What's the deal with Sony?

[trashcanman]

As a gamer, I'm always going to go wherever the games I want to play are so that makes me an X-box guy for the moment. The decision was a purely objective one based on companies like Bioware and Bethesda (at the time) bringing awesome PC-level RPGs to consoles exclusively for Microsoft. Playstation had Final Fantasy (again, at the time), but that was about it. But as this whole console war thing has unfolded I have noticed that even though the PS3 has made huge leaps forward in making itself worth buying, I still find myself with a really negative view of Sony in spite of all the joy Playstation has brought me in the past. Wanna know why? Shit like this.


This is just the latest. In interviews and at press conferences I can't help but notice that every single time Sony's representatives behave like complete and total douchebags. They went form being untouchable masters of console sales in the previous generations to being dead last this go around and this is how they think they are going to catch up? Christ, they make politicians seem downright humble.

Here's another obnoxious bit of scripted "extremeness" from this fictional character Sony concocted to represent how awesome they are and is apparently supposed to show how down to earth they are. Wow, that is so me! No. No it is not. Is it m or does this guy sound like he is talking down to the audience using buzzwords that studies show idiots want to hear?


Now, at this point I am not console-bashing and PS3 has at least a few games I would LOVE to play as much as almost anything on the 360, but Jesus Christ this kind of stuff pisses me off and really hurts the brand in my eyes. Some douchebag talking about his blatant Wii rip-off as a way for everyone to get a taste of the PS3 "sugar" and telling me not to "hate on" gaming grannies (who is hating?) makes me want to punch every person at Sony in the face more than anything else. "Your mom can make 'your mom' jokes after she takes you to school"? [glow=red,2,300]FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!![/glow]

So we've got a PS3 owner or two on this board, right? What do you guys make of these marketing tactics? The system and games are now up to snuff in this gamer's opinion, but the question has become if Sony takes the cake in the next generation and has the best system and all the games I want can I get over this fucking infantile and insulting marketing or will I buy a lesser system out of sheer annoyance? Does anyone else find this stuff insufferable, or is it just me?

[The Curmudgeon]

I actually read this last night on my phone, where I can read text but can't watch video's, so I was expecting the worst when I finally got home today.

And... I dunno, I actually kinda liked those clips. The guy is obviously a tongue in cheek character, a sort of Will Ferrel rip-off self assured asshole. It's certainly more entertaining than some genine suit telling you about polygons or some shit.

So, yeah.. it is meant as a joke, and I can take it as that. Not a hilarious one or anything, but.. meh.

So should it stop you buying a PS4? No. Only the games (or lack of) should make that decision. We all know these companies are run by corporate dicks, Sony have just decided to make one up this time.

[trashcanman]

I think Sony learned a lot from the PS3 crashing and burning so I'm betting PS4 gets back to basics and clobbers everyone. As long as they have Bioware and Bethesda onboard and the price is not outrageous, I'll probably get with them next time; but they'd be wise to be first out the gate since Halo will likely be calling my name and Microsoft has clearly been slaughtering Sony in terms of console innovation. I wish I had more time money so I could get both, but that's just not happening. This next gen is going to be a bitch, I can tell. At least Nintendo is making the decision easier by focusing on the casual market. I haven't bough a Nintendo console (DS not counting) since the SNES.

A lot of people seem to like those ads, but they really rub me the wrong way. I just don't find this stuff funny and it's not really giving me any information other than that I need to buy TWO overpriced controllers to play ONE single player game properly. I'm not into Microsoft's whole Kinect thing either, but at least the adverts aren't obnoxious. Microsoft is more along the lines of "these are our games. Take 'em or leave 'em" and that's what I want from a video game advertisement. No zany characters making fun of the other consoles and saying "I LOVE GAMES (just not the competitors)! HEADSHOTS! DRIFTING! PLATFORMING AND MICROMANAGING RPGS! OMG! YOUR MOTHER! EXTREEEEEEME!!!!!!" If you love the fucking games so much, show me those. Don't just put them in the background while you do a fucking comedy skit telling me why just ripping off the Wii is better than attempting to do something new and revolutionary to push motion control technology forward.

[The Curmudgeon]

Yeah, that's true enough. I think those ads are aimed at hardcore gaming nerds who love it because, wow, someone is talking TO THEM.

It's a tricky line to cross. Either show the games and be super serious and just.. you know, practical, or try and be more entertaining and end up having nothing to do with the games you're supposed to be paying big bucks for.

There's been a run of UK commercials at the moment that I love, with various UK celebs and kids talking about Mario.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xST9GiWNK3k&feature=related

Perfect Nintendo strategy. Nothing big or clever. Simple, charming and devouring everything in its path.

[trashcanman]

Exactly. That came off as honest and spontaneous. And it was talking to us hardcore game nerds, but it wasn't done in any contrived psuedo-hip manner. Just honest feedback and memories about one of the greatest games of all time. That's how it's done. I don't want to be talked down too or artificially related to by some corporate doof.