Celebrity endorsement has never been a factor in how well a videogame does either way, regardless of level of star power or degree of involvement for the celebrity: Keanu Reeves playing a heavy hand (heh) in the story of Cyberpunk 2077 did little to stop the game's initial bad press, and the main reason Baldur's Gate 3 did well isn't because JK Simmons is playing Kethric Thorm. (still, he had a great performance). Gameplay matters a lot more for a videogame.

It's unsurprising then, that Oscar winning actor Will Smith's involvement in a game in the oversaturated genre of zombie survival shooters did not become successful.

Plus, I don't think paying celebrities to promote videos on their YouTube channel is an effective marketing strategy, mainly because nobody really watches any celebrities' own YouTube channel, with the exception of Jack Black's gaming channel, of course.

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 14 points 7 months ago (2 children)

JK Simmons is playing Kethric Thorm

See I played Baldur's Gate but I didn't know that shit

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Says a lot for the quality of voice acting in BG3 that it had Jason Isaacs and JK Simmons and I didn't really notice either of them standing out.

Although I did notice Gale in an episode of Good Omens.

[–] Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 4 points 7 months ago

I have nearly 1000 hours in Baldur's Gate 3 and JUST NOW learned that Jason Isaacs was the voice of Gortash... I did recognize JK Simmons but honestly wasn't 100% sure it was him until the second or third time meeting him and finally looking it up on IMDB to confirm (and somehow still missed Jason Isaacs - I did learn about Matt Mercer's role as Minsc which still blows my mind).

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 6 points 7 months ago

They gave him a full beard instead of a stache thats why you couldnt tell.

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 13 points 7 months ago (2 children)

I wouldn't hold it against Keanu personally because its clear he really cared and did gave a good performance but i feel like his involvement with cyberpunk ruined a lot of things that could have been.

[–] sheogorath@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago (2 children)

CDPR effectively rewrote the campaign after Keanu Reeves told them that he's game if CDPR wants to record more lines. I still remember the E3 demo where CDPR said that the campaign has been completed and they're just in the polishing stages.

[–] MrBusiness@lemmy.zip 11 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yup we got a mid main storyline when we could've had more Jackie.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 3 points 7 months ago

I woulda liked that

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

The whole "Origin System" that amounts to... literally nothing outside of some dialogue at the very begining

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

There are dialogue options all throughout the game (at least for streetkid)

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 1 points 7 months ago

Also nomad has qoute a bit.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 8 points 7 months ago

No one will hold it against him personally, it's not uncommon.

There are certain actors who performs great in every single movie they appear in, yet still have many of these movies flop. Many times, it's out of the actor's control.

All we can do is our best.

[–] CaptKoala@lemmy.ml 8 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Wasn't aware there were celebrities other than Jack Black on YouTube... TIL

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 6 points 7 months ago

Ron Livingstone's YouTube channel had just one video on it for 8 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu0qtEwb9gE

[–] rocket_dragon@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Russel Brand is now a far right Christian YouTuber.

[–] CaptKoala@lemmy.ml 2 points 7 months ago

[–] lud@lemm.ee 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Keanu Reeves really helped promote the game though.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yes, he did. But neither the main praise nor criticism of the game was not directed towards him but on the overall buginess and removal of RPG elements from the game.

[–] NoMoreCocaine@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Ok, what rpg element was removed? I just played it (without dlc), and it's basically first person witcher 3 in cyberpunk setting, including all the faults. Basically true to type with CDPR.

[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

They advertisd heavily on "complex branching storyline" and "every decision will have consequences" so the expectation was at the minimum a bigger Deus Ex Human Revolution, but then what they actually delivered is a worse GTA 5 with neon lights.

[–] NoMoreCocaine@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Right. But I just played it, and it has nothing to do with GTA. It's literally witcher 3 in first person. Same level of branching, same slightly shallow rpg mechanics and shallow ish combat. It's much more action, though and theoretically stealth is an option unlike witcher.

[–] Fenrisulfir@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 months ago

I mean look how many celebrities are in Squadron42/Star Citizen…