Top Trailers For the Week

This week was a pretty good one when it came to the best video game, movie and TV trailers, so let’s jump right in with the five best for the week!

A new behind-the-scenes featurette for Sony’s forthcoming The Order: 1886 went into more detail about what weapons could be used in the game, whether it’s a flame-shooting gun that lights up pellets for a more destructive effect, or an AK-47-style assault rifle (innovative for the late 1800’s). The game will release early next year, exclusively for PlayStation 4.

The latest film from Matthew Vaughn, who directed Stardust and X-Men: First Class, looks at a mysterious society of heroes. In Kingsman: The Secret Service, Academy Award winner Colin Firth plays a part of the agency, recruiting a young troublemaker just in time to butt heads with a devastatingly evil plot, being put together by none other than Samuel L. Jackson. The film, based on Mark Millar’s comic book series, will arrive this February from Fox.

2K Sports unveiled a new gameplay trailer for its forthcoming wrestling game WWE 2K15, featuring a variety of superstars from World Wrestling Entertainment grappling in the ring. No doubt the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions will be the bigger draws with their advanced visuals, although the game will first debut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on October 28th, before coming to the other consoles on November 18.

Keanu Reeves will return to action form on October 24th with the debut of John Wick. In the film, Reeves plays a retired hitman trying to live a quiet life, until a mobster’s son steals his car and kills his dog – a gift from his dead wife. What follows is a violent rampage of vengeance, with some stylish thrills thrown in for good measure. Fans of Reeves should be quite satisfied with this action-fest.

Expanding on the territory it first introduced a while back with Sleeping Dogs (which will come to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next month), United Front Games will reintroduce the crime-ridden world of Tokyo with the forthcoming Triad Wars for PC. In the game, players will be able to create a criminal empire while dealing with rivals and recruiting others to join their cause. The game will release in early 2015.

Source: YouTube

 

PlayStation TV Launching Next Month

Sony has been looking for ways to push the marketing for its PlayStation Vita handheld, which has been struggling over the past year with its minimal releases. However, a new avenue will open up next month that should provide an increase in sales – as well as an alternative to home gaming for those who can’t quite afford a PlayStation 4.

The PlayStation TV, which was introduced earlier this year by the company, will launch on October 14th to retailers everywhere. With the system, players can play a variety of PS Vita games, as well as classic PS One titles and PlayStation Portable games, through the convenience of their television. The compatible game list includes a number of favorites, such as God of War Collection, Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time, Rayman Origins and Persona 4 Golden.

The standalone system will sell for $99.99, but the better deal comes with the bundled set, pictured above. The set includes a PlayStation TV device, a DualShock 3 controller, an 8 GB memory card and a copy of The Lego Movie Videogame. It’ll sell for $140. Furthermore, those who buy this bundle at Wal-Mart locations will also score a copy of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time as a free bonus.

With the system, Sony could very well compete with other set-top boxes on the market, even without the compatibility with certain applications. The device could also be a handy secondary item for the PlayStation 4, as users can utilize Remote Play to play one of their games from that system in another room of the house.

The PlayStation TV will also use the PlayStation Now service, allowing users to rent and play a selection of PlayStation 3 games from the cloud. So far, the availability of these games is quite enormous, offering even more value to the device upon its release. And of course, the PlayStation TV will come with a variety of common services like Netflix.

What do you think Even if you own a PlayStation 4, would you pick up a PlayStation TV for another room of the house

Source: Sony

 

Apple May Shut Down Beats Music

A few months back, Apple made a hearty $3 billion investment by buying Dr. Dre’s Beats service, gaining in the high-tech audio peripherals and music service that Beats had created. However, now that the acquisition is complete, Apple could be making changes to the Beats streaming music service, with integration into its current iTunes music program being likely.

A number of sources indicate that Beats Music will shut down. According to them, various engineers have already been moved off of it and onto other projects at Apple. However, a shutdown date hasn’t been given. It seems more likely that Apple wold bring the Beats music service into the iTunes brand rather than lose it entirely, as streaming music has become extremely popular.

When asked about the shutdown, Apple explained to TechCrunch that the story about Beats Music being shut down “is not true,” but said sources indicate that the service will be modified over time.

There are some indications that Beats Music will not play an integral part in Apple devices, as the recently launched iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus did not come with the application installed. It also wasn’t featured on the new Apple Watch, with only an iTunes music brand showing on the face of the watch. And the only time it was mentioned during the company’s press conference earlier in the month was when it confirmed that the new U2 album would be downloadable there.

Shutting down the service – or melding its audience into the iTunes fold – would follow the company’s mantra of following a singular Apple-based brand. Furthermore, the Beats label would still live on through the various products that the company picked up out of the deal, including the various Pills speakers and the deluxe headsets, which range in price from $50 to $300 with the current models that are available.

Brand integration is always a tricky thing, and the Beats Music streaming service is a new extension of the Beats brand with only about 250,000 users. Apple may well want to fold that into iTunes rather than pushing a completely separate entity, and it makes sense to do that while the brand extension is still very new. More importantly, perhaps, Apple’s business in selling music downloads is under pressure from streaming services, and having its own streaming service under the iTunes label should enable the company to minimize that impact.

Clearly Apple’s plans are not yet fully formed, which can be seen by the lack of announcements around the topic. We could well see more information come out at the (rumored) Apple event planned for October, where we will likely see now models of the iPad unveiled, and possibly new MacBooks or a new Apple TV, as well as the new version of OS X (Yosemite). A new version of iTunes with an integrated streaming music service would be a great thing to introduce right before the holiday season, before any more music fans wander off into the arms of Spotify, Pandora and others.

What do you think Would you miss the Beats Music label if it went away Or would it make more sense to fold it over into the iTunes service to expand its overall offerings

Source: TechCrunch

Netflix Orders Children’s Series Based On Popples Toys

By Sahil Patel

Netflix continues to build out its children’s programming library with a new original series based on the popular Popples toy line.

Based on the series of fantasy characters created by Those Characters from Cleveland, a subsidiary of American Greetings, the new animated “Popples” series will reimagine the Popples characters, which can transform from fluffy balls to furry creatures and back again. Each episode will center on five friends who always try to help their family and friends, only for situations to backfire.

Set to debut in all Netflix territories in 2015, “Popples” will be produced by Saban Brands with ZAG Entertainment. The original Netflix order is for 26 half-hour episodes.

The show will follow the 1980s “Popples” Saturday morning TV series, which aired from 1986 to 1987.

This article was originally posted on VideoInk and is reposted on [a]listdaily via a partnership with the news publication, which is the online video industry’s go-to source for breaking news, features, and industry analysis. Follow VideoInk on Twitter @VideoInkNews, or subscribe via thevideoink.com for the latest news and stories, delivered right to your inbox.

Marketers Still Need To Grasp Personalization

Personalization is a vital ingredient when it comes to effective advertising, and certain marketers know it. However, given the task of actually applying it to said advertising, that’s a different matter.

It seems that some marketers are having trouble when it comes to narrowing down the development of a single customer viewpoint, according to a July 2014 survey by Forbes Insights (in association with Sitecore). It appears that fragmented and siloed data systems could be playing a part in preventing said grasp.

Senior executives across various companies in the U.S. believe that their companies utilize an average of 36 different data-gathering systems and vendors – and some even go beyond that with over a hundred. However, only 24 percent of those polled find any sort of connection or integration with this system, making it hard to nail down a single system. In contrast, 56 percent believe that their systems were only partially integrated, meaning that a more streamlined future is possible as a result.

Integration efforts are a critical item for marketers, with 62 percent believing that a single, central customer marketing database with customer information is a huge priority, with 59 percent saying something similar when it comes to a singular system to deliver experiences across various digital channels.

To reflect this, a separate May 2014 study by Forrester Consulting (commissioned by Conversant) had similar results, with 35 percent of U.S. marketing pros stating that a single view of each customer across various sales and marketing channels was a lot tougher than looked, mainly due to making a broader implementation of personalization systems. A smaller percent of 30 percent thought it was a little bit less, stating it was a “major challenge.”

61 percent of the respondents in the poll believe that identifying, vetting and integrating technology, platforms and vendors for better personalization was a huge challenge, noting that adopting the latest personalization technologies could very well integrate separate data sources and types, creating a better single customer view. However, as you might guess, that challenge is tough for many to overcome.

We’ll see if these trends pick up – and a better personalization system is introduced – in the months ahead.

Source: eMarketer

Image source

‘NBA 2K15’ Introduces Face-Scanning Tech

Face scanning is a complex – but worthwhile – feature that allows developers to nail down the facial structures of characters in the game, making them look more realistic in the process. However, there aren’t many releases out there that allow players to get in on the action from the convenience of their home. Thankfully, this will change next month when 2K Sports releases NBA 2K15 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

In the game, players will be able to utilize face-scanning technology, either with their Kinect device or PlayStation Camera, respectively, to map their face and head onto a player in the game, thus adding to the realism when it comes to guiding a customized basketball player through the game’s MyCareer mode.

It’s not lazy face-scanning technology, either. Using the camera on either device, a player’s specific details will be scanned with the tech, then faithfully remapped onto a player, blemishes and all, with a life-like appearance. The process is said to be second to none, and possibly even a feature that 2K Sports will integrate into future game titles.

The video below highlights how the process works, with the mysterious Beard Guru, a “mystical mountain man from somewhere in the Swiss Alps,” conditioning faces for scanning. The video also features NBA superstars James Harden and Anthony Davis, whom the Beard Guru conditions to make them look even better in the game.

This, on top of the game’s various modes and the recently announced NBA 2K TV that will tie in with its release, should make it a solid choice for fans of basketball, even with EA Sports set to launch NBA Live 15 later in the month for Xbox One and PS4.

NBA 2K15 will release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, as well as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, on October 7th.

Source: PSFK

 

This Week’s [a]list Jobs – September 24th

[a]listdaily is now your source for the hottest job openings for senior management and marketing in games, entertainment and social media. Check here every Wednesday for the latest openings.

Here are this week’s [a]list jobs:

  • Blizzard – Director, Partnerships and Promotions (Irvine, Calif.)
  • Nexon Mobile – Director of Marketing (Oakland, Calif.)
  • Nexon Mobile – Marketing Artist (Oakland, Calif.)
  • Warner Bros. – Director, Promotions (Burbank, Calif.)
  • Netflix – Originals Marketing Coordinator (Beverly Hills, Calif.)

For last week’s [a]list jobs, click here.

Mountain Dew And Doritos Fuel Up For ‘Call of Duty’

It’s another year, and another marketing program between Activision and Mountain Dew and Doritos. The “Fuel Up for Battle” promotion, which kicks off Oct. 6, will allow gamers in select markets around the world will have the opportunity to customize their Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer gaming experience by accessing exclusive (until Feb. 15, 2015) in-game gear through the new in-game Supply Drops reward system.

American gamers can collect codes from specially marked packages of Dew and Doritos products and enter them online at www.DewandDoritos.com to enhance their gaming experience and create a unique identity for their advanced soldier by unlocking exclusive Dew and Doritos in-game gear. Fans can customize their character with accessories such as an exoskeleton, heavy vest kit, helmets, goggles, boots and more. Also making a comeback is the ability to unlock double XP and rapid supply rewards. Every code entered from Dew and Doritos packages unlocks Call of Duty in-game rewards and each code entered will also provide a chance to win an Xbox One console.

Mountain Dew has something old and something new for its COD branded drinks this year with Mountain Dew Game Fuel Citrus Cherry and Mountain Dew Game Fuel Lemonade for a limited time only. Both products will hit shelves in the U.S., beginning October 6, along with new 3.375 oz. specially marked bags of Doritos Nacho Cheese, Doritos Cool Ranch, Doritos Spicy Nacho or Doritos Dinamita Chile Limon flavored chips. Greg Herman, senior brand manager at Mountain Dew, talks about the new promotions in this exclusive interview.

What do you feel differentiates Call of Duty from any other game franchise out there?

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the latest example of the franchise’s ability to produce compelling material for gamers, with innovations like the new ‘Supply Drops’ reward systems. We admire the way they continue to push the envelope and give gamers new, unique experiences over and over again.

How has this PepsiCo program grown over the years with the Call of Duty franchise?

The Mountain Dew and Doritos brands have a long-standing legacy of partnerships and promotions around blockbuster video games, which have delivered some of the highest levels of consumer engagement — our programs with the Call of Duty franchise have been no exception.

What have you learned from consumers from past promotions that has influenced this year’s campaign?

Mountain Dew’s and Doritos’ integrated gaming promotions have proven successful year-over-year. Through our previous campaigns, we’ve found that when our products bring the gaming community exclusive experiences that add to the enjoyment of the game, it’s really well received so, this year we’re excited to offer unique access to in-game gear through codes on our products through the ‘Fuel Up for Battle’ promotion.

How do you go about choosing which limited edition flavors to introduce?

We tapped into flavor trends to create a great tasting lemonade-flavored Mountain Dew Game Fuel for our fans. We’ve never had a lemonade flavor before, and we feel really good that it’s something our fans will enjoy.

What has the new franchise, Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, opened up for this promotion with the Supply Drops?

This year’s partnership with Activision provides gamers with exclusive access to in-game gear, double XP and rapid supply to take the gaming experience to the next level. Mountain Dew and Doritos fans will have a chance to access these coveted advantages and be able to customize their gaming experience like never before.

How have you seen in-game rewards connect consumers with your brands?

When our products help reward gamers in-game, we’ve found that they connect with our brands at a whole new level. Our fans can customize their gaming experience, and unlike a traditional sweepstakes, every code collected from a DEW or Doritos product unlocks rewards that provide tremendous value to our fans, including in-game gear, double XP, rapid supply and a chance to win an Xbox One Entertainment System.

Can you talk about the commercial and themes you’re exploring with this campaign (In the past you’ve had humorous commercials with celebrity directors for this campaign.)

There will be a ‘Fuel Up for Battle’ commercial that will air in the fall, but at this time, it’s too early to discuss the specifics.

Can you talk about the viral aspect of your campaign?

We’re always looking to build upon the previous year’s success and we feel the way that our products can reward gamers with in-game gear through supply drops will resonate with their always-on aim to level-up.

How many bottles and packages of chips will be part of this program and how long will they be in stores approximately after launching Oct 6?

The DEW and Doritos products will be available nationwide and in select markets around the world for a limited time through the end of 2014.

In the past you’ve had events where fans could win an experience like playing COD at Cowboys Stadium. How has that aspect of the program evolved?

Every DEW and Doritos gaming promotion is different, and we are constantly evolving our programs to engage with our consumers in different ways. This year, we are excited to offer our fans exclusive access to in-game gear rewards to customize their gaming experience.

How many Xbox Ones will you be giving away?

We will give away one Xbox One entertainment system per day throughout the duration of the promotion.

4 Ways To Promote Brand Videos That Target The Right Viewers

By Jessica Klein

YouTube presents brands with different ways to advertise their video content. Some methods work undeniably better than others depending on the specific type of content, and the YouTube Playbook for Brands urges readers to make those distinctions.

With that in mind, here are some guidelines for your brand to follow when it comes to promoting online video via YouTube.

1. Always Answer Consumer Queries First

Viewers who are engaging with your brand for the first time probably have some questions. What exactly does your brand do differently from others of its nature What makes it unique Who is the product meant for

To answer questions like these, your brand should always promote its hygiene content. It should be available constantly and show up first thing when possible consumers make relevant searches. Thus, “always-on” campaigns that use TrueView in-search work best to promote what viewersalways want to know.

2. Cater Regular Content to Your (Potential) Regulars

If your brand puts out certain content on a regular basis (say it’s sponsoring a concert series or creating weekly DIY videos), it’s best to showcase that to the viewers most likely to tune in so often to your channel.

In-stream advertising lets you target specific demographics, so you can make sure your ads supporting hub content appear in front of videos about topics that relate to your brand or to viewers that indicate interests in line with your product.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Make a Big Impression

If your brand is trying to spread the word about a major, short-term event, go for the YouTube masthead. You can book a spot there for a full day, therefore resulting in massive reach and creating a sense of urgency around your time-sensitive promotion.

4. Tack on the Famous “Subscribe” Button

Like promoting via the masthead, using the digital video platform’s mobile roadblocks allows your campaign to run for a full 24 hours as a pop-up ad on mobile devices. Though you can’t annotate mobile videos on YouTube, you can ask viewers to click “subscribe” on these roadblocks, so take advantage of the opportunity!

Global Ad Expansion Points to Digital

The latest forecast from ZenithOptimedia shows that global ad spending is healthy again due in large part to increased adoption of digital media. Digital media is set to rake in over 28 percent of ad spending by 2016, a number that includes both mobile and desktop. This will have increased ad spending in this area by 7 percent since 2013, a large gain in just 3 years’ time.

Of course, the increased attention to digital means that things aren’t looking so hot for traditional media. Print is forecasted to be the hardest hit, dropping 5.2 percent to 19.6 percent of total ad spend. TV, still the largest category looks to lop off 1.3 percent of ad spend to bring it down to 38.3 percent share of ad spend.

In general, however, global ad spend is predicted to grow by 6 percent in just a few years.

 

Source: MediaPost