8 Amazing Video Games With TERRIBLE Marketing

2. Dead Space 2

dead space 2 elevator
EA

Despite the original Dead Space being a solid hit for EA without the need for edgy promotional nonsense, they decided to sell the sequel with an extremely groan-worthy marketing campaign intended to amuse teenage boys and few others.

The campaign was called "Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2" and featured footage from a focus group where hundreds of middle-aged, conservative women were shown gory clips from the game in order to capture their disgusted reactions.

Between the thinly veiled misogyny of the entire concept and proud declaration that "it's violent, revolting, and everything you love in a game," the marketing for Dead Space 2 basically played into every dated stereotype about gamers, while painting the game as an artless, brainless orgy of violence.

And then there's the fact that the marketing was clearly aimed towards adolescent boys above all others - the very people who weren't even old enough to legally buy it.

Thankfully what's best remembered is that Dead Space 2 is a phenomenally intense survival horror game, rather than the resoundingly lame way it was sold to players.

 
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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.