NationStates Jolt Archive

I don't think this has been brought up yet here, so...

For the last month or so, consumer electronics giant Sony has been operating a fake blog called "all i want for xmas is a psp (http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/sonylieblog/default.aspx.htm)". It purports to be the homepage of two young "hipsters" who are trying to convince their parents to buy the eponymous gadget.

Here's the intro to the page:

here's the deal:::
i (charlie) have a psp. my friend jeremy does not. but he wants one this year for xmas.

so we started clowning with sum not-so-subtle hints to j's parents that a psp would be teh perfect gift. we created this site to spread the luv to those like j who want a psp!

consider us your own personal psp hype machine, here to help you wage a holiday assault on ur parents, girl, granny, boss – whoever – so they know what you really want.

we'll let you know how it works for us. pls return the favor.

more to come,
c&j.

Subsequent posts consisted of nothing but blatant advertising gimmicks for the PSP, including printable flyers, iron-on logos, and one painfully bad YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX_3GEvF8RQ) starring a suspiciously old-looking "teen".

I guess Sony figured that this clever bit of viral marketing would fool everyone and help boost the PSP's "street cred". It instead blew up in their faces.

Almost instantly, the blog was flooded with hundreds of irate comments, all accusing Sony of insulting the intelligence of their customers. Some choice posts:

"Hey Sony - I own a PS1 and PS2. You have cemented me never owning another of your gaming products. Good job!"

"This fake cool vibe is as pathetic as an old uncle dancing to hip hop at a family wedding."

"You hear that? It is the sound of baby Jesus crying."

The site's alleged owner, a teenage hip-hop wannabe named Charlie, responded in kind (gotta love the faux "teen lingo"):

"yo where all u hatas com from... juz cuz you aint feelin the flow of PSP dun mean its sum mad faek website or summ... youall be trippin"

Little did "Charlie" know, a simple WHOIS search showed the blog to be owned and operated by the Zipatoni ad agency. (Apparently Sony couldn't spare $8 to get a private registration). Suspicion was further confirmed when posters realized that all comments with words like "ad" and "viral marketing" were being automatically blocked. They easily circumvented the filter with brilliant code words like "adv_ert" and "mar-ket-ing".

The company at last came clean -- in a manner of speaking.

"Busted. Nailed. Snagged. As many of you have figured out (maybe our speech was a little too funky fresh???), Peter isn’t a real hip-hop maven and this site was actually developed by Sony. Guess we were trying to be just a little too clever. From this point forward, we will just stick to making cool products, and use this site to give you nothing but the facts on the PSP. Sony Computer Entertainment America."

The blog was taken down soon after, although it is still mirrored (http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/sonylieblog/default.aspx.htm) in various places.

You just got to love it when megacorps fall flat on their faces like this...

I can happily say I've never owned a Sony console.

Cute, glad it blew up in their faces. I like some of Sony's products, but I think they're completely out of touch with their customers.

I for one lol'd.

:eek: oh dear. Watched that youtube thing. Words have not yet been invented that allow me to express how ridiculous that was.

I liked the hat in the commercial.

one of my friends has a psp, and he regrets it daily.

the screen is cracked a little bit in the corner, so he can't sell it, either.

the only game (and I really mean the only game) he uses it for is Megaman: Powered Up, and that's only for the level editor

Holy crap, you can't get shittier at marketing than this

Has Sony made any non-shitty, non-overpriced products since the PS2?

I'm proud to say I got my Nintendo Wii a few days ago and it kicks ass. I'd also like to pick up a 360...there's no way in hell I will buy any of Sony's overpriced crap until they bring prices down and start acting like they give a shit about their customers.

"Hey Sony - I own a PS1 and PS2. You have cemented me never owning another of your gaming products. Good job!"

"This fake cool vibe is as pathetic as an old uncle dancing to hip hop at a family wedding."

"You hear that? It is the sound of baby Jesus crying."
Some people must really fail at life, why don't they go play with a shoebox, they'd obviously be more happy.:rolleyes:

Hahahahahahahahaha.
Ha.
In short.That was the funniest,and saddest,advertising campaign I've seen in a long time.A quote on the YouTube site sums it up very nicely.(From a member.).
It's not meant to insult the intelligence of the average consumer, it's just targeting Sony's prime demographic. Braindead kids that dropped out of college and live in their parents' basements.
Good one,eh?
Let a faceless corporation never try this again.

there's no way in hell I will buy any of Sony's overpriced crap until they bring prices down and start acting like they give a shit about their customers.

But you'd buy Microsoft?

I have never owned a Sony gaming console or PSP.

I liked the hat in the commercial.

My friend has that hat :)

That is so funny. I'm usually a supporter of Sony products but recently they really have fumbled the ball BADLY. And this stunt was just too underhand and too badly executed.

If I buy a handheld game consol then it will be a DS.

But you'd buy Microsoft?

Oh come on,a 360 or that piece of junk?

Oh come on,a 360 or that piece of junk?

I'm not buying an XBox 360 or a PS3/PSP/whatever. I'm going to buy a Wii.

Oh come on,a 360 or that piece of junk?

I agree... the Xbox is cheaper, it has great games, and it's not so scarce that people are shooting eachother for it. I have one, and it works out great.

Also: Halo 3! :)

I'm not buying an XBox 360 or a PS3/PSP/whatever. I'm going to buy a Wii.

I'm going to get a Wii too, but I'm anxious about the new motion sensing controller thing, I know it would rock for games like Zelda and Red Steel, but what about CoD3???

I'm going to get a Wii too, but I'm anxious about the new motion sensing controller thing, I know it would rock for games like Zelda and Red Steel, but what about CoD3???
Wouldn't pointing the Wiimote be like aiming and firing a rifle? Or maybe holding it overhead and swinging it forward could be like chucking a grenade...

I'm going to get a Wii too, but I'm anxious about the new motion sensing controller thing, I know it would rock for games like Zelda and Red Steel, but what about CoD3???

I assume that stands for Call of Duty? Well, I've never played that series, but I've read that Nintendo are going to bring out old-style controllers for games that need them, so you needn't worry.

painfully bad YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX_3GEvF8RQ) starring a suspiciously old-looking "teen".

that's just....... sad.

i think it goes down gloriously in the annals of internet crappage and truly embarassing shit, right up there towards the top :P

I agree... the Xbox is cheaper, it has great games, and it's not so scarce that people are shooting eachother for it. I have one, and it works out great.

Also: Halo 3! :)

the 360 rocks. i have one and love the bloody thing :)
even though i haven't had much time for gaming lately :(

I can happily say I've never owned a Sony console.

...then you've never played Final Fantasy? Unless you play the GBA versions...

...then you've never played Final Fantasy?
My only regret...

Unless you play the GBA versions...
Maybe I should check those out.

I'm not buying an XBox 360 or a PS3/PSP/whatever. I'm going to buy a Wii.

Excellent choice my friend.

I love when the big comapanies get busted. When they lie they prove they don't deserve the costumers they get.

I'm glad I don't buy things because a commercial tells me I need them, but because I actually want them.

I have a Sony discman, it's pretty good and I like it, but I'm probably going to be the last person on the planet without an mp3 player, I don't think I'd get one until they're dirt cheap and can hold my entire music collection, otherwise I don't see the point.

That youtube ad is hilarious, it's the crappest thing I've seen in a long time. :p

I for one lol'd.

Dittoly so.