Product placementis commonplace in TV & Movies, and there are quite a few examples where this has entered thevideo game market. If people are cynical, advertising products in video games is the perfect marketplace. There are lots of young impressionable minds who will consume both the video game they are playing and then want the tasty treat they see on the screen.
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The games these products promote are often sweet and savory which is exactly what young gamers crave during their gaming sessions. This list exploresthe times when food and drink marketing took a bite out of the video game market.
10KP Skips Action Biker With Clumsy Colin
Launched in 1974 by KP Snacks, Skips are a prawn cocktail flavored snack that has remained popular in the United Kingdom to this day. Clumsy Colin appeared in various TV adverts promoting Skips, but it wasn’t until 1985 when Colin made his first appearance inKP Skips Action Biker With Clumsy Colin.
Released for theCommodore 64,Atari8-bit family, and ZX Spectrum, the aim of the game was to help Colin find different parts for his motorcycle, whilst avoiding different obstacles and keeping an eye on the bikes fuel tank. Interestingly, the Commodore and Atari versions were completely different from the ZX Spectrum, both in terms of their gameplay and storyline. The Commodore and Atari games had an isometric style, whereas the Spectrum featured 2D graphics.
9Chester Cheetah: Too Cool To Fool
Originally released in 1948, it’s fair to say Cheetos have been around for a long time. This tasty snack has made billions of dollars and is enjoyed around the world. Chester Cheetah first made his appearance in TV commercials in 1986, and then later appeared in video gamesChester Cheetah: Too Cool To Foolin 1992 andChester Cheetah: Wild Wild Questin 1993.
Capitalizing on the popular games likeSonic The HedgehogandSuper Mario,Too Cool To Fool, andWild Wild Questboth hadplatform-style gameplay. Only ever released in North America forSega GenesisandSNES, these games no doubt helped to sell a few more packs of this cheesy snack.
8Pushover
Cheesy potato puffs Quavers were launched in the United Kingdom in 1968. Although the cheese flavor tends to be the most popular, there have been different flavors over the years including prawn cocktail, and salt & vinegar.
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In 1992, Quavers mascot Colin Curly appeared in the puzzle gamePushover, the plot of which revolved heavily around the savory snack. Colin has lost his packet of Quavers in a giant ant hill, so helpful G.I. Ant sets out on a quest to recover them for him. The aim of the game is for G.I. Ant to set up dominos to fall in place which opens the door for the next level. This wasn’t as simple as it sounds, as different dominos reacted in multiple ways.This inventive puzzlerhad 100 levels to test players and their lateral thinking skills. Released for home computers the Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, and SNES console, the Nintendo version completely removed any trace of the Quavers branding.
7M.C. Kids
There aren’t many more recognizable and iconic brands in the world than the golden arches of McDonald’s. Since being established in 1940, McDonald’s now serves nearly 70 million people a day across the world!
The famous golden arches were used to good effect inM.C. Kidswhich was released in 1992 for theNES. Players take control of Mick or Mack who must help Ronald McDonald retrieve his magical bag which has been stolen by Hamburglar. Developed by Virgin Games, (who also feature another game in this list) the European home computer version ofM.C. Kidswas calledMcDonaldland.
6Zool: Ninja Of The Nth Dimension
Established in 1958, Chupa Chups have gone on to have incredible success across the globe selling over 4 billion lollipops every year! Released in 1992,Zoolsets its stall before the game had even started as a loading screen proudly presented “in association with Chupa Chups the world’s best-selling lollipops”.
The opening level ofZoolhas a lot of different candy on screen, and the world-famous lollipops are prominent throughout. Initially released for the Commodore Amiga,Zoolwas marketed as a home computer platforming game to rival the likes ofSonic The Hedgehog. Although colorful, the game didn’t match the boasts from developer Gremlin Graphics and received lukewarm reviews. 29 years after its original releasea remaster called,Zool Redimensionedwas launched and removed all traces of Chupa Chups from the game.
5Cool Spot
Created in 1929, 7 Up has featured dozens of different variations on the traditional lemon and lime flavor which is enjoyed around the world. The 7 Up branding is immediately seen in the opening title screen ofCool Spot, where the titular character is seen surfing on a 7 Up bottle accompanied by a version of Wipe Out by The Surfaris.
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Developed by Virgin Games, the animation ofCool Spotwas particularly good and was a sign of things to come. Virgin would put this technical expertise to good use by producing other platforming games withexcellent graphics and animationincludingDisney’s Aladdin, Earthworm Jim, andThe Lion King.
4Pepsiman
Pepsi is the oldest product on this list and incredibly was created in 1893. The Pepsi challenge has become famous across the world and was used as a way to tempt customers to move away from rival drink Coca-Cola.
In 1994, mascotPepsimanappeared in his first game,Fighting Vipersfor theSega Saturnas a playable character. It wasn’t until 1999 thatPepsimanappeared in his own game on thePlayStation. Quite possibly the most cynically marketed game on this list,Pepsimansees the titular character running through levels avoiding obstacles whilst collecting cans of Pepsi. In-between stages there were (quite frankly bizarre)full-motion video (FMV) clipsshowing someone drinking Pepsi and encouraging the player to have one as well.
3M&M’s Kart Racing
M&M’s have reached very lofty heights since their release in 1941. There have been characters created and even specialty stores called M&M’s World in Las Vegas, Orlando, New York City, Henderson, Shanghai, Mall of America, and Berlin.
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Kart racing gameshave endured as a genre of driving games for over 30 years since the original release ofSuper Mario Karton the SNES. There have been plenty of contenders for the best kart racer, butM&M’s Kart Racingisn’t one of them. Featuring in the Guinness Book of Records,M&M Kart Racingholds the title of being ranked as the worst kart racer ever, with an average score of 22.5%.
2Doritos Crash Course
Doritos have been enjoyed all over the world since their debut in 1964. Their commercials have featured heavily at Super Bowls, with increasingly inventive ways to entice hungry fans.
Doritos Crash Coursewas released in 2010 as a free download for Xbox Live Arcade. At the timeMicrosoftwas heavily promoting its avatar marketplace which gave gamers a chance to create a virtual version of themselves that could be used in different games.Doritos Crash Courseallowed players to put their virtual selves through their paces by running an obstacle course similar to those featured in the TV show Ninja Warrior. Despite being a free download,Doritos Crash Coursewasn’t a cheap cash-in and provided a lot of fun for players across the world.
1Sneak King
McDonald’s rival Burger King has been feeding people across the world since it was founded in 1953. Their mascot, “The King”, has featured in several games includingEA Sports Fight Night Round 3as a ring guy.
However, in 2006 The King starred in his own games as part of a Burger King promotion in the USA.Pocketbike Racer, Big Bumpin’, andSneak Kingwere available for $3.99 if people bought a value meal.Sneak Kingis a stealth gamewhere The King must deliver burgers to hungry people without being seen. Maybe the developers had theHitmanseries in mind when they were making this game, except instead of Agent 47 sneaking up on someone and garrotting them, he presents them with a burger.
