History Main / VeryFalseAdvertising

* ''WebVideo/{{Rerez}}'' calls out the ''UsefulNotes/GameCom'' for this with its version of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'', comparing the slow and dodgy actual gameplay to the much faster footage that was shown in their commercial - the commercial footage is clearly a heavily doctored clip from a prior ''Sonic'' game that released on the ''UsefulNotes/GameGear''.

* The "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aladdin_Deck_Enhancer Aladdin Deck Enhancer]]" was an add-on for the UsefulNotes/{{NES}} that claimed to add 64 kilobytes of memory to enhance the quality of special games developed for it. In truth, the device did not add any memory and was instead a housing unit for a lock-out chip that would allow developer Camerica to more cheaply manufacture unlicensed games by selling more compact cartridges that worked with the "Deck Enhancer" to bypass Nintendo's anti-piracy technology. The unlicensed version of ''Micro Machines'' made for the Aladdin is, in fact, the ''exact same game'' as was previously released on the NES before the Aladdin's release.

* Commercials for the Tiger Electronics UsefulNotes/RZone usually showed footage of console versions of its games, at most giving a few shots of the R-Zone's actual graphics. You could tell because that footage had colors beyond just eye-searing red, and more animation than a projected still image flopping between two frames.

* The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version of ''VideoGame/AlteredBeast1988'' was advertised as an ArcadePerfectPort. It was certainly the best port available at the time, but even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSnM5inrdNQ a fairly casual viewer]] can tell that the Genesis version was significantly downgraded in graphics and sound, and a lot of other things, including boss patterns and several movesets, were changed completely.

** ''Hero Wars'' commercials show the game as a puzzle game where you have to take loot and kill enemies by pulling pins inside a tower to release gold, lava, and potions in the right directions. The game is a generic RPG battle game. Actually subverted as of December 2019, when after many complaints the game was updated to include the puzzles from the Facebook ads as a bonus minigame to get extra loot. In the 2020s, ads started showing the game as a tower builder or maze traversal game, where the player has to grow the character's level by defeating enemies of a lower level... only for the "person" controlling the character to inevitably mess up by clicking on an enemy of a higher level.

* The cover art of ''Hyper'' ''VideoGame/StreetFighter2'''': The Anniversary Edition'' claims that it includes the animated ''Street Fighter II'' movie "in its entirety". While it does include the movie, it is obviously not the full product, notably cutting the Chun-Li shower scene in such a poor way that you can clearly tell certain parts have been removed. The jumps in the music are VERY blatant.

* The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis version of ''VideoGame/AlteredBeast'' was advertised as an ArcadePerfectPort. It was certainly the best port available at the time, but even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSnM5inrdNQ a fairly casual viewer]] can tell that the Genesis version was significantly downgraded in graphics and sound, and a lot of other things, including boss patterns and several movesets, were changed completely.

** In late 2022, a new variation started appearing for various different games. These ads have some random person talking about how [[TakeThatCritics people complain about the ads not showing real gameplay]]... only to claim that [[BlatantLies the ads are an accurate showcase of the real gameplay]], and [[NeverMyFault blames the complainers claiming that "they downloaded a fake version of the game".]]

-->-- '''Fozzie''', ''Film/TheGreatMuppetCaper''

* ''WebVideo/{{Rerez}}'' calls out the ''UsefulNotes/GameDotCom'' for this with its version of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'', comparing the slow and dodgy actual gameplay to the much faster footage that was shown in their commercial - the commercial footage is clearly a heavily doctored clip from a prior ''Sonic'' game that released on the ''UsefulNotes/GameGear''.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' episode, "[[Recap/RugratsS3E4GrandpaMovesOutTheLegendOfSatchmo Grandpa Moves Out]]", Roberto Mazatlan advertises a retirement home called Flushing Waters. In the commercial, Roberto claims Flushing Waters to have gourmet food and wonderful on-site fishing, and Lou decides to move there when he feels unappreciated by Stu, Didi, and Tommy when he inadvertently interferes with their dinner. It is later revealed that Flushing Waters is [[BleakAbyssRetirementHome a lot more run-down than advertised]], with the "gourmet" food looking like something one would expect from a public school cafeteria, and the fishing creek revealed to be a large fountain stocked with fish that the residents are supposed to catch with nets and put back when they're done. Lou soon finds out that Flushing Waters isn't as luxurious as advertised, but he refuses to admit it to his family until Tommy and Angelica cause a series of mishaps that make him realize that they're the most important things in his life.

%%* The mid-eighties Creator/RobinWilliams vehicle ''Film/ClubParadise'' involved the protagonists intentionally opening such a hotel. HilarityEnsues.

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[[folder:Film - Live Action]]
* The mid-eighties Creator/RobinWilliams vehicle ''Film/ClubParadise'' involved the protagonists intentionally opening such a hotel. HilarityEnsues.

* ''Film/TheBestExoticMarigoldHotel'' has one of these, and the characters' reactions to it, as the driving plot.

* ''WebVideo/{{Rerez}}'' calls out the ''UsefulNotes/GameDotCom'' for this with its port of ''VideoGame/SonicJam'', comparing the slow and dodgy actual gameplay to the much faster footage that was shown in their commercial -- the commercial footage is clearly a heavily doctored clip from the ''UsefulNotes/GameGear'' port of the game.

* False advertising has been a problem in mobile games since the tail end of UsefulNotes/TheNewTens.

* The cover art of Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition claims that it includes the animated Street Fighter II movie "in its entirety". While it does include the movie, it is obviously not the full product, notably cutting the Chun-Li shower scene in such a poor way that you can clearly tell certain parts have been removed. The jumps in the music are VERY blatant.

** Read the app store reviews for ''Evertale'', and over 90% of them are complaints about being advertised a {{Creepypasta}} pastiche of ''Pokemon'', only to find on downloading that it's an incredibly generic, fanservice-ridden JRPG gacha game with monster-catching elements (that has long since overshadowed by the gacha heroes) and little to no horror elements whatsoever.

** In late 2022, a new variation started appearing for various different games. These ads have some random person talking about how people complain about the ads not showing real gameplay... only to claim that [[BlatantLies the ads are an accurate showcase of the real gameplay]], and [[NeverMyFault blames the complainers claiming that "they downloaded a fake version of the game".]]

* The second HotSpringsEpisode of ''LightNovel/OurHomesFoxDeity'' has Noboru realize that the brochure for the inn he went to used this. The place is cheap and broken-down, but Kuu loves it regardless.

[[quoteright:279:[[VideoGame/LuigisMansion https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/luigismansionmap_3.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:279:[[WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} Sure, it's big enough, but look at the location!]]]]

* The beginning of ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion''. The picture shows a nice inviting house complete with the sun in the sky, pleasant scenery, and even rainbows. The actual mansion is a menacing looking HauntedHouse complete with tombstones on the lawn and DramaticThunder. The situation is repeated in ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion3'', only this time with a luxurious hotel, though that time at least the villains use a very convincing glamour over the building.

** ''Hero Wars'' commercials show the game as a puzzle game where you have to take loot and kill enemies by pulling pins inside a tower to release gold, lava, and potions in the right directions. The game is a generic RPG battle game. Actually subverted as of December 2019, when after many complaints the game was updated to include the puzzles from the Facebook ads as a bonus minigame to get extra loot. In the 2020s, ads started showing the game as a tower builder or something similar, where the player has to grow the character's level by defeating enemies of a lower level... only for the "person" controlling the character to inevitably mess up.

** ''Hero Wars'' commercials show the game as a puzzle game where you have to take loot and kill enemies by pulling pins inside a tower to release gold, lava, and potions in the right directions. The game is a generic RPG battle game. Actually subverted as of December 2019, when after many complaints the game was updated to include the puzzles from the Facebook ads as a bonus minigame to get extra loot.

** ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' has a video about false mobile game ads [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT6eMorkX78 here]], where [=MatPat=] discusses how their developers can get away with this false advertising so often. In short: though this kind of false advertising is indeed illegal, the government typically only pursues cases of it when the violation is actually placing people at some kind of serious risk. Since most of these games are free (or at least, [[AllegedlyFreeGame free up to a point]]), the worst outcome of a false mobile game ad is the person having their time wasted when they download the app, realize it's not what the ad showed, and then close and uninstall it. Consequently, they are considered a ''very'' low priority.

** ''WebVideo/GameTheory'' has a video about false mobile game ads [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT6eMorkX78 here]], where [=MatPat=] discusses how their developers can get away with this false advertising so often. In short: though this kind of false advertising is indeed illegal, the government typically only pursues cases of it when the violation is actually placing people at some kind of serious risk. Since most of these games are free (or at least, [[AllegedlyFreeGame free up to a point]]), the worst outcome of a false mobile game ad is the person having their time wasted when they download the app and realize it's not what the ad showed. Consequently, they are considered a ''very'' low priority.