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Post by Tanner / Ogilvie on Jan 7, 2012 7:02:37 GMT
I... don't know what to say.
Except this is awesome. Sonic has taken Macy's Parade again. He is now getting deals with insurance companies.
The Blue Blur is back, baby. Like a game of Brawl, everyone trips, but it takes more than a prat fall to do the 'hog in.
At least, that's how I take it. The increased amount of merchandise and presence with third party companies would seem to indicate he is once more becoming beloved.
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Post by Blizz on Jan 7, 2012 12:07:12 GMT
The increased amount of merchandise and presence with third party companies would seem to indicate he is once more becoming beloved. He never stopped. It's just that Sega have been doing things right with him recently. And fads tend to go in cycles anyway.
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Post by madhair60 on Jan 7, 2012 12:23:42 GMT
I... don't know what to say. Except this is awesome. No, it's the worst thing I've ever seen. Sonic forming an alliance with the two worst non-trafficking industries on the planet - advertising and insurance? YAY SONIC'S BACK LET'S CELEBRATE THE WHORING OF HIS NAME
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Post by Nam on Jan 7, 2012 12:31:56 GMT
It's an odd choice for an advert to stick Sonic in, but judging by the looks of it this is either the first, or part of a series of adverts that have various characters interacting with the two people already shown. It can't be a stand-alone advert, it doesn't make sense, you don't look at Sonic the Hedgehog and think "Hmm, I bet he has great difficulty getting insurance coverage". I'd imagine there are, or there will be, several more ads with similar gimmick: Person(s) real and/or fictional are looking for certain types of insurance in an attempted comic way, the two salespeople help, then make some sort of weird punchline-esque comment. Can't say for certain though, don't know enough about the insurance company in question, and certainly don't care enough to look it up. Was nice, if nowt else, to hear them using Sonic 3 music though.
Edit: Youtube says yes, I was right, though unless I'm mistaken (I didn't sit and watch all the ads, just about five or six, during a commercial break on TV), Sonic is the only famous name used, which is a bit odd, though you can see that they've been increasing the budget on there ads. Either way, I'd imagine some ad exec pitched this as a joke, that somehow got taken seriously, and surprisingly was approved by Sega.
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Post by Tanner / Ogilvie on Jan 7, 2012 12:59:14 GMT
He never stopped. It's just that Sega have been doing things right with him recently. And fads tend to go in cycles anyway. I don't know. A lot of his "fans" have basically called for his death and wanted him to be boxed in the early '90s. Furthermore, there was a lot of spite in general towards him, at least here in the USA. Sonic has consistently remained popular in the UK - not so much in the US. No, it's the worst thing I've ever seen. Sonic forming an alliance with the two worst non-trafficking industries on the planet - advertising and insurance? YAY SONIC'S BACK LET'S CELEBRATE THE WHORING OF HIS NAME Some may view it as "selling out," but I view it as awesome. The more visibility he has, the better, and this will definitely assist in that regard. Youtube says yes, I was right, though unless I'm mistaken (I didn't sit and watch all the ads, just about five or six, during a commercial break on TV), Sonic is the only famous name used, which is a bit odd, though you can see that they've been increasing the budget on there ads. Either way, I'd imagine some ad exec pitched this as a joke, that somehow got taken seriously, and surprisingly was approved by Sega. Pardon me while I do my Robotnik laugh. Though it does aesthetically fit - Progressive's colors are white and blue, same as Sega's. Either way, if Progressive is actually marketing it, it means that Sonic has become a profitable brand name again, which is all good news to me. Vive le Blue!
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Post by ShayMay on Jan 7, 2012 13:02:38 GMT
Ha ha! what
Edit: At the advert, not at the conversation.
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Post by Tanner / Ogilvie on Jan 7, 2012 13:31:22 GMT
Well, he used to have his own brand of shampoo and macaroni and cartoons and stuff... ...expanding into the insurance business is only natural to ensure the Imperium Mobianum's dominance! ...though as an Archie fan I find this hilarious - an early running gag was Robotnik also worked as an insurance salesman. Sonic has joined the dark side, for it has cookies.
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Post by Tom J on Jan 7, 2012 14:34:26 GMT
Any persons of integrity or creativity surely shall, upon looking at this advert, proceed to cradle their face in their palm while gripping the top of the bridge of their nose between finger and thumb as if pained by headache. There's no way anyone with any sense could make anything positive of this advert. At all.
I maintain that all TV adverts that push none-entertainment produce should be presented as silent slideshows of product-only images, facts and references. Why? Because they're adverts, they're not there to entertain you, they're there to make you buy their [censored]. The more shiny distracting crap adverts employ, the more people gloss over the details. Using Sonic to sell insurance of all things is just another staggering-but-not-surprising cynical exploit.
Whether this is true or not, it makes me cringe awful.
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Post by Tanner / Ogilvie on Jan 7, 2012 14:42:02 GMT
More people will buy insurance, and possibly more people will buy Sonic goods. Sounds like a win-win if you ask me.
I like having the Blue Blur around, so keeping him commercially viable is a top priority. Even if I often have to swallow my pride in the process.
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Post by Alex on Jan 7, 2012 14:55:55 GMT
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Post by Matt on Jan 7, 2012 15:03:34 GMT
I... don't know what to say. Except this is awesome. No, it's the worst thing I've ever seen. Sonic forming an alliance with the two worst non-trafficking industries on the planet - advertising and insurance? YAY SONIC'S BACK LET'S CELEBRATE THE WHORING OF HIS NAME well from a purely capitalist approach, it does argue a resurgence in credibility that he's been used in an ad, his name now being recognizable and sellable again. That said using Sonic in such a degrading industry that has nothing to do with his character has probably just harmed that re earned credibility in a cynical cash grab. That said it never bothered me in the 90's when he and knuckles were on everything from anti smoking to mc donalds and milky bars and even the scouts.
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Post by Feniiku on Jan 7, 2012 15:10:53 GMT
Advert is pointless. I don't mind the way Sonic moves in it, but I can't stand insurance adverts. At all. I even know what they're insuring... what ARE they insuring? Is it car insurance? Because if it's car insurance the only cars Sonic owns are racing ones and would surely need different insurance to regular ones anyway? And heyyyyyyyy there was nothing wrong with Scout Sonic, I had one of the woggles when I was a Cub Scout. And lost it on a camping trip. Was forever jealous of Ahkela after that for her still having one. I made it all the way to senior patrol leader in regular Scouts and NEVER GOT ONE AGAIN T_T
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Post by L. T. Dangerous on Jan 7, 2012 15:11:05 GMT
Seems a weird thing to put Sonic on. Kids can't buy insurance. Adults aren't likely to be swayed by him. Hm.
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Post by Alex on Jan 7, 2012 15:18:43 GMT
Seems a weird thing to put Sonic on. Kids can't buy insurance. Adults aren't likely to be swayed by him. Hm. Adults are swayed by kids. That's why Compare the Market and Go Compare do so well. If the kids say "get the one with Sonic on it, I want the toy!" (or whatever) they're more likely to do so.
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Post by Matt on Jan 7, 2012 15:18:52 GMT
Advert is pointless. I don't mind the way Sonic moves in it, but I can't stand insurance adverts. At all. I even know what they're insuring... what ARE they insuring? Is it car insurance? Because if it's car insurance the only cars Sonic owns are racing ones and would surely need different insurance to regular ones anyway? And heyyyyyyyy there was nothing wrong with Scout Sonic, I had one of the woggles when I was a Cub Scout. And lost it on a camping trip. Was forever jealous of Ahkela after that for her still having one. I made it all the way to senior patrol leader in regular Scouts and NEVER GOT ONE AGAIN T_T I was saying there was anything wrong with Scout Sonic... but I mean Scouts and Sonic don't exactly go together well.. like you don't automatically think milky way bars or insurance when you think video game character.
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Post by Badly-Drawn Manchild on Jan 7, 2012 15:22:43 GMT
Talk about marketing to the wrong demographic. Why are they trying to sell insurance to kids? If something like this had appeared on a marketing course or something, it would be failed instantly.
Then again, we have price comparison websites for car insurance giving away cuddly toys, so what do I know about marketing?
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Post by Alex on Jan 7, 2012 15:24:13 GMT
Seems a weird thing to put Sonic on. Kids can't buy insurance. Adults aren't likely to be swayed by him. Hm. Adults are swayed by kids. That's why Compare the Market and Go Compare do so well. If the kids say "get the one with Sonic on it, I want the toy!" (or whatever) they're more likely to do so.
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Post by Feniiku on Jan 7, 2012 15:25:01 GMT
I don't think insurance, no XD But then Lara Croft advertised lucozade and I don't think that either. (And Sonic's too young to look for car insurance, isn't he still technically 15?) As a kid though, Scout Sonic made perfect sense XD; though I admit I don't remember why Point is: Yay Sonic being used in adverts again. WTF him being in completely misplaced ones. At least it's not McDonald's for a change...
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Post by Moo on Jan 7, 2012 15:27:55 GMT
Maybe the original 90's Sonic fans are being appealed to, since theyre all older and need insurance?
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Post by ShayMay on Jan 7, 2012 15:40:24 GMT
I just wonder why the Sonic 3 invincibility music was used, yet he still has that stupid-arse running animation from Unleashed.
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Post by Juliett. Bravo. Alfa. on Jan 7, 2012 17:48:28 GMT
I could totally get behind Eggman searching for insurance.
But this is just Sonic running around. Madness.
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Post by Tanner / Ogilvie on Jan 7, 2012 18:24:43 GMT
Sonic is chaos incarnate. Him having direction is a paradox! >:C ...I do wonder why he's mute though. No... I think we're onto something - this is meant to appeal to his older fans, who are all well in their 20s and 30s. It's funny, I had a discussion of how many of the individuals here are adults and love Sonic... so it seems kind of funny people are now saying it's marketing to the wrong demographic. They're cashing in on the Classic market just as Sega did.
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Post by Nam on Jan 7, 2012 21:54:48 GMT
I don't think insurance, no XD But then Lara Croft advertised lucozade and I don't think that either. Well yes, but that made sense. Lara does a lot of running, and jumping, and is only human hence needs lots of glucose, ergo Lucozade. Furthermore, this was at the height of Tomb Raider's popularity, and Lucozades target market is pretty much the same as Tomb Raider's, i.e. teenagers and young adult males.
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Post by Beeth on Jan 7, 2012 22:07:01 GMT
I would now like to move for the motion of Ryu from Street Fighter becoming the new face of Yorkshire Tea.
After this bizarre alliance, anything's possible now.
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Post by madhair60 on Jan 7, 2012 22:07:10 GMT
Any persons of integrity or creativity surely shall, upon looking at this advert, proceed to cradle their face in their palm while gripping the top of the bridge of their nose between finger and thumb as if pained by headache. There's no way anyone with any sense could make anything positive of this advert. At all. I maintain that all TV adverts that push none-entertainment produce should be presented as silent slideshows of product-only images, facts and references. Why? Because they're adverts, they're not there to entertain you, they're there to make you buy their [censored]. The more shiny distracting crap adverts employ, the more people gloss over the details. Using Sonic to sell insurance of all things is just another staggering-but-not-surprising cynical exploit. Whether this is true or not, it makes me cringe awful. Wish I could "thumbs up" a post. I haven't actually watched the advert. Hate adverts, go out of my way to avoid them. In the past, have been ridiculed on here for doing so. You fail and I win, advert-watchers.
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