Microsoft is Special a.k.a. marketing sacrifices IE to occult forces on accident.

[Aldurin]

Hey, you know how Microsoft has been struggling with getting traction on launching the Xbox One harder than the PS4 is being launched? And the whole shitshow of how Windows 8 is being rejected by entertainment AND professional userbases? And how Valve is suddenly stepping in to make their move against both, with a pseudo-console AND a gaming-focused linux variant?

Yeah, well at least Microsoft still has Internet Explorer . . .

. . . right?

BHTUlF7NA2o

No, they're fucking serious. It's not just you who thinks it's dumb, they disabled comments for a reason (not the terrible comment system update, though). Let's walk through this . . .

Who does this interest? Anime fans, the perv subgroup for sure. Doesn't mean they're going to switch to IE though.

How will their existing userbase react? Remember that this is for people who are generally the elderly and/or culturally distant from the internet, and thus can't be arsed to install a different browser in their retailer-package computer. Internet Explorer is now associated with anime. The magical girl style of anime where you have to be smart about who knows that you watch it. Now people who are either not around anime at all or hear from their internet-savvy friends to avoid it and be wary of people that do are made uncomfortable by this new association, one they may be compelled to avoid at all costs (http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/1156) (by all costs I mean the short period of time it takes to download Chrome/Firefox and transfer all your crap automatically).

I guess Microsoft still has Windows Phone . . . for now.

Rereading this, I'm a little overenthusiastic. I guess I get giddy when I see companies that make consumer-unfriendly choices eat shit for everything that follows the same plan.

But seriously fuck Microsoft, I'm pretty sure the occult forces returned IE because they aren't some pansy outfit that makes pacts with whoever can scrape some Windows code off of the bottom of a toilet and put it in a pentagram.

[Magus]

Anime fans, the perv subgroup for sure

That's a subgroup?

All joking aside, old people probably won't see this commercial. Also maybe this is actually aimed at trying to sell it to Japanese consumers? The actual message is a bit confusing, I guess the robots are viruses? And Sailor Microsoft's shield is Microsoft Security Suite?

[Flarecobra]

It's more focused to Japan, from what I've seen. And within a day... she was getting fanart.

[Aldurin]

It's more focused to Japan, from what I've seen. And within a day... she was getting fanart.

. . . Goddammit Japan . . .

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

....Sooooo?
I'm not seeing the negative?
I mean, Microsoft tried to market differently. They looked at what areas they weren't getting people to try their browser in and tried something new with those people based on what they thought those people might like. This wasn't aired on TV or on a jumbotron in times square, they showed it at an anime festival. Maybe it will work, maybe not. But so far all the worst I've heard is that the advertisement doesn't make IE any better, the ad itself is actually a pretty affectionate parody/take on a genre that a lot of people enjoy. Like Flare said, the character is getting fan art which is essentially free further advertising, and for the first time in a loooong while people have things to say about IE that aren't "Get something else as soon as possible."

I don't get what you're getting so riled up about at all, basically.

[Aerozord]

Marketing is far more about visibility than conveying information. We haven't talked about the new IE at all and suddenly we are. Negative press is better than no press

[Bells]

I love the fact that she kills the monsters using blue screens of death....

[Red Mage Black]

Just nitpicking here, there have been Windows-tan girls for quite a few years now. Wikipedia has one, Firefox, was pretty sure IE already had one, but not this one and even Norton Anti-Virus had a character. Japanese artists are quite... creative when it comes to these girls. Though I'm sure they're not as widely known to the larger userbase.

This move for Japan is at least amusing.

[Flarecobra]

Well, I don't think any of those ones were used as official mascots until now.

[PyrosNine]

Firefox had Foxkeh, and Stupid Fox, however they didn't have pantsu, preventing Firefox from capitalizing upon the otakus.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

I think the big question is rather or not MS will turn this into a full anime.

[tacticslion]

I think the big question is rather or not MS will turn this into a full anime.

I am dread this, yet I dare not look away.

[Aldurin]

The animation on that short is pretty bad, actually.

Don't be so mean! They're accurately portraying the presentation and performance of the program

[Tev]

Just nitpicking here, there have been Windows-tan girls for quite a few years now.Yeah, if someone had just dumped this in the youtube thread without explanation, I would have just assumed that this was some operating system/browser-tan fan creation. This stuff has been around forever and I figured the only thing keeping someone from creating a full fledged Magical Girl/Harem anime about it was the licensing issues.

If this is an actual MS commercial, I'm really not sure what to think other than "Oh Japan!"

[Flarecobra]

It is. (http://news.cnet.com/8301-33692_3-57611391-305/internet-explorer-transforms-into-anime-heroine/) (Tech news report about it, no real text to go with it.)

[RobinStarwing]

I figured the only thing keeping someone from creating a full fledged Magical Girl/Harem anime about it was the licensing issues.


I'd watch it if they did!

[Arhra]

Well, I don't think any of those ones were used as official mascots until now.

Windows 7? Nanami Madobe? It was a theme pack and everything.

Made ridiculous noises. It was pretty funny.

[Locke cole]

It's more focused to Japan, from what I've seen. And within a day... she was getting fanart.

...that's not really an impressive turnaround, when you consider the fact anthropomorphic anime-style personifications of browsers, OSes, wikis, and forums have been around for years. Including one for IE.

[Azisien]

Still only useful for getting Chrome/Firefox.

On a broader note, I do really like Windows 7, and Windows 8.1 is shaping up nicely. The hardware department for the Xbox One seems admirable, they did a great job there. Marketing department ruins that though. Surface Pro is also unbelievably cool, but a little out of price range. I like the direction, though.

So M$ isn't all bad!

[Locke cole]

I'd watch it if they did!

It'd probably be something like this (http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/image/1156)

[synkr0nized]

M$

Please go back to the 1990s where you belong.

[Azisien]

Please go back to the 1990s where you belong.

Members of my computer science department still use this all the time, I feel totally vindicated!

e: and as a long-time game store manager, seeing Microsoft's profit margin on their stuff, x2 vindication combo!

[Krylo]

Do you really want to talk profit margins on consumer electronics and software suites?

'Cause unless you gonna start calling it Adobe Photo$hop and Apple iPho. . . ne. . . $? Fuck it.

Point is, you're being ridiculous and so is your computer science department and you should all stop it.

[synkr0nized]

Members of my computer science department still use this all the time, I feel totally vindicated!

There are several things wrong with this statement.

My point remains.



As to Microsoft and anime, maybe IE should team up with Xbox. Or, if they want to make a whole sentai thing they could add Surface and Zune, I guess. Their arch-nemesis would probably be a group of Internet worms/viruses/trojans, and they'd go asking for help in combat from Apple and Unix only to get rebuffed and made fun of. Probably with lots of stupid, dollar-sign-based insults.

[Arhra]

There are several things wrong with this statement.

My point remains.



As to Microsoft and anime, maybe IE should team up with Xbox. Or, if they want to make a whole sentai thing they could add Surface and Zune, I guess. Their arch-nemesis would probably be a group of Internet worms/viruses/trojans, and they'd go asking for help in combat from Apple and Unix only to get rebuffed and made fun of. Probably with lots of stupid, dollar-sign-based insults.

No, you see the open software movement is the bumbling villains.

[Locke cole]

Micro$oft, @pple, and Soñy.

[Azisien]

Point is, you're being ridiculous and so is your computer science department and you should all stop it.

Not sure why it's ridiculous, or what I'm supposed to stop, but I don't care? At all? How about get over yourselves?

[Tev]

Well, this didn't take long.....

2IdrZ0SG5mU

[Hatake Kakashi]

Haaaaahahahahahaha! Oh Youtube. Even in the times when you are thoroughly bent to corporate will, you (as a community) still amaze me.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Now that's a prefect representation of IE.

[Azisien]

Oh my goodness I've been using other browsers for so long I had forgotten about those error messages.

[Magus]

Now that's a prefect representation of IE.

I will assume this is a witty pun and not a typo! For it has made me laugh out loud.