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Xbox 2 @ MTV --> May 12, 2005

NEW YORK -- The revolution will be televised. Xbox 2 -- aka Codename Xenon, the next-generation gaming console from Microsoft -- will make its first appearance on a yet-untitled half-hour special that will be broadcast globally across all MTV stations.

The move bucks industry protocol to make major debuts at E3 in Los Angeles-the largest trade show in the gaming industry. "It doesn't make sense to unveil the product behind a closed door, at a trade-only event. We wanted to talk directly to the consumer first," said Peter Moore, corporate vp-worldwide marketing and publishing for Microsoft Xbox.

The MTV special, hosted by actor Elijah Wood on May 12, will feature a performance by rock band the Killers. Athletes and celebs will show off the console's new features. MTV will air teaser spots prior to the event and screening parties will be held in countries in which MTV airs.

Moore said the launch strategy is to not only "feed the core" gamers, but also to "captivate the masses." The unveiling on MTV is a "signal of the strong change in the way we do business." Themes of optimism and community will be stressed in the campaign, said Moore. McCann Erickson, New York, handles.

Ourcolony.net provides further insight. The viral Xbox 2 site, currently counting down the minutes to the MTV event, states: "Colony isn't about alternate reality gaming, it is reality. It's about the reality of your world, your friends, your life. Colony isn't political, it's global."

Launch partners will be global in nature as Xbox tries to combat the perception that it's an American brand, said Moore. The console is expected to launch this holiday season. Microsoft spent $14 million on media in 4Q 2001 to launch Xbox, per Nielsen Monitor-Plus.
 
Was just about to post...this is surprising, to say the least. This better be airing on MTV UK at the same time. Half an hour doesn't seem very long when you figure in an ad break though..I wonder how much they're going to say or not say at this thing, show and not show.

edit - apparently it'll be on at 8.30pm Eastern Standard time. So that's like 1.30am my time (GMT) - I doubt MTV UK will be airing this :( I guess I'll use my PSP to browse GAF from bed that night..
 
not that surprising gofreak. pay attention to what gets said at gaf by certain people and you can learn a lot of things beforehand.

heh. go blimblim, right again :lol
 
Its an interesting concept for sure, to unveil a console on TV ahead of E3.

I think its actually pretty smart. Casuals don't even know what E3 is.

It is pandering to the audience (you have to wonder if MTV really has any self respect when basically they're running an infomercial in prime time ... but lets face it, MTV flushed any self respect they had down the toliet years ago), but from MS' perspective its a smart move.
 
gofreak said:
Was just about to post...this is surprising, to say the least. This better be airing on MTV UK at the same time. Half an hour doesn't seem very long when you figure in an ad break though..I wonder how much they're going to say or not say at this thing, show and not show.

Sounds like it, but it will be pretty late for us in Europe. :\
 
all this and MS won't have a fucking party at E3!!!!
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A very smart move by Microsoft!

And as stated countless times before:

They will out business Sony. Nobody makes promotion, marketing and hype as good as MS.
Watch out Sony and... try harder.
 
No way Borys. While MS has made a laudable work branding its console Sony is still the king of all kinds of marketing. Nobody, and I mean nobody, touches them in that regard.

Still, there will be ownage.
 
This is a really simple idea, one of those idea's which makes you think why nobody else has doen it before. Moore is correct why launch a global product in a strictly trade only show in LA that 99% of the potential buyers will have never heard off?
 
yeah, 30 minutes of global MTV exposure, plus the ads beforehand where they will be mentioning xbox 2 (teaser spots ). and the screenings.. a pretty huge media deal all around. which Athletes and celebs?? some big names i bet.

and its only a month away!!
 
I'm wondering how I'm going to like this versus the traditional industry-centric console debut. Something about "MTV Special" doesn't really appeal...I'm worried it could be very "airhead" stuff and basically a big advertisement (well, of course it will be), versus what we're used to. They seem to be cutting out the middleman (i.e. the press), but the press provides (or should provide) an independent buffer between their marketing message and us which is welcome. I think this could be less targetted at the really nerdy gamers that most of us here are ( :p ) and more at the masses, which is a good thing in one way, and a bad thing in another. Will there be the normal E3 conference too?

Of course, it is sweet that regardless of the manner in which the thing is presented, we will get to see it as soon as anyone else will (well, barring any more leaks :lol ).
 
Now all it has to do is be live and show launch titles doing 3fps or getting the BSOD and we've got ourselves a winnar!
 
john tv said:
Fixed the title. Anyone got a source on this, though?

Brandweek isn't good enough for you? ;) They have a Moore quote etc. I'm sure they wouldn't just make this up. And it ties in too neatly with the ourcolony.net countdown etc.

edit - oh, sorry, didn't see the lack of a link
 
Borys said:
A very smart move by Microsoft!

And as stated countless times before:

They will out business Sony. Nobody makes promotion, marketing and hype as good as MS.
Watch out Sony and... try harder.

See, this is where I think people get a bit too crazy.

Where's Microsoft's i-Pod btw?

There will more than enough hype over the PS3.

In those brand rankings, Microsoft usually isn't in the top 5, its usually Nike, Sony, etc. I've never thought of Microsoft as really a brilliant marketing company. The "Start Me Up" ads for Windows 95 were the last really great marketing campaign they did IMO.
 
Only a month away.. as much as I was surprised they didn't announce something months ago at GDC or whatever, it seems like the XBox 2 stuff will be here so soon now.
 
Someone reply here when they have the broadcast time in the UK. Or when its torrented (if its an ad it should be ok to post the link here, right?)
 
Spider_Jerusalem said:
What does this mean? It'll be broadcasted in other countries too?

Sounds like they will have parties where you can go and watch the show, but I might get it wrong though. :P
 
soundwave05 lets be honest MS doesn't need to market or promote windows a great deal, its on 98% of computers as is.
 
Hmm, 9:30am in Japan. Hope there's a decent screening party here, for all of us Xbox fans to turn up to :) They can hold it in my apartment if they supply me with cable TV.
 
Pug said:
soundwave05 lets be honest MS doesn't need to market or promote windows a great deal, its on 98% of computers as is.

Yeah.

I'm just saying since when has anyone really considered MS to be a marketing juggernaut?

Sony, definitely. Nike, definitely. Apple, for sure. The Gap, annoying, but yes.

Microsoft, no.

Their XBox ads were OK. The original DOA/Halo campaign was solid/some what funny (she kicks high), but the P. Diddy "Lets Play Together" campaign was woefully terrible.
 
Blimblim said:
It will be broadcasted on all main MTVs worldwide.

Any chance they will rebroadcast the next day at more civilised hours for those of us in Europe? ;)

mrklaw said:
Someone reply here when they have the broadcast time in the UK. Or when its torrented (if its an ad it should be ok to post the link here, right?)

1.30am. Which is why I'm wondering if they'll do it again on certain MTVs the next day when, you know, people might be watching ;)
 
soundwave05 said:
Where's Microsoft's i-Pod btw?

You got it wrong:

Where's Sony's iPod killer (digital walkman)?

Anyway, I still hope Sony will flex its muscles when the right time comes. They can't really do anything NOW because it's not PS3 that is launching this year. A good start for the Playstation hype campaign would be Christmas IMO. Pair this with a killer PSP deal and everyone talks about Sony instead of 360.
 
Someone please record it for us Canadians and anyone else. I'd like to see it, if possible. Then again maybe they will put it up on Xbox.com
 
i have a feeling whoever wants to see it is going to be able to find a way pretty easily. its going to be all over the frikken place as torrents, etc.

i wouldnt worry -- i don't even have cable TV, and i know i'll be watching it within a few hours of it airing.
 
soundwave05 said:
Yeah.

I'm just saying since when has anyone really considered MS to be a marketing juggernaut?

Well, the quality and effectiveness of advertising is for the most part is directly proportional with the amount of money you spend on it. So it all depends on the marketing budget.
 
Midas said:
Blimblim, isn't it hard to know things like this and keeping your mouth shut at the same time? :D
You would not believe how hard it is. I've known about this since february, I've given many hints about it but could not say more. Ho well, one down, still many things I can't say...
 
rest assured MTV rebroadcasts everything a million times a week.. im sure it will be on more than once.

honestly i expect more in depth info at E3, i wonder if they will be revealing surprise games/developers on MTV
 
soundwave05 said:
Their XBox ads were OK. The original DOA/Halo campaign was solid/some what funny (she kicks high), but the P. Diddy "Lets Play Together" campaign was woefully terrible.

I read (on CNN Money) strange stories about US Halo 2 campaign. Were there really Halo 2 ads in groceries? For people that even don't know what a video game system is?
 
Borys said:
You got it wrong:

Where's Sony's iPod killer (digital walkman)?

Anyway, I still hope Sony will flex its muscles when the right time comes. They can't really do anything NOW because it's not PS3 that is launching this year. A good start for the Playstation hype campaign would be Christmas IMO. Pair this with a killer PSP deal and everyone talks about Sony instead of 360.

No doubt Apple has done a great job there.

As for Sony, a good start for Playstation hype, would be taking a big piss on XBox 2 during their press conference at E3.

If they have the better hardware with true Blu-Ray HD support (which seems to be the case), they should hype that to high hell and make sure everyone knows about it. That will be the beginning.

I could see them doing other things around the launch of the XBox 2 as spoiler tactics as well. Sony seems to play the "spoiler" position very well. They did it to the Dreamcast, and also knocked Nintendo nicely in the gut with their PSP price announcement in Japan.
 
gofreak said:
Any chance they will rebroadcast the next day at more civilised hours for those of us in Europe? ;)
No idea.
I don't have MTV (I don't watch tv at all), that's my main problem.
 
golem said:
rest assured MTV rebroadcasts everything a million times a week.. im sure it will be on more than once.

Well, I don't think that's a given. This is basically a paid spot, I would think (a very expensive one at 30 minutes long). They won't be rebroadcasting again and again unless MS are willing to cough up the regular ad rates for it.

golem said:
honestly i expect more in depth info at E3, i wonder if they will be revealing surprise games/developers on MTV

I hope for design, functionality (live etc.), some game demos (invariably by some celebs i can't stand :P). They can't really spend too much time on things like tech specs etc given the audience. Which actually probably suits MS down to the ground given their "specs don't matter so much anymore" pre-PS3 stance. Hopefully, though, there will be accompanying press releases/material with more details like tech specs and game lists etc so that we don't have to wait till E3 - though I would say for sure that we'll get a lot more detail and info at E3 itself.

soundwave05 said:
I could see them doing other things around the launch of the XBox 2 as spoiler tactics as well. Sony seems to play the "spoiler" position very well.

True, and indeed, "spoiling" is a tradition of the industry on all sides. I remember Sega dropped Dreamcast branded golf balls onto a course where Sony was holding some Playstation party or event (though that obviously wasn't visible to the wider public). Sony is indeed really good at that kind of thing, and perhaps making it more public. The ultimate spoiler would be a pre and post Xenon show PS3 teaser ad, though obviously that won't happen ;)
 
thorns said:
Well, the quality and effectiveness of advertising is for the most part is directly proportional with the amount of money you spend on it. So it all depends on the marketing budget.

Directly? I don't think so.
 
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