PlayStation 3 Ads Through The Years
Editorials, PS3 | Tyler C. | September 15, 2009 at 7:06 pmWith Sony announcing a new PS3, surely Sony has to have a great marketing campaign for it right?
Through the last 3 years, Sony has been making less then stellar ads with people always complaining that the messages don’t get through. Lets take a look at those ads:
PLAY B3YOND – 2006 Marketing Campaign
Everyone remembers the crying baby and the weird commercials with the PS3 doing some odd things. The footage below speaks for itself. To many (and I do mean many) these ads were a big miss for Sony. While the slogan “PLAY B3YOND” is still used by many PlayStation fans the ads themselves, were not that great.
Universe of Entertainment – 2007 Marketing Campaign
Everyone remembers the “Ladies & Gentlemen” ads. As a matter of fact, some think that these ads were the best commercials Sony ever produced in the last 3 years. While the ads themselves were effective and were well received, Sony really didn’t back the commercials up. While you saw them occasionally on TV they were hard to find on any channel. To some it seemed like a missed opportunity to get many people to buy a PlayStation 3.
Entertainment Unleashed – 2008 Marketing Campaign
Remember these commercials… what you don’t? That’s probably because (much like the 2007 campaign) Sony didn’t show them very much. And also like the 2007 campaign, it didn’t run on many networks. Fans also criticized that the message in these commercials wasn’t coming across very clear. This campaign was (arguably) the least well received campaign Sony made in the last 3 years.
It Only Does Everything – 2009 Marketing Campaign
So now we’re here, 2009, and the Slim PS3 is here. Can Sony’s marketing team pull off a vital campaign and get the PS3 seen? I believe that answer is, yes. With the first commercial (seen below) now on networks and actually running on stations like Cartoon Network, G4, SyFy, and Spike, Sony might have actually made a great marketing campaign that we can all laugh with and respect. The commercials also promote what owners of the system have been asking Sony to market: the $299 price, PSN, exclusive games, etc. I can’t help but tell the Sony marketing team “good job”, because they certainly did a great job with these ads.
What are some of your favorite Playstation 3 ads or gaming ads in general? Please share with us, link us to your favorite ad. Go on, no registration required to post.
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Yeah I really agree that the 2009 campaign is really good. I still think the ladies and gentlemen ones are the best though. =)
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getting better… I just picked one up today. Aesthetically hideous, but feature wise, worth $299. People make purchasing decisions on emotion. Luxurious items like cars can be marketed with a serious, even sensual message. A game console on the other hand should project confidence and cheerful entertainment (comedy seems to help neutralize the inherent stress of parting with one’s hard earned cash). Consumers want to feel ‘good’ about their purchases. Even us older folks (dare I say 27) which I assume are the target audience aren’t trying to impress anyone buy purchasing a PS3 over a 360.
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I think SCEE should be banned from making ads and leave it to SCEA they by far do a better job! Wish they would bring the 2007 and ps3 slim ads to the uk they are great! SCEE make generic crap artsy fartsy ads so they can show them in the whole of europe which is stupid since people in the uk are more a kin with usa than the rest of europe!
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I rmember seeing the first comercials, I wanted it sooo bad.
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I think 2006 through 2008 saw some pretty terrible ads, but the 2009 ads are great.
Way funny; that’s what people like in ads.
I think Sony saw the writing on the wall with the success with that [assumed] comedian and the MLB 09: The Show ad (which was also excellent).
“Woah, scraps likes you”
LMFAO XD
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I think that the 2009 ads are the best so far easily. Whilst I liked the 2007 campaign, and I even though the 2006 one was kinda cool in a weird way the 2009 ads appeal to me more.
The second one in particular, with Scarlett Sire as the unsatisfied girlfriend was my favourite. I thought is was really effective in how it was clearly an ad for PS3, which some of the previous years lacked. The best thing about it was the witty and clever jokes. I know a few friends of mine who haven’t bought a PS3 yet have seen these ads, and started asking me questions about the PS3 and if it’s worth it. So obviously the ads are doing something right.
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What ever happened to the “This is Living” set of ads. There were pretty strange.
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I think the best PlayStation ads were those that started in the future, with the PS9. I sure hope we get to that point!
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Playstation really knows their customers and their potential customers. As a person who is absolutely uninterested in this sort of thing (I get anxious and feel my real life ticking away), the commercials do nothing for me. But I can see the emotional pull they must have on their targets – very clever, very well considered. The geniuses behind the science deserve some props.
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LOL, PlayStation always was the best!
R
http://www.real-privacy.net.tc
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I still think that the Ladies and Gentlemen ads were the most interesting. They made me proud of owning a PS3.
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Less THAN ffs
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http://www.gametrailers.com/video/this-is-playstation-3/20297
Extended version of the ‘This is living’ advert aired in Europe……….see its shit like this that makes me sad Ireland is part of Europe, the rest of the EU is such an embarassment to us.
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Every PS3 commecial should feature Uncharted. Just say “Hey, buy a PS3, we have Uncharted, probably the best non-Source engine game of the last five years”.
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You know nothing about advertising
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The old ads, particularly the rubix cube one, were great.
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i love the last one, go PS3
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Sony’s viral marketing is a bigger abortion than their tragic corporate strategy.
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The early PS3 ads were a little strange but they seem to have improved now. You cannot beat the ads for the original Playstation though. Some of those really were great.
Ian W.
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