Penny Arcade’s national ad campaign for their new game, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, was not only hilariously brilliant but it was also ridiculously successful. Raking in an impressive $330,000 in only three days, On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness has quickly become the highest-grossing Xbox Live Arcade debut ever. Instead of using the typical positive quips from various reviews as most games do, Penny Arcade decided to go the opposite route. They found a troll-type comment made by someone who is apparently not a Penny Arcade fan and turned it into their ad.
Seeing the success of that type of ad campaign, I have decided to launch my own personal ad campaign. I would like to say it was difficult rounding up horrible comments about myself and my blog but in reality, the only difficult part was sifting through the sheer amount of negative messages I had to choose from. Finally, a good use for all the hate mail!
I want to put one of them on my about page. Which one do you vote for?
Posted by mendicantbias00 on May 28, 2008 at 3:53 am
Wow…people should really read things before they send hate mail…however I vote for the last one, poor use of the english language is my favorite thing ever!!!
=)
Posted by AusQB on May 28, 2008 at 4:42 am
Agreed, definitely the last one.
As for Penny Arcade, simply a genius concept on their part. The key to success in a given market is the ability to adapt and relate to the culture that is prevalent at the current time.
Posted by Rayna on May 28, 2008 at 5:19 am
ha! I love it:) totally the last one. It’s the condescending tone that really sells it.
Posted by StealthSpeed3 on May 28, 2008 at 7:09 am
i’m going to side with the masses and say the last one. If you want to talk about a massive fail his english teacher must be so proud!
Posted by mendicantbias00 on May 28, 2008 at 7:34 am
i’m going to side with the masses and say the last one. If you want to talk about a massive fail his English teacher must be so proud! – StealthSpeed3
Or her English teacher…the name does say Genevera ;)
Posted by Soulofaqua on May 28, 2008 at 7:43 am
Girls are no gamers, should not be gamers they should keep by there barbies!
Posted by Venus Envy on May 28, 2008 at 9:01 am
I personally like the first one best. It’s simple and too the point.
But since i am taking Advertising right now i am going to critic it’s overall look.. first your hate mail sayings should be in quotations; and second i hate that font face it is horrible, and too hard to read. :P
Here’s one thats classic:
What are you doing blogging and gaming? Get back in the kitchen woman.
<3
Posted by Sigafoos on May 28, 2008 at 9:24 am
I think the first. The last one is good, but isn’t quite misogynistic enough for my tastes.
Posted by Valentine on May 28, 2008 at 9:35 am
The second and third ones are pretty good. But I’m leaning more towards the third ad… That person obviously needs to “get some”… hugs lol.
Posted by Azrylle on May 28, 2008 at 9:42 am
oooh man, I’m definitely voting for the last one. It sounds like something my friend Philip would say… and he’s a total douche and makes me want to hit him a lot, so.. yeah. I vote the last one.
Posted by Qix on May 28, 2008 at 10:09 am
Last one and maybe the first one.
Posted by bs angel on May 28, 2008 at 10:54 am
The last one is my favorite too. The first two are good but focused mainly on my gender instead of me. I like the third one but it’s a bit too verbose. The last one is condescending, biting, and insulting. In other words, perfect. LOL!
When I make my ad Ash, I’ll be sure to add the quotes and change the font. :)
Posted by ashame on May 28, 2008 at 11:16 am
I tried thinking of a rude comment on you blog, but no thoughts come to mind.
Posted by bs angel on May 28, 2008 at 12:14 pm
One of your previous comments about how I resemble a Grunt comes to mind. LOL, … ;)
Posted by kbl66 on May 28, 2008 at 12:16 pm
“Massive fail” is going to be my new favorite phrase!!!
Posted by SpaceGhost2K on May 28, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I’m all for the first one. Brevity is the soul of wit.
Posted by darkr790 on May 28, 2008 at 3:25 pm
first definatly because it just works for you
Posted by EmperorDecker on May 28, 2008 at 3:29 pm
As much as I like the ‘Massive Fail’, I’m going with the first one. But who says ad campaigns are only one ad, use both ;)
Posted by Fezzer on May 28, 2008 at 4:13 pm
ur blog is teh epic fail.
;)
Posted by Assassin on May 28, 2008 at 6:14 pm
People really send you stuff like that?
Posted by bs angel on May 28, 2008 at 6:28 pm
These are actually just the original, clean ones. Back when I started blogging, it really used to get to me (like this one). But I have learned to simply not read it or respond to it and simply delete it. I don’t know these people, they are free to have whatever opinion they like. :)
Posted by Assassin on May 28, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Wow what an ass!! I still don’t get why people have to be that way! It shouldn’t make a difference if your a female or not your a gamer either way. The first game I ever played was made by a woman: Kings Quest for PC by Roberta Williams.
Posted by Rift on May 29, 2008 at 1:06 am
I personally think you should go with something as completely confusing as it is completely stupid… something you have to read twice to really get that they were being uninformative and stupid all at once, sooo…..
More over the first 2. I think the last one is okay, but it’s something you here a whole lot these days on the internet, and isn’t exactly “fresh.” The first one is blunt, to the point, but a little ambiguous; not quite sure their talking about a gaming girl or what. The second one is more in line with the, “It’s stupid and nonsensical,” but it’s a little wordy. I would actually try to find another one that’s just amazingly bad, not in how mean they are, but in how stupid they sound, but that’s just my opinion. I’m not even sure why the last one is so popular. It’s mean, yes, stupid, yes, but it’s just…. well, it’s sad in a different, unfunny way. If that’s what you’re shooitng for, cool. Sorry for the long post, I just like to think that my opinion matters to someone other than me, and to continually prove that to myself I post things like this so I can sleep better at night… and also because my parents hit me.
Posted by bs angel on May 29, 2008 at 2:24 am
I know I like the last one because it is incredibly condescending, and probably a little true. LOL, …
I do have an entire untapped area of negative comments I haven’t even dipped into yet. I’ll pop my head over there and see if I can’t find something else good.
And tell your parents I said to stop. ;)
Posted by setters on May 29, 2008 at 3:27 am
it just goes to show that people can be dumbasses in every walk of life – sigh
Posted by jb84 on May 29, 2008 at 6:45 am
They’re all funny. My favorite is the first. :)
Posted by Azraeus on May 29, 2008 at 9:43 am
Two things:
1. I read your other post. For some strange reason, I thought your comment about going to look at Johnny Depp posters was really freakin’ funny. Thought you should know.
2. The first poster really does work best for an ad campaign.
Posted by PMS Furied Fate on May 29, 2008 at 9:33 pm
I played that game shortly after it came out. It’s really interesting. Especially if you’re a Penny Arcade fan (which I’m not). But I’m really looking forward to playing the next three installments.