Sony's "Big" Day: Microsoft Signs, No Lines, Free HDs?

[Chad Bonin]

Well... you can't say this was an "uneventful" day in those foreign countries that don't get consoles like the PS3, Wii, and XBox 360 first...

Microsoft set up http://shkyw.org/ and advertised it on the back of chairs they gave to the people waiting in line for PS3s.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/only-in-fra...nch-246475.php
... coupled with doing a drive-by.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/ps3-launch/...dig-246437.php
... and in general, not many people showed up. The people in lines in other countries got a little surprise...

http://kotaku.com/gaming/top/london-...all-246473.php
Sony, in a rather cool move (holy crap, their PR department exists?), gave away free Bravias.

There are a few things I'm not surprised by. Microsoft going on the offensive makes sense, but Sony going crazy with TVs came out of nowhere.

I can say, though, the lack of lines is not surprising. The waiting game only made less people want it, coupled with the higher price tag than US...

[Strollymonster]

A company as incredibly large and powerful as Microsoft using guerilla marketing is just a wee bit terrifying to me, IMO...with their budget, god only knows what kind of ridiculous things they could do.

So...camp out for 4 days for a PS3 in the US and risk getting mugged/shot...or wait 36 hours in London and get a free 46-inch HDTV and a free taxi to take you home safely.

SONY- Whoever you put in charge of the London PS3 launch, PROMOTE THEM TO THE HEAD OF YOUR PR DEPARTMENT! God knows after the fake PSP sites and the numerous other painful instances of corperate inanity, you could stand to improve.

[moe-ron]

oh my gosh, im loving microsoft right now, not because they're dragging sony's name thru the mud (im not siding with any company yet) but because that's just hilariously brilliant.

[Captain Highwind]

SONY- Whoever you put in charge of the London PS3 launch, PROMOTE THEM TO THE HEAD OF YOUR PR DEPARTMENT! God knows after the fake PSP sites and the numerous other painful instances of corperate inanity, you could stand to improve.

Bah, another example of equivalent exchange. Their fortune is a product of America's suffering, which was brought about by the US PR Dept.'s stupidity.

"Hey guys--Let's make 'em run through WalMart parking lots to buy our product!"

"Sure, that sounds safe!"

[Swordfish_II]

Hell, I'd buy a PS3 if it came with a free TV.

[Rasputin]

Awww! That's so sweet! They're being nice to us Brits!

...for once.

[IanC]

No selling out tho, i could of brought one today in HMV or GAME without any problem. Heck, Argos had 36 in.

[Rasputin]

No selling out tho, i could of bought one today in HMV or GAME without any problem. Heck, Argos had 36 in.

I wandered into the HMV near my bus station this morning and it didn't exactly look lively. A straggle of school-kids staring at the video booth were taking a brief interest and saying...out loud...that the 360 was way better (as well as 'it's massive'!). It's something of a shame, considering I saw footage of MGS4 and went giddy at the knees, but then these were 'teh cool kids'. Can't expect them to appreciate stuff like that.

We have to look on the positive side, though. Apparently it was a wild hit in the Czech Republic.

[Conan-san]

I Walked into my local import store, bought the Second Hand copy of Oh My Goddess OVA 1 they had and lisened in on the action.

Apprently, they had a whole load of "Phantom Pre Orders". I guess when people saw that Sony had desicrated Dragon Quest (it being one of the many blockbuster ps2 titles not Backwards Compatible over here) they decided that £20 was small pickings and jumped ship.