Nintendo Switch 2 Has Nothing on These Classic Video Game Ads
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To me, the Nintendo Switch 2 ads feel less like they're hyping new Mario or Zelda adventures and more like they're trying to sell you a sleek new smart thermostat.
It wasn’t always this way. Journey with me through some classic video game ads of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s, courtesy of the AdLand archives.
Atari – Don't Watch TV, Play It (1978)
In the beginning, there was Atari—and Pete Rose. And forget about “console.” These were the days of “video computer systems,” and they were gloriously pixelated.
Watch here: https://adland.tv/atari-dont-watch-tv-play-it-1978-30-usa/
Christmas of 1982 brought us one of the most epic video game flops in history: Atari’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. (It was such a flop that Atari tried to (literally) bury it in a remote desert, only to have its shame unearthed by a documentary crew in 2013.)
It wasn’t a failure of advertising. The game flopped because the game sucked. The Christmas commercial promoting it was iconic:
Watch here: https://adland.tv/atari-et-christmas-usa-1982-030/
Sega – Sonic 2, “Listen Up” (1992)
At some point in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, video game TV ads hit their stride—as did the Sonic franchise. For me, nothing quite embodies the video game ad aesthetic of the ‘90s like this Sonic 2 commercial. (Remember the Sega scream? Gen X had largely forgotten its fury—until the brand revived it for Sonic Superstars in 2023.)
Watch here: https://adland.tv/sega-sonic-2-listen-1992-015-usa/
Sega – Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
Speaking of Sonic, if you know any young gamers whose first exposure to Shadow the Hedgehog was voiced by Keanu Reeves, go ahead and blow their minds with his debut commercial from 20 years ago:
Watch here: https://adland.tv/sega-shadow-hedgehog-2005-30-usa/
Remember the good ol’ days, when it seemed like a good idea to associate your product with the discomfort of proctological exams? Me neither. But it happened. Thanks, Gameboy.
Watch here: https://adland.tv/gameboy-rectal-exam-2002-030-usa/
Finally, did you know Tony Hawk is 56 years old? My 13-year-old informed me of this, right before she suggested that the upcoming release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 should consider adding a mode where you play as Tony in a wheelchair. Ouch, kid.
But let us never forget just how long Tony’s been at it:
Watch here: https://adland.tv/tony-hawk-under-2003-30-usa/
Whatever.
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