On the heels of a much publicized gold medal run by the 1996 USA Basketball Women's Team at the 1996 Summer Olympics Games, the WNBA began its first season on June 21, 1997 to little fanfare. With currently twelve teams, the WNBA just came out with the first ever WNBA video game...hoping to attract "the target audience in a different manner." But is it really worth the buyers time?
One YouTube, I found a video that is essentially showing off the video game played to Beyonce's "Run the World"
As you watch please notice the horrible graphics and non-complex moves the players make (no alley-oops or cross overs, just basic dribbling and maybe a spin move). This type of media is actually a turn off for a gamer such as myself. The first the scenes of the commercial did not grab me at all.
I think the commercial is just trying to help a player imagine what it would be like to be their favorite players and win a game or maybe even a tournament, but the lack of visual stimulation is actually causing this game to seem less desirable than they intended.
Overall, I feel that this commercial did it's part to get the word out there that there is this video game out and we want you to buy it, but as far as making me, or any other viewer, more interested in the WNBA I think it failed. If I wanted to see horrible playing I would actually watch the WNBA, not play a video game.
As far as engagement is concerned, i'm staying away from this game. The commercial did it's job for me, caused me to really not want to waste money on this game. But when one think of engagement from the controversial standpoint, this game is targeting the lesbian audience. Never have you heard a homosexual remark about men playing ball together (even when it's street ball and less clothes are being worn) but put five girls on a court with short on and it's The L Word all over again.
Another commercial for the WNBA (not the video game), this one actually shows some players, just for your viewing pleasure.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X640QFzxl94&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL2990AC6D36E29F22>
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