Fans of the Commercial Break will immediately recognize that this is not the first time we've talked about Vic Tokai's LightBoy for the original Game Boy. We actually took a look at the device in our very first episode of Commercial Break. In the past twenty episodes I would like to say my opinion of the device has changed, but I still laugh every time I see it advertised. It doesn't help matters much when Vic Tokai decides make the advertisements so stupid. Thankfully this advert from 1990 continues this tradition giving us even more fodder for this article.

So you're going to Los Angeles by car; you have your sugar-addicted brother, your nosey mother, and an unfaithful father driving you to who knows what. Thankfully none of these people actually care about you or your safety, because they just let you zone out in the very back of your station wagon playing some crappy game put out by Vic Tokai. But let's say Slick Willy accidentally crashes the car in all of that Los Angeles traffic, you (and your Game Boy with Vic Tokai's LightBoy) go flying because you aren't buckled in and you your eyes are poked out by the flying glass that comes out of your LightBoy upon impact. You are one hurting unit! The doctors say that you'll never walk again and your video game arm will have to be amputated. All because your parents didn't strap you in and take away that blasted LightBoy. Damn you Vic Tokai, you are a supporter of unsafe driving habits. Somebody should take away your Good Samaritan license! And forget about that inappropriate slogan, "You can't stay in the dark forever," I'm telling you, this advertisement is hinting at something!

But let's get back to this road trip for a few seconds. This family is driving into Los Angeles, a city full of excitement and things to see. What the heck is he doing playing video games? As a parent it's your job to tell the older brother to smack that game player and tell him to pay attention! There are important things to see, we're not wasting all of this gas just so you can play some puzzle game. Get your face out of that game, it's time to pay attention to your surroundings ... you might actually learn something. Actually, you might as well just crash the car and put this kid out of his misery! The world would be a better place if more people paid attention, and the LightBoy is keeping that world harmony from happening. Shame on your Vic Tokai, shame on you!

FROM: Highway to Bad Advertising