Japanese Gears viral vids are freaky
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Mar 29th 2007 at 11:30AM }
We may never understand Microsoft's Japanese marketing. "Do! do! do!" was a stretch, but this is just weird. At first glance, the video above appears to be nothing more than one of those self-promoting, vaguely voyeuristic videos you see on YouTube. If you don't speak Japanese -- and perhaps even if you do -- you would have no way of knowing the video is about Gears of War. "Whaaa?" you say, and we understand. The Japanese schoolgirl stereotype is about as far from Gears of War as is Hello Kitty. Still, it's sort of hypnotizing. Watch the video above (it's actually worth it) and then check out the next video after the break.
Is this what Hironobu Sakaguchi was talking about when he said the 360 needed better marketing in Japan?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
thearjunsingh @ Mar 29th 2007 11:55AM
hella wierd, but hella awesome. i with american advertising was like that
cubbiechris @ Mar 29th 2007 11:54AM
I'll admit I didn't see that coming. Scared the crap outta me.
arman @ Mar 29th 2007 11:48AM
Oh those Japanese girls in catholic skirts up to no good.
MaX PL and the 360 r4pe Tr4iN @ Mar 29th 2007 12:01PM
LMFAO.
That was sooo cheesy. 1:35 and then some green arm appears.
There was a green arm in Gears?
Toph @ Mar 29th 2007 12:30PM
It'd make more sense if we could speak Japanese. At one point I made out 'kawaii' which means 'cute' so I don't think she's talking about anything related to Gears..but hell if I really know, right?
At least the Locust have good taste in women...
razer @ Mar 29th 2007 12:36PM
First I was thinking WTF, then at the end it all made sense.. Not too bad actually.
Cheers! Here's to continued failure in Japan for the Xbox 360 or is it Xbox Elite 360 Super Ultra Mega?
Jake @ Mar 29th 2007 12:25PM
wtf?
they are fucking weird
Stephen @ Mar 29th 2007 12:43PM
Felt it coming but it scared the crap out of me anyway...more please.
Stephen @ Mar 29th 2007 12:45PM
2nd one sucked.
Liqwid @ Mar 29th 2007 1:26PM
The first one scared me, and the second made me laugh. I love it.
cfsage @ Mar 29th 2007 1:37PM
Totally awesome, and if you understand the Japanese, it made it that much better!
slyecho @ Mar 29th 2007 1:39PM
I couldn't make it out clearly but in the first video she's talking about someone (the Locust guy?) wanting to become a shoe designer. Weird stuff.
DjDATZ @ Mar 29th 2007 1:45PM
1st one scared me shitless...lol...2nd just plain stupid. lol
VIlhelm @ Mar 29th 2007 1:56PM
WTF? Seriously? I'll never understand the Japanese! Those were both completely retarded.
xenocidic @ Mar 29th 2007 1:56PM
wow what a disapointment it started out so well and made me think she might be removing some articles of clothing
King Keepo @ Mar 29th 2007 2:07PM
I wonder who markets the 360 in Japan? Did they not hit up a traditional marketing agency and just pick a couple of random youtube freaks to do it?
IMO all the 360 ads in Japan have been trying too hard, although I'm hardly well placed to comment on the others as a) I am British, b) I live in the US, c) I have not seen any Japanese ads for the other consoles. So, ignore this comment as you see fit :)
Johnny @ Mar 29th 2007 2:13PM
why dont they just show that, killer MAD WORLD video.
Adam - Hear me roar @ Mar 29th 2007 2:45PM
Agreed
Muu @ Mar 29th 2007 3:52PM
I guess this can work. Showing any portion of the gameplay would be a minus anyway, since anyone that doesn't already play a shooter in Japan will most likely pass off any sort of FPS/TPS game as garbage.
THA1icarus @ Mar 29th 2007 4:54PM
Wow I did see it coming and still scaerd the shit out of me
Ace @ Mar 29th 2007 6:09PM
Holly shit this thing scared the shit out of me!!
Aaron @ Mar 30th 2007 4:31PM
The first video is the girl talking about how she loves shoes and wants to become a shoe designer... "when I just look at shoes they make me so HAPPY" maybe I will go to technical school and learn how... then she hears something in the closet... the rest, well no translation needed.
Second video, she is actually talking about what she found in the clost is under her bed now. She tries to convince it to come out.
It's lame even in Japanese... ugh.