Advertisements that teach you how to play

[Flojomojo]

 

This is a neat advertisement -- it pulls you in if you haven't played the game before, and gets you ready for it by giving you a taste of the ruleset. I think this style of advertising was common in the days when we didn't automatically know how to play every game, which has an in-game tutorial.

 

From the great Old Games Magazines Tumblr, of course.

[Spriggy]

Nice. Activision seemed to run that same advert ideal through their other 2600 titles, at that time.

 

Another link with a few cool adverts. https://www.vintag.es/2015/07/old-video-game-ads-from-late-1970s.html

 

[Flojomojo]

I see what you mean, he posted this one for Megamania. I don't remember this advertising from the 80s, but it would have worked well on me. I was starved for information about all things video gamey.

 

[Torr]

I remember a series of ads that told you tricks to the game... definitely a Galaga and a Moon Patrol one, and it asks which screenshot (hand drawn) has the better/more clever player, and then tells you why.

[Flojomojo]

Galaxian, actually.

 

Here's one with German kids.

 

Then there's the "Basil Exposition" approach

 

but I remember the one you're talking about

 

"Are you buggy?"

 

 

Joust, from about the same time

[Flojomojo]

More, from Spriggy's link. Who needs manuals when you have advertisements? Who needs Let's Play videos when you have these?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the "guess the small differences in scoring in this side by side images" are way less compelling than the story-form comic strips.

 

 

oh just go look at the page, I've linked too much already.

 

https://www.vintag.es/2015/07/old-video-game-ads-from-late-1970s.html

[imstarryeyed]

Hey I so remember those, they are great! Thanks for posting the link too.. I really miss how simple and charming game ads were back then... I like the "which player..." quiz ads the best!

[dj_convoy]

Yeah, I really like the "which player" ads for whatever reason.

[Rom Hunter]

In case you want to look up more ads:
http://www.atarimania.com/list_ads_atari-2600-vcs-___2.html

[Spriggy]

Damn. So f#%king cool! They still work their magic even today. Makes me want to knock off work early, grab a golden throat charmer and flick that reset switch with my big toe See ya .....

[Torr]

Those Mario Bros and Joust ads styled like a comic book... I would have just pored over those as a kid.

 

Gotta love Jousts FIRST line... "Long Ago in the Distant Future"... so which is it???

It's a sad attempt at ripping off "A long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far Far Away" I think!!!

Edited October 11, 2018 by Torr

[Shawn]

Would be really cool to have all this made up into an an Atari 2600 game advertising themed comic book.

[Flojomojo]

Damn. So f#%king cool! They still work their magic even today. Makes me want to knock off work early, grab a golden throat charmer and flick that reset switch with my big toe See ya .....

I had to google that ... now I see that you are referring to an IPA, not a Shatner or Nimoy album.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Throats

[Flojomojo]

💩

Double post

Can't wait for that new forum software!

[Spriggy]

I had to google that ... now I see that you are referring to an IPA, not a Shatner or Nimoy album.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Throats

 

Kwik hijack ..

Yeh. "Golden Throat Charmer" (ie Beer), is a quote taken from some of the old Paul Hogan "Fosters" beer adverts.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLMbB3QftqE

[MrMaddog]

Here's an ad that's pretty much a walkthrough of the whole game...

 

 

There was a two page ad that came out before but I couldn't find it online. Still it made me want to play the game even if it was like a ten year wait...

[Flojomojo]

re the Mountain King advert, yeah, that struck me as unusual, too -- especially the choice of Murray from Accounting as the lead.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/263311-mountain-king-advertisement-has-low-charisma/

[+frankodragon]

This one from the UK almost has the vibe of Speed Racer.