It's sort of a clash of marketing techniques. The inspirational "we finally live in the future" thing works because it gets people really psyched to have a product. The viral marketing scam thing works because people are good-natured about being tricked if the trick is executed well (the same reason people can enjoy magicians).
But I don't think you can mix those. People are going to be less good-natured about being promised hoverboards again and then finding out that there will be no hoverboards again.
Startups like these are real. They are creating incredibly cool new technology. The oculus rift, the pebble watch, and tons of others. That's whom this is making fun of.
And because crowd funding is a big part of making these new technologies happen, making fun and creating a fake tech is poisoning the well.
Intentionally or not, this is poising the well that gave us the Oculus Rift and others.
And that's why I really hope this advertising campaign backfires bad. I hope what ever this is supposed to be promoting, be it movies, video games or shoes, I hope it bombs bad. And bombs thanks to pissed off consumers.
Also, as soon as they "hover" they're suddenly putting no weight on their legs. Unless hovering implies complete gravity reversal, that doesn't make sense. They'd still be putting all their weight on the board.
Ok, for an obvious fake, I care too much :)
"The inclusion of any products or services on this website at a particular time does not imply or warrant that these products or services will be available at any time."
Just in case anyone thinks this is a real product.
They T&C also has this
> In addition to other regulations and speed limits, users of our products must be at least 16 years of age and between the height of 4’11 and 6’4. To ride safely, you must read and follow all instructions and warnings in the User Manual. It is your responsibility to ascertain and obey all applicable regulations (including minimum age and height requirements) in regard to the possession, use and sale of any item purchased from this website. By placing an order, you represent that the products ordered will be used only in a lawful manner.
As well as stating somewhere that this only works with 180lbs or lower.
UPDATE: I got trolled. No patents or patent applications and their domain has a hidden owner.
For those unaware, this has been done once already via TellTale's Back To The Future: The Game (http://www.telltalegames.com/backtothefuture/) which offers interesting story and featured many of the original actors' voices and takes place a few months after the original movies. (If you don't want to buy it, you can also watch a playthrough on YouTube.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws6AAhTw7RA
Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HHJv8lPERQ
And more awesome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zqmd...
It's already 3 years old, so I'm waiting for people to use this technology or an extension of it for something cool.
Or if it's a self contained theme park "ride" you could possibly use existing super conductors and actively cool them. (I'm imaging a super cold skate rinc concept)
Can anyone correct my physics understanding?
As that didn't happen my guess is that it's 'viral marketing' for a BackToTheFuture movie that's unannounced.
Seriously though, this has to be for a new Tony Hawk video game, and Moby probably did some music for it. Not sure what Terrell Owens is doing there.
I remember reading a story that Mattel actually had a prototype over a decade ago, but they declined to release it. I forgot why.
Strange. It looks almost exactly like the Mattel hoverboard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSdF1iH2UDw
I guess it is fake =( Back to the Future II takes place in 2015
