus side, at least he recovered a little adam and can now use the smoke to see invisible infa red security lines.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 7:51AM (Unverified) said
Ok, look what that guy just did, Florida. I think he earned a smoke.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 8:56AM (Unverified) said
"Don't smoke" has been drilled into my skull since I was like 3... Those "anti-smoking" groups are annoying as all hell. No wonder I started smoking... "Look! They've already got me! Now leave me alone!" Christ...
Posted: Jul 2nd 2008 10:57AM theenglishman said
They should have used Snake for this =P
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 10:40AM jumpshot said
Warning: Sarcastic spam. Please visit Wikepedia for definitions.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 11:23AM jumpshot said
This will likely make it out before Duke Nukem Forever.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 3:04PM (Unverified) said
Haha I see this ad everyday where I live. I had no idea it was local.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 3:17PM (Unverified) said
No one tell florida how many of our real soldiers smoke.
Posted: Jun 30th 2008 5:55PM (Unverified) said
I live in Florida and I've been seeing it for weeks. The funny part of it? The original commercial had a line about Cigarette's killing X number more people than guns.
I assume at some point the anti-gunners said something so they removed it. Wouldn't want to undermine the perception than guns wander around killing folks.
I assume at some point the anti-gunners said something so they removed it. Wouldn't want to undermine the perception than guns wander around killing folks.
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