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Puma spams itself in Wipeout Pure

11:30 AM on 01.12.2007, Joseph Leray 15 comments

     PSP
Cuter than youIn-game advertising is one of those industry trends that makes me tired.  I let out a defeated sigh everytime I see someone else complaining about it. Another story about in game ads? I guess I just don't care about it either way. That is, provided I'm not hit square in the face with Puma ads everywhere I look.

However, as this slideshow illustrates, that's exactly the case in the European Delta expansion pack of Wipeout Pure. One problem is one of too-muchery. "PUMA" is plastered on every surface imaginable, replacing not only the futuristic, game-related advertising, but also on the menus and loading pages. Not to mention the fact that red and white don't really match the rest of the color scheme.

Even worse is that the game takes place in 2197. Puma ads just don't fit, and they take away from the atmosphere created by the game. The look and tone of the game is totally changed, for the worst, by these ads. The gameplay experience has been sacrificed in the name of advertising.

And why? These ads only appear in Europe, where Puma is freaking huge. The last thing they need is more advertising. It's not like they even work. Generally, in game ads don't inconvenience me that much, but when they start to detract from the gameplay experience, then we have a problem.

 

[Editor's note: Apparently, some readers can't see the slideshow, so here's a direct link.]

Next page: More sucks 2bu stories




Joseph Leray's Avatar
Joseph Leray at 01/12/2007 12:01
Can't see the slideshow? Did you follow the link? =/
Chris Taran's Avatar
Chris Taran at 01/12/2007 12:11
Wow, this is just sick. This is a perfect case of in game ads going way too far. If this is the type of thing we have to look forward to in the future then something tells me I'll be playing a lot less games, or at least being much more picky about what I choose to subject myself to.

Also, puma cocks.
(I assume they're huge)
Cruds's Avatar
Cruds at 01/12/2007 12:25
Can't see the slideshow? Did you follow the link? =/

Yeah I did, it gave me a blog post without slideshow or a link to get there. Dunno maybe it's adblock working. I googled it and it game me the show directly.
Its even uglier than I imagined, compared with the US version it's just hideous.

Puma is not that huge over here compared to Nike or Adidas, they doing reasonable well I guess.
scrap's Avatar
scrap at 01/12/2007 13:13
That is fucking horrible.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 01/12/2007 13:31
In the future, all shoes will be made by Puma.
Hurricanemario's Avatar
Hurricanemario at 01/12/2007 14:47
Wow, that's pretty bad.

Another reason to not buy a PSP.
Barts_706's Avatar
Barts_706 at 01/12/2007 16:03
Wow, I just noticed my little slideshow mad it to Destructoid. I feel flattered. It's great someone found it to be interesting. Thanks, Orcist.

On a sidenote, the menus and loading pages are not obligatory to be Puma-styled (this skin is optional). The tracks, however...

Oh, and Hurricanemario - you're so wrong. PSP is a great system and Wipeout Pure is one of the best games on it, with a lots of free downloadable content. It's only the marketing strategy that was rather shitty in one of the expansion packs and I pointed it out.
Joseph Leray's Avatar
Joseph Leray at 01/12/2007 17:12
Oh, hello Barts. Did you come here before? In any case, I tried embedding the slideshow directly, but had some trouble with it, just fyi.
Lezbro's Avatar
Lezbro at 01/12/2007 17:50
There's pumas in that cravass!

Smothers Brothers, "Boil That Cabbage Down"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgwH-XngXKo

Lezbro's Avatar
Lezbro at 01/12/2007 17:51
Take it!
Barts_706's Avatar
Barts_706 at 01/13/2007 01:51
Orcist - I actually did, but I have never made an account up until yesterday. I even linked to the article "Five reasons to own a PSP" on my blog a couple days before.
Destructicon's Avatar
Destructicon at 01/18/2007 11:26
WOW !

I hadn't had the chance to see both, just EU until now.
And while I'm guilty of actually enjoying the ingame puma branding especially on the racers,...its a bit hefty on the backgrounds. Still wicked gem of a game. Along with 2097/XL both form the pinnacle of the series


Neat little slideshow Barts_706 ! thx
The Sony Difference isn't quite the good ole Nintendo Difference after all, sigh....
Then again can't remember the last time I downloaded free quality content for my DS :P

[+ the Red Bull ads in Wipeout XL/2097 didn't hurt either]
Barts_706's Avatar
Barts_706 at 01/25/2007 18:09
Thank you, Destructicon!

I appreciate it a lot - in fact I thought that such comparison would be interesting and was amazed that noone have done it yet.

As for Puma ads, well, they stand out a bit. Some are nicely placed and fit well, but there's just to much of them and quite a lot stick out.
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