Sony's new marketing campaign...

[DeputyMoniker]

http://kotaku.com/gaming/mgs4/sony-launches-largest-hardware-ad-campaign-317613.php


The games are here, the price point is now $399 and we wanted to make the news loud and clear. But we need to deliver that in a way that befits the PlayStation brand. And so, beyond the brilliant HD games that the PS3 delivers, you'll also see a big focus behind the PS3's Blu-ray movie capability and, for the first time, you'll see a major focus behind the PLAYSTATION Network (did I mention online gaming is free on PS3??) and the exclusive gaming content available on the PLAYSTATION Store, as well as breakthrough services like Home.
[/old news]

I saw the first of these commercials last night. It was the one with the black octopus legs swinging around. Shortly after the commercial, I thought "WTF was that supposed to tell me?" I was happy to see excitement in their ad but honestly, it didn't show me anything I didn't already know. Mainly, it reminded me that they need better exclusives. That's the missing meat from their campaign...games. Why are they messing around with all this other junk? Just get some "must have" titles out there, man. Damn. WTF is the problem? I'm not trying to be an armchair CO but I know why I haven't bought a PS3. I know why I want a 360. I know why the Wii is selling so well. It's the games. Is that so damn hard for them to understand??

[Xexyz]

I saw that commercial on Fox at least 3 times Sunday night during prime time. Only thing I got out of it was the song they licensed from Saliva.

[Oobgarm]

But, to the average folk, the main bad thing about the PS3 is the price. Showing of the new price is tantamount to everything else in gamer's eye's, but not who all of these ads are designed to reach out to.

[heybtbm]

...Polishing the brass on the Titanic.

[DigitalSpace]

http://cad-comic.com/comics/20071102.jpg

[stuffedmonkey]

I saw those ads - they look pretty horrible. The price drop is a good thing, but the tentacles weren't doing it from me. What's next - upskirt hentai?

[boatofcar]

Has any hardware manufacturer ever had a good marketing campaign? Maybe Sega's Welcome To The Next Level, but that's it.

[Nukie]

I don't think many have had great advertising, but there are some memorable ones.

It's thinking.

[The Great Dane]

I don't know if its wrong of me, but...I actually kind of liked the octopus commercial. It was MUCH better than the creepy baby commercial. I mean, sure it wasn't great, but I think it is an improvement.

[UniHamachi]

I liked it, but I was watching it in Hi Def, and it hit the impluse part of my brain that made me think of getting one.

Of course, reason prevailed. $399 for a gaming system, no matter what bells and whistles there are, is simply too much.

[DeputyMoniker]

Has any hardware manufacturer ever had a good marketing campaign? Maybe Sega's Welcome To The Next Level, but that's it.

URNOTE & E:NOS Lives was awesome. It drew me in like a moth to the flame. Actually, the PS1 commercials were pretty darn good in general. Many of them focused on great titles though...the PS3 doesn't seem to have that pleasure. I saw another commercial tonight. it was mostly gameplay and it wasn't too bad. I didn't see anything in there that really grabbed my attention but it's an improvement.

[UniHamachi]

I was so hyped for the N64 I thought my heart might explode. Mario 64, SOTE, Starfox 64 previews -- then all the stories about people backing their trucks into stores to take them and fights breaking out in Walmarts and the dang thing was sold out everywhere. All good stuff.

They couldn't build on the momentum, but for a brief shining Christmas season, there was a frenzy.

My 100th post! And about the N64 no less.

[Rob2600]

Has any hardware manufacturer ever had a good marketing campaign?

I think Nintendo did a good job with "Now you're playing with power" and "Wii would like to play." Atari's "Have you played Atari today?" campaign was good, too.


URNOTE & E:NOS Lives was awesome. It drew me in like a moth to the flame. Actually, the PS1 commercials were pretty darn good in general.

Those PlayStation launch commercials didn't excite me at all. In fact, I remember they were annoying and confusing.

I also remember PlayStation commercials rarely showing in-game graphics and relying on CGI instead, whereas Nintendo 64 commercials featured actual in-game footage.


I was so hyped for the N64 I thought my heart might explode. Mario 64, SOTE, Starfox 64 previews -- then all the stories about people backing their trucks into stores to take them and fights breaking out in Walmarts and the dang thing was sold out everywhere. All good stuff.

They couldn't build on the momentum, but for a brief shining Christmas season, there was a frenzy.

There was a frenzy for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time during the holiday season of 1998...at least in my store. Hundreds of people lined up and I was in charge of telling them we didn't have enough copies for everyone that day.