Gamertell

Everyone in Japan gets involved in video games. It almost seems like it is an honor to have a song included in an upcoming title. When these games are localized for North American releases, it’s a toss-up as to what happens to the original music. Many companies are including the original tracks with games, while some will substitute them with songs in English.

Hikaru Utada is one of the biggest pop singers in Japan. This means that her music has appeared in games, animes and Japanese dramas. She’s also has worked as a voice actress - one of her roles was Pinoko in the anime Black Jack.

Before we get into her relationship to video games and a few of her songs I’d recommend, here’s a brief backstory. Utada was born in New York, New York. She’s fluent in English and Japanese. Her mother’s the Enka singer Fuji Keiko. Her first album was released as Cubic U in both the US and Japan. After that, she focused on a Japanese-only career. She’s sold over 40 million records, and has released eight CDs. She released her English R&B CD, Exodus, in the US in 2004, and is currently working on a second US CD that might be released this year.

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The latest advertising onslaught from Nintendo is a series of commercials featuring female celebrities playing DS games with the tag-line, “I Play for Me.“

This seems like a fairly innocent notion and a means to get women and girls interested in the system by showing famous women engaged in games. However, quite a few gamers have taken issue with the games depicted and the actresses’ behavior.

There are three TV commercials currently airing: One features singer Carrie Underwood playing Nintendogs, another features actress Liv Tyler playing Brain Age 2 and the final commercial shows America Ferrera playing New Super Mario Brothers...

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In an unexpected turn of events, television advertisements for the Wii may take a sudden leave of absence for the remainder of the holiday season, according to a Nintendo spokesperson.

Times Online reports that due to the severe international shortages of the Wii, Nintendo may opt to push its television advertising campaign into early 2008, after the holiday season has cleared. This idea, reflecting on the company’s intent to act in a responsible manner in response to the huge demand, will hopefully soothe unrealistic expectations of buyers intending to acquire the system during the holiday rush.

The television advertising campaign adheres to Nintendo’s target audience of the casual gamer and focuses largely on the applications of the console in everyday occurrences by showcasing users of all age groups and sections of society. The advertisements come as a stark contrast between that of the Xbox 360, which typically appeals more to the hardcore gamer, and the artistic, often surreal approach of Playstation 3 (PS3) advertising.

Production of the Wii has been continually bolstered over the course of this year, being raised from an intended 14 million to 17.5 million Wii consoles shipped this year. Despite these production overhauls, however, Nintendo simply cannot keep up with the high demand for the system, to the point where the company has been the target of criticism indicating that the company is intentionally under-producing systems in order to generate more hype, a charge that Nintendo denies.

While Nintendo may be enjoying a great deal of success and high demand for the Wii, the shortages represent not only missed opportunities for Nintendo but oftentimes opportunities redirected toward its competition, as the Xbox 360 and PS3 have been receiving price reductions throughout the year in order to stimulate interest.

Read [ Times Online ] Via [ GamesIndustry Biz ] Also Read [ Joystiq ]

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With the World of Warcraft expanding celebrity appearances aren’t really necessary but they do make the commercials more memorable. The latest commercials feature William Shatner and Mr. T, and coming soon Verne Troyer (aka, Mini-Me) asking viewers “What’s Your Game?”

First commercial features Mr. T and his Night Elf Mohawk which are simply hilarious. I think my sides are still aching from laughing two days ago. Nothing funnier than Mr. T saying “Shut up, Fool! Maybe Mr. T hacked into your computer and created a Mohawk Night Elf class [ramblings I can’t explain without falling on the ground laughing] had that occurred to you Mr. Condescending Director?”

Mr. T on World of Warcraft commercial

Just when I could breathe again, the next ad is released featuring William Shatner and his Shaman. “You’re no doubt wondering ‘Hey, Shatner, how do I hurl bolts of lightening?’ Simple, get World of Warcraft dog. You can be anyone you want.”

William Shatner on World of Warcraft commercial

No release date on when Verne Troyer’s commercial is going to air or what character he’s going to be in the World of Warcraft but I’m sure it will be just as funny as Mr. T and William Shatner’s commercial or the super bowl ad that had us in stitches back in September.

Tacoma Ad on World of Warcraft

“Did you see me lay down the law? I’m the law giver!”

Site [World of Warcraft] Site [Blizzard Entertainment]

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East coast ad house EyeballNYC raised the hackles of Jack Thompson this month (August 2007) with its eerily accurate commercial for Bioshock, Irrational Games’ autumn darling and the subject of much pre-release tittering. The game comes out today (August 21, 2007) and is expected to sell more copies than you can shake a genetically enhanced stick at.

Thompson detailed his grievances in a letter to the Federal Trade Commission…

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