I know what you're thinking: This magazine advertisement isn't that bad. Sure, it's kind of silly, and maybe even a little dated now (especially the clothes), but it's not THAT bad, is it?

Well I'm here to tell you that there's a reason we've included it in our list of the worst advertisements of all time. This commercial comes from a time when companies were starting to switch from 800 numbers to 900 numbers. Sega, a company that apparently had way too much money on their hands, decided to make an advert out of calling a 900 number. That's right, they actually advertised their tips line ... the very same hotline that is mentioned in every literally every game they sold.

It's never easy to explain to your parents why you were running up their phone bill with calls to 900-numbers, and this problem is only compounded when you have to explain that it was for game cheats and not to talk to some sultry-voiced seductress who is willing to moan about your wildest fantasies ($3 the first minute, $5 each additional minute). Sega suggest that you call them instead of being kicked in the ass, but suggesting people spend money to learn something they could figure out on their own is more like a punch in the crotch.

Before you think this commercial is completely pointless, don't forget to pay close attention to their selling points. Think this is just about getting you to call now? Well, they also want you to order a calling card-type product that has $10 of calling time on it. This doesn't actually save you any money, so why you would buy that instead of just spending the money calling when you need to (or going online to figure it out) is beyond me. And if that didn't do it for you, Sega is ready to trot out the hyperbole. "Change your life today." Next time we suggest you just say, "buy it or we'll never make another game system." Oh ... I guess it's too late for that.

FROM: Bad Advertising, She Wrote