Xbox 'boxhead' by AKQA

AKQA has created a surreal 60-second spot for Xbox, which will be seeded as a viral at first, before launching on TV.

The ad supports Xbox's new Live Vision camera, which links into the console's online multiple gaming service, Xbox Live. The service already has than 7m users around the world.

The Live Vision camera allows users to communicate on the live network for video and voice communication.

 

 

Duration:
110
 
First Aired:
01-Sep-07
 
Media:
Television
 
Country:
United Kingdom
 
Agency:
AKQA
 
Client:
Microsoft
 
Creative Director:
James Hilton
 
 

Comments

Phil Hickes

Phil Hickes - 31/08/2007

Tonally, it misses the mark in my humble opinion. It's more like ad for the liberating effects of spot cream. Casting doesn't help. Surely Xbox is a bloke thing?

 
 
 
SAM RUSSELL

SAM RUSSELL - 31/08/2007

Exactly, which is why they are trying to re-position that image through the ad/viral. They must be worried that those women intersted in games consoles will be more inclined to go for the DS or Wii as it is targeting that audience.

 
 
 
Phil Hickes

Phil Hickes - 31/08/2007

You can't change the nature of the beast though eh. The reason women choose Wii is due to the unique console interaction and the more feminine games. The Xbox - from its muscular console through to its macho games library - is a man thing. Anyhoo, I'm off to play 'civil war slaughter 3.'

 
 
 
Gordon Macmillan

Gordon Macmillan - 31/08/2007

It brings a new meaning to the TLA - SHG (square headed girlfrind).

 
 
 
Peter Petrelli

Peter Petrelli - 31/08/2007

Men buy the Xbox so they can afford to put women in the ads because i dont think it will really put a man off buying an Xbox. Considering she has a lovely arse in french knickers at the beginning helps too doesnt it! I think its a good ad and it shows what the product can do well. Theres men in the room at the end and it is also a man who is 'leading them into the light' and cracking the boxheads (If your really hung up about the women thing). Its a good product and makes sense to humanise the xbox live heads and characters, but its not a drumming gorilla.

 
 
 
Gordon Macmillan

Gordon Macmillan - 31/08/2007

I know women who have PS2's and play on and offline (how geeky am I?) so i imagine the Xbox has its female fans as well.

 
 
 
simon atkins

simon atkins - 31/08/2007

Under my TV I have a megadrive, Nes and a Snes. You really do not need anything above this level. All this is poppycock. I even have the scope for the Snes ans it all still works. Alex Kidd, Sonic, Dick Tracy, Bart vs Space Mutants etc. are the best games made. 24 bit rules. Actually Goldeneye is decent too. Like the advert though

 
 
 
 CAVE

CAVE - 02/09/2007

In a word. Crap.

 
 
 
Pixie W

Pixie W - 03/09/2007

it is true...i have never liked game consoles until the wii...something like this wouldn't float my boat. i did lose interest in this advert. After the gorilla, nothing will come close for a while advertising wise

 
 
 
Andy Knell

Andy Knell - 03/09/2007

awful, is this an ad for applying for a bank loan through the xbox? wtf?

 
 
 
Richard Hayter

Richard Hayter - 03/09/2007

I don't mind this ad, but it would be so much better if the music was less portentous. That's why it sounds like a bank commercial...

 
 
 
Matthew Waring

Matthew Waring - 05/09/2007

Bored of this - can we change it please...

 
 
 
george lintott

george lintott - 05/09/2007

here here!

 
 
 
Nic Niewart

Nic Niewart - 05/09/2007

Viral Schmiral: new words to cover a load of crap. I think I'll go and seed some viral in the loo. It's given me a stomach ache. A load of bollocks. That's been done before (bag on head). Several times. Not really an ad agency are we Akwa? A pity about the name, as it means transvestite gay in Malay.

 
 
 
simon atkins

simon atkins - 05/09/2007

what does AKQA mean in Malay?

 
 
 
Nic Niewart

Nic Niewart - 06/09/2007

Transvestite gay- trannies in London- she-hims in Singapore. Try under the Kuningan bridge in Jakarta at night. Some of them are actually very attractive, but then that's another story. And quite deserving of travellers tales over a dinner table. The aqwa is actually a recognised figure in Indonesian and Malay culture- too much make up- too much perfume, overly bright- too bright satin, overtly- too overtly feminine, a figure of fun, perhaps, but admirably tolerated and accepted by society. Not the sort of thing you'd want to call a company in SE Asia. Unless you were aiming for that market, so to speak.

 
 
 

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Credits

Client
Microsoft Xbox
Agency
AKQA
Creative director
James Hilton
Writer
James Hilton
Agency producer
Nat Gabellone
Production company
Cattleprods
Director
Simon Cracknell
Producer
Matt Hollis
Director of photography
Michael Wood
Art director
Simon Davis
SFX
Hothouse
Editor
Rachel Span at The Quarry
Post production
Harry Jarman at Golden Square
Sound mix
Sam Ashwell at 750mph
Sound composition
Ollie Davis at We Write Music

 

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