And you thought
Halo 3-themed Game Fuel was bad. A recent round of advertisements have taken Japan by storm, all of which either shill for
Final Fantasy XIII, or some product
based on the unflagging RPG franchise. Posted after the break are a series of videos, including a short TV spot for the game, two ads for the
presumably refreshing Elixir beverage, and a commercial
for a commercial (well, a behind-the-scenes documentary) which will be released shortly after the game is released in Japan.
Also, they're making
a perfume based off the game's main character. It's called Lightning eau de toilet. There's no video advertisement to accompany this news, but we'd have been remiss had we not mentioned it to you.
{ Nov 28th 2009 at 3:30PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 28th 2009 3:36PM
All of this really makes me think how much money they've wasted advertising for a game that was going to sell millions of copies anyway. Same for the ridiculous Halo advertising here.
Orchard Pear @ Nov 28th 2009 3:38PM
Agreed.
You'd think they'd spend that money advertising FFXIII in the US.
Same as you'd think it'd be better served spending more money to advertise Halo in Japan, not the US.
Trey @ Nov 28th 2009 3:41PM
If anything, you sure are consistent.
johnnynumber5 @ Nov 28th 2009 4:10PM
I'm not sure you can say the money is wasted considering how much time and money the game itself cost to make in the first place. It only makes sense to put a full court press marketing blitz on the populus. I'd be disappointed if they didn't literally go all out in regards to the marketing. Everyone needs to know the game is coming out and it's coming out soon. You say it's already going to sell millions but what if the different also leads to additional millions of units in sales because of the public awareness? The bigger waste of money would be to not heavily advertise the game. In terms of advertising Halo heavily in Japan and not in the states ... what? That makes zero sense considering the target audience and the largest buying market of said game is in North America. Why heavily advertise a game in the region where it's going to be LEAST impactful?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 4:11PM
What else would you expect from Japan, tmac?
Blank-Mage (ATDFs Nuker) @ Nov 28th 2009 4:17PM
I expected a doujin. Maybe I just haven't found it yet?
tafuub @ Nov 28th 2009 5:18PM
People are stupid, they only buy what they see and remember to buy. Remember the "Got Milk?" commercial. This is based on that fact. Sales can nearly triple or more with proper advertisement.
@Orchard Pear, Your attempting to do brand recognition with pre-sales advertising, doesn't work that way.
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Nov 28th 2009 5:40PM
Maybe you're looking at it wrong, maybe it's not advertising, maybe it's milking.
Pal @ Nov 28th 2009 6:56PM
Says you, but many have never played an FF and need something to kickstart their interest for the franchise. Advertising is the key for commercial success.
rhonavi @ Nov 29th 2009 7:09AM
Jap country is the land where FF fairytales originated, Obviously this "oversaturation" is normal. Speaking of trailers here's one of the newest trailer that you may want to judge.. Yawn?
FF 13 trailer again:http://bit.ly/final-fantasy-newest-trailer-best-or-wrost
Space @ Nov 29th 2009 4:04PM
that's not true. people need to be force fed. they love being told what to buy. if they didn't advertise halo like they did it would not have sold as well.
not everybody is on gaming sites looking for release dates and info about games.
Trey @ Nov 28th 2009 3:42PM
@Orchard Pear: Never go into business, specifically the advertising sector.
robert @ Nov 28th 2009 3:51PM
Yeah, that sector's reserved for Slurms Mckenzie!
WHIZZLE WHIM WHAM WHIZZLE!!!
Lunastra78 (PSN: lunastra78) @ Nov 28th 2009 3:45PM
Lightning... the provocative yet gentle fragrance for anyone who has absolutely no life.
kentuckyfried @ Nov 29th 2009 2:20AM
There can only be One.
kentuckyfried @ Nov 29th 2009 2:21AM
nevermind...damn this commenting system.
dotzeno @ Nov 29th 2009 4:25AM
i wonder what it smells like...
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 3:50PM
Why so many Final Fantasy games?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 3:51PM
The only good ones were IV, V, VI, VII, and IX.
dagamer43 @ Nov 28th 2009 3:56PM
Did you just answer your own question? O_O
Viking @ Nov 28th 2009 3:58PM
Hey hey hey.
X was awesome, and I know many who liked VIII and X-2.
LegendaryRedass @ Nov 28th 2009 3:58PM
VIII, X and XII were my favorites. I've enjoyed the series since 1995 and I hope it continues even longer.
robert @ Nov 28th 2009 3:59PM
@Bradwart
Nah, the only good one was Chocobo Racing: Road to the Spirit World! That game kicked ass!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocobo_Racing
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 4:05PM
Chocobo Racing was terrible and I really didn't enjoy VIII and X. Haven't played XII, though.
robert @ Nov 28th 2009 4:10PM
-1 for not detecting the carcasm.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 4:14PM
*sarcasm
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 4:17PM
@dagamer43
No, I didn't answer my question, I just said that there are only 5 good Final Fantasy and that they don't need to make lots FF games, because most of them won't be good.
Xenuxenu @ Nov 28th 2009 4:37PM
Favorite FF(s) != Quality FF(s)
V was bad, awful story, its only saving grace was the job system.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 4:52PM
Final Fantasy V was a great game.
Hydrophobicfish (PSN: HydrophobicFish) @ Nov 28th 2009 5:42PM
I can admit the rest were good... but 8 was a terrible installment into the FF franchise. The summons alone were enough...
"Hey, let's have you watch an minute long mini-cutscene, every time you want to do an attack."
"Good idea, Jim... now let's make these attacks the only effective attacks in the game!"
ChuckBartowski (ATDF Technical Consultant) @ Nov 28th 2009 5:47PM
Darth dont make this turn into a lightsaber duel.
sonicspike41 @ Nov 28th 2009 6:24PM
This Darth:
"Joystiq 15 Comments
Sorry, This Profile Has been Set to Private."
The real Darth:
"Autoblog 1 Comment
Joystiq 1688 Comments
Engadget 8 Comments
Joystiq Playstation 2 Comments
Joystiq Xbox 5 Comments
Big Download 1 Comment
Recent Comments:"
Obvious troll is obvious?
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Co-Founder] @ Nov 28th 2009 6:47PM
Quit ruining my good name, you idiot! I love Final Fantasy. As long as they're good, they can keep going for ever, as far as I'm concerned.
If MGM can make 22 Bond films, Square Enix can make 20 Final Fantasies.
Jinsenken @ Nov 28th 2009 7:07PM
@Hydrophobicfish
Lern2Renzokuken + Armageddon Fist
Guardian forces are useless after around the middle of the first disk.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 28th 2009 7:11PM
All right I'll change my name.
Colonel Sanders @ Nov 28th 2009 7:17PM
I'm now Colonel Sanders. I really liked your name and avatar. Oh well.
EAT MAH CHICKEN!!!
CheeziePotato @ Nov 28th 2009 7:21PM
Eww KFC
deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Nov 28th 2009 7:25PM
Darth, why so many comments?
Danny @ Nov 28th 2009 7:35PM
@hydro
If you use the junction system you can do without gf attacks through the majority of the game, i love it for the story.
Viking @ Nov 28th 2009 3:57PM
And to think.. When FFXIII is released in March, they'll just start the hype-train for FFXIII Versus!
johnnynumber5 @ Nov 28th 2009 4:03PM
Add Agito and FF14 online to that mix as well. I think they'll show something at E3, Leipzeig or the Japanese show next year inr regards to FF13VS. They will undoubtedly want to keep the FF hype train moving especially if FF13 is the commercial success it's expected to be when it's released.
LiquidPrimus @ Nov 28th 2009 6:13PM
I've actually pretty much quit the Final Fantasy series... Until I saw FFXIII Versus. Not only is it the most gritty and down and dirty FF game I've seen in ages but it's being developed by the Kingdom Hearts team.
eNrique @ Nov 28th 2009 7:13PM
Actually, I'm wayyyy more exited for FINAL FANTASY Versus XIII;
It looks much more interesting, and different.
Viking @ Nov 28th 2009 7:40PM
It's a well-known fact that Versus is the TRUE Final Fantasy sequel, because it's still PS3 exclusive.
(strong sarcasm here for those who can't detect it)
johnnynumber5 @ Nov 28th 2009 4:00PM
Can't say that it's oversaturated as this game will likely have the biggest launch in the history of Japan. Square has put so much resources and time into this game that these advertisements on the cusp of the games release actually make sense. Why put so much to make a flagship game if you aren't going to put on a full court advertising blitz so that every man, woman and child know of it's impending release? I also really liked the elixir commerical with the girl smashing through everything then healing herself. I suspect you'll see a large footprint on television in North America leading up to it's March release. You likely won't see all the halo type branding because of the cultural differences but I'd suspect SE will go all out in every territory this game is released. I'd imagine they need quite a bit of sales to see a healthy return on their investment.
eNrique @ Nov 28th 2009 4:05PM
Money is delicious.
makimak22 @ Nov 28th 2009 4:06PM
Oversaturation of FF in Japan? You guys have no clue how big a deal this is here.
With the other `National RPG` Dragon Quest being dumbed-down to DS, the Japanese is really looking forward to this new FF in `Next Gen HD`.
Comparable with Halo? Get back to me when Halo 13 arrives...
How long has it been since FF13 was first announced? Years of low profile can do with a little bit of `saturation crisis`.
The FF ELIXIR is kind of a `tradition` now, The ads are provided by Suntory, the beer/beverage maker. They paid S-E for the licenses, so I doubt S-E needs to fork out money for the promotion.
mortegro545 @ Nov 28th 2009 4:08PM
"I think they've got it all wrong Frank. the over saturation problem...
*Puts on sunglasses*
..is with Twilight"
LegendaryRedass @ Nov 28th 2009 4:31PM
Twilight was over saturated when first book was printed
Phylogenetics @ Nov 28th 2009 6:53PM
Why did you pause to put on the sunglasses? That doesn't even make any-
*Edward steps into the sunlight*
MY EYES!