Is the Wii Fit girl video a covert marketing campaign?

Just as popular recently as the Office Freakout video (posted about below), has been a video titled "Wii Fit - Why You Should Buy It For Your Girlfriend." It's one minute of a girl in her underwear working out with the Nintendo Wii Fit as her boyfriend ogles her.

There's been a lot of speculation that the video is a (not-so) covert marketing campaign by Nintendo. People grew even more suspicious after it was discovered that the woman in the video, 25-year-old Lauren Bernat, and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Giovanny Gutierrez, both work in advertising. Even better, they both specialize in internet advertising. But Nintendo insists it had nothing to do with the video. The Telegraph reports:

"This has and is absolutely 100 per cent nothing to do with Nintendo," a spokesman said.
"Nintendo did not create it and were not aware of it until it was brought it to our attention."
Mr Gutierrez has also denied that it was a viral advert for the Wii Fit.

Nintendo may not have created it, but I'm sure their pr people have been busy trying to spread the word about it, once they realized the interest it was attracting. Of course, it could also be a "sub-viral" campaign (defined as a viral campaign a company creates, but then denies having any hand in.)

Advertising Photos

Posted on Wed Jun 11, 2008


Comments

Boy, who could ever have guessed that a video of a young woman in her underwear bouncing up and down would be popular on the Internet.

Give these ad wizards a raise!
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  01:15 AM
I'll take sub-viral campaign for a $1000, Alex.
Posted by DC  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  11:04 AM
Now, if she were naked -

However, I wonder how many Wii will get sold as a result. I rmember reading years ago a study on sex in advertising. It seems it increases the interest in the ad but not the sales of the advertised product.
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  12:19 PM
...In the "more info" section of the video there is a link to buy it on Amazon...and info about it. Sounds pretty advertized to me.
Posted by Maegan  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  12:24 PM
I'm not so sure it's an authorized ad, though. The Wii is still high in demand, and scarce to find. You'll note that Amazon doesn't actually have any of their own to sell - they're all 'New and Used' third-party vendors. Nintendo still can't put them out fast enough to meet demand in most markets, so I'm not as sure they would resort to such dubious tactics that could possibly destroy that 'family friendly' image they've been fostering all this time.
Posted by Charybdis  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  01:14 PM
I think its more an ad for the advetising company itself!.
Posted by Iridium  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  02:26 PM
...or the boyfriend & girlfriend are trying to sell their own in the "used" section??
Posted by Maegan  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  02:35 PM
Apparently, I'm not old enough to watch it:

"This video or group may contain content that is inappropriate for some users, as flagged by YouTube's user community.
To view this video or group, please verify you are 18 or older by logging in or signing up."
😠
Posted by Big Gary  on  Thu Jun 12, 2008  at  04:54 PM
I dont think this ad was ordered by nintendo, though the popularity of the Wii with adults has grown greatly Nintendos primary audience over the years has grown more and more to the young child. Your older gamers tend to the other systems as most games on Wii and other Nintendo systems are very "kiddy". I am guessing that this was a viral campaign come up with by the guy and girl simply in an attempt to further their own notoriety and thus their career in advertising.
Posted by Tim  on  Fri Jun 13, 2008  at  01:32 AM
And where's the one with a bloke in tight pants working out, all hot and sweaty? Us girls like our totty too, you know!
Posted by Nona  on  Fri Jun 13, 2008  at  05:42 AM
Nona, try this one:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2116288/Wii-Fit-underwear-girlfriend-spoofed-online.html
Posted by Big Gary  on  Sat Jun 14, 2008  at  12:30 PM
Thanks Big Gary, I had a look.

Somehow that looked better in my head.....
Posted by Nona  on  Mon Jun 16, 2008  at  05:41 AM
Perhaps they're not good for every home...

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23872749-5014108,00.html
Wii Fit women 'destroying their homes'

WOMEN working out on Nintendo Wii Fit are helping to cause millions of dollars worth of damage to their homes.
In Britain alone, it has been reported that bungling fitness fiends have contributed to a $A41.5 million living room repair bill.

Flower pots, television sets and even pets have been sent flying by the high kicks and hula hoop motions of increasingly vigorous home exercise routines, Britain's Telegraph newspaper reports.
.... [more on link]
Posted by AussieBruce  on  Mon Jun 16, 2008  at  06:41 AM
Ah, yes, many the happy evening I spent watching girls do the dying cockroach while working the Pong Paddle... And then they exercised... heh heh
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Tue Jun 17, 2008  at  09:36 AM
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