Team One Declassifies More of ‘The Bureau: XCOM Declassified’

In April, we covered the first piece of ambiguous viral ad content for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, a 2K Games and 2K Marin video game. We’re back to report another promo, titled “Orbit & The Asteroid,” and produced by Team One. This 90-second spot isn’t any less ambiguous than the first ad, most of it about a 1960s era creepy clown television show and the young boy who watches it. According to the creators, there are a number of easter eggs that contain clues for the future of the video game series. The game won’t be released until August 20, which means there are four weeks left for more curious marketing spots, creepy clowns and all. Credits after the jump.

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Ad Folks Detonate Old Careers for HappyBombs

HappyBombs, a “socially conscious apparel company dedicated to making the world a better place,” is a passion project that is turning into a real project. We’ve covered side ventures, short films, etc. created by various ad employees, but this t-shirt company is meant to replace a traditional job, not supplement it. As you’ll see in the promo video, the founders “make lots of things for lots of companies. But it hasn’t been making [them] happy.” One of the founders is Phil Henson, an ACD at Team One LA, the shop that handles Lexus among other accounts, of course. I guess placing bows on top of luxury sedans doesn’t fulfill the conscience at night.

If you’re interested in donating, you can find more information over at the fundraising page on Kickstarter little brother Indiegogo. The shirts are not just shirts (are they ever?), however. Half of the profit for each purchase is donated to a charity. No word yet on whether the shirts come with oversized bows, but it’s a cool project for a cool cause and worth checking out.

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Team One Taps into the Unknown for ‘The Bureau: XCOM Declassified’ Trailer

I must admit that I’m not the avid videogamer I once was. I hung up my gaming cleats in my late teens (about five years ago) and have watched the new releases from afar, flexing my knuckles, trying to avoid a destiny of Carpal tunnel syndrome. Usually, videogame ads all look the same and sport some generic 9/10 rating. But occasionally, a commercial will stand out and make wonder whether I should play again. For those of us who are worried about falling off the wagon, a compelling game ad can be both exciting and scary.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified trailer – created by Team One, which also handles Lexus of course – may be vague, but it is certainly not generic. The three-minute spot sells tone in a cinematic style, and according to Team One, contains 20 Easter eggs for future customers. The game is set in the Cold War and re-imagines a doomsday Cold War where aliens invade instead of Russians. You then have the fearless protagonist who will stop at no costs to complete his mission. The game will be out August 20, and the creators have promised more mysterious pieces of ad content leading up to the release date.

Credits after the jump.

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