Comments on: Whats the Deal with Men of Metal? http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/ MINI Cooper news, reviews and opinion. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:04:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: girtby.net – As Seen On The WWW! http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-251594 girtby.net – As Seen On The WWW! Tue, 03 Feb 2009 10:42:34 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-251594 <p>[...] is the toy version of the MINI-robot that was the subject of a brilliant viral marketing campaign last [...]</p> [...] is the toy version of the MINI-robot that was the subject of a brilliant viral marketing campaign last [...]

]]> By: MotoringFile » Archive » Men of Metal Transformer from MINI http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-27846 MotoringFile » Archive » Men of Metal Transformer from MINI Sun, 13 Nov 2005 16:55:52 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-27846 <p>[...] It would seem my favorite childhood toy and my favorite current toy have just collided in pure 1985 retro bliss. Behold, the official Men of Metal Transformer from MINI. What originally started as an off the wall viral ad campaign, has become a marketing vehicle for a toy. That sounds about right. [...]</p> [...] It would seem my favorite childhood toy and my favorite current toy have just collided in pure 1985 retro bliss. Behold, the official Men of Metal Transformer from MINI. What originally started as an off the wall viral ad campaign, has become a marketing vehicle for a toy. That sounds about right. [...]

]]> By: cwlouis http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6565 cwlouis Fri, 30 Sep 2005 02:28:39 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6565 <p>i own a MCS and i collect robots. so this little viral marketing works for me. i heard through the grape vine that takara/hasbro (owners of the tarnsformers toys) orginaly wanted to create a transformers figure out of the BMW MINI. but when BMW pulled the plug on it (i guess i know why now), that toy was scrapped..=(</p> <p>louis</p> i own a MCS and i collect robots. so this little viral marketing works for me. i heard through the grape vine that takara/hasbro (owners of the tarnsformers toys) orginaly wanted to create a transformers figure out of the BMW MINI. but when BMW pulled the plug on it (i guess i know why now), that toy was scrapped..=(

louis

]]> By: Rob Saunders http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6564 Rob Saunders Mon, 14 Mar 2005 21:31:16 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6564 <p>I think this is fun. I ordered one of the robots from miniusa website that is the same color scheme as my MINI. It came with a neat little book that carries on the hoax, with reference to the websites. I love stuff like this!</p> I think this is fun. I ordered one of the robots from miniusa website that is the same color scheme as my MINI. It came with a neat little book that carries on the hoax, with reference to the websites. I love stuff like this!

]]> By: Joey http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6563 Joey Thu, 01 Jul 2004 20:28:24 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6563 <p>I read the excerpt too and it's too bad there probably isn't a real book on it. I saw the videos with the robot and it looks kinda Hollywoodish. I bet Rowland Samuel and Colin Mayhew all work for the MINI company. I can't believe they would do this.</p> I read the excerpt too and it's too bad there probably isn't a real book on it. I saw the videos with the robot and it looks kinda Hollywoodish. I bet Rowland Samuel and Colin Mayhew all work for the MINI company. I can't believe they would do this.

]]> By: Vincenzo http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6562 Vincenzo Tue, 25 May 2004 17:46:49 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6562 <p>Lastest update on this hoax: http://www.2walls.com/antipop<em>culture/men</em>of_metal2.asp</p> Lastest update on this hoax: http://www.2walls.com/antipopculture/menof_metal2.asp

]]> By: Ivan http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6561 Ivan Fri, 21 May 2004 16:36:08 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6561 <p>According to the co.uk WHOIS database, the domain r50rd.co.uk is registered to a David Mayhew from London. The name the author of r50rd.co.uk gives on the website is Colin Mayhew, which is kind of weird. </p> <p>MINI.co.uk is registered to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW). </p> <p>If this is the work of MINI marketing, they're doing a great job of covering their tracks!</p> According to the co.uk WHOIS database, the domain r50rd.co.uk is registered to a David Mayhew from London. The name the author of r50rd.co.uk gives on the website is Colin Mayhew, which is kind of weird.

MINI.co.uk is registered to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW).

If this is the work of MINI marketing, they're doing a great job of covering their tracks!

]]> By: Gabriel Bridger http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6560 Gabriel Bridger Fri, 21 May 2004 13:52:02 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6560 <p>BTW what MINI is doing (BMW has done in the past) is called "viral marketing".</p> BTW what MINI is doing (BMW has done in the past) is called “viral marketing”.

]]> By: Rocketboy http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6559 Rocketboy Fri, 21 May 2004 09:38:51 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6559 <p>At least with the BMW films, they didn't try to hide the fact that BMW was behind them...</p> At least with the BMW films, they didn't try to hide the fact that BMW was behind them…

]]> By: Phil http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6558 Phil Fri, 21 May 2004 04:50:24 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6558 <p>What does it all mean though Basil ?!? </p> <p>www.MINIDryvr.Textamerica.com</p> What does it all mean though Basil ?!?

http://www.MINIDryvr.Textamerica.com

]]> By: Matt http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6557 Matt Fri, 21 May 2004 01:35:52 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6557 <p>It's not the first time BMW has done something like this. In the original, and i believe the second, BMW Films series there were a references, phone numbers etc... clues that would reveal more of the story as you followed them. Interesting and time consuming. Not necessarily good advertising for BMW, but interesting.</p> It's not the first time BMW has done something like this. In the original, and i believe the second, BMW Films series there were a references, phone numbers etc… clues that would reveal more of the story as you followed them. Interesting and time consuming. Not necessarily good advertising for BMW, but interesting.

]]> By: Frank http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6556 Frank Thu, 20 May 2004 23:08:36 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6556 <p>I am also dissapointed to see this kind of ad campaign from the otherwise very brilliant marketing geniuses at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky (They are based right here in Miami, in case you don't know).</p> <p>I have not read very good criticism of it either and it seems to me like the folks at Crispin, Porter need to take a break because their creativity is running out and they are getting clearly burnt out.</p> <p>What does a robot has to do with MINI? I have no idea and have not been able to make the connection between the two.</p> <p>My suggestion for Crispin Porter is to quitely and neatly scrape this campaign away and store it in the closet, not a very good idea.</p> <p>Stick to what you know best....the fun, ingenious and taught provoking original MINI advertaising campaign that have won you so many awards and recognition here and abroad.</p> <p>Let's think MINI not silly robots. Let NASA, MIT and the scientific community worry about those.</p> <p>You sell cars, not science fiction androids.</p> I am also dissapointed to see this kind of ad campaign from the otherwise very brilliant marketing geniuses at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky (They are based right here in Miami, in case you don't know).

I have not read very good criticism of it either and it seems to me like the folks at Crispin, Porter need to take a break because their creativity is running out and they are getting clearly burnt out.

What does a robot has to do with MINI? I have no idea and have not been able to make the connection between the two.

My suggestion for Crispin Porter is to quitely and neatly scrape this campaign away and store it in the closet, not a very good idea.

Stick to what you know best….the fun, ingenious and taught provoking original MINI advertaising campaign that have won you so many awards and recognition here and abroad.

Let's think MINI not silly robots. Let NASA, MIT and the scientific community worry about those.

You sell cars, not science fiction androids.

]]> By: Rocketboy http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/05/20/whats_the_deal_with_men_of_metal/comment-page-1/#comment-6555 Rocketboy Thu, 20 May 2004 19:41:39 +0000 http://matthewgifford.com/2004/05/20/#comment-6555 <p>I'm really kind of dissapointed in MINI for this type of advertising. It's the same type of deal that Sega tried with the Beta-7 promotion last year. At least walking robots is a bit more 'fun' than Sega Stormtroopers, but still, what's next, another fake tourist campaign like Sony's?</p> I'm really kind of dissapointed in MINI for this type of advertising. It's the same type of deal that Sega tried with the Beta-7 promotion last year. At least walking robots is a bit more 'fun' than Sega Stormtroopers, but still, what's next, another fake tourist campaign like Sony's?

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