A little over a month ago, I brought attention to a marketing effort by Universal Orlando Resort (the blog entry is below). The thrust of the thought was those people who created it (and implemented it) should have pushed to create something better. A portion of the campaign is negative and irresponsible.
It includes a "Bash the Boss" game where players control an animated employee that punches an animated old-school stereotypical boss as far as possible.
When the ad columnist at The New York Times covered the campaign a couple weeks ago, I was reminded of Universal's effort and looked into it again.
They've added "Belt the Brown-Nosers"...
...a game where players throw their choice of office products (computer screen, stapler, telephone, cup of coffee) at targeted animated colleagues.
When creating and approving the campaign, did anyone in the room ask, "Hey, do we want the Universal Resort brand to be associated with violent and disgruntled employees?"
Someone must have, right?
Be valuable where you can. Encourage the principle.
In presenting a realistic and astute response to your comments on the Universal Orlando online games in yesterday's "The New York Times Direct," Stuart Elliott left out one very important piece of information. The conceptual development, design and programming of "Bash the Boss" and "Belt the Brown-Nosers" was done by Otherwise Incorporated, a Chicago-based creative design and interactive agency. We used the general attitude of the TV and print campaign developed by David and Goliath as a starting point for developing these two games. So as players out there begin to applaude or bash the games, I just want to place credit where credit is due. David Frej, Chief Creative Director, Otherwise Inc.
Posted by: David Frej | March 30, 2005 at 10:02 AM