Editing Plok! (section)

=== Promotion ===
The Pickfords, despite owning the IP and developing ''Plok!'', were never consulted on its promotion.<ref name = "UKprintad"/> Tradewest set ''Plok!''{{'}}s primary demographic at gamers aged six to fourteen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pickford |first=Ste|date=29 November 2018|url=http://www.zee-3.com/pickfordbros/archive/view.php?post=947|title=Plok SNES flyer – back|website=Zee-3|accessdate=21 February 2021}}</ref> Although published by Tradewest in the United States, ''Plok!'' still received promotion from [[Nintendo of America]]; a complete guide and review was published in the October 1993 issue of its magazine ''[[Nintendo Power]]'',{{Sfn|''Nintendo Power''|1993a|pp=101, 105}}{{Sfn|''Nintendo Power''|1993b|pp=30–34}} and a two-page section in a ''[[Nintendo Player's Guide]]'' book for ''[[Mario Paint]]'' (1993) included templates of body part stamps to animate Plok and the flea enemies, along with a background painting based on one of the Cotton Island levels.{{Sfn|Nintendo of America|1993|pp=58–59}} In the United Kingdom, Nintendo released a [[VHS tape]], ''Super Mario All-Stars Video'' (1993); hosted by [[Craig Charles]], the video features a segment of testers at Nintendo UK promoting upcoming games, including ''Plok!''{{Sfn|Nintendo UK|1993|loc=8:36–8:55}} ''[[Club Nintendo]]'', Germany's official Nintendo magazine, ran a comic strip where Plok races with Mario at an Olympic match in space.{{Sfn|''Club Nintendo''|1994|pp=58–59}}

Some print advertising was later criticized by Ste for not showcasing enough of the game itself.<ref name = "UKprintad"/><ref name = "USprintad">{{cite web|last=Pickford|first=Ste|date=10 October 2013|url=http://www.zee-3.com/pickfordbros/press/view.php?post=741|title=Plok US print advert #1 – SNES|website=Zee-3|accessdate=21 February 2021}}</ref> Tradewest's US print advertisement depicted the top half taken up by ''[[Double Dragon]]'' and ''[[Battletoads]]'', with the bottom half showing an image of the Plok character; the only information revealed was that ''Plok!'' was published by the two other franchises.<ref name = "USprintad"/> Nintendo's UK print ad depicted a faux desktop screenshot with an image of an angry old lady in the house as the wallpaper; the only ''Plok!'' visual depicted was its box art, placed in the bottom right and very small-sized.<ref name = "UKprintad">{{cite web|last=Pickford|first=Ste|date=10 October 2013|url=http://www.zee-3.com/pickfordbros/press/view.php?post=741|title=Plok UK print advert – SNES|website=Zee-3|accessdate=21 February 2021}}</ref>

However, other print advertisements were much more true to the game, such as Tradewest's series of comic book panel ads named ''The Adventures of Plok'', which explored Plok's origins within the storyline.<ref>{{harvnb|''EGM''|1993a|p=11}}; {{harvnb|''EGM''|1993b|p=77}}</ref>

''Plok!'' was first announced in June 1993; upon its announcement, an ''[[Europress|N-Force]]'' journalist called it one of the most "surreal" games in the September 1993 line-up.{{Sfn|''N-Force''|1993|p=11}} Tradewest presented ''Plok!'' at the summer 1993 [[Consumer Electronics Show]]; a ''GameFan'' writer called Tradewest "one of the [show's] most impressive third-party line-ups," highlighting ''Plok!'' as "a colorful new action title with a lead character that hurls his arms and legs at attackers."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_1_Issue_09/page/n99/mode/2up?q=plok|title=Summer CES|work=GameFan|date=September 1993|page=100|volume=1|number=9|accessdate=16 February 2021}}</ref>