Phantasy Star Portable 2 product placement is getting ridiculous
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Oct 13th 2009 at 11:59AM } 
The incorporation of Fanta products into Phantasy Star Portable 2 was bad enough; though we could almost excuse it for its appropriately futuristic-sounding name. There's little we can do to reconcile the addition of Pizza Hut branding into the title, though -- especially when said addition includes a pizza box shield and pizza peel sword (seen above; no photoshopping necessary). Other in-game products include literal pizza huts, dolls of the company's Japanese mascot, Mr. Cheese, and an epic boss encounter against the Noid, who attempts to ruin delicious pizza pies regardless of their corporate affiliation.
Okay, so we made up that part about the boss fight -- sorta -- but the rest is totally for real!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 13th 2009 12:02PM
what is this I don't even
Meh @ Oct 13th 2009 12:12PM
I am disappoint
Archon (Charity Game-a-thon with live feed on Sat: arhn.eu ) @ Oct 13th 2009 12:20PM
I'm 12 years old and what is this?
Nicknin10do @ Oct 13th 2009 12:22PM
/facepalm
Ghen @ Oct 13th 2009 12:25PM
I'm giong to blame the comment sy
ducttapeBigSexy (PSN&XBL: ducttape12) @ Oct 13th 2009 12:36PM
You may have a lot of fake jewels, but you ain't never seen nobody that at nobody with as much skills as me!
Saria the Cat @ Oct 13th 2009 1:45PM
You just made my day, Wayne!
Crayfish @ Oct 13th 2009 10:33PM
Is this a Candlejack thread in he
Mr Khan @ Oct 13th 2009 12:03PM
PSO was always about the crazy product placement, though it was usually just SEGA fan-service, there were, especially in episode III (the card game), cross-promotions with other companies that ended up in real items (i remember there was a Game Informer card, and a Famitsu card)
Vidikron @ Oct 13th 2009 12:03PM
Unacceptable. This is a clear example of how in-game advertising should not be done. None of that fits that game in any way.
Snowblind @ Oct 13th 2009 2:03PM
I'm a huge fan of Phantasy Star Portable, and I have to say I don't really mind. I find most of this stuff pretty funny, and to be fair you actually have to go to the Pizza Hut Website and sign up to their club to gain access to these bonus items. Same goes for the Fanta stuff.
It's not in the game normally, and probably won't be in the US version at all.
Olicon @ Oct 13th 2009 4:45PM
Indeed. This is going to make a most delicious case study for years to come, pun intended.
You don't have to subscribe to go online in this game, do you? With this much tasteless advertising, you'd think they wouldn't be able to charge people to play.
Fakeplasticball @ Oct 13th 2009 12:04PM
I want a george foreman grill of justice or a thigh master boomerang!
KingOfHearts @ Oct 13th 2009 12:33PM
The inhabitants of the Gurhal System haven't developed boomerangs yet.. But they've got slicers. A step in the right direction..
Stevetrop @ Oct 13th 2009 1:01PM
How about the Gazelle of Vengeance.
You Can Do It
Fakeplasticball @ Oct 13th 2009 9:49PM
Beer Cannon? Why Not! :)
TheCoats @ Oct 13th 2009 12:05PM
What. The. Hell.
Totally thought "Oh, another humorous photoshop from those semi-funny bloggers." Then I find out this is legit? This game better be like free or something with ads like that!
CAHLITO @ Oct 13th 2009 12:08PM
semi-funny?
TheCoats @ Oct 13th 2009 12:10PM
Most the time semi-funny. I smirk and Grin at the photoshops and comments of the bloggers, and I do have the occasional laugh out loud moment.
enyawecurb @ Oct 13th 2009 12:09PM
Keep it up!
I can't wait to blast somebody with my Taco Bell Blackjack Taco gun!!!
Ravnos @ Oct 13th 2009 12:08PM
One more reason not to eat at Pizza Hut. As if their shitty pizza wasn't enough by itself.
Kind of dismayed that they've given me a reason not to play this game, though.
KingOfHearts @ Oct 13th 2009 12:29PM
Because they force you to use those items until you're level 57, right?
-_-
Mogster @ Oct 13th 2009 1:21PM
Your mom does shitty pizza.
Eh @ Oct 13th 2009 12:44PM
Youre insulting other shitty pizzas by putting Pizza Hut in the same category.
Ravnos @ Oct 13th 2009 1:01PM
@KingofHearts: it doesn't matter if I never use those items, purchasing this game sends the message that this kind of ridiculous product placement is A-OK. And every time that message gets sent, they'll push in-game advertisements to even more ridiculous extremes. If you're ok with supporting that, that's your business, but I'm not.
kojo87 @ Oct 13th 2009 4:19PM
i worked at Pizza Hut when i was 16. its shittier than you know. cheese came in pre-shredded boxes that were marked "80% cheesefood" god knows what the other 20% was. and im pretty sure there wasn't a peel in the entire restaurant. but that was years ago and i hear they changed some things since
billyneptune @ Oct 13th 2009 12:10PM
Really?!? Let's hope Capcom never run into dire need of financing because I will not be able to handle Leon Kennedy reviving his health with Taco Bell gorditas or upgrading weapons from a Dr. Pepper stand.
Nook @ Oct 13th 2009 12:33PM
you got it backwards - Leon would upgrade his weapons at Taco bell, let's upgrade to a gordita instead of this plain old hard shell taco...I mean I can barely fire off two farts a minute with those things.
Health drinks would be available from the Dr. Pepper stand.
He'd be gassy and all hopped up on sugar and caffeine.
Pretty much like any adolescent male. :P
Old Professor Zertoss @ Oct 13th 2009 12:11PM
So the pizza is used to kill things rather than restore health. Well played, Sega.
Nicknin10do @ Oct 13th 2009 12:24PM
Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello and Raphael are not pleased!
Just A Canuk @ Oct 13th 2009 12:32PM
well, they do say obesity rates are on the rise, so...
green11420 @ Oct 13th 2009 12:14PM
I'm getting hungry. Anyone up for pizza?
mongr3L @ Oct 13th 2009 12:24PM
I don't really see any problem with this, it's not like they force you to use the branded items.
Jack Tretton @ Oct 13th 2009 12:18PM
"The incorporation of Fanta products into Phantasy Star Portable 2 was bad enough..."
Yeah, but have you seen how the women in Fanta commercials are dressed? They look like Phantasy Star characters, with names to match.
sonofman @ Oct 13th 2009 12:22PM
At least Judge Dredd had the foresight to include a lore-based reason to include Taco Bell... You know... a fter the fast food wars...
Where do YOU fit in PIZZA HUT>!>!>!>???
Old Professor Zertoss @ Oct 13th 2009 12:24PM
I fit anywhere in Pizza Hut. I'm not big at all.
Ravnos @ Oct 13th 2009 1:03PM
That was Demolition Man.
KingOfHearts @ Oct 13th 2009 12:24PM
I think it's pretty interesting the way they handle in-game advertising. Better than watching a short clip inbetween loading screens. And you gotta find these weapons anyways, they dont hand em to you
Cyantre @ Oct 13th 2009 12:29PM
I would so go out and buy a PSP and PSP2 if there was a boss fight with the Noid!
Nook @ Oct 13th 2009 12:34PM
they. would. avoid. the. noid.
LaughingTarget @ Oct 13th 2009 1:19PM
This game knows it's target market. Everyone old enough to know who the Noid is and have seen him in actual ads, yet young enough to like video games.
Sadly, this fits my demographic perfectly.
*hugs his NES copy of Yo Noid!*
Maverick Saturn (Igor) @ Oct 13th 2009 12:31PM
At this rate, its only a matter of time before Master Chief is saving the world while at the same time promoting Vista software :D
"I'm a PC"
"Erm, no you're not chief, you're a spartan"
Dirty @ Oct 13th 2009 12:31PM
AVOID THE NOID!
ColorblindMonk @ Oct 13th 2009 12:38PM
Market whoring doesn't help an outdated game, sadly.
IceKXG @ Oct 13th 2009 12:43PM
Wow, that is very tasteless product placement...
capamerica @ Oct 13th 2009 12:44PM
You got my hopes up about a boss battle with the Noid.
But then I also realized that you got your Pizza places mixed up, the Noid was Domino's not Pizza Hut.
RupeeClock @ Oct 13th 2009 12:46PM
But Crazy Taxi was FULL of in-game adverts.
AoE @ Oct 13th 2009 10:02PM
Not quite like this though, you never got to drive the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile around Big Apple.
TrojanGuy @ Oct 13th 2009 12:54PM
I'm speechless that the photo for this story WASN'T shopped. That's a real in-game capture? Geez.
Stevetrop @ Oct 13th 2009 12:58PM
I'd only let this get away if they had let you have an epic boss battle against Pizza The Hutt. Only then would this had been acceptable,