Technology HumorTube

New Developments in E-mail

2006-10-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

Most people are using the same e-mail they had when they started with a computer. Now they have a new developments. Hand delivery.

Origami Email - video powered by Metacafe

The Five Best Commercials Inspired by Video Games

2006-10-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

I've noticed recently that advertising firms have been turning to video games for inspiration, and making some great commercials in the process. I have compliled the five best commercials below, along with two honorable mentions. And if I forgot any great examples, please leave a comment with a link so I can update the post.

5) Kirin Lemon World
This is a Japanese (home of Nintendo) commercial, and it does a great job of integrating their product into the world of Nintendo. Nothing special or creative here, but it's well executed, and I assume it went over well in a country where most people must be familiar with Nintendo.

4) Roddick Pong
You might have seen this on TV, as it has been in heavy rotation and getting lots of airtime. Although it's well done (anyone who can pay Roddick as a spokesperson can clearly hire a nice special effects department, but it isn't that creative. It just takes the rules of Pong and transports them into the tennis court. As you will see with the commercials below, the best ads are those where video games are reimagined for the commercial.

3) Super Mario McDonalds
The first thing that you might notice about this commercial is the hokey faux-low budget style to it. But that makes this commercial great is that I believe it was an homage to this extremely well done Gordon College Talent Show performance that made the rounds a while ago. Obviously millions of people who saw the McDonalds commercial didn't realize the connection, but I think it's great that some ad firm (apparently) saw that previous performance and decided to make a commercial out of it.

2) Tetris Honda Jazz Spot
As I mentioned previously, a commercial inspired by video games really gets cool when it reimagines how the game should be used. And in this commercial (which is German by the way), the creators reimagine how Tetris can sell their product:

1) Coca Cola Grand Theft Auto
This commercial is done in the classic animation style of Grand Theft Auto, although it, of course, has a much nicer message. Not only that, but it makes no mention of video games in the commercial itself, and I can't believe that all adults know GTA looks like. And the commercial works for people who don't know video games, but it still has a special secret resonance for people familiar with the game:

Honorable Mentions
1. I wanted to include these two commercials because they look very similar to a cult favorite video game (Katamari Damacy), although there is a good chance they weren't actually inspired by the video game. Katamari certainly didn't invent
the rolling person snowball. [To quote South Park: "The Simpsons did it!"]
But regardless of origin, these two commercials will certainly remember players of Katamari of the game:

2) The Coming Machinima Commercials
Machinima is a way to make videos using multiplayer video and computer games like Halo or WoW. See the Wikipedia entry for more. And although I didn't find any actual commercials made with machinima, I did find a spoof of an actual commercial, so I figured that's the next best thing.

First, here is the beautifully done, visually and aurally stunning Sony Bravia Commercial, followed by the machinima spoof:
Real

Spoof

Battlefield 2
Uploaded by Littlejohn

A Man's Favorite Tool

2006-10-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's all about sex. Except when it's not.

New and Improved Cell Phones

2006-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

A new handheld communication device that runs without electricity! And injures your wife!

Communication - video powered by Metacafe

PS3 vs. A Toaster

2006-09-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

A sassy German PS3 take on a "McBread Warmer". There are a ton of these spoof ads, but this one is really funny. I promise.

"So you're proud of having both male and female parts?"
"Yes."

PS3 Vs. A Toaster - video powered by Metacafe

Saving Money on Gas

2006-09-20T17:42:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time focusing on computers and video games around these parts, but this technological innovation is probably much more important. Use this strategy to save thousands of dollars on gas each year:

Gas Trick - video powered by Metacafe

Microsoft iPod Repackaging Videos

2006-09-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

This is way old, but it's funny, and not everyone has seen it and it's my blog so I'll do what I want! [Kidding.]

MS iPod - video powered by Metacafe

Computer Three

2006-09-06T01:18:00.000-07:00

What is the story behind this? I guess Jack Black used to be poor and in need of work? Or something...

G4 Go Boom

2006-08-31T23:32:00.000-07:00

Nothing like having random internet strangers donate enough money to buy a new computer so you can blow up the old one:

Help Me Get A G5 - video powered by Metacafe

The Computer That Wouldn't Save

2006-08-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

This video takes a funny concept and develops it into an (extremely well done) 3 minute short film. And as much as I hate that fucking little paperclip, it is funny to see hiim getting the upper hand:

Computer Problems - video powered by Metacafe

Female GPS

2006-08-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

GPS nagivations systems in cars are really useful. But imagine how terrible they would be if it was the personality of a woman? And if you can't imagine that, then watch the video:

Female GPS - video powered by Metacafe

PS3 vs. Wii

2006-08-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

I don't play video games, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating a funny ad. And this spoof commercial is a rip-off of the apple/mac ads but with a sex angle thrown in. [I'm not actually sure what the video games have to with sex, but whatever, it's funny.]

The Real Reason that Computers Shut Down

2006-08-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

It all comes back to sex. Everything. Even computer malfunctions. As this clip demonstrates:

Computer Boy

2006-08-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

I thought this video was kind of stupid until I saw the ending. It's not as good as it could be, but the concept is quite humorous and rather original (at least to me). Anyone skilled with video editing could certainly build off of this and do something even better.

More Technology Outsourcing

2006-08-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Many Americans complained when computer companies began outsourcing all of the tech support to call centers in India. Now the computer companies have gone one step farther. Watch the video to see who they've hired to fix our computers now:

Using the Computer for Porn

2006-08-12T15:14:00.000-07:00

If stuff like this happened more often, then I think the QVC audience would rapidly expand. You could tell by the guy's voice he was up to something, and that something was going on about porn on live tv.

The Cubicle Wars

2006-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Every wonder what would happen if two vaguely nerdy cubcile jockies got in an epically petty and inept office prank war? Well, wonder no more! Here is your answer. [The tie prank is especially good, by the way.]

The Real Story of Google

2006-08-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

The skit from the MTV Movie awards shows that Google is not really run by two ners from Stanford, but by the mysterious Ron Google. This hilarious video is his first public appearance, where he gets interviewed by Jessica Alba.

welcome

2006-07-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

all technology, all the time