I’m not a gamer, I never considered myself one. That’s not to say that I don’t partake in my fair share of video games. I most decidedly do, but they tend to be from one specific genre, fighting games. It’s not that I’m the best at them, nor do I ever dare compete competitively. As silly as it sounds, I like them simply for what they are. Specifically fighting games from Capcom or SNK. The flashy characters are what initially drew me in, then I discovered I liked the gameplay, the stories, the whole lot of it really.
My latest fighting game of choice has been a mobile game, King of Fighters All-Stars. It’s not the best game, but it immerses me in the world of SNK characters that I like so much (truth be told I always preferred SNK to Capcom). This past month King of Fighters All-Stars merged two of my favorite things; baseball, and fighting games. They ran a nearly month-long promotion in conjunction with the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s CTBC Brothers that included Brothers imagery throughout the game, baseball-themed stages, missions, and players.
Cross-promotion in video games is nothing new. You don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to remember all the various instances of cross-promotion that video games have been a part of throughout the years. The joint venture between King of Fighters All-Stars and the Brothers wasn’t unique or special. It was fun though, I looked forward to seeing that big elephant in a yellow uniform pop up on my screen every morning. In the current times it brought me closer to the sport I love that at times seems so far, far away.
Like all cross-promotions, the Brothers one has ended and a new one has already started up this month. I’m still playing the game, the various promotions are not why I play the game after all. I still feel a twinge of sadness every morning when that silly elephant doesn’t pop up on my screen. All good things come to an end, even in video games, but the memories remain.
Lead photo courtesy of Unknown – Netmarble
