Recently in the city of Parañaque, a certain Chinese national who was arrested in Parañque City for illegally practicing medicine was formally charged for violating Republic Act 2382 and estafa, according to a Philippine Star news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Philippine Star news story. Some parts in boldface…
Criminal cases were filed against a Chinese national who was arrested in Parañaque for medical malpractice, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reported on Friday.
Xu Yisheng, also known as Xu Xingzhe, underwent inquest proceedings before the office of the city prosecutor of Parañaque for violation of Republic Act 2382, or the Medical Act and estafa, NBI director Jaime Santiago said.
Santiago said they received information that Xu was maintaining a clinic in Parañaque and offering medical services to his compatriots for a fee.
The NBI, together with the Professional Regulation Commission, found out that the suspect is neither a licensed physician, nurse nor medical technologist and is not authorized to practice medicine in the country.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more Chinese nationals illegally practicing medicine in the city? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot of crime involving Chinese nationals?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
It should be recalled that the victim was dropped off in Barangay San Dionisio where she reported to the police who in turn arrested the suspect driver in Laguna. The driver’s accomplice has yet to be caught as of this writing. The suspect driver admitted to the crime that happened.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has launched an investigation into the alleged robbery and sexual assault against a Vietnamese national and is eyeing sanctions against transport network vehicle service (TNVS) company Grab Philippines.
In a statement on Wednesday, LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III said a letter was sent to Grab asking to explain what transpired during the incident. Grab has five days to explain before the LTFRB decides on the case.
“Puwede ho naming ma-suspend ‘yung kanilang app for at least 30 days sa first offense po, kung makita mang may kapabayaan po, pero ‘yan po ay gagawin namin ‘yan as a matter of due process (We can suspend their app for at least 30 days as a first offense, if we see negligence. But we will do that as part of due process),” Guadiz said.
Aside from suspension, the company may also face fines if found negligent. Possible sanctions will be enacted after the investigation.
To date, the LTFRB has filed a police report to validate the facts of the case, has written to Grab, and has also reached out to the victim to get her side of the story.
“Mag-iimbestiga kami definitely and then kung sino nga po yung may kasalanan, mananagot po (We will definitely investigate and whoever is found guilty, they will be held accountable),” he said.
He called on the public to be cautious in using ride-hailing apps and to inform a trusted person about the details of their trip.
“Always verify the driver’s identity, share your trip details with a trusted person, and stay alert throughout the journey to ensure your safety,” he said.
On Sept. 5, a Vietnamese woman was allegedly robbed and raped during a ride with a TNVS service in Parañaque City.
The woman was said to have been driven around by the driver and they were later joined in the vehicle by an accomplice. The accomplice threatened the victim with a knife and took PHP35,000 in cash before the sexual assault.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you often avail of the services of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) companies? Do you think there could be more TNVS drivers who are secretly engaging in robberies on their passengers?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the city of Parañaque, it was revealed that there still some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs inside a certain village operating even though the nationwide ban came into effect, according to a GMA Network news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA news article. Some parts in boldface…
A homeowners association (HOA) in Parañaque City on Wednesday said operations of some Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hubs in the gated community allegedly continued despite the ban.
Julio Templonuevo, president of the Multinational Village HOA, said POGO operations in their village were reduced following the pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“We think partially may effect pero hindi pa 100% kasi may existence pa,” Templonuevo told Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
(We think it may have a partial effect, but not 100% yet, because some POGOs are still there.)
“Generally, malaki ang improvement ng pronouncement…Since may government directive, medyo okay na. Malakas na ang loob ng homeowners na magsumbong,” he said.
(Generally, there’s been a significant improvement after the pronouncement…Since the government issued a directive, it’s gotten better. Homeowners are now more confident to complain.)
According to Templonuevo, some Chinese previously rented residential units at the Multinational Village to use as POGO structures. Lease payments reached P500,000 per month before but dipped to P200,000 to P300,000 monthly.
“Ito educated guess, una ‘yung location napakalapit dito. Napaka-convenient. 5 minutes nasa airport ka na,” said Templonuevo.
(This is an educated guess but they might have chosen our village because of our location. It’s very convenient, you can be in the airport in five minutes.)
“Napili ‘yung sa’min na malaki ang area dahil they can accommodate more people kasi ‘yung surrounding namin basically low-cost housing ‘yan eh,” he added.
(Our area can also accommodate more people because the surrounding areas have low-cost housing.)
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be POGO hubs secretly operating within your local community? Are there lots of Chinese nationals living and working in your local community? Do you consider Parañaque a hot spot of crime involving Chinese nationals?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
As far as analysts are concerned, the foreign investment outlook for the Philippines is improving and should result in more investments, according to a BusinessWorld news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
LOWER INTEREST RATES will help drive the entry of more foreign direct and portfolio investments into the Philippines, analysts said.
“The outlook for foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) in the Philippines appears promising, with current trends suggesting the country could meet or potentially exceed the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) targets,” Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces said in a Viber message.
The BSP expects to record FDI net inflows of $9.5 billion this year. For foreign portfolio investments, it forecasts $3.1 billion in net inflows by yearend.
“The BSP’s forecast for the year sounds reasonable, as it wouldn’t be too far a stretch, with that sort of level of annual FDI coming into the Philippines almost consistently over this period, barring the coronavirus-hit year in 2020,” Pantheon Macroeconomics Chief Emerging Asia Economist Miguel Chanco said in an e-mail.
In the January-to-May period, FDI net inflows jumped by 15.8% year on year to $4.024 billion, data from the BSP showed.
Meanwhile, short-term foreign investments yielded a net inflow of $1.46 billion in the January-July period, surging from the $157.3-million net inflows in the same period a year ago.
FDIs are considered long-term investments, while portfolio investments or “hot money” are seen as more fickle due to the ease by which these funds enter and leave the economy.
Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc., said the BSP’s investment targets are doable amid easing interest rates.
“Offering attractive rates will be the key. All around will be declining key rates, thus, offering sensible investments now will lock in gains for prospective investors. I would like to believe that there is time,” he added.
Mr. Roces said the further reduction in policy rates this year and next year “should stimulate investment activity, particularly for FDI, by making borrowing more attractive.”
At its August meeting, the Monetary Board cut rates for the first time in nearly four years or since November 2020. It reduced borrowing costs by 25 basis points (bps), bringing the benchmark rate to 6.25% from the previous over 17-year high of 6.5%.
The central bank could also deliver another 25-bp rate hike in the fourth quarter, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said earlier.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you agree with the findings of the economic analysts pointing to improving foreign investment outlook for the nation?
Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.
#1Popcorn in Bed’s Logan reaction video – I saw Logan three times in different cinemas – the first viewing on IMAX – here in the Philippines in 2017. The movie is still great to watch as it carries the R-rated vibe of 1980s Hollywood action cinema and it remains Hugh Jackman’s greatest performance as Wolverine. Unsurprisingly, Logan is the subject of several YouTubers’ movie reaction videos and in recent times Popcorn in Bed released its own reaction video which I really enjoyed watching. If you have not seen Logan, I urge you to watch it first before seeing any reaction videos. Otherwise, Popcorn in Bed’s video is posted below for your enjoyment.
#2 Sega Lord X’s Retro Awful video – I’ve been having retro gaming fun on my Xbox Series X this year with Grandia, Grandia II, Contra, Gradius, and Elevator Action Returns to name some. I am also enjoying the Atari 50 Collection Xbox copy as well. When it comes to old games that are not fun or are simply terrible, Sega Lord X published a video about which games from the past to avoid. Watch the video and pay close attention to the games shown.
#3 Chuck E. Cheese documentary – Have you ever heard of Chuck E. Cheese? It started as a restaurant that had a clever blend of entertainment (arcade games, amusement rides and musical shoes) with dining that attracted families. It also became known as a fun-filled place to have wholesome parties at. Although I have visited the United States many times, I never got to visit a single Chuck E. Cheese branch nor was there ever an opportunity for me to try the food they cooked.
Chuck E. Cheese (original name: Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater) was established in the late 1970s by Nolan Bushnell, the same man who founded Atari. The restaurant chain went through several developments and changes as each decade passed by. The most comprehensive video about Chuck E. Cheese that I found is from YouTuber Bright Sun Films and you can watch it below.
#4 Angry Video Game Nerd’s (AVGN) 3DO console video – If you are into video games for a long time, then you might at least have heard of the failed 3DO (formally called the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer) game console which was notable for its multimedia approach with gaming. The console was also known for not having a strong lineup of video games and for launching with a very high price. As a part of retro gaming culture, the 3DO is the subject of many retrospective videos by YouTubers. The one retrospective 3DO video that I found entertaining to watch is that of the Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) which you can watch below. Be warned of brash humor and foul language.
#5 Minty Comedic Arts’ “The Version You’ve Never Seen” videos – YouTuber Minty Comedic Arts is great with making entertainment trivia videos and he has attracted a lot of viewers from around the world. Apart from trivia videos, he is also good with “The Version You’ve Never Seen” videos which provide viewers a captivating new look at movies that could change the way they perceive them. Since there are many, I selected three for your viewing pleasure. To see more of these kinds of videos, visit Minty Comedic Arts’ YouTube channel.
#6 ESPN’s “Nobody came closer to ending the Bulls’ dynasty than Reggie Miller’s Pacers” video – When I look back at the 1998 NBA Playoffs, I could never forget the Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the eventual repeat champions Chicago Bulls. Both teams played hard, there were a few games that concluded with a high level of suspense, and the series went to a full seven games. Apart from seeing Michael Jordan and Reggie Miller doing their on-court heroics, it was a unique experience to see NBA legend Larry Bird coaching the Pacers (note: Bird led the Boston Celtics to NBA Playoff victories over the Chicago Bulls when Jordan was much younger). To see a detailed and engaging retrospective about the Bulls-Pacers series of 1998, watch the video below.
#7 Ashleigh Burton’s Citizen Kane movie reaction video –Citizen Kane is one of the most revered American movies ever made. Starring and directed by the late Orson Welles, the movie dramatized the story of fictional media tycoon Charles Foster Kane while showcasing many creative filmmaking techniques that influenced other filmmakers through the decades. Citizen Kane was one of the very first Blu-ray discs I ordered through Amazon and I occasionally replay it. Among the many movie reaction videos of Citizen Kane posted on YouTube, Ashleigh Burton’s own reaction should be seen. Before you watch Ashleigh Burton’s video below, I encourage you to watch the classic movie first.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, a woman from Vietnam who availed of a private transportation service was held against her will, robbed and raped, according to a GMA Network news report. The driver of the vehicle got arrested while the other suspect remains free and on the loose.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the GMA Network news report. Some parts in boldface…
A Vietnamese woman was allegedly held up and raped during a ride hailing service after booking a ride last September 5 in Paranaque City.
In Nico Waje’s report in Saksi on Monday, CCTV footage showed that a ride-hailing service car entered into a subdivision in Paranaque City to pick up the foreigner at around 4 a.m. of Thursday last week.
The Southern Police District (SPD) said that the 32-year-old victim was robbed inside the vehicle by the driver’s accomplice.
“Pinaikot-ikot siya nitong ating suspek na driver. Tapos mayroon din pong sumakay na isa pang kasabwat nitong ating driver,” said SPD Public Information Office chief Police Major Hazel Asilo.
(The driver just drove around in circles. Then another man, his accomplice, suddenly boarded the car.)
At knife point, the accomplice took P35,000 in cash from the woman, the report said. Police added the victim was sexually assaulted by the suspects.
“Matapos siyang nakawan, kuhain ‘yung kaniyang pera at saka ‘yung kanyang cellphone ay ginahasa rin po ‘yung ating Vietnamese na victim. So bago po siya maibaba ay nanakawan na siya at nagahasa pa siya,” said Asilo.
(After her money and cellphone was taken from her, the Vietnamese victim was also raped. So before she was dropped off, she was robbed and raped.)
The victim was dropped off at Barangay San Dionisio in Paranaque City where she reported the incident to police. The driver suspect was arrested in Cabuyao, Laguna in a follow-up operation last September 7.
“Umako naman po siya sa mga ginawa nila…modus na po ito nitong ating mga suspek. Although ilang beses na nilang nagawa, hindi po sila nahuhuli dahil wala pong nare-report,” said Asilo.
(He admitted to their crimes…they’ve been doing this modus for a long time. They’ve done this several times, but they were never caught because no one was reporting them.)
When confronted, the driver said that it was his accomplice who raped the victim, which the latter also confirmed.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be a lot more abusive drivers with accomplices who are searching for women to rob and rape around the city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, the City Government’s mobile kitchen was sent to four different evacuation centers and provided meals to the victims of Typhoon Enteng, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The “Kusina ng Las Piñas” or mobile kitchen visited the four evacuation centers in the city housing victims of Tropical Storm Enteng to provide them with nutritious food.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar ordered the deployment of the “Kusina ng Las Piñas” to provide hot meals to evacuees at the Verdant court, Carmencita covered court, Pulanglupa 2 Evacuation Center, and at the Pagtakhan covered court.
Aguilar said the city government recorded a total of 761 individuals who sought temporary shelter at evacuation sites at the peak of Enteng.
She said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) reported that 150 individuals or 43 families in Barangay Talon Tres were evacuated to the Carmencita Covered Court, 131 individuals or 29 families from Talon Kuatro were staying at the Pagtakhan covered court, 435 individuals or 110 families from Pamplona Tres were staying at the Verdant Covered Court, and 45 individuals or 17 families from Manuyo Dos.
The mayor said Vice-Mayor April Aguilar immediately responded to personally monitor the evacuees to ensure their safety and medical needs.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Were many members of your local community displaced by Typhoon Enteng? How many people of your local community are staying at an evacuation center?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the city of Parañaque, the local police apprehended seven people (three of them were Chinese nationals) for kidnapping three foreigners, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…
Seven suspects, including three Chinese nationals, were arrested for allegedly abducting three foreigners in Parañaque City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said Tuesday.
In a report, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. identified the suspects as Liu Yujie, 39; Weichun Xu, 35; and Donbo Lyu, 35; all Chinese nationals; and Jon Jon Osquiza, 45; Jerico Mamaril, 29; Brian Barado, 33; and Ruel Arenas, 42.
Nartatez said the incident happened around 4 a.m. Monday when the suspects barged into a house inside the Multinational Village in Barangay Moonwalk, which is being rented by three women — two Chinese nationals and a Vietnamese.
He said the suspects destroyed closed-circuit television cameras while they took the cellphone of the victims’ driver Kevin Christian Julu-an and a housemaid. The suspects took the victims and forced them into their getaway vehicle, a white Toyota Alphard minivan.
Julu-an immediately reported the incident to the local police, which launched an operation.
At about 4 p.m., the police tracked the suspects’ hideout on another street in the same village and arrested them.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that kidnapping could happen someday within your local community? Do you think that kidnapping incidents that happened over the past twelve months are somehow connected with Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) which were still in business within your city?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Recently in the City of Las Piñas, police officers responded to an emergency call and eventually apprehended two akyat-bahay suspects for trespassing and theft inside a subdivision in Barangay Pulanglupa Dos, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
Two “akyat- bahay” members were arrested by members of the Las Piñas City CAA substation early morning of Saturday, August 31.
Las Piñas City police chief Col. Sandro Tafalla identified the suspects as alias “Jason,” 22, and alias “Oscar,” 34. They were arrested inside a subdivision in Barangay Pulanglupa Dos, Las Piñas City.
Tafalla said the victim, identified as alias “Russel,” was awakened by the loud barking of his dogs at around 1:30 a.m. and discovered the suspects inside his home and had stolen a cellular phone and a silver watch.
He said the suspects tried to flee but his neighbors had already called for police assistance which led to the arrest of the suspects.
The city police chief said recovered from alias Jayson was a .38 caliber loaded with ammunitions while an unknown caliber pistol and shoulder bag where the stolen items were placed were confiscated from alias Oscar.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Are you concerned that there more akyat-bahay incidents will happen within your local community?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Sega Dreamcast launch print ads
This cryptic Sega Dreamcast American launch print ad has an image that emphasized that gamers are being watched.
This one has an image emphasizing emotions, impulse and excitement.
By the time Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late 1998, the company was already bleeding from back-to-back years of financial losses. The Dreamcast was their big bet to regain the trust of consumers and business partners, to sell a lot of consoles and games, and somehow survive.
For the North American Dreamcast launch, Sega of America organized an intriguing series of ads emphasizing the September 9, 1999 launch date in very stylized and cryptic ways. As seen in the two selected ads above, the Dreamcast name was not even mentioned but the console’s trademark swirl was present. Anyone who was obsessed with video games – even if one was not a Sega fan – could tell that the print ads made clear that the Dreamcast was going to launch in America. Ultimately, Sega sold roughly $98 million worth of Dreamcast consoles, games and peripherals in the first 24 hours in America.
2. Point Blank 2 print ad
This ad appeared in comic books and magazines.
When Namco released the first Point Blank game, it was commercial successful in both arcades and on the PlayStation console in different parts of the world. To keep on succeeding, Namco made the sequel Point Blank 2 and their confidence in it was made clear with the above PlayStation version print ad that promised it to be multiplayer-oriented and ensure enough content to give players sufficient bouts of fun whichever game mode they pick. The ad’s image of the lady with a gun (Namco’s Guncon peripheral) and the animal trophies were done with humor in mind.
3. Pac-Man arcade flyers
This ad showed that arcade operators can choose which type of machine of Pac-Man they could order.
Midway issued this flyer when Pac-Man was already successful.
In 1980, Namco released Pac-Man in Japanese arcades and it became a big hit in a short span of time. This prompted them to bring the game overseas, especially in America which already had a growing arcade market. In November that year, Namco brought Pac-Man and their other arcade game Rally-X game to a tradeshow and only got mild attention from attendees and distributors. After being turned down by Atari, Namco signed a contract with Midway to distribute Pac-Man and Rally-X in America, and they were formally released the following month.
Upon release, Pac-Man became a strong attraction in American arcades with weekly sales surpassing $8 million per week. When it comes to the presentation, Midway’s arcade flyers above gave arcade operators and gamers a clear view that Pac-Man is fun and available in three physical units (emphasized in the first flyer) and that it made a positive commercial impact (emphasized in the 2nd flyer). Ultimately, Midway went on to sell over 100,000 Pac-Man arcade units resulting in a massive gross of over $1 billion in quarters (coins of twenty-five cents in American currency).
4. Silent Hill print ad
A clear atmosphere of psychological horror in this ad.
Made by a certain team within Konami, Silent Hill on PlayStation turned out to be a surprising and intriguing hit game in 1999. It was a polygonal survival horror game that drew a few comparisons with Capcom’s Resident Evil but ultimately stood out with its gameplay features and psychological horror concept.
The people at Konami must have anticipated that gamers in America would be attracted by the game so they came up with the creepy print ad above which promoted the game with a clear touch of psychological horror. If you look closely, the 2nd screenshot (in the middle) even showed blood in digital form. This Silent Hill print ad was clearly aimed at adult gamers and PlayStation gamers who craved for more horror gaming.
5. Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad
The use of the image of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in this print ad was the right move to inform readers that the 1997 movie’s video game was coming out.
To really capture the attention of James Bond fans and gamers, MGM Interactive and Electronic Arts (the co-publishers of the game) came up with a Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad showcasing Pierce Brosnan as the iconic Agent 007 in a dominant fashion leaving a minor space for the text description, two screenshots and other details displayed. While some people might look at the ad as an act of desperation to sell the long-delayed game, I find it eye-catching and engaging to look at. It also was a lively reminder back then that Brosnan was James Bond of the 1990s.
6. Wipeout 64 print ad
This is still cool and sleek to look at.
Wipeout, the series best known for its very futuristic portrayal of high-speed anti-gravity racing, showcase of dynamic visuals and the use electronic dance music, made its way to the Nintendo 64 console with Wipeout 64. This 1998 release was significant because at that time developer Psygnosis was already owned by Sony and most Wipeout games of the decade were released on PlayStation. Wipeout 64 was released before the PlayStation-exclusive Wipeout 3 came out.
The above print ad had this very sleek display of two anti-gravity racers moving at high speed and on the side are five screenshots showing what the game looked like on the N64. If you look very closely, one of them shows the 4-player split-screen mode identified with the Nintendo 64’s capabilities. Overall, the Wipeout 64 print ad captured the vibe of the Wipeout series and remains very cool to look at.
7. Ehrgeiz print ad
You want a 3D polygonal fighting game that has Final Fantasy 7 characters in it? Ehrgeiz was the answer.
In 1999, the landscape of gaming really changed. More gamers played 3D polygonal fighting games over the 2D fighting games, and demand for Final Fantasy and Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were in high demand in the West arguably because of the massive commercial success of Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation. That being said, Squaresoft released their own 3D polygonal fighting game that had Final Fantasy VII characters in it – Ehrgeiz.
After achieving success in the arcades, Squaresoft brought Ehrgeiz to PlayStation in America in 1999. Unsurprisingly, the print ad had Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud and his signature sword in a prominent position which was obviously done to attract the millions of FFVII for potential sales. The screenshots on the ad were presented not for showing off but to give readers a clear view of what kind of gaming experiences they could expect. Ehrgeiz on console even had a standalone RPG mode.
8. Driver print ad
The art used for the muscle car and the police car was a tribute to the car chases of movies from long ago.
Even before it was released on PlayStation and PC in 1999, publisher GT Interactive knew they had something big for gamers to engage with. That game was Driver and developer Reflections Interactive made it with a lot of inspiration taken from cinematic car chases. This particular ad emphasized car chases, the exploration of four real-life cities in digital form, and engaging in a variety of missions. As it successfully delivered what it promised, Driver went on to become a big commercial success on PlayStation and PC, and spawned sequels in the years that followed.
9. Eidos Interactive games print ad
From the time when Eidos Interactive was at the top of its game and Lara Croft was its most popular character.
By the end of the 1990s, Eidos Interactive became a major game publisher which is the result of the massive success they achieved with the Tomb Raider games which collective sold many millions of copies worldwide.
Along the way, they acquired developer Crystal Dynamics which was already a prolific team with many games released and new projects in development. Under Eidos’ banner, Crystal Dynamics went on to release Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver in 1999. That being said, this print ad shows the ambitious offers Eidos Interactive had with the Tomb Raider, Gex and Legacy of Kain franchises. It is a reflection about success and confidence about the future of video games.
Author Carlo Carrasco 