Insane sony marketing campaigns

[Paroxysm]

In recent times what have we had?

- The recent racially loaded danish billboards.
Wether or not you take offence these ads are almost soley focussed on racially loaded imagery. The other reason is that they mimick 80's fashion photography and are in some part a photographic joke. So either the advertising company is just inept and unable to actually present a relevant campaign or (The more likely) are pushing racial controversy on purpose.


- UK billboards suggesting people take a running jump at train stations.
Also in the series posters about such as "Your Girlfriend's White Bits Here". I can't really say much cause I don't even know what the hell these ads are about.

- Graffti on the sides of buildings to give the psp "street cred"
Because you know how hardcore and expensive multimedia machine is. Of course they also tried to get around advertising laws by presenting it as graffetti and not an insulting and obnoxious advertising campaign..

- In Italy sony thought it'd be a great idea to take out an ad celebrating it's 10th aniversary with an image with a crown of thorns woven around the geometric playstation symbols.
Very tasteful. I'm sure Rome approved.

Feel free to comment and add other examples.

[Mountain Man]

People say, "These ads are great because it gets everybody talking about Sony." Except does anybody think Sony wants people talking about how stupid they are as a company?

[Mongorian]

People also say that bad marketing is better than no marketing, but I think Sony have crossed over a boundary. They make video game consoles for christs sake, and all of this controversy for the sake of controversy is just starting to look immature in my eyes. I think they are a good example of why guys like Jack Thompson have any ammo at all.

[John]

What's going to be really funny, is when Sony ends up winning the console race for a third time. (In terms of profit) :doh: Stupid people will support a stupid company.

[Tang Lung]

Stupid people will support a stupid company.

Either that or they'll buy it because they enjoy the games.

[Mongorian]

Either that or they'll buy it because they enjoy the games.

Oh I totally think I will enjoy the ps3 when I can afford it. That has nothing to do with the fact I think Sony have their heads up their asses.

[John]

I dunno, something about spending $600 on a game console tells me that theres more to it than just "enjoying the games" (when the games themselves will cost around 60 aswell)

[Paroxysm]

I dunno, something about spending $600 on a game console tells me that theres more to it than just "enjoying the games" (when the games themselves will cost around 60 aswell)
Possibly only the cheap games will be $60. God bless sony :)

[Dr. Kill]

Sony are morons. Their statagy seems to be this:

"Hey, we're Sony! We're so great! I got an idea. Why don't we try to offend everybody, and see if we have even a half assed chance at winning the console wars? First, we'll negotiate with the game companies, and make damn sure the PSP has mostly just wattered down console ports. Second, we'll make the PS3 the most expensive console ever, and make sure it has only 10 games on it at launch. Third, we will tell pc gamers that they suck, and why we are so damn great! And lastly, we will make ad campaigns that will offend most people, and shove why we are so great in everybody's face! Cause we're Sony, god damn it!!!" :insomnia: :D

[Phayzon]

Wattered down makes them sound better.

[Daveman]

I haven't seen any of these controversial billboards and I can't seem to find any on the interwebs. Link please.

[Paroxysm]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/mrparoxysm/200607090133436a23b_500x375.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/mrparoxysm/sony-psp-graffiti.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/mrparoxysm/sony-jump.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b205/mrparoxysm/3060000000047333.jpg

[Beelze]

I'm disappointed. He doesn't even look like Jesus.

[hiob]

i like the running jump add, and why are people (especially in USA) are so sensitive about this adds. the jesus add is stupid, it´s not funny and looks like an amateur did it. but the psp white add isn´t about racism it´s about colors (black and white), but some people see racism in it because they´re very sensitive to this topic (history) and that´s why they don´t make this campaign in the USA, because they knew what was gonna happen and i think their campaigns are succesful; i mean everybody is talking about it.

[Paroxysm]

but the psp white add isn´t about racism it´s about colors (black and white), but some people see racism in it because they´re very sensitive to this topic (history)

That seems to be a pretty "follow the press release" way of looking at it. If it's simply about the fact there was black and now there's a white colour why choose this subject shot in that way? Aside from a fashion homage it has no meaning whatsoever aside from racial imagery. It's using such imagery to sell something that is of bad taste.

[John]

Why would they make it so obvious that a black PSP resembles a black woman and a white PSP resembles a white woman??? :o

[Dr. Kill]

btw, the PSP looks dumb in a white case, imho. Hell, sometimes I wish my 360 had a black case. It'd look a lot more slick.

[Komb.at]

This black&white add thing reminds me of the situation of the swastika in germany. It's not allowed to be shown in public, or games, while in the US noone cares a flying f*ck.

[0marTheZealot]

Sony is making just about every blunder they can....

[Foxy]

So, what about those ads is supposed to make me rush out and buy a PSP? I kind of thought that was the whole point, to market the product, not to look as dumn as possible as a company...

[John]

You know what, after watching Roots I felt the urge to go out and buy a PSP. :o They did their job indeed.

[Wolle]

I'm disappointed. He doesn't even look like Jesus.
How do you know? :p

[hiob]

How do you know? :p

havn´t you seen him in south park :p

btw: another thread just like that one has already been closed, because it went out of control so behave guys

[Otto von Keisinger]

Personally, I don't think anyone would be calling racism on the PSP White ads if they featured a pair of lesbians, one black and one white. The biggest reason for the whole racism comment comes from the fact that the white woman is exerting dominance. In the reverse one, the one where the black man is showing dominance, it reeks of abusing women. So, pick your poison, because of the three, (lesbian) love wins.

[Paroxysm]

Yes I still vote for a black on white 69 wearing opposite colour crotchless panties to resemble a yin yang. White brings balance. White is comming.

:p

Hiob: The other thread was closed at the thread starters request. Feel free to get as passionate as you want here just keep it in context.

[Paroxysm]

Danish ad campaign has been pulled : http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/322476.html

[Tetsuro]

I have a much better idea for thw whole black&white idea.

Two guys in black suits in a company meeting glancing over their shoulders at an exec in white suit entering the conference room.

[Orochi Avlis]

The "no-used games for PS3" thing is going around again due to a piece in the LA Times.
Although Sony has denied it, they do hold the a patent for something that could lead up to that.
Then there's the whole lobbying thing where now selling used games in Japan is illegal.

[The Bad Guy]

This black&white add thing reminds me of the situation of the swastika in germany. It's not allowed to be shown in public, or games, while in the US noone cares a flying f*ck.How are they similar? Racism is not banned in the US, and nobody is suggesting that the ad should be censored. The nazi swastika is a symbol, and it can be shown without being endorsed, like in Wolfenstein 3d. An ad showing a white person choking a black person is very clear. Of course, these pictures show a completely white and completely black person, resembling no skin pigment found in any person, and comes in three versions, one with the roles reversed and another with them equal. There's a difference between the German government banning any use of a swastika and people telling a company that they should be more sensitive if they want their customers' money.

[Rellik66]

I have a much better idea for thw whole black&white idea.

Two guys in black suits in a company meeting glancing over their shoulders at an exec in white suit entering the conference room.Sony should have just licenced the Spy vs. Spy franchise, the hijinks they could pull would perhaps make for a more entertaining ad campaign.

[Roger]

At first I would've doubted that even Sony could be that f*cking stupid, but then the pictures showed up...

[Phayzon]

At first I would've doubted that even Sony could be that f*cking stupid, but then the pictures showed up...

You would've? The PS2 removed all doubt for me.

[Mongorian]

Sony should have just licenced the Spy vs. Spy franchise, the hijinks they could pull would perhaps make for a more entertaining ad campaign.

I think Sprite already did that.

[Paroxysm]

Sony should have just licenced the Spy vs. Spy franchise, the hijinks they could pull would perhaps make for a more entertaining ad campaign.
That I could endorse :P

[Marty]

hey those ads are really good! im gonna buy a PSP now!... but first im going to take a running jump.

[Komb.at]

The nazi swastika is a symbol, and it can be shown without being endorsed, like in Wolfenstein 3d.

Not so in germany..

[edit] and i was talking more about the public reaction. If you show a swastica in US public noone cares, and in germany noone really cares that much about these adds....

[hell-angel]

I don't consider the one with the white girl as racistic. Daring yes, but not racistic.

[Paroxysm]

Daring? How so?

[The Bad Guy]

Not so in germany..

[edit] and i was talking more about the public reaction. If you show a swastica in US public noone cares, and in germany noone really cares that much about these adds....Many Americans probably would be outraged if a company showed a swastika in an ad. Also, it is possible to show a swastika without supporting nazism. Wolfenstein showed lots of swastikas, but was obviously not a pro nazi game.

Neo nazi groups are a lot different from a major corporation. If a major corporation is openly racist, people will be outraged, while a racist group or person is tolerated, because nobody has to deal with them. This is why a neo nazi rally full of swastikas is ignored but a company with an ad perceived as racist provokes outrage.

[Opus131]

Danish ad campaign has been pulled : http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/322476.html

Lame...