I love Alan Wake. The game's creepy atmosphere, engaging gameplay and awesome visuals hooked me, but what impressed me most was the carefully crafted story. It's a story that you can take seriously--at least at first. Check out our Alan Wake review for more.
In Episode Four, though, there's a piece of product placement that's so jarring, so nonsensical, and so downright bad, it's the fictional equivalent of a game-killing glitch. Check it out below the cut... (Spoiler warning, of course.)
Keep in mind, at this point in the story, we're unsure if the insane asylum which Wake is escaping from exists in real life and is haunted, or is some twisted figment of his imagination. Either way, why would there be a commercial on TV? The electricity is being controlled by the swirling darkness outside. Does the evil force want Wake to buy a Mustang? For that matter, why would Alan stand there and watch?
This is way different and way worse than a billboard in the background or a TV commercial in the "real" world -- those can be justified within the fictional universe. To add insult to injury, you even get an achievement for sitting though Verizon's pitch. The argument about whether games are Art is ridiculous in the face of this kind of evidence -- it's obvious games are commerce.
I like to think the character of Emerson, a video game designer driven mad by the pressures of his industry, is a sly response to the money-over-art mindset that put this commercial in the game. Check out Emerson in the video below:
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Eleo
The guy is going to pick up batters or pass by billboards anyway. What difference does it make if they show some imaginary company logo or a real one? It doesn't hinder the gameplay or story in any way.
emceelokey
Gees, who cares. Not only did the advertisers already win by getting in the game but now they double win by people talking about them and giving them even more coverage. A game that's a niche as this probably needs as much outside funding it can get. This game will probably lose money but if there's enough interest in the game to warrant a sequel then it's only going to be possible from all of these outside sponsors. Either get over it or don't play it. It's no big deal folks.
NiqqaWebbz
Haha subliminal advertising is sooooo funny because people says it annoys them yet as soon as they get the achievement they keep watching it ? Verizon has perfected advertising,
Unbalanced
I thought it was cool.
it was so bizarre to see the advertisement. I thought i fit in as "bizarre things on tv"
V_Translanka
This article itself is obviously a clever ploy by Verizon to get more advertising! You fell for it, Stephen! Oh well, I guess they had to pay for that crazy (however long) development time somehow...*shrugs*
Vikingfist
Saying that product placement in a game cancels out the argument of games as art doesn't hold water with me. Wasn't the initial argument that films WERE art, but games WEREN'T? Holy McDonald's-flavored crap washed back with a cold, refreshing Bud Light!! Is film not THE King of Shameless Product Placement?? Or is it only art when a film hocks Mountain Dew or Taco Bell? Maybe the Academy should consider adding an Oscar for "The Most Artful Use of Product Placement in a Film (Which is Always Art, No Matter What!)"?
I don't see anything wrong with product placement in games, as I see the game industry constantly trying to emulate the film industry in one respect or another. When I played Heavy Rain, my first thought was, "Wow, this is like co-writing, directing, and starring in a film!". If product placement increases a studio's budget in an attempt to produce a better game (and in Remedy's case, development trudged on for 5 years, so I'm sure the budget required some sort of augmentation) then I'm all for it! And though we might groan when we see a film's protagonist rock out with an Apple iPod, check his e-mail on his Dell laptop, take a swig of Dr Pepper, then call his agency contact back at HQ on his BlackBerry... we never question a film's identity as far as it being art, as opposed to it just being big budget advertising in disguise.
greeknerd
The monsters must be AT&T customers.
3r00f
If Remedy gained the money they needed to fund this project then I have no problem with it and through playing it I haven't really been that bothered by it, maybe it's because I don't live in the US and don't really know the brand.
muzzar69
your really complaining about a add in a game? a add you dont even have to watch!?
jesus christ, and i thought i was fussy!!!!!!!!!!
if you think this is the worst part of alan wakes story, than dam i dunno what to say.
i absolutley loved alan wake, the story really sucked me in, it has the best story in a game ever!!!
better than MGS, assassins creed, GOW, or anything else put together!!!
if i was not playing alan wake, i was thinking about what will happen next? was what i just played a dream or real?
that is the sign of a very well made story!
the part that completley destroyed it for me is the ending.
honestly what kind of a ending was that!!!!!!!!!!
worst ending to the best game ever!!!!!!!!!!
way to take such a good game, and bring it down by something so small and simple :(
CustosIntusSilentium
I don't really mind if expressive freedom is granted. The game developers should be given the logo or what have they and be allowed to do as they see fit, including not using the ad, to make that logo a part of the game or fit the game's atmosphere instead of sticking out like a sore thumb with Verizon stapled to it.
zeroslashj
Am I the only one who found this amusing and even funny? It's nice to see some real things in a video game for once, even if it does break the mood. xD
BCouto
That Verizon ad really kills the mood of the game. There are soooo many other ways you can place the ad in the game while making it ACTUALLY fit in.
Assailant17
I think there was an Energizer one in the first episode when he gets the first flashlight, before the bulldozer pushes the building off of the cliff.
cwhas2godhands
We shouldn't be shown advertisements after spending $60.
greenellow
i dont see a problem with it i think it was an joke from remedy about terrible product placement, and the whole
"I like to think the character of Emerson, a video game designer driven mad by the pressures of his industry, is a sly response to the money-over-art mindset that put this commercial in the game."
you said above, is just looking into things that arent there to support your bitching.
grrsn
There were so many Verizon ads in that game. In addition to that video, in a certain vehicle section all the billboards were Verizon ones. There was other product placement too, like Alan's car was a Lincoln and all the batteries were energizers, which is kind of bad product placement for them because the flashlight needs new batteries pretty much any time you want to use it.
-John-
You have to use the TV in order to run the ad.
Problem solved; don't use the damn TV!
I'm a MASSIVE games-are-art-f*g, and I honestly don't care about this. I'm not naive enough to deny that gaming is also a business. Really, so long as there are game designers striving for innovation and storytelling achievements, stuff like this is minuscule.
I don't even mind games like Madden. Sure, I find it hilarious that people are willing to buy the same game every year, but they provide an easy cash flow for publishers so they can fund more unique games. Okay, that may be a little naive, but hey, are games like Heavy Rain and Alan Wake still being made?
Yes.
I plan on getting Alan Wake soon, and it's going to be AWESOME!
Jimi0088
I thought that the FEED was for news but i guess it is used for bitching.
CaptainAikens
I second what Ravenhermit and Adjacent said. Throughout the game the tv turns on by itself to allow Wake insight into his own thought process and there are several additional tv's scattered about that play spooky episdoes of "Night Springs" (aka The Twilight Zone).
When u turn this one on in episode 4 and its commercials instead, its downright hilarious and so very much a wtf / twin peaks moment!
Plus the achievement pops as soon as u turn it on so u don't actually have to stand there and watch them all if you don't want to!
ravenhermit
Fun fact:
For the TV achievement you don't need to watch the whole thing. Just turn it on.
The More You Know.
I never really thought so many gamers had such thin skin.
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