Mario Kart ditches 'Wii would like to play' for Cowboy Jed
by Eric Caoili 
{ Apr 22nd 2008 at 9:45AM }
"Look at that boy!"
As effective as Nintendo's "Wii would like to play" commercials have been, expanding the system's audience and attracting non-gamers, we're glad to see the campaign shunned for Mario Kart Wii (Though we expect to see it reappear for Wii Fit). In our opinion, the advertising style seemed inappropriate for some titles, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, for instance.
In the slogan's stead, we have Cowboy Jed and his Mario Kart Emporium parodying local, low-budget dealership commercials. Fantastic! We hope Nintendo of America and advertising firm Leo Burnett are planning more of these strange commercials for upcoming games. Get behind the wheel and drive past the post break for two more videos with Jed. Woo!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shortbuser @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:51AM
Phew Jed Jr. has some MAD skills....
tmntman @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:53AM
Is it just me, or does that commercial seem more interested in advertising the Wii Wheel than the game?
Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:54AM
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehawwww!
Pretty funny commercials, I appreciate the change of theme. I was getting sick of "Wii would like to play" anyways.
Nigeria - MK: 0430-8491-9123 @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:58AM
I remember these adverts. I thought they died in the early 90s with hi-tops fades.
Though, it is refreshing to see a game advert that isn't taking itself too seriously.
Chachi @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:02AM
those ads are great!
Orion @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:05AM
while it's a silly commercial, it does it's job. It's a lot more informative on the online/control/gameplay etc than the "Wii would like to play" commercials were, which usually just showed overly excited people playing a game.
I'd like for them to spice things up too. Let's bring back funny commercials again, like the "so happy together" N64 Smash Bros commercial :).
TheOverlord#2 SPEAKS: YOU READ IT NOW(Brawl: 1461-5875-9923) @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:45PM
Seriously. Nintendo needs to take the Brawl commercials off and make a "So Happy Together" style commercial with Sonic, Mario, Snake, and Kirby! xD
Good_Bytes @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:06AM
Oh God I think I am going to be sick!
Nintendo game marketing and advertisement final grade: 0/100. ABYSMAL, no effort! Come see me after class.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:23PM
You take yourself too seriously. :P
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:26PM
YEE HAW! Mai boi this is what all true cowboys strive for!
BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 24th 2008 4:41AM
I just wonder what that darn-tootin' Ganon is up to!
meist3r @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:23AM
Ok this is freaky but way cooler than the stuff they show in Europe. In Germany they got the standard Wii commercial with the stock actors rocking wiimotes and nunchucks (yeah, not even using the wheel) and pretending to play. Somehow Nintendo really has a strange approach to advertising this time e.g. there are GTA IV ads everywhere on TV and we will get that game April 29th the soonest. Mario Kart is out for more than a week now and they only started advertising this just now. They don't seem to want or don't need ads that remind people of release dates.
TheFreak @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:54AM
I can't wait for the moment when gaming nostalgianauts are digging these commercials up 15 years from now. Play it loud!
Brendon @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:14PM
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be. ^-^
MikeG @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:59AM
Kill me now.
wud_e @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:17AM
Did I just step into a Time Machine? I was waiting for them to say "Play it loud" at the end of the commercial. :p I like it.
Croove55 @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:19AM
I thought it was pretty funny, at least the first one. Wish they had these videos on something aside from AOL video, though. Counting every hyphen as a pause, this is what the beginning sounded like "Ye-ee-ee-ee-ha-aa-aaw-aw-aw!" And yes, pausing and letting it buffer helped slightly, but it was still there.
Doctor Toilet Brush @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:50PM
Well I'm sold.
Actually, I was sold a couple of weeks ago when I bought the game because I live in the UK. I WIN.
zeldazeppelin @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:51PM
That was funny and it showed off more gameplay
MrTyzik @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:01PM
I usually prefer ridiculous commercials but something about this one didn't click with me. Oh well.
phenylketonurics @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:06PM
That was ... cute. A bit over-the-top, though. Hahah, still, it's a great game so all can be forgiven~
Drago Dracini @ Apr 22nd 2008 2:24PM
.... I can not forgive such stupidity from Nintendo. >.< This commercial was... not even over the top, it was just plain stupid as hell. Come on Nintendo, get in the game.
SoshiKitai @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:48PM
Oh loosen up. :P
Drago Dracini @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:06PM
I'll try. ;p I guess they are kinda silly... but still. Nintendo could have done better.
MidnightScott @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:42PM
omfg what did Nintendo do -_- - please not a return of those stupid 90s commercials.
Mr Khan @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:44PM
Pro: Shows more gameplay, and actually describes it
con: Facepalm, massive, massive facepalm
SoshiKitai @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:53PM
:P All you guys need to take a chill pill.
It may be awfully corny like 'dem ol' 90's commercials... but hey, those commercials still sold those games.
We take ourselves too seriously: Expecting video games to have those professional video game, deep voice-ed narrators... with ratings and quotes from several gaming magazines swooshing across the screen... and really amazing gaming footage.
Those can be found on several sites and G4, we don't need them on every channel.
Seriously guys, if there was any time to say IT, it would be NOW: Guys, it's just a video game. :)
Haohmaru @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:35PM
"Lookit that boah!" I approve!
sniping_dreamer @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:54PM
I'm still waiting for people to make YTMNDs of these.
likedonduan @ Apr 23rd 2008 1:53AM
It's so loud. Cheesy, but it makes me smile.