Dammit, Janet, I love U
If you’re already familiar with the Wii U and what it can do, then the current crop of commercials for the console act as nice reminder that the thing is currently in stores. If you don’t already know about the Wii U, these same commercials may do a lot to turn you off. I’m friends with a lot of self-identified “non-gamers” who bought a Wii precisely because it offered a gaming experience that was counter to all the negative associations that they have with the medium. They saw the Wii as console where you could be active, apply real-world physical coordination to virtual activities, and do so with friends and family in the same room.
These people see the ads for the Wii U, and immediately thumbed their noses in disgust. They loved the Wii because it encouraged them to get up and move, and do more than twiddle your thumbs while staring “zombie eyed” at a TV screen. One look at the Wii U commercials, and they’re led to believe that the console focused entirely on twiddling your thumbs and staring at an even smaller screen. Needless to say, they haven’t been impressed.
Up until now, I’ve been happy to take on these complaints about the Wii U one by one, explaining to people individually or in groups that the console does in fact support motion controls, while also clearing up confusion on what the Wii U is (a new system, not just a new controller!), telling them about backwards compatibility, Miiverse, free video chat, NintendoTVii, and other features that the commercials don’t touch. Then I got a call from a special friend, and I had to take it upon myself to make a commercial. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks to Tobbii Karlsson for moral support and providing the visuals.