Microsoft's latest IE videos gives us "new and improved" things

The team in charge of marketing for Microsoft's Internet Explorer is no stranger to producing odd and quirky videos. This is the same group that came up with the "browser you love to hate" campaign and more recently with a clip that asked us to examine long held beliefs. This week, the team helped to promote a new web browser version of the classic Windows 95 game Hover with a fun video that put the spotlight on a 90s Hover champion.

To help promote the launch of Hover, Microsoft is asking people on Twitter what other things from the 90s should be improved upon with the hashtag #newandimproved. One of the people who got their wish was Twitter user Gooch:

So, in a quick 16 second clip, Microsoft created a "new and improved" orange toothbrush with a smartphone mount. As a person brushes their teeth, the screen on the mount actually plays a game where the "Cavity Boys" are beaten up every time a person moves their toothbrush back and forth. We are not quite sure that we would label that toothbrush as "new and improved" but it's certainly a fun concept, and it's also orange.

Another video, suggested by The Webby Awards Twitter feed, asked Microsoft to come up with a "Tamagotchi for 2013?" The result was a "Virtual Pet" cat named Bobcat that ... well, just watch the video for yourself.

Yet another video re-imagines a second classic Microsoft game, Ski Free, made way back in 1991 by Microsoft programmer Chris Pirih. The original game has players skiing on an endless slop and avoiding obstacles. Microsoft's "new and improved" version is Ski Free: Abomination, where the Abominable Snow Monster that shows up in Ski Free's bonus rounds becomes the player character, who tries to eat other skiers.

Hopefully we will see even more of these weird videos in the days ahead.

Source: IE on YouTube