The Consumer Debate

Before the 360-bit era console war even comes to an end, Microsoft and Sony have already fired the first shots in the next generation of battles for the living rooms of consumers. At E3, Microsoft focused on the multimedia functions of the Xbox One, while Sony branded itself as a solid and traditional gaming platform with added features. And while it has been no secret that the initial consumer reaction to the Xbox One was less than positive, Microsoft has not yet truly lost ground to Sony. Online, gamers debate the merits of both. Below are some key articles that highlight the direction the opening volleys are swaying consumers.

Evian: Baby&Me

Combining several of the elements that make a great viral video (babies, dancing, and cool VFX), Evian created a concept tailor-made to be shared. With over 58-million views, they’ve definitely accomplished their goal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pfxB5ut-KTs

The Bureau: Xcom Declassified: Live Action “Vote for the Ending” Trailer

Matching the stark and brutal tone of the Xcom series, the team at 2K Marin presents their second in a series of videos that engages the viewers to vote on where they want the story to proceed. Successfully marrying social media and video campaigns, they’ve doubled their value on their trailers.

http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/l3sf4h/the-bureau–xcom-declassified-agent-ennis–the-choice

Honda Hands

Deciding to celebrate both their long history and the inventiveness of their engineers, Honda brought out a creative and visually incredible VFX showing two hands creating Honda’s line of vehicles and products.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxy4n0UT82o#at=99

Marketing is ‘Evolving Quickly’

In a ‘Q&A’ article with the [a] list, senior vice president of marketing for Ubisoft Tony Keys stresses the need for marketers to evolve faster in the ever-changing landscape brought by social media. Keys mentions how marketing has always had to change with the consumer landscape, but how emerging technology and social networking have prompted even faster responses.

http://www.thealistdaily.com/news/marketing-is-evolving-quickly/

Big Brands are Missing the “Social” in Social Media

According to an article in Businessweek, most major companies are dissatisfied with their social media numbers. But, as the article suggests, that might be because they are missing the central point of social media; being social.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-23/big-brands-are-missing-the-social-in-social-media

NDP Research: 3.5 Billion Spent on Video Game Content in Q1 of 2013

The NDP announced the sales number for Q1 of 2013 for the video game industry. They show that while sales of physical products are down, digital sales easily offset these losses putting the total sales on par with Q1 of 2012.

https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/research-shows-3-5-billion-spent-on-video-game-content-in-the-us-during-the-first-quarter-of-2013/

Magic the Gathering: Duels of The Planeswalkers 2014

Wizards of the Coast, owners of some of the hottest properties gaming culture, recently dealt us in to create the launch trailer for their next edition of Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers series. After mastering the ability to summon armies of creatures (and more than a few paper cuts from shuffling), we walked away with a fast-paced thrill ride of a trailer directly showcasing the key assets that Magic players want from this next installment.