Gaming commercials that'll make you say WTF!?

We pilfer the archives and dig up some disturbing, surreal and utterly confusing adverts

Words: on February 19, 2008
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Some gaming TV commercials like to play it sober, delivering a no-nonsense, easy-to-understand message to potential customers. And good for them. However, we tend to prefer televisual adverts that stumble wildly about on our screens like intoxicated hedgebeasts, crashing recklessly into our brains and making us dribble on the remote. Adverts that challenge and bewilder in equal measure. Adverts that provoke a confused "What the f...!?" mutterance. Yes, they're the ads for us.

To celebrate this special breed of dizzying advertisingment, we've ransacked the archives (ie YouTube) and smashed together a scrambled selection of baffling, madbrained and patently rubbish snippets of nonsense related to selling gaming stuffs on TV. Moderate entertainment guaranteed or your money back...

Centipede
WTF!? Giant Atari anthropod attacks the 80s and tricks woman into bed for steamy insect love.



MS DOS 5
WTF!? "MS DOS 5 Upgrade, take that image further - it's like selling fries with every burger!" Brilliant public service promo from the stoopid dope posse at Microsoft.



Dreamcast
WTF!? When adverts weren't afraid of exploiting cultural stereotypes.



Dr. Mario 
WTF!? Japanese ladies dressed in primary-coloured bunny suits all splashing about in a swimming pool.


Related

Platforms:

Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PC, PSP, DS, Xbox, GameCube

40 Comments
Order Comments: Newest First | Oldest First
  • PhantomRose96

    PhantomRose96  - 2 years ago  - Report

    What a shame, Super Mario Sunshine was one of my favorite games, still is, silly commercial or not...
    Reply
  • Black_X_1111

    Black_X_1111  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    yes you are. Shame, shame upon you all Games Radar. Loved the article though, too bad a lot of the movies have been removed.
    Reply
  • Wartooth909

    Wartooth909  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    but dude... That ad was really gay. Did you watch it? If so, how would u describe it?
    Reply
  • adrenaguy

    adrenaguy  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    i loved that online dreamcast advert! that was AWESOME
    Reply
  • scbyfn4evr

    scbyfn4evr  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    The NES commercial seemed oddly threatening.
    Reply
  • jar-head

    jar-head  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    haha
    Reply
  • sharifsta

    sharifsta  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    okkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk that mario thing was realy big wtf resident evil one was good





    all i got to say left is wawawewa very nice
    Reply
  • jimmcc

    jimmcc  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    @GodlikeApe: Which dictionary would that be, urbandictionary.com? OED and Webster's don't.
    @Wartooth909: Cunning satire, congrats you're a troll.
    Reply
  • GodlikeApe

    GodlikeApe  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    If you look in a recent dictionary, you'll actually see that gay is also defined as a negative adjective.
    Who knows the writer could be from 1940 and thought the advert was very 'happy'.
    Reply
  • Wartooth909

    Wartooth909  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    But being a bigot is so much easer then accepting people for who the really are. People who arnt just like me scare me to death.
    Reply
  • jimmcc

    jimmcc  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    @Wartooth909
    The ad is clearly outrageous and I believe the writer is capable of writing something far more amusing and clever than just calling it 'gay.' The feature can be funny without singling out and insulting a minority group. It's 2008 and when someone calls a thing that's stupid, bad or ridiculous 'gay' they instantly sound like they're in junior high.
    Sorry to be pedantic but, you know, don't be a bigot.
    Reply
  • jimmcc

    jimmcc  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    Simply calling a commercial 'gay' does not a witty feature make. It puts you on level with an 11 year-old Youtube commenter. Now I'm all for embracing immaturity but it's got to actually be funny and not just tired and homophobic. You're better than that, Gamesradar.
    Reply
  • rabbitsrmine

    rabbitsrmine  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    Clean is better than dirty, and dirty's meaner than clean!!!!!!
    Reply
  • Nintendophile

    Nintendophile  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    BAM! Right in the FACE! lol.
    Reply
  • NEzraF

    NEzraF  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    Wow, They don't make them that good anymore. I blame the diminishing popularity of LSD.
    Reply
  • codzprc

    codzprc  - 3 years, 2 months ago  - Report

    Stacked zombie mother feeding child. Then feeds on child.
    Reply
  • darkshadow0308

    darkshadow0308  - 2 years, 6 months ago  - Report

    Yeah I LOVED SMS but that was the gayest thing i've ever seen!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
    Reply
  • Suicide

    Suicide  - 2 years, 7 months ago  - Report

    The NES one scared me just a bit, the MS-DOS-5, wtf? What was so important about MSDOS5
    ?
    Reply
  • Turkeykilla7

    Turkeykilla7  - 2 years, 11 months ago  - Report

    I Knew they would have the Original Japanese Zelda Commercial. The First time i saw it my jaw just dropped in amazment
    Reply
  • Ironmaus

    Ironmaus  - 2 years, 11 months ago  - Report

    The new Xbox 360 ads with the slow-motion view of the creepy people with holes in their heads ALL qualify for this list. What is with Microsoft and their love of weird, weird shit?
    Reply
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