Top 5 list of Super Bowl ads

Now I cannot have an entertainment blog, and not discuss the Super Bowl ads before the big game. It just can’t be done.

As the ads for the big game are getting finalized, cut back, or eliminated (like PETA's porn ad) – most due to the economic freefall – I wanted to look back and mention my 5 favorite all time Super Bowl ads. Some you will agree with, in fact I think everyone will agree that they are all top ads which is rare in any list ever made. You may not agree with the order I pick. But you are more than free to correct me if you wish.

Number 5

I hate, with extreme prejudice, Grand Theft Auto. But I have to say that Coca Cola did a great job to twisting the hyper-violent, stereotyped, insulting game into something everyone can watch and enjoy. Though I still prefer Pepsi to drink.



Number 4

There is no office more interesting to watch than the one with Terry Tate. The mix of the monotony of daily work and the excitement of football is something that was truly inspired genius.



Number 3

It was hard to decide if this should be higher or not. But I settled for 3. Michael Jordan, and the equally famous Larry Bird, doing what only they can do – sink a basket like almost no one else. It just wouldn’t work with anyone else. And you just have to wonder who missed first (my bet is Bird would miss first).



Number 2

Now this one may get me a lot of heat. It is the first Super Bowl ad that I can remember. It is classic in every aspect. It was the true usher of the Super Bowl ad competition we all enjoy today. It is famous across the world (and copied without pause as well). But I place it 2nd.



Number 1

It’s artsy. It’s got a message. It was groundbreaking. And it was used to crush a Democratic Primary hopeful (thankfully) some 24 years after it was made. What more does it take to reach the top?



Of course there is one other Super Bowl ad that I must mention. It is separate of all the other Super Bowl ads. Created by Budweiser, it displayed the heart of the nation. It must be mentioned in any list of greatest Super Bowl ads, and is separate of any ranking.



So there is my list of the top 5 greatest Super Bowl ads. Now if I were to make the list go to 10, what else should I add? And what order would you have chosen?

And maybe, we can hope, the economic breakdown inspired something that can make my list next year. But with these greats, it’s hard to imagine.

More ads per minute than ever before - 7.23.2007.1

Ok, there goes the virtual neighborhood. A colleague of mine send me a link to Educational Games Blog, and a particular post. My position on ads in-game is pretty well stated I think. Well this just confirms why the ads are not only not going away, but how much they will increase.

Yes, increase. If you are annoyed by the number of ads so far, you haven’t seen anything yet. The reason is simple.

“…the researchers discovered that two thirds of gamers looked at in-game ads at least once each minute, and over 80 percent look at ads at least once every two minutes.”

There isn’t an advertiser in the world that will pass that up. If the average game takes let’s say 12 hours to finish (if you are a bit older like me, it’s probably closer to 20) that means an advertiser can get their image in front of you potentially between 288 to 576 times at least. And that’s assuming one advertiser!

Yes I can see it. Meeting with some friends online, you go to a village and learn about a dragon nearby, and thus you are on the quest to retrieve its treasure and the fabled Nike sword (the sneaker company, not the Greek goddess). Perhaps you’ll be be in a FPS (first person shooter) and you will need to find your Coca-Cola energy boost to get to the next level [wait aren’t they doing that already?] How many ads can you see on a particular race track? More than you see now. And all this will be coming to a game near you soon.

Don’t you feel happy?