Good morning, amazing Chrono Trigger advert!
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Oct 21st 2008 at 5:00PM }
Not for the first time, Square Enix has totally wowed us with an awesome magazine advert for one of its games. We thought it would be difficult to top the minimalist ads for Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, only for this less-is-more Chrono Trigger promotion to bowl us over. Check out the full version past the break and tell us what you think!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
xeleion @ Oct 21st 2008 5:29PM
Nice. Unfortunately, the goodmorningcrono.com site doesn't do much, just displays the words and links to the NA CTDS site. Not that I was expecting anything different.
Shirono @ Oct 21st 2008 5:36PM
Eh, I appreciate the sentiment but...
...this looks like its aimed at the old schoolers who remember the game. Like, I intantly recognize that line, and it makes me fuzzy inside.
But my totally-uneducated-in-marketing-opinion is that all of those people have already preordered it, and ads should really try and grab the new-to-CT crowd. No? I mean, with all those AWESOME Toriyama illustrations? Does the minimalism actually inspire enough curiosity to follow the links?
I feel like there could have been a different approach in the marketing. I'm pumped to get a whole new generation hooked on CT, but with ads like this it might miss that mark.
Lidon @ Oct 21st 2008 6:09PM
The point of minimalist advertising is that it stands out. People reading magazines tend to expect every page to be packed full of information and images. When they turn the page and see an entirely black page with that line on it, it'll catch the reader's attention more than a "conventional" advertisement. Those that notice and get the reference, like you said, are probably already going to buy the game. But the rest may remember seeing the advert later and visit the site, and possibly buy the game. Hence, good advertising.
aj @ Oct 21st 2008 7:24PM
I disagree. I think minimalism is overdone these days, and while the basic idea of it is to be noticed for being so plain, these plain ads are just about everywhere, and as such, are unremarkable, and worse yet, completely unmemorable because they are so damned minimalistic.
And yeah, this ad is only for people who have played the game before. And those people have already pre-ordered it, and the matching Crono Trigger bed sheets and curtains. Do they think that this game just won't sell? And if so, are they mad? It's a brilliant game. It just needs to be promoted in a way that doesn't appeal strictly to people who have already played it and won't care about the adverts!
MowDownJoe @ Oct 21st 2008 8:06PM
I've never played the original Chrono Trigger, (though I've heard of it, and read an old review in Nintendo Power,) but I'd easily get, from the view of someone who hasn't played the game, that it's a remake of an old game (pixelated font) and that it involves time travel somehow (2008 *A.D.*).
Kia @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:34PM
"Awesome" "Toriyama"
Does not compute.
Serenity @ Oct 21st 2008 7:25PM
Awesome 0_0 That's what I rememebr the most from CT. I mean hoe many times do you wake up. Never sure what the world around you is...
TJF588 @ Oct 21st 2008 7:50PM
I think the "A.D." bit is what gets me about this.
No, I KNOW that's what gets me about this.
Zealot @ Oct 21st 2008 8:07PM
I haven't played Chrono Trigger, but from what I gather about it the skips in time throughout the game are so drastic that times have to be categorized as B.C. and A.D. It seems to be a little in-joke for the fans.
Anyway, I'm going to have to agree with those who are critical of the ad. Ports/remakes are generally made for those who played the original version of a game when it was out, so these kind of game references seem kind of redundant. It's possible that there are Chrono Trigger fans who aren't aware of CTDS yet, but I think Square-Enix's main concern should be trying to convince people who have never played the game why they should. Do they honestly think Toriyama's art for the game is so repulsive that a whole page of black is better?
aj @ Oct 21st 2008 11:07PM
It's "CE" and "BCE" nowadays.
Zealot @ Oct 21st 2008 11:28PM
For myself, I'm not changing my vocabulary to bend to someone else's political correctness.
eroc @ Oct 21st 2008 8:56PM
I think there's been enough hype surrounding this mega-classic, that anyone who has ever been curious about Chrono Trigger will have their curiosity sufficiently piqued. I think the ad is perfect.
schuyler @ Oct 21st 2008 8:57PM
I saw that on a shirt in a play n trade
Felipe @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:20AM
I saw this in the latest game informer magazine. Brought back memories.
Makoto99 @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:18PM
Well, that was underwhelming.
chibi_wings @ Oct 23rd 2008 6:55PM
being someone who prefers minimalism, i really liked the ad. It brings back memories, and the 2008 A.D is just awesome ^^
Sure it may not convince those who haven't played it, but that doesn't take away from its merits in my eyes. Just goes to show that SE isn't being smart about who to aim their ads at.
billmao @ Nov 3rd 2008 7:34PM
Oh God the "A.D." made me cry