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GC

NOA Begins Full GameCube Pimpage

by Jonathan Metts - September 24, 2001, 11:13 am EDT
Source: NOA Press Release

Want GameCube marketing? You got it! Commercials, magazine ads, GOD-sized sample CDs, mall banners, Dr. Pepper promotions...check it.

Nintendo of America is entering its final phase of GameCube marketing before the system's North American release. GC stuff has been noticeably absent from most retail locations, but that's about to change dramatically. Nintendo is also preparing a full-scale invasion of TV, movies, magazines, and the Internet...and you Nintendophiles are gonna love it.

A quick run-down of previously vague or unannounced marketing features:

- Seven TV commercials to be aired on everything from prime-time to MTV to Saturday morning cartoons; production team includes the director of photography from Se7en; one commercial involved over 500 cast members


- Above commercials will also before feature films this holiday season, including Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings


- Eight print ads will appear in magazines ranging from Sports Illustrated for Kids to Maxim


- Over 3 million sample CDs will be handed out to consumers (presumably through retail outlets and Nintendo Power), each containing video footage of GameCube software and other media; the sample CDs will be the same size as a real GameCube disc, to give everyone an idea of how tiny great games can be


- "...in the coming weeks" you'll see 10,000 playable GameCube demos at various retailers


- Extensive promotion with Dr. Pepper, including an instant-win game with GameCube prizes and appearances on 20-oz., 2-liter, and 12-can packages.

You can read up on other marketing stuff in the full press release below. By the way, thanks to "a friend of Crazy Billy" for the quick heads-up on this.

UNPARALLELED NINTENDO GAMECUBE MARKETING CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL PHASE

U.S. Launch Support and Exclusive Software Selection is Largest Ever

REDMOND, Wash., September 24, 2001 - With eight weeks before the U.S. launch of its innovative NINTENDO GAMECUBE™ home video game console, Nintendo of America Inc. enters the final phase of its most comprehensive and fully-integrated marketing campaign ever, with national advertising, non-traditional consumer sampling, online viral campaigns, partner promotions, retail marketing, and a major entertainment industry event. The multi-pronged marketing punch will culminate in a "Cube" Sunday, November 18 launch, coinciding with the beginning of the most important retail shopping week of the year.

The $75 million launch campaign focuses on what Nintendo does best - create the world's greatest video games - and will run simultaneously with dedicated campaigns for five exclusive first- and second-party games and more than 10 third- party games, for a total of nearly 20 exclusive titles and 1.1 million systems on store shelves by the end of year. The campaign targets all gamers with an emphasis on enthralling and fun game play, and world-class graphics.

"NINTENDO GAMECUBE is built from the ground up for one purpose only - to play games," says Peter Main, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America, Inc. "Our extensive campaign has one central strategy - to make it as easy as possible for players to quickly get their hands on our exclusive, groundbreaking Nintendo games."

Advertising

The heart of the multi-media campaign starts next month when seven different television commercials begin airing virtually everywhere - the media buy ranges from primetime television to MTV to Saturday morning cartoons.

Top production talent for the television creative includes the director of photography for the motion pictures "Seven" and "The Beach." The multi-national production involved shooting, editing and post production work in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and the U.S. One of the commercials features more than 500 cast members, adding to the epic scope of the television advertising campaign. Holiday moviegoers will see NINTENDO GAMECUBE commercials on the big screen in November and December, airing along with blockbusters such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.

NINTENDO GAMECUBE advertising will permeate print media in the next months, as eight print ads will appear in magazines ranging from kids and tween publications such as Sports Illustrated for Kids, to men's magazines such as Maxim and Stuff. More than 95 full-page print ads will appear in more than 50 publications.

NINTENDO GAMECUBE out-of-home advertising will include in-school and mall dioramas, Channel One Broadcasting advertising, NINTENDO GAMECUBE banners in malls across the United States and more.

Consumer Sampling

Nintendo's exclusive Nintendo Cube Clubs kick off on September 28. Instead of the industry-standard truck tour, Nintendo will visit 12 cities nationwide and transform lofts, vacant office buildings and other offbeat venues into fully interactive, hip clubs, with DJs spinning music, special lighting and more than 32 game play stations, equipped with Panasonic HDTV monitors. The Nintendo Cube Club Tour kicks off this month in Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta and is sponsored by Stuff Magazine, Maxim, DC Comics, Yahoo! and GamePro, among others. For free tickets, club locations and a full tour schedule visit www.nintendogamecube.com.

Internet Outreach

The NINTENDO GAMECUBE Internet campaign is anchored by the launch of the official NINTENDO GAMECUBE Web site. The site provides the latest updates and information on the hardware and games, Nintendo Cube Club tour schedule and free tickets to the clubs.

Nintendo will use the Internet to ask die-hard Nintendo enthusiasts what wild and crazy things they would do to get their hands on a NINTENDO GAMECUBE before anyone else. The national "What Would YOU Do for a Nintendo GameCube? " contest appeals to fans that will eat a bucket of worms or shave their head in order to win an early NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Visit www.nintendogamecube.com for contest details. Other fun online activities supporting upcoming NINTENDO GAMECUBE software launches will be featured on dedicated sites such as luigis-mansion.com, pikmin.com and smashbros.com.

Nintendo will distribute more than 3 million sampling CDs featuring Nintendo game play footage, links to the official NINTENDO GAMECUBE Web site, downloadable items and more. These disks will be the same size as the proprietary GCN disk and will be available through retailers, magazine inserts and other promotional partnerships, with the goal being to provide consumers with the opportunity to witness Nintendo games firsthand.

Retail

At retail stores in the coming weeks, 10,000 cutting edge NINTENDO GAMECUBE interactives will give customers a chance to sample the system before launch. Nintendo's strong retail presence includes point-of-sale materials, banners and other merchandising indicative of the overall advertising campaign.

Promotional Partnerships

The marketing plans also include multi-million dollar promotional activities with national partners. Starz Encore Group, the largest provider of cable and satellite-delivered premium movie channels in the United States, is teaming up with Nintendo as part of its blockbuster Fall Free preview.

During the STARZ! and BLACK STARZ! Free Preview Weekend on October 5-7 viewers will have the chance to win one of 500 NINTENDO GAMECUBE systems along with other Nintendo prizes.

Dr Pepper and Nintendo are collaborating on a nationwide consumer promotion this holiday season giving consumers a chance to instantly win a NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Dr Pepper is supporting the promotion with television advertising, point-of-sale and special packaging for the 20-ounce and 2-liter bottles, as well as 12-packs of 12-ounce cans.

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