I should have seen this coming...

Ready to get your geek on? While gamers everywhere have been anxiously awaiting the release of Final Fantasy XII for PS2, japanese gamers have been playing it since March. Feeding off the Final Fantasy frenzy, Square-Enix has teamed up with Suntory to sell the Final Fantasy XII Potion. (Rather than actually healing bodily injuries like in the game world, the real world counterpart is simply an energy drink.)

However, I think the best part of it is this commercial Suntory released in Japan.

A potential chance romantic encounter... turns suddenly deadly.
-or-
What not to do on a first date.

(You can see it in higher resolution at the official Suntory website here.)

What amazes me the most is that the Japanese could get away with playing this commercial on national television, and that the general public would understand it. Goes to show just how video games are not only accepted, but have become an integral part of the japanese cultural consciousness.

I'm sooo jealous. >.<




P.S. If you watch the clip carefully, each person has an HP and MP bar, and a mini-map of the store even appears in the top-right corner. Moreover, in the lower left, you actually see them selecting the "Magic" command from the menu. And for you FF buffs out there, he cries out, "Blizzaga! Aeroga!", while she retaliates with a "Thundaga!".

P.P.S. If you understood my 1st P.S., then I officially label you a nerd. If you noticed all these things in the commercial without my help, then I officially label you a Super Nerd, and heartily welcome you to the club! :D