Has Sony's marketing department gone insane?

[njiska]

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/men/news/s/206/206881_no_play_station_say_metro_bosses.html

Basically Sony placed an ad on the wall of a Tube Station that reads, "Take a running jump here." Now that's just dangerous.

Stupid is as stupid does and even if stupid doesn't, the mere thought of placing that sign there shouldn't have crossed there minds. Sure it won't inspire 54 Japanese school girls to leap in front of a train, but if even one person did Sony would be completely fucked.

It's just one more mark on Sony's already throughly tarnished PSP marketing history. First there was the grafiti campaign which horribly backfired and ended up netting Sony a lot of bad press and potential lawsuits.

Then they started runing ads around the UK promoting porn on your PSP.

Now we have this.

You really have to wonder if their marketing dept. has completely lost their fucking minds.

[unwinddesign]

Figuring how they were so brilliant with the Playstation 2, it was high time they fucked themselves in the ass royally. Thus, this type of hijinks doesn't really surprise me at all.

[Snapple]

I don't know if this sounds heartless, but I think that sign is hilarious.

I doubt that anyone would actually jump in front of a train just because a sign told them to, but still, that's great.

[Haoie]

People do a lot of things without thinking, merely following instructions. And a lot of people are dumb too.

And as such, those signs are dangerous to public safety.

[Lozza]

That's quality advertising! LOL

I hope someone DOES follow the instructions of that sign.

I'd like to see a "Don't be a bomber, play Bomberman!" advert in the underground.

[ty896]

Its like watching carpet.












dumbest ad ever

[Lozza]

Isn't it a piss take from the 360 ads "Jump in"?

I find it funny. Meh.

[Poofta!]

if you think that poster is wrong, you deserve to follow its instructions and rid us of your humorless, brainless existance. anyone dumb enought to follow the directions on an advertising poster, especially one that tells you to jump in front of a train, does not deserve life. natural selection baby; the kid who eats too many marbles as a child, doesnt not grow up to have kids of his own. im tired of this over sensitive shit, at first i thought it was only in the US, but now its spreading, help stop the insanity, please.

[Lozza]

if you think that poster is wrong, you deserve to follow its instructions and rid us of your humorless, brainless existance. anyone dumb enought to follow the directions on an advertising poster, especially one that tells you to jump in front of a train, does not deserve life. natural selection baby; the kid who eats too many marbles as a child, doesnt not grow up to have kids of his own. im tired of this over sensitive shit, at first i thought it was only in the US, but now its spreading, help stop the insanity, please.

Don't worry, it's not spreading. This guy is just a wanker.

[Leroy]

if you think that poster is wrong, you deserve to follow its instructions and rid us of your humorless, brainless existance.
Incorrect.

[pragmatic insanester]

54 schoolgirls eh? i'm glad someone here saw Suicide Club/Circle (good movie following similar themes of Battle Royale).

[njiska]

54 schoolgirls eh? i'm glad someone here saw Suicide Club/Circle (good movie following similar themes of Battle Royale).

I figured Johnny_Rock would be the first one to get that reference. I tip my hat to the.

[Griking]

anyone dumb enought to follow the directions on an advertising poster, especially one that tells you to jump in front of a train, does not deserve life.

I 100% Agree


natural selection baby; the kid who eats too many marbles as a child, doesnt not grow up to have kids of his own.

Classic George Carlin Quote

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:

[njiska]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:

Get over it.

Look it's not that i think it's a stupid move made by Sony, it is a stupid move made by Sony. It's an important news story that is cycling around through the like of Kotaku and Joystiq and it is certainly one worth discussing. The speed and amount of response it has recieved makes that clear.

If you'd like it then don't read it, but don't try to stiffle reasonable disscussion just because your tired of seeing it.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:

Get over it.

Look it's not that i think it's a stupid move made by Sony, it is a stupid move made by Sony. It's an important news story that is cycling around through the like of Kotaku and Joystiq and it is certainly one worth discussing. The speed and amount of response it has recieved makes that clear.

If you'd like it then don't read it, but don't try to stiffle reasonable disscussion just because your tired of seeing it.
Alright, you want a discussion? A company advertised something in a strange way. I see it as a humorous attempt, and its better then going to whatever website and having an annoying flash ad come up that you cant skip or close for a half rate product. Companies are constantly looking for new ways to advertise things, and doing something that might be concidered risque to some so word of mouth gets spread around. So, by saying 'What are they thinking?' you're only helping them by bringing it to everyones attention.

[njiska]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:

Get over it.

Look it's not that i think it's a stupid move made by Sony, it is a stupid move made by Sony. It's an important news story that is cycling around through the like of Kotaku and Joystiq and it is certainly one worth discussing. The speed and amount of response it has recieved makes that clear.

If you'd like it then don't read it, but don't try to stiffle reasonable disscussion just because your tired of seeing it.
Alright, you want a discussion? A company advertised something in a strange way. I see it as a humorous attempt, and its better then going to whatever website and having an annoying flash ad come up that you cant skip or close for a half rate product. Companies are constantly looking for new ways to advertise things, and doing something that might be concidered risque to some so word of mouth gets spread around. So, by saying 'What are they thinking?' you're only helping them by bringing it to everyones attention.

Your absolutley right, by discussing it we're spreading it just like Sony wanted. To that end placing such a stupid ad to gain shock attention sounds like a good idea. But there is a risk that such a thing will come back to haunt them because the UK keeps a very close watch on it's advertising (COD2 ads for example) and they aren't afraid to make there discontent known.

There's already a strong negative reaction to Sony's other funny (but in appropriate) ads and this is just helping snow ball it. Negative reactions are defintely good for spreading word of mouth, but one must wonder if it will have a positive reaction in sales.

[s1lence]

Actually in terms of Marketing, everything they have done, has made people think of sony or playstations. Regardless of how stupid the ads are, if you think of the ad you think of Sony. So from that standpoint they are actually doing a great job of advertising.

Now from a liability point, they don't seem to be using their full mental capacity. Unless they have made room in the budget for potential lawsuits that may arise.

[Leroy]

Publicity stunt?

[DonMarco]

You really have to wonder if their marketing dept. has completely lost their fucking minds.
You forgot the Jesus thing they ran last September. (http://www.dancewithshadows.com/media/sony-playstation-advertisement.asp)

http://www.dontpressstart.com/upload/sony_jesus_front.jpg


I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:
I was going to take you seriously for a second there. Then I noticed the emoticon. By the by, it's "ridiculous".

[njiska]

You really have to wonder if their marketing dept. has completely lost their fucking minds.
You forgot the Jesus thing they ran last September. (http://www.dancewithshadows.com/media/sony-playstation-advertisement.asp)

http://www.dontpressstart.com/upload/sony_jesus_front.jpg

Oh yes i forgot about that one. God did they ever catch a backlash for that one. LOL

[Daltone]

Ah I saw that the other day, didn't feel the need to go and jump out in front of a moving tram it must be said (although I was distracted at the time by two policemen arresting someone for dealing.)

There are adverts like that all over buses. "Spend a night in Paris here", or something along those lines, is the one I see the most on Oxford Road. To be honest I was more shocked by this part of the article:


Most recently, a 60-year-old woman needed hospital treatment after being hit by a tram in Piccadilly Gardens.

Now that takes some skill.

EDIT What the hell?! I type the letters "Par" then "is" in my post and it comes up as "Bea" when I look at it?!

See here - http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6092/wtf4fu.jpg

[badinsults]

Hells yeah.

[Richter Belmount]

hells! yeah!

[Push Upstairs]

Free advertising...thats what all this is getting them.


BTW "Piccadilly" is a funny word.

[Julio III]

Ah I saw that the other day, didn't feel the need to go and jump out in front of a moving tram it must be said (although I was distracted at the time by two policemen arresting someone for dealing.)

There are adverts like that all over buses. "Spend a night in Bea here", or something along those lines, is the one I see the most on Oxford Road. To be honest I was more shocked by this part of the article:


Most recently, a 60-year-old woman needed hospital treatment after being hit by a tram in Piccadilly Gardens.

Now that takes some skill.


Yeah, I've seen those "take a running jump here" posters around manchester, but i dont think anywhere dangerous.

I thought I saw a dodgy advert on the side of a bus the other day about watching porn on the psp. It seems a bit wrong to me.

And, yeah, it might take some skill to get hit by a tram in Piccadilly Gardens but I know quite a few ppl who are scared by them which is not surprising given the size of them and well, lets just say that I personally have had far too many near misses with buses whilst drunk.

[cyberfluxor]

I personally don't mind it. It's just an advertisement for a company. If it's suitable for that community to be posted then all is good.

For a local example near me, a morning talk show decided to advertise on highway boards with naked women being covered up by the name of the show. Feminists bounced all over it and complained until it was ripped down and replaced by the men who host the show beind naked covering themselves with the show name. No one complained about that.

So much crap is flung over silly small things like ads that offend. You have the right in democratic nations to not read or look at it if it offends you. Also you have the right to complain about it, but they give people too much room to speak up over these things and seemsludicrous most of the time to me.

[njiska]

I personally don't mind it. It's just an advertisement for a company. If it's suitable for that community to be posted then all is good.

For a local example near me, a morning talk show decided to advertise on highway boards with naked women being covered up by the name of the show. Feminists bounced all over it and complained until it was ripped down and replaced by the men who host the show beind naked covering themselves with the show name. No one complained about that.

So much crap is flung over silly small things like ads that offend. You have the right in democratic nations to not read or look at it if it offends you. Also you have the right to complain about it, but they give people too much room to speak up over these things and seemsludicrous most of the time to me.

Well apparently this one wasn't up to the community standard because it was covered and evenetually removed. Democracy in action.

[Daltone]

Ah I saw that the other day, didn't feel the need to go and jump out in front of a moving tram it must be said (although I was distracted at the time by two policemen arresting someone for dealing.)

There are adverts like that all over buses. "Spend a night in Bea here", or something along those lines, is the one I see the most on Oxford Road. To be honest I was more shocked by this part of the article:


Most recently, a 60-year-old woman needed hospital treatment after being hit by a tram in Piccadilly Gardens.

Now that takes some skill.




And, yeah, it might take some skill to get hit by a tram in Piccadilly Gardens but I know quite a few ppl who are scared by them which is not surprising given the size of them and well, lets just say that I personally have had far too many near misses with buses whilst drunk.

The buses aim for you though! I could understand someone getting hit by a bus, but the trams seem so.. slow and have a really short stopping distance. Then again, maybe as I get older I'll find them posing more and more of a threat.

[Lozza]

I really hate people who like to get offended, piss off you pricks. *sigh* the world has gone Christian.

[Push Upstairs]

I thought I saw a dodgy advert on the side of a bus the other day about watching porn on the psp. It seems a bit wrong to me.

I totally agree. Porn is meant for larger TV screens!

[Captain Wrong]

...Sure it won't inspire 54 Japanese school girls to leap in front of a train, but if even one person did Sony would be completely fucked.

So, which of you Sony bashers wants to "make the jump" (so to speak) and take one for the team?

[Mr.FoodMonster]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:
I was going to take you seriously for a second there. Then I noticed the emoticon. By the by, it's "ridiculous".
So, you take the original post seriously, even though the original post in this topic has three spelling mistakes? And so what, I used an animated graphic in my post. They're put there for a reason.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this thread dosn't have anywhere else to go other then name calling.

[MichaeltheGreat]

It's getting harder to make a funny ad or an amazing billboard that will get people's attention, but a little controversy gets around for a lot less money than a huge expensive ad campaign.

It's like the little kid in gradeschool who finds out that he can get attention by saying potty words. He pretends to be cool, but soon people stop paying attention if that's the only reason the kid's interesting.

Sony using controversy is a good plot if it leads to something more. If sony just doesn't have any news this month before they give us some big news next month, it's a fine way to keep Sony in the news. If they plan to use controversy for the next six months as a stall tactic while they won't tell us how long the PS3 is delayed, it won't work. We'll lose interest.

[njiska]

I'm getting pretty sick of you making a new thread for every little thing Sony does that you think is stupid or rediculous. Give it a rest, or throw them all on one thread for fucks sake. :roll:
I was going to take you seriously for a second there. Then I noticed the emoticon. By the by, it's "ridiculous".
So, you take the original post seriously, even though the original post in this topic has three spelling mistakes? And so what, I used an animated graphic in my post. They're put there for a reason.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this thread dosn't have anywhere else to go other then name calling.

Nobody has even tried to start name calling or take this thread down the Zach route, so don't tempt the gods. Actually right now it's a pretty calm, discussion.

And yes my spelling sucks, but that's what happens when you're trying to make a post in between calls at work. No biggie. Lighten up.


It's like the little kid in gradeschool who finds out that he can get attention by saying potty words. He pretends to be cool, but soon people stop paying attention if that's the only reason the kid's interesting.

That really is a great analogy. I'll have to remember it.