iPod Touch Gaming Ad Shakes Things Up

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/12/ipod-touch-gaming-ad-shakes-things-up/)

Adage points (http://adage.com/digitalnext/article.php?article_id=133124) to a major new ad campaign from Apple which is currently running on http://games.yahoo.com/. Apple's latest web ad goes outside the usual bounds of traditional banner ads by affecting other portions of Yahoo's page. Apple's newest online ad has a pretty cool media placement -- something that we're starting to see more and more. Its agency, TBWA/Media Arts Lab, created an iPhone ad for Yahoo Games, where the iPhone action -- in this case, gameplay -- begins to move all the elements on the page.

A sample of the ad is embedded here.

Besides the uniqueness of ad placement, it also demonstrates that Apple is continuing to push the iPod Touch as a gaming platform. Games continue to be the largest portion of the App Store and one iPhone game (Fieldrunners (http://appshopper.com/games/fieldrunners)) was even chosen (http://toucharcade.com/2008/12/08/time-magazine-names-fieldrunners-in-top-10-games-of-2008/) by Time Magazine as one of the Top 10 games of 2008. TouchArcade.com (http://toucharcade.com) covers the emerging iPhone and iPod Touch gaming scene which has seen some recent notable releases including Dropship (Ngmoco) (http://toucharcade.com/2008/12/11/dropship-now-this-is-a-shooter/), Hero of Sparta (Gameloft) (http://toucharcade.com/2008/12/08/hero-of-sparta-visually-impressive-and-fun/), and Centipede (Atari) (http://toucharcade.com/2008/12/07/atari-brings-arcade-classic-centipede-to-the-iphone/).

Article Link: iPod Touch Gaming Ad Shakes Things Up (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/12/ipod-touch-gaming-ad-shakes-things-up/)

[aznkid25]

pretty cool. Saw this last night.

[amac4me]

Sweet ad

[Krafty]

I should try some of these games out.

[ninjadex]

Makes me feel like we are back in 1997 or something.

[mulze22]

Thats a sweet way of doing advertisement.

[Tastannin]

Neat ad. I like how it has the Yahoo! Games page header and other elements move in sync with the iPod Touch, LOL. Great way to emphasize the accelerometer controls.

[dvince2]

Personally, I hate ads that impede my browsing. This looks just as annoying as those "roll back the page" adds...

[Rivix]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

[Garissimo]

It's a very clever way of tweaking the same ad that has been running on TV for awhile.

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this is page 2 stuff.

[Mykbibby]

Personally, I hate ads that impede by browsing. This looks just as annoying as those "roll back the page" adds...

I do too, but the links can all be still clicked on and it doesn't cover anything. I actually think this is a really cool ad, and I like it a lot.

[autrefois]

Personally, I hate ads that impede by browsing. This looks just as annoying as those "roll back the page" adds...

Agreed. It's a very neat ad, great idea from a marketing standpoint, but as a user (and it sounds like I'm not alone) I really don't like when ads get in the way. Obnoxious advertising, even when clever, actually makes me less likely to buy the product (since I already have an iPhone, I was already not planning on buying a Touch).

EDIT: Okay, I went to Yahoo Games to see how it looked. For me at least, I had to click to start the ad, it didn't start on its own. Is this always the case? If so, I am fine with this. If the user chooses to see the ad, then it's okay. There are a number of ads that do not give you this option.

[maclancer]

I went to yahoo games just to check the ad and is pretty cool :D

[Str8edgepunker]

I currently work at PointRoll, which is the company that sets up and distribute these ads. While I don't deal with these ads, I still feel cool working for the company that makes these ads and supporting Apple in my own way. :D

[maclancer]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

holly crap, this is worst than the ipod touch ad, you can't even comment in youtube after the ad destroyed everything :eek:

[atthecross]

add is kewl, but what I really was interested in was the 'shaking/tilting' of the upper headers in the site

[talkingfuture]

That is one of the best ads I have ever seen. Such a brilliant way of getting the message across. Although, it may get a little annoying after a few visits.

[greenBabe]

I generally dislike those irritating popup ads, but this is an interesting new approach. And ... if you mouse over any of the Yahoo links while the ad is playing the page returns to "normal" until you mouse away again.

[mugwump]

The ad doesn't impede anything. You have to request to watch the movie before it does its thing, and quite frankly once that cool ad plays no one is going anywhere during it, except to then hit "replay" a few times.

[zacman]

It's highly annoying. Is there a working ad blocker for these flash ads?

[mcarlso1]

Nintendo did a similar type of ad a while ago for Wario Land:Shake It!


http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

[autrefois]

The ad doesn't impede anything. You have to request to watch the movie before it does its thing

This is an important point, as I saw when I viewed the ad on Yahoo Games itself. I think the OP's description, "Apple's latest web ad goes outside the usual bounds of traditional banner ads by affecting other portions of Yahoo's page," gave me the impression that it sort of took over the page on its own. It only takes over the top of the page, and only if you click on it, which is definitely better than what I thought it was going to do. :D

[derryquinn]

Aww, I posted this thinking I was really cool, and here it is, everybody knows about it :'(

I even uploaded a YouTube video :'(


Ah well, still a great ad!

[kitch95]

is it me or has this ad been on the uk youtube page before?

[NiteWaves77]

... as a user (and it sounds like I'm not alone) I really don't like when ads get in the way. Obnoxious advertising...

You are not alone. In general, I don't like it either. But, thankfully, in this case, mousing over any of the affected elements will halt their gyrating. If you choose to replay the ad, you'll have to wait for it to conclude, or halt it yourself, before you can use the affected elements.

[Wayfarer]

It's not annoying. It's cool, clever and innovative! ;) :apple:

[mogzieee]

This is awesome, lol.

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

As is this. Animation is awesome these days.

[Analog Kid]

Cool effect, but I'm looking for ads to become less intrusive, not more.

[puckhead193]

It cool the first time you visit but if you play games multiple times a day seeing that will get annoying...
I think apple is focusing less on the ipod part and more of the games for the touch.

[carlosbutler]

Finally something that flash is very, very good at. These adverts (the ipod touch and wii) are very cleverly done. Dont really know why you are moaning and bitching since it only takes up about 10 seconds of your life to watch it (the ipod one that is). you could just enjoy it and not be negative about it. but hey, everyone has their own opinion...

[Scooterman1]

Looks even better at http://games.yahoo.com

[Small White Car]

Cool effect, but I'm looking for ads to become less intrusive, not more.

After years of ads that cover up content and block me from where I want to be, this is a huge step in the right direction.

You can instantly move to any link and it doesn't block you from doing so. No problem at all.

[137489]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

LOL :D:p I love it.

[twoodcc]

cool. i still haven't seen this ad, but hopefully i will soon. glad to see that apple is pushing the ipod touch as a gaming platform, and i hope more developers start making games for it

[darwinian]

I'm amused by the fact that I'd never visit that SITE except to see the AD. Usually it's the other way around, isn't it?

[mkoesel]

Very cool ad. I thinks it's pretty cool how the Yahoo banner transitions from functional HTML to a look-alike Flash app and then back again, all seemlessly. Very clever. I see this type of ad taking off (I saw above that Nintendo actually bear them too it), and in even more creative ways. It definitely grabs your attention and holds it.

[Andy-V]

Although clever in idea, the actual ad would have been very easy to make. The ad agency probably got a healthy amount of dosh for that.

[freeny]

Flash?... Oh the irony :rolleyes:
Funny you cant actually watch the ad on an iPod touch...

[squirrelist]

I actually turned off my Safari ad blocker so I could experience it.

[137489]

it also demonstrates that Apple is continuing to push the iPod Touch as a gaming platform.


Great for gamers, but you know what? what about the rest of us that actualy work?

Where is my iSlate-tablet with mobile OS X/ilife/iwork and cut/copy and paste. all you need to do is make the ipod touch 9-inches, add a couple of USB's and a Mini-display port.

And yes, why do all these games look so 1997-ish and resemble the graphics of Donky Kong or Super Mario Brothers.

Edit - ok, you know what combine that with the 3-D and the holographic images we had in the prior threads. At a touch of Cirtual reality Now that would be cool. Imagine yourself in a holographic room, ducking at the wavy text and stuff coming out at you.

Second thought - if you suffer from sea sickness, maybe not (I don't so I would hop in).

[DavidLeblond]

Too bad you can't see the ad if you go to the site on an actual iPod Touch. :rolleyes:

[leandromp]

I hate this kind of ads.
Just like when id went to myspace earlier, a lot of monsters, movie trailers appear on the screen and of course the annoying background design and very slow.

NOT COOL!

[ivladster]

Personally, I hate ads that impede my browsing. This looks just as annoying as those "roll back the page" adds...

Agg, whatever. These ads are at least pleasant to look at. What are you the "GET $10,000 in a month, flashing red, blue and green" kind of ad person? Yeah.... :rolleyes:

[Scooterman1]

Flash?... Oh the irony :rolleyes:
Funny you cant actually watch the ad on an iPod touch...

Very good observation. It is ridiculous, to say the least, that Apple finds that using Flash in their Ads is so advantageous that they prohibit the very device they are using in the Ad from using Flash. and..... the iPhone.

[Macmaniac]

Cool ad, but I don't like ads that get in my way.

[jfinke]

Didn't Nintendo do an add like this last year?

It was on YouTube. And the videos still worked.

[tk421]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

That's really cool. I liked that one even better than the iPod ad.

[guzhogi]

Are there any Nintendo emulators out there for iPhone? Or something that would make your iPhone/iPod Touch the controller & the game on your Mac? That would be cool.

[Bokito]

Am I right if I say that you can't view the ad outside the USA? I only get an ad with a link to "Learn More" no option to play the ad. :(

[Stratoukos]

Am I right if I say that you can't view the ad outside the USA? I only get an ad with a link to "Learn More" no option to play the ad. :(

Maybe it's your browser. I get the static ad when I visit games.yahoo.com with opera and the flash ad when I visit with safari (I don't live in the US). Really nice ad but I didn't find any play button. It started playing as soon as the page loaded.

[pixelshaders]

the ipod ad, but not the yahoo version

http://speed.pointroll.com/PointRoll/Media/Panels/Apple/602152/ipod_touch_998x250_112008_r01.swf

[Tofaha]

love this ad...cool

[dwd3885]

This ad copies off of the Nintendo Wario ad where he shakes the entire screen. Kinda late, Apple

[alphaod]

I love it. Pretty spiff.

[tonyl]

Love to see Apple gaming consoles in the future.

[beez1717]

[/INDENT]Love to see Apple gaming consoles in the future.

DON'T REMIND ME OF THE APPLE BANDI PIPPIN @ WORLD...

[macmike47]

I saw this ad on youtube ages ago :rolleyes:

[powers74]

This is not the Snow Leopard announcement.

[briansolomon]

Very cool! :)

[salamence502]

I usually hate ads, but this is the best ad I've ever seen.

[Mazda 3s]

Flash?... Oh the irony :rolleyes:
Funny you cant actually watch the ad on an iPod touch...

Took the words right out of my mouth...

[pubwvj]

Yuk! I hate animation, blinking, scrolling and other motion in ads. It distracts from the real value content of the web page. That is awful. It doesn't make me want to buy, it makes me want to avoid the page, the ad, the company, etc.

[mikeinternet]

well my setup had no chance at handling that ad.

[Auzburner]

This ad is by far the best ad I have ever seen online in my life. Nothing fan even touch how amazing and unique this truly is.

[asherman13]

Anyone know what song's playing in the ad? Thanks!

EDIT Nevermind. http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=294067171&s=143441

[swb1192]

This is so much better than the horrible advertising that myspace has been doing lately. A few days ago, a dog from a new movie that's coming out would bite the navigation bar and take it away from the homepage. You'd have to press the tiny tiny "x" at the top right to close the ad, then the real navigation bar would come. The navigation bar in this ad goes back to normal when you scroll over it, which is a great idea.

[hexonxonx]

Personally, I hate ads that impede my browsing. This looks just as annoying as those "roll back the page" adds...

I have to agree. Sites that force me to view an ad also force me to never visit that site again.

[swb1192]

Anyone else notice the Labyrinth app on the ad isn't feasible? The iPod is at a complete 90˚ angle, so the ball would fall right to the side and not move at all. Not the case on the ad.

Oh what video editing can do...

[MarkMS]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

Very cool! You can also fling the "pieces" around. It's like a physics game or something.

[longofest]

Am I right if I say that you can't view the ad outside the USA? I only get an ad with a link to "Learn More" no option to play the ad. :(

I'm in the USA and I can't view it. Can other folks still view it?

EDIT: I figured it out. It appears to require Flash 9. If you have already updated to Flash 10, you're out of luck.

[Mac OS X Ocelot]

Looks neat. Good thing you have the video here; all flash and java run like crap on my mac.

[notatrumpetpro]

It might have been cool if they were the first to do it but after seeing the nintendo one a few times it becomes quite annoying.

http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

EDIT: It would be cool if I would read the full three pages of posts before I comment...

[needlnerdz]

yes content imposing ads suck... but this is beyond the normal. it does not cover up content.. it only tweaks it in a dammmn clever way. I can semi see the connection to the wii ad in that it effects your browser.. but at least this one didn't cause about 12 script error popups to occur.. plus the minute this ad went with a 3d tilt towards the background- it won many originality points. bravo apples ad crew - you [from each different company] never cease to amaze me.

[holden15]

That is the coolest web ad I have ever seen!

[flottenheimer]

Cool.
But it would have been even cooler if the Yahoo Games menu bar was still working while being animated.

[Maxington]

Clever and innovative marketing.

[XCool]

I'm not getting the ad as well... thanks to Flash 10...
But from the videos I've seen, it looks great!

[MacFly123]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

Haha cool.

I love that Apple does things differently like this. It was fun and cool, I liked it :D

[Zincous]

Doesn't show up on a pc?

I used my mac and this ad is awesome! But on my pc, different ads show up...

[Bengt77]

Haha cool.

I love that Apple does things differently like this. It was fun and cool, I liked it :D
Erm... differently? How is their ad any different from the one for Wario Land: Shake It? Not only did the Nintendo ad air ages ago, it's also way cooler. Apple is indeed (too) late with their ad. A bit lame, really.

[i.mac]

Erm... differently? How is their ad any different from the one for Wario Land: Shake It? Not only did the Nintendo ad air ages ago, it's also way cooler. Apple is indeed (too) late with their ad. A bit lame, really.

You're showing your age. Many yooung folks may not know what you're talking about

[Mac OS X Ocelot]

Erm... differently? How is their ad any different from the one for Wario Land: Shake It? Not only did the Nintendo ad air ages ago, it's also way cooler. Apple is indeed (too) late with their ad. A bit lame, really.

You're right. Once one person does something, everyone else has to totally stop trying. Game over. Move along, Apple. Nothing left to see.

[kubes]

Hmmm, I've been there quite a few times on different browsers, but I haven't seen the ad yet.

[MacFly123]

Erm... differently? How is their ad any different from the one for Wario Land: Shake It? Not only did the Nintendo ad air ages ago, it's also way cooler. Apple is indeed (too) late with their ad. A bit lame, really.

I simply stated the Wario ad was cool, and then SEPARATELY stated that I liked Apple's ad as well. And yes it was different, NOT from the Wario ad, but from other online ads in general.

Take a chill pill lol!

[dwd3885]

MUCH BETTER, Wario Shake It ad:

http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

[Andrew K.]

Everyone should check this out to:
http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

Exactly what I thought of when I saw the touch ad! haha the Wii one owns though:D

[tbohlsennswssrg]

[/INDENT]

DON'T REMIND ME OF THE APPLE BANDI PIPPIN @ WORLD...

Apple iBox (Parody) [Youtube Video] (http://www.youtube.com/v/D_KxN0Nepus)

[superstrikertwo]

I'm in the USA and I can't view it. Can other folks still view it?

EDIT: I figured it out. It appears to require Flash 9. If you have already updated to Flash 10, you're out of luck.

I use Flash 10 and can see the ad.

[lachlan.hunt]

I can't see the ad, or figure out where to click to see it. Is the ad limited to certain countries only? I disabled my ad blocker in case that was blocking it, but still couldn't see it. I'm interested in seeing the technical details of how it works. Based on the video in this article, I'm guessing it's somehow done with flash.

[mongoos150]

I don't understand how on Earth people are voting positive for this story - this has got to be the most obnoxious idea I have ever seen online. Gah! I would quit the browser in a fit of rage if everything started spinning around and such! There had better be a cancel button to stop the ad.

[cosmokanga2]

For those intrested, a similar ad is playing on CNET (http://www.cnet.com)'s home page.