# 8-Bit Nostalgia Commercials Fox Retro Aims for a Classic Appeal By Shelby Lee Walsh | Published 2011-10-03 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fox-retro References: [punga](http://www.punga.tv/) & [foxretro.it](http://www.foxretro.it/) FOX Italy has teamed up with PUNGA to create a [wayback playback commercial](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/droga5s-wake-up), which is titled, [Fox](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/universal-basic-guys) Retro. The tv spot draws from several childhood favorites in the categories of games and television shows. The A-Team gets it’s own Donkey Kong game (Mr. T looks lovely in an 8-bit format), Star Trek gets turned into Space Invaders (surprise, surprise) and Wonder Woman gets a stint as Mario. The Fonz from the hit show Happy Days even plays the role as Frogger at the end of the video, dodging in between the treacherous traffic of the city. The Fox Retro commercial definitely has appeal for those who are old enough to have enjoyed these [classic shows and games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/riki-8bit-game-collection) (and it’s a novelty for those who weren’t). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 18% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Viral](https://www.trendhunter.com/viral) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Nostalgic Advertising:** Using 8-bit graphics and classic TV and game references in commercials creates a nostalgic appeal for older viewers. - **Retro Gaming:** Bringing back old video games in a new format, such as turning TV show characters into game characters, taps into the nostalgia of gaming enthusiasts. - **Crossover Marketing:** Mixing different TV shows and games together in advertisements provides a unique and unexpected experience for viewers. ### Where This Applies - **Television Networks:** Television networks can utilize nostalgic advertising to attract older viewers and create a sense of familiarity and connection. - **Video Game Industry:** The retro gaming trend presents an opportunity for the video game industry to re-release or adapt classic games for modern platforms. - **Advertising and Marketing:** Crossover marketing allows advertisers to tap into multiple fan bases and create engaging content that stands out from traditional commercials. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Qsr Retro Film Tributes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dominos-40th-anniversary.md) - [Retro Gaming Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gamestation-retro.md) - [Nostalgic Television Channels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pbs-retro.md) - [Retro Music Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/retro-play.md) - [Anniversary-Celebrating Retro Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/atari-xp.md) - [Gamer-Inspired Snacks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitkat1.md) - [Retro Plug-and-Play Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wireless-plug-play-systems.md) - [Retro Sports Drink Revivals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gatorade-3.md) - [Vibrant Retro Handheld Gaming](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pocket-classic.md)