Filed under: Video, Microsoft, Humor
Microsoft releases Windows 7 Family Guy clips, horrifies world
Remember when Microsoft thought it was a good idea to enlist characters from Family Guy as their new Windows 7 spokespeople? It was a funny idea, but somewhere between the beginning of production and the scheduled air-date, Microsoft executives realized two things: a) the target audience for a Windows 7 commercial is probably not getting high and watching cartoons right now, and b) the ads just weren't very good.After seeing clips of the Family Guy ads, I'm not convinced they're better than Microsoft's previous big-budget ad failure, those Seinfeld and Bill Gates spots. At least the Seinfeld ads were totally weird, instead of taking a show you know and love and painfully shoehorning some product placement where it doesn't belong. A mention of Windows 7 in an actual episode of Family Guy could at least have been played for big laughs, but these clips fall flat.
Don't believe me? See for yourself after the jump.
[via Gizmodo]
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anthony said 1:17PM on 11-29-2009
Wow.
TOO much product placement much.
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Jason said 11:20PM on 11-29-2009
It isn't product placement when it is in a commercial, you are dumb.
HUPextreme said 1:17PM on 11-29-2009
Riiiiiiiiight,
Hey i love family guy, and windows 7, but i just don't get how this publicity stunt is working, its just really weak.
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Saint Seminole said 1:26PM on 11-29-2009
At least it was better than all those "Windows 7 was *my* idea" ads over the last few weeks.
All those people in the ads seem way too happy that they've struggled along with poor operating systems in the past and finally got a little feedback from a major corporation that's charging $200 for the newest "upgrade" when a new Windows PC (OS included) costs less than $400.
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fiendsan said 1:34PM on 11-29-2009
don't understand, sure its not that razor sharp humor, but its witty and funny in the family guy universe, the seinfeld ads were way worse, especially because they were also so long, these are short and silly, whats the problem with that?
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Brian! said 4:01PM on 11-29-2009
I agree. They are not horrible. I won't say it is my favorite commercial by a long shot, but they are cute.
Hell, almost anything is better than those smarmy Apple ads these days. I am so tired of smugness mixed with misinformation. Bring on the cute and silly.
chodorowicz said 7:02PM on 11-29-2009
same here, I think they're really OK
Rususeruru said 2:32PM on 11-29-2009
Yeah, Microsoft did the right thing by killing this.
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__smooth__ said 7:19AM on 11-30-2009
I agree, although videos number 2 and 3 are funny, if you watch them already knowingly it's going to be a win7 commercial.
PS: I liked the Seinfeld ads.
Scuba Steve said 2:59PM on 11-29-2009
wow... yea really not that good, seems too much M$ not enough Family Guy. Tho the "spelling Bee" did at least give me a smile
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kingabraham3 said 3:35PM on 11-29-2009
the spelling bee was hilarious.
but the one with stewie as president, seriously microsoft, are you really trying to reinforce your image as the evil monopolistic behemoth that is trying to control everyone's life (even if not true).
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Fyrewerx said 5:22PM on 11-29-2009
Family Guy is practically required watching for our NOC and Help Desk teams. But then .... they're really not the target audience to "buy" Windows 7.
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NotRocketboy said 11:48PM on 11-29-2009
Man, I'm glad I don't work there.
Just like that job I had as a marriage counselor for Tiger Woods.
Jason said 11:20PM on 11-29-2009
This article would be a lot more interesting if the author understood the concept of humor and the basic idea of commissioning popular public figures to advertise manufacturer's products. Dumb.
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Mundo Exchange said 1:41AM on 11-30-2009
Boy are those bad. Family guy have jumped the Jaws on this one.
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Paulmichael said 1:48AM on 11-30-2009
Most of those were actually pretty funny, the last one the least so.
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gtnconcept said 2:03AM on 11-30-2009
Anyone else notice that all of these are just old episode footage re-dubbed with new dialogue?
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bug frawg said 7:29PM on 11-30-2009
Microsoft has a history of weird/stupid ads, MS dos 5 ad was wtf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEvPZUdAVI
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