Here's a new TV commercial for Activision's Blur. I've mostly been hyped for Blur because of the Mario Kart inspiration -- it's basically a "grown up" racing game with power-ups -- but the makers of this commercial have rather mercilessly mocked Nintendo's highly regarded racing franchise, implying that it's boring and for children.
The ad features a cute character in a thinly veiled parody of Mario Kart, looking on at Blur in envy while he's stuck with his bright and cuddly cartoon cars. The ad then tells players to "race like a big boy" as the jealous character takes out his frustration on a passing pink dinosaur.
Sad thing is, I'm sure there are tons of people out there who'd agree with the sentiment that Mario Kart is for kids only, regardless of how good the game is. To its credit, Blur is looking like it has serious potential, but after making fun of one of the best racing games in the world, no matter how lighthearted, Blur has to be excellent in order to avoid this commercial's sentiment returning to bite it in the arse.
You mock another series and manage to be worse, people will not let you forget it. So, best of luck to Blur, because its very dignity is at stake now.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
11:20 AM on 05.21.2010 | 
There, I have disputed.
Also @Gatsby
I'm 29 and Nintendo makes games for me.
Oh yes you can.
It gets boring when the eight place player gets three lightning bolts in a row, which slams you into a chasm, then gets two stars from fifth place, and takes the race every single time by purposely dropping place in the last lap.
Blur is looking cool, and it's done by bizarre creations, the fucking good team behind PGR, who do know how to make a excellent racing game. So it's in safe hands, and for me, does look better then mario kart.
However, will the split screen multiplayer be as fun as mario kart, or any decent kart game?? That remains to be seen.
Are Pixar movies for kids? No, they're for kids, AND the kid inside all of us.
Have fun not having fun, haters!
Why everithing among gamers turn in to a epic battle?
I'm 24 and still love Mario Kart. Heck, my sister's boyfriend recently traded in his 360 Arcade in order to buy a Wii and pick up a copies of Mario Kart Wii, New SMB Wii , Wii Sports Resort, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 as well as the upcoming NBA Jam.
I fail to see how that's boring. Re-read the sentence you wrote. I sounds like the most exciting thing ever!
That's what you get from a group that is obsessed with bitching about everything, vilifying the people who honestly don't understand their hobby, trashing the very people who make the games they play, and last but not least, defend companies to the death, the same companies who could give less of a shit about the so called 'defence'.
In short, gamers really need to play games, instead of destroying and bitching about the hobby they spend so much time on.
This commercial just reminds me of when Sega kept trying to knock Nintendo for being "kiddie" and it just made them look like jackasses. It does the same thing here.
Well aren't you just too cool for school. I happen to be a grandma AND a nostalgic nerd.
Marketing teams do what they do, but it doesn't necessarily reflect the feelings of the folks who put the product together.
Comments like...
I'm excited, but if I see Microsoft steal another PS game again, I'd...... I don't know but I'll do something horrible, I guess?
Don't really help much either. Just sayin'.
Best of luck Activision, again you remind me why you need a swift kick in the ass.
Too bad we'll probably never get another F-Zero. :(
@dj-anon -- F-zero is one of my favorite games. They really need to make one for the Wii