Competitively, not abusively. The Asics “Better Your Best” campaign created by 180 Amsterdam asks you to embrace the athletic quest for self-improvement that usually disappears from New Year’s resolution lists by mid-January. It’s encroaching on that “My Better is Better than Your Better” Nike sentiment from years past, but not enough to warrant the benign fury of the commenters. Winning against yourself is always less messy than whooping on others.

The commercial’s message can only be described as marathon running sessions inspired by zombie apocalypses inspired by Memento. However, the problem with bettering your best in a race against yourself is that you always lose–probably a fallacy Asics doesn’t want you to think about if you like the glass half-empty. Still, a viscerally powerful spot worth watching.

On a side note: there are six short films where international athletes like tennis player Gael Monfils and volleyballer Dragan Travica discuss ways they focus on continuously improving at their respective sports, but these don’t add much to the campaign. They’re full of athlete-speak cliches we’ve all heard a thousand times too many. Asics and 180 can still better their better for next time. Credits and one of the shorts after the jump.

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I’m not suggesting that grandparents can’t play video games; I’m sure some do, it just seems strange that a whole family would sit around a couch fully invested in watching Gramps play. It seems even stranger–and a little misguided–for 180 Amsterdam to include this scene in their new Playstation 3 commercial. But, since Grandpa shot up from his cushioned seat with such force, I’m just relieved he didn’t throw out his back.

The “Family Day Out” TV spot is the centerpiece of PS3′s Festival of Fun campaign, meant to highlight the versatile gaming options available for the console. The bulk of the commercial takes place at a circus-like setting where kids, parents, and even grandparents, can enjoy the metaphorical pleasures of motion-control video games.

The crux of the idea that video games can bring together a family means that instead of people actually going to circuses and fairs to spend time with each other, everyone can do it in a virtual ecosystem from a leather couch. That whole fresh-air, let’s-communicate-in-person thing is going the way of the CD player, but I suppose 180 Amsterdam is onto something here. If Mom and Dad squaring off in Sports Champions 2 leads to a healthier marriage, why not? Just make sure Grandpa takes frequent breaks to prevent carpal tunnel, stiff joints, worsening eyesight, and a rapid heartbeat. Credits after the jump.

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