Brilliant PlayStation bus ad gives bored commuters something to play with (other than themselves)

by Vladimir Cole { Sep 22nd 2005 at 10:00PM }

holy friggin bubblewrap nirvana It's at times like these that marketers and advertisers redeem themselves. One of those big, creative ad agencies has put together the most awesomely bus stop we've ever seen. This is the sort of bus stop ad campaign that borders on insensitive towards the OC-inclined.

Just imagine you're borderline obsessive compulsive on your way to work. Could you leave this bus stop before every last bubble is popped? This is the best print video game ad of the year.

Honestly, is there another print campaign out there that grabbed your attention this year?

Does it match this ad for interactivity, symbolic reinforcement, or sheer tactile enjoyment? Does it evoke the game controller through form, function and iconography? Does it make sounds when you apply your thumb to it? Does it satisfy that puerile urge deep within us all to leave our mark on a bus stop through a petty act of vandalism? Does it make your thumb twitch to think about it?

[Via Aeropause]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

MumbleyJoe @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Honestly, I think that's brilliant. Kudos to their marketing team for all the reasons you mentioned.

Adam P @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Cool? Yes. "Brilliant"? Not really. Brilliant is thrown around far too much these days. Einstein was brilliant. Edison was brilliant. This sign is just really cool.

Einhanderkiller @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

"Schweeet"

justme @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Real classy guys. Nice title to broadcast to the world. Playing with ourselves? My respect for your blog just slipped a notch.

DNordbak @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

wow there justme, you trying to keep everyone from knowing something about yourself? maybe just a tad bit paranoid?
i for one think its a really cool bus stop. now if only i ever rode the bus...

dave @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'm the writer of the team that did this ad. I'm glad you all liked it. The client is one of the best we've ever had, they buy all the good stuff.

If you think this is cool wait until you see what we have cookin' :)

wraithblade @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

lol . very creative

BlackYoshi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Bubble wrap. Ooooh. Wow. Truly, the Sony marketing guys are the Einsteins and Fermis of our generation. Whats the tizzy about?

ghooliak @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

that's the lamest thing I've ever seen.

J B Cougar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Are they trying to make up for something? Maybe for the fact that their controller is a boomerang with the same features, verbatim, as their "last generation" controller?

Actually I take that back, this is Sony after all. I expect next month they'll have a nice 3D controller device that looks an awful lot like a remote control, complete with a large "triangle" button and "circle" trigger underneath. It's the Sony-lution people!

Sean O. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

You know what? Leave Sony alone because they have those awesome packing bubbles on a bus station... in Japan... that I'll probably never see...

In the States I'd give the ad four second before some ass just takes a knife to it. I hate people.

ill trooper @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Or J. B. Cougar, are you forgetting that the XBox 360 controller has the same features, nearly verbatim, as SONY'S last-gen controller? Of course you can get it wireless, but I mean Microsoft finally got smart and put the two little black and white buttons on the shoulders. Now putting the same number of buttons in the same place as... Sony. But I guess you only see what you want to see.

This is Sony after all, the company that revitalized the game industry with the PS1. And dominated with the PS2. And made Microsoft create the wonderful Xbox. So why is there always such hate on here? The PS3 will be great, the Xbox 360 will be great, and the Revolution is definitely looking great, but it's really the only one with a 'new' controller design.

I like gimmicky advertising like this; having worked in the field before, I can tell you it's hard to get a company to go for this sort of thing sometimes.

Chris Warren @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Congrats to the advertising company that came up with this - very original.

I also like the W800 bus stop in Glasgow (http://www.se-nse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1498&page=1&pp=40), although a bit of added bubble wrap wouldn't go amiss!

Ghazi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

o god.. u idiots. this is about marketing not ps3 and controller design.

the 4 symbols of the ps are actually very popular all over the world because... because of the ps...

as usual, some brilliant marketing by sony.... , i have no clue why xbox-only-crowd has to act immature about this... now if these were popable ring of light bubbles... then my of my who in-line it would have it been and pressing and popping them would cast green light of power inside me and i would have been green-illuminated all over... yes i barely make sense because this stupid argument barely makes sense...

appreciate the add for what it is. dont hate it simply because its a good add by some one other than ms.. and ms by the way has barely ever had an impressive add..

Will @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

What an excellent Ad Campaign. I dislike Sony and everything they stand for but I have to give props when they deserve it and boy do they deserve it!

seaotter @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

btw does anyone know where is the exact location of this particular busstand? i'm from malayisa, its in malaysia, but no idea where the hell is it.

help, so maybe i can see the after effect?

Conrad @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I think its disgusting. I wouldn't touch that with all the people that hang out around UK bus stops... :P

fnord @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

I'd rather have the PS3 or 360 controller which are guaranteed to work than waving a remote control around in my living room and look like a mongoloid retard while doing so. And you can only play Nintendogs Revolution for so long until it gets utterly boring and the novelty of the controller has worn off.

fnord @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

@fnord 16 and 17
I'd rather have innovation than Halo 3 with better graphics, but the same gameplay.

That being said, I'm getting the Revo, and whatever other system impresses me the most.

I think the "Revo and the best of the others" mentality is very popular, and great news for Nintendo. Then they can snag a large portion of Sony's clients and Microsoft's clients. I think nearly every one is getting a 360 or ps3, but most of them also want a Rev. SO if half buy 360, and half buy PS3, it is entirely reasonable for the Rev to be close/equal/leading in sales. Even if just with 51%.

Wow that got off topic. About the ad, I figure that the sheet of bubbles has to be replaceable, or the marketing will be done too quickly for the investment. Its cheap enough to put in another sheet.

Rymix @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM

Am I the only one who finds the PS2 controller really uncomfortable? Seems that way...

I really liked the look (and the imagined feel) of the PS3 boomerang controller concept. People like myself (those who have hands comparable to a basketball player, not Jeremy Beadle) crave a larger controller.

Here's a crazy thought: how about different sized controllers for the PS3? I mean, deliberately. Not like the original Xbox