In this episode of the Commercial Break we are focusing our attention on new advertising. We're shying away from the old sauce for a little while to prove that video game companies still don't know how to advertise their products. We're starting this episode with one of the newest games on the market, Perfect Dark Zero. This Xbox 360 game has only been out for a couple of months but as far as we're concerned that's long enough for us to rip them to shreds. No matter where you come down on Rare's long awaited sequel, pretty much everybody agrees that Perfect Dark Zero is no Halo-killer. Unfortunately the same can be said about this lousy ad campaign.

The tagline says it all, "2020. Corporations Control Everything." As opposed to now, 2006, where corporations have no say?? We're living in an age where the corporations control everything, starting with the media and going all the way up to the government. Lobbyists on K Street are ready to hook corporate donors up with members of the government; they even have an influence when it comes to changing laws. While I can certainly imagine how this could all get worse (or maybe just more transparent), I don't see why it would be any more of a threat in 2020 than it is in 2006. "Corporations Control Everything," well, just remember who you're making this game for ... a company with some political clout and a media outlet.

While I'm complaining about nuance, perhaps it's time for me to vent about this new look for Joanna Dark. I don't like it. Not at all. Years ago when they introduced her she had more of an anime feel, that was fine. This new Joanna Dark just isn't doing anything for me. The picture of her in this commercial is a prime example; I know she's supposed to look sexy here, but I just feel she looks more like Hedwig and the Angry Inch! And for the record, she doesn't wear gloves in the game ... but maybe we shouldn't expect the art department to notice the finer details.

FROM: New Adventures of Bad Advertising