Tag: Virtua Cop

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 24

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 24

carlocarrasco

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. Jangou Lady arcade flyer

If you were to play Mahjong digitally, does sex appeal motivate you to do so?

Are you fond of playing the tile-based game Mahjong? Believe it or not, there were indeed ways to play Mahjong in digital form inside the arcade or in gambling joints in Japan. The game Jangou Lady allows users to play rounds of Mahjong but with a notable additive – the digital art of women which serves as an attraction. In the sex appeal is clearly evident on this arcade flyer from the 1980s.

2. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi arcade flyer

Really nice art based on the movie.

Way back in 1983, Return of the Jedi delighted moviegoers in the cinemas throughout America. Behind the scenes, video game giant Atari acquired the movie license to make the 1984 arcade game Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The arcade flyer’s front featured a highly detailed hand-drawn art of Darth Vader, the Death Star, Luke Skywalker and Storm Troopers on hover bikes, and the Millennium Falcon which reflect the selected elements of the movie that were turned into playable sections. The image of the arcade machine was understandably inserted as it came with an unusual controller. This flyer is still captivating to look at.  

3. Over Drive arcade flyer

This arcade flyer is a reminder that Konami was notable for hiring pretty and sexy women for their print ads.

In 1990, Konami produced a racing game for the arcades with a unique style of presentation. That game was Over Drive and it stood out among the many racing games in the arcade mainly because of its first-person view (with a digital version of the steering wheel and driver’s hands at the bottom of the screen) and unique approach on sprite-scaling. To promote the game, Konami hired sexy models for photography for use in both the arcade flyer and the exterior images on the machine. Having sexy models posing with a winning driver added to the motorsport racing vibe needed to promote the game.

4. American Gladiators for NES print ad

I saw American Gladiators on TV but never played this game.

American Gladiators was a syndicated TV show that featured a variety of games in which amateur athletes compete with the established gladiators to succeed and become the next American Gladiator. Due to its success, it was not surprising that video game adaptations of the show were realized just a few years after its debut. In 1991, GameTek released the American Gladiators game on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and promoted it with this print ad that showcased their established gladiators of the time. This ad’s design was made to catch the attention of the fans.

5. Arch Rivals for NES print ad

I remember seeing a lot of people crowding in front of an Arch Rivals machine in the local arcade long ago.

Years before NBA Jam, there was Arch Rivals. Arch Rivals was a full court basketball video game in which players are allowed to punch players from the opposition in order to steal the ball and score. Over a year after the game’s 1989 arcade debut, the NES version was released and the publisher came up with a print ad showcasing a hilarious and cartoony artwork (the same art used for the game’s box cover) which gave readers a clear idea of what to expect. The art used is timeless and it still is funny to see.

6. Sega Sports print ad

See any Sega Sports video game you like?

Back in the 1990s, Sega excelled with sports video games. They were so aggressive, they established their sub-brand Sega Sports and this particular print ad showed one page promoting assorted sports video games (basketball, golf, baseball, tennis, boxing and American football) for the Sega Genesis and the other page with an exaggerated image of a guy with the line “Relive your jock itch” posted. Historically, a lot of American players and owners of the Genesis are slightly older than those on NES and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) during the 1990s and the strong sports games approach is a key factor.  

7. Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties print ad

When I first saw this print ad, it did not interest me as the presentation is lousy.

The 3DO console is remembered for having a lot of games that used full-motion videos and photo slides regardless of what game designs came with them. Back in the 1990s, games designed as visual novels or dating simulations were still new in console gaming in the West. Following the PC version’s release, a 3DO port of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties came out in 1994 and it received overwhelmingly negative reviews. The print ad here promoted the game as “an interactive romantic comedy” and fake quotes were displayed to fool ignorant readers that the game was entertaining. The print ad’s visual design had a mess of poorly implemented images. Ironically, this ad accidentally gave readers the idea that it was a slideshow game.

8. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Demolition Man games print ad

If you saw the movies, did you play their respective video game adaptations?

The 1990s is remembered for the many movie-based video games that got released. Back in those days, a lot of Hollywood movie productions had video game adaptations as part of the business process and this is evident with the Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and Demolition Man games released by Acclaim. For this particular print ad, the marketing team came up with a single-page ad to promote the two games with heavy emphasis on movie imagery leaving little room left for screenshots and other details. The way I look at this old print ad, it seems that Acclaim was aiming for not just movie fans but also gamers who like 2D fighting games and 2D action-adventure games.

9. Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes print ad

This print ad by 3DO is still funny to see.

In the late 1990s, The 3DO Company focused mainly on producing video games on multiple platforms and they had their own video game franchise based on the green plastic figures with a military theme. In 1999, they released Army Men: Sarge’s Heroes for PlayStation and Nintendo 64 (N64). To market the game, they had a hilarious visual concept of several solders freezing on an ice tray as a long green soldier marching on. This print ad always caught my attention while reading game magazines and it still is funny to stare at.

10. Sega Ages print ad

I can only speculate that Sega accepted Working Design’s financial offer for the publishing rights in North America.

Sega Ages is a series of ports and remakes of Sega’s own games (arcade and console) bundled together as compilations released on the modern consoles of the time. While Sega itself published Sega Ages on their Saturn console and Europe, the North American compilation was published by Working Designs under their separate brand Spaz which this particular print ad showed. While the classic Sega games of After Burner II, OutRun and Space Harrier often caught my attention, this ad made me wonder why did not Sega publish this compilation on the Saturn in North America themselves. Looking at this ad now remains awkward.

11. Sega Saturn North American print ad

Did you ever own a Sega Saturn in 1995?

While a lot of gamers and retailers were caught off-guard by Sega’s surprise early launch of the Saturn console in America, they still went ahead aggressively marketing the machine knowing they have a few months’ head start before the American launch of PlayStation. This print ad was designed to intrigue readers showing a bald lady whose head was made to look like the planet Saturn and next to her were images of Sega’s hottest games of the time – Virtua Fighter 2 and Virtua Cop. Sega relied strongly on imagery to promote their console with this print ad. It was somewhat weird yet eye-catching.

12. NBA Action ’95: Starring David Robinson print ad

David Robinson was the MVP of the NBA in 1995 but he failed to lead his team to the NBA championship back then. He would late win the NBA championship in the shortened 1999 season.

As mentioned early, Sega was aggressive the sports videos games and almost all of them were their own console exclusives. Their tradition of hiring professional athletes as endorsers continued during the age of the Genesis and Game Gear when they hired an NBA superstar as an endorser resulting in the Sega Sports basketball game titled as NBA Action ’95: Starring David Robinson. By the time the video game was released, Robinson was already the reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NBA. This print ad of Robinson in action still looks impressive but with a big catch – the superstar’s 1995 MVP achievement was arguably forgotten as he and his team (San Antonio Spurs) got eliminated by the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals. It did not help that Olajuwon outplayed Robinson a lot in that very playoff series. That is a sad reminder that also came with this Sega Sports print ad.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 15

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 15

carlocarrasco

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 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. X-COM: UFO Defense print ad

While there were no screenshots of the game for PlayStation, the art here was enough to catch your attention.

Back in 1994, X-COM: UFO Defense (original European title: UFO: Enemy Unknown) became an unexpected hit with PC gamers as it gathered lots of positive reviews from the critics and sold a lot on the PC DOS (disk operating system) format. In an obvious attempt to continue the commercial success, a port of the game was released for the PlayStation console in 1995. Publisher MicroProse and its marketing partners came up with this eye-catching print ad to promote the PlayStation version. While no screenshots were shown, the artwork used turned out to be effective in catching attention while emphasizing the sci-fi concept of the game.

2. Star Command print ad

Long before Starfield, there was Star Command.

Way back in 1988, I first saw my friends play the sci-fi role-playing game (sci-fi RPG) Star Command on the PC DOS format. A short time later, I played the game on our home computer and finished the single-player campaign. This print ad, which has lots of descriptive text, has a strong visual presentation that entices players to play the game and discover the vast amount of content (space travel, missions, battles, encounters with aliens) that the game developers prepared. For its time, the Star Command print ad was captivating to look at.  

3. The Daedalus Encounter print ad

This print ad was an attempt to catch the attention of both gamers and people who want to watch live-action spectacle.

Released on PC, Macintosh and the 3DO game console in 1995, The Daedalus Encounter was a sci-fi video game that worked as an interactive movie (with puzzles) starring Tia Carrere. To promote the 3DO version, publisher Panasonic came up with an ad that emphasized the sci-fi concept and the cinematic experience (including a few stills of cutscenes) leaving little room about how the game plays. Take note that this game was released at a time when the CD-ROM format started gaining popularity as a reliable optic media format which opened opportunities for game companies to include full-motion videos.

4. Gradius Japanese arcade flyer

The original Gradius has always been fun to play and the enjoyment also made it on game consoles as more games were released.

Still on the realm of sci-fi, Konami launched their 2D side-scrolling shooter Gradius in the arcades in Japan in 1985. The arcade flyer here used a huge amount of space for the game’s official artwork which is very captivating to look at as it clearly emphasized the sci-fi concept. On the side are five screenshots that tell gamers what to expect when playing. The promotions paid off nicely for Konami as Gradius became an instant hit in Japanese arcades and eventually found strong commercial success in the arcades in Europe and America. By today’s standards, this game is a classic and the Gradius game franchise has produced several sequels and spin-offs released on multiple platforms.

5. Super Cobra print ad

This ad I saw while reading comic books long ago. The game itself was fun.

Here is a game I played on the Atari 2600 over forty years ago. Super Cobra was a 2D side-scrolling game in which players control an armed helicopter that has to move from left to right, attacking enemies, and avoiding enemy projectiles while maintaining the fuel supply. This ad, which appeared on some comic books I read, utilized the game art that was used on the box cover although the single screenshot displayed looks exaggerated when compared to what I saw and played.

6. Destruction Derby print ad

The Destruction Derby print ad that had no screenshots of the game.

In 1995, Sony launched the PlayStation console in America and in Europe. In Europe, publisher Psygnosis promoted their ambitious game Destruction Derby (a 3D polygonal racing game that emphasized vehicular damage) for both PlayStation and the PC that same year. As this Destruction Derby print ad did not show any screenshots, Psygnosis and their marketing team or partner decided to pounce on positive gaming media quotes and the sexy model to promote their game. Their marketing move paid off nicely as over a million copies of Destruction Derby were sold by August 1996.

7. Virtua Cop 2 print ad

A lot of people found this Virtua Cop 2 print ad looking very weird.

When Sega of Japan forced its American division to launch the Sega Saturn console in the United States in 1995 without any pre-release marketing, it resulted in a series of disappointments that include low sales, too few games launched and strained ties with their business partners. In 1996, Sega started to become more aggressive to sell more Saturn units and more 1st party exclusive games such as Virtua Cop 2 (for the Saturn) which itself was a big hit arcade hit. As the company clearly aimed to make the console version of Virtua Cop 2 a hit, they approved this print ad which had a very intriguing visual concept showing video game images reflected on the glasses on the police man. As Virtua Cop 2 required a light-gun peripheral to be played accurately like in the arcade, this print ad utilized very little space for the Sega Saturn Stunner.

8. Contra: Legacy of War print ad

The print ad of Contra: Legacy of War.

When I first heard that a brand new game of Contra would be released on the still-new PlayStation and Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s, I was excited as I always enjoyed the original game I played on the Family Computer. This print ad of Contra: Legacy of War brought my excitement way down as it showed that the game no longer utilized the 2D side-scrolling design and came up with a design that emphasized 3-dimensional environments and polygons. The change in design was too alienating for me as all the previous Contra games had the 2D side-scrolling format as the main designs (leaving little room for the occasional sprite-scaling 3D sequences in some games). I finally played Contra: Legacy of War on PlayStation on November 1996 and it was a huge letdown!

9. Out Run arcade flyers

Sega Out Run arcade machines in different forms.
This Out Run flyer really has nice art.

In the history of arcade games, Sega’s Out Run was a massive success not only in Japan but also in America and Europe. Designed by Yu Suzuki (Virtua Fighter, Shenmue), Out Run was a pseudo-3D driving game in which players get to drive a Ferrari Testarossa convertible (which is always visible to the player) from one scenic destination to the next avoiding traffic as much as possible. This was indeed a labor of love on the part of Yu Suzuki who himself spent time in Europe to gain inspiration on designing the game. As Out Run was a hit, Sega made different types of machines of the game that arcade operators can choose from depending on how much space their respective arcades have left and how the local players prefer to play it. It should be noted that in one of the flyers above, the original sound track was promoted as well.

10. Hook SNES version print ad

If you look closely at the SNES box front cover art, you will notice that Peter Pan and Captain Hook looking nothing like the actors who portrayed them in Steven Spielberg’s movie.

In late-1991, Steven Spielberg’s movie Hook was released in cinemas and revived public interest in the fairy tale of Peter Pan. Typical of the entertainment business of the time, video games based on the movie were released on different platforms in 1992 and among them was a version on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Apart from showing the game’s box, the print ad of Hook on SNES cleverly included positive quotes from GamePro, Game Players Nintendo Guide and the Super NES Buyer’s Guide to convince readers that the game is worth their time.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 13

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 13

carlocarrasco

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 from the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, there will be a few flyers of arcade games.

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 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. Japanese Contra arcade flyer

The front of the Japanese arcade flyer of Contra.
The other side of the flyer.

As mentioned before, Konami’s long-running Contra games franchise first started in the arcades in Japan. As seen in the Japanese arcade flyer, it was clear that the company not only had a clear vision of Contra’s visual concepts but also was pretty organized with explaining lots of details (examples: the 8-direction controls, types of weapons or ammunition available, level design differences) that both players and arcade operators can learn from. If you look closely at the rear of the flyer, you will see the two characters already identified as Lance and Bill which clearly showed the Japanese creators had the creative details really organized.

2. Virtual Bart print ad

Anyone who loved The Simpsons would easily recognize the characters of this print ad.

Decades ago, The Simpsons made big waves on television and quickly emerged as a fine addition to American pop culture. That being said, it was not surprising at all that video games based on the show got made and Virtual Bart was one of them. This Virtual Bart print ad appeared in some comic books I read in 1994 and the ad makers made efficient use of the single-page layout showing that the game was not a mere 2D side-scroller as its concept emphasized Bart Simpson’s virtual reality escapades. This game, which had mini-games and different gameplay styles, received review scores ranging from negative to positive.

3. Wild Arms 2 print ad

This is NOT an effective way to promote a video game.

Now this is one of the most weird and the most uninteresting game print ads of the 1990s. For the newcomers reading this, Wild Arms 2 was a sequel to the 1997 hit game Wild Arms released on the original PlayStation console. Due to the 1997 game’s success, a fan base of Wild Arms was established and the 1999 sequel was anticipated by the fans. In a very odd and illogical move, Sony Computer Entertainment came up with the Times Square setting for Wild Arms 2’s North American print ad and because they allowed so much other text and images (appearing as billboard ads) on the buildings in the background, details about the game itself got overshadowed. By simply looking at this print ad, it is simply too easy to overlook Wild Arms 2 as the featured game. Can you see the references to Wild Arms 2 here?

4. RollerGames arcade flyer

Pretty ladies posing on the front of the flyer.
Clearly the details were prepared with arcade operators in mind.

Based on the competition-oriented TV show, the RollerGames arcade game from Konami was both unique and fun to play. As with their other arcade flyers, Konami hired models to emphasize RollerGames’ core concept by appearing in full costume (as roller-skating participants), and then inserted screenshots of the game. The rear of the flyer had the technical details in simplistic fashion and they were clearly written with arcade operators in mind. The 3-paragraph text descriptions emphasized what players could expect, what options are available and how the game connects with the TV program it was based on.

5. The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates print ad

Anyone among you is a Jetsons fan?

Based on the animated series, The Jetsons: Invasion of the Planet Pirates was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America as well as on the Super Famicom in Japan in the mid-1990s. This game’s print ad had eye-catching artwork, carefully laid down key details (including the promise of cartoon quality graphics) and showed a few screenshots. The game attracted mixed reviews from critics and I don’t know any fellow gamer who played it.

6. Sega Saturn games print ad

An aggressive single-page ad promoting the exclusive games on Sega Saturn.

If you are a game console manufacturer that also owns several game development teams, you really have to promote your hardware and software aggressively. This is exactly what Sega did in the North American market sometime after the embarrassing launch of the Saturn console there. As seen in this print ad, Sega aggressively promoted their Saturn-exclusive games – including their juggernaut Virtua Fighter 2 – to make it clear to their fans (and Saturn console owners) that they are focused to entertain them. The ad also served as Sega’s effort to lure in new gamers and potential Saturn owners given the fact that Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Cop and Sega Rally Championship were already big arcade hits. As history turned out, the Saturn ended up a commercial disappointment in America but still succeeded in Japan.

7. Galaxian arcade flyer

Have you ever played Galaxian in the arcades?

In September 1979, Namco released Galaxian in the arcades in Japan and it became a big hit there eventually finishing as the nation’s 2nd highest-earning arcade game of the year. Before the year even ended, Namco approached Midway of releasing Galaxian outside of Japan and this led to the game appearing in American arcades in November. Unsurprisingly, Galaxian drew lots of American players and their money which really helped Midway selling 50,000 arcade units in a few years’ time. This arcade flyer from Midway clearly showed what the Galaxian arcade unit looked like and how the controls were physically set up. I like the way the details and images were organized and how the limited page space was put to good use.

8. Heavy Barrel print ad

A really eye-catching and amusing print ad to look at.

Originally released in the arcades by Data East, Heavy Barrel was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1990. Similar with Contra and Jackal, this game had a strong military theme and shooting-oriented gameplay complete with missions that instantly reminded players about war. The military aesthetic and the showing of guns are easily the most eye-catching part of this print ad geared towards the NES userbase which had lots of young children among the players. To say the least, Heavy Barrel’s print ad was entertaining to look at.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco