PS3's Kubrickian kiosk
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Oct 1st 2006 at 3:25PM }
No doubt: that's the tallest in-store kiosk we've ever seen.
Nikkei Business Publications snapped the shot showing a PS3 kiosk in a Japanese retail environment. We're not sure where Joystiq's readers in Japan can go to experience this obelisk first-hand, but the following caption might provide a clue:
Original: "?????????????3??????????????????????????????????."
Babel Fish translation: "In game corner demonstration exhibition of PlayStation 3. Actually it cannot play, but you can experience the fine demonstration picture."
[Via PS3 Fanboy.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Uberplum @ Oct 1st 2006 3:29PM
Surprise, surprise, 'Actually it cannot play, but you can experience the fine demonstration picture.' What's new Sony?
Psaakyrn @ Oct 1st 2006 3:30PM
Why does this remind me of the omnious tower in HL2? (though granted this tower has more curves than the other..)
Uberplum @ Oct 1st 2006 3:31PM
Maybe it's sony playing mind games...
XBudd @ Oct 1st 2006 3:35PM
What ever happened to having controllers? Is it mind controlled???!
Tyler @ Oct 1st 2006 3:48PM
I see, the bottom ones are the actual PS3 size, while the ones above are a cute-mini version (probably for key-chains or earings).
Blink @ Oct 1st 2006 3:36PM
I agree Psaakyrn, it's gotta be a PS3 citadel. xD
Really, that's one giant, showy, boasting kiosk. Smart on Sony's part, but it'll hurt their image among hardcore gamers to see something this showy methinks. Then again, they seem to be aiming at the "I have a lot of money to spend on a shiney new BluRay player" audience anyways.
1up_clock @ Oct 1st 2006 3:36PM
"Actually it cannot play, but you can experience the fine demonstration picture."
Well ain't that a shocker.
Buffalo Wings @ Oct 1st 2006 3:49PM
Attack of Godzilla!
arghmatey @ Oct 1st 2006 3:50PM
wipes the floor with the 360 kiosk. Highly doubtful these will be in best buy
chimp o death @ Oct 1st 2006 3:51PM
"...you can experience the fine demonstration picture."
BabelFish should be used for all of Sony's press releases from now on!
"Agitation of controller for immersive presence!"
"Blue Light indicates massive disc!"
"Play games without money! Conect internet soon?"
"it's clearly a computer!"
Uberplum @ Oct 1st 2006 3:52PM
'I see, the bottom ones are the actual PS3 size, while the ones above are a cute-mini version (probably for key-chains or earings).'
Lol, wouldn't be surprised...
CakeOrDeath @ Oct 1st 2006 4:03PM
You know when 40 year old men go out and buy a farrari? This is the Sony version
McWeen @ Oct 1st 2006 3:53PM
The point of a kiosk is to draw attention to your product so I say mission accomplished.
Infil @ Oct 1st 2006 3:54PM
They made it this tall so it's visible from any part of the store, really. They're trying to get people to come check it out, because no doubt everyone in an electronics store has at least heard of the "magnificent" PlayStation 2. It's sequel must be worthy of this kind of display.
I can't imagine such a display making it into many smaller stores, though. This thing is just too massive, even for a lot of bigger retail stores. Having worked in retail, at Christmas time, floor space is extremely scarce and valuable. If you've only got 5 of these to sell, say, why have this waste so much space? It could be used to sell the extra Wiis or 360s you have in stock.
I... I really can't imagine the final version being this large. It's this large for the reason stated in the first paragraph, but they'll have a hard time getting this in most places.
Maybe they'll have a smaller version as well.
Buffalo Wings @ Oct 1st 2006 3:54PM
Seriously, thats a beastly kiosk. I doubt they'll reach America like that. That banner on the top seems to just attract too much attention.
Morder @ Oct 1st 2006 4:01PM
"you can experience the fine demonstration picture."
obviously like all sony demos it will probably only feature prerendered video
gamerx @ Oct 1st 2006 4:01PM
damn that thing looks like the Tower of Hell! as for the console it self, it looks like something Darth Vader would have designed...
Zaquita @ Oct 1st 2006 4:01PM
I think I would be extremely afraid to go anywhere near that thing.... its like the LOTR Tower with the scary EYE!... but in all seriousness.... what would attract more people, a giant black rock, or a crowd watching people actualy moving around and having fun. Oh wait- no, I forgot... apparently people who have to move their wrists while playing Wii slaughter children, and their demo kiosks are not allowed in stores. :)
B33 @ Oct 1st 2006 4:01PM
Look, there's already a bunch of bashing fanboys in this thread... Ain't Joystiq great? (end sarcasm).
Tim @ Oct 1st 2006 4:03PM
The reason it is so tall is so that people can see if from far away in the store, even over isles. Very effective use in getting people to go to it.
Brad Mecoli @ Oct 1st 2006 4:04PM
@chimp o death
HAHAHAHA fucking win! :D
Armin @ Oct 1st 2006 4:05PM
It's tall because it's part of a bearing column in the mall...
Armin @ Oct 1st 2006 4:07PM
Correction: I just realised that I was looking at another image, it is really pretty tall...
Judd @ Oct 1st 2006 4:09PM
Is that headline a 2001:A Space Odyssey "Also Sprach Zathustra" reference?
bobeotm @ Oct 1st 2006 4:10PM
It makes sense to make it that tall if you want attention. This way, it can be seen from all over the store. The reason it's non interactive is probably because Sony hasn't compiled a demo disk yet. With so many titles far from complete, and no certainty of what games exactly will launch with the system, I'm sure they are waiting to see how things develope in the coming weeks. I am sure most, if not all eventually, will be interactive, but this is only the 2nd kiosk... of 15,000.
Anonymous @ Oct 1st 2006 4:13PM
You guys are fucking idiots. Most consoles have VIDEO DISPLAY UNITS in stores at one point or another. You're pretty much just grasping at straws now for ways to insult Sony and the PlayStation 3, and you look like goddamn morons doing it. I actually find it surprising you guys find the time to even do this bashing, with all the masturbating to Nintendo you guys have been doing this past year. Your arms must be tired.
Chem @ Oct 1st 2006 4:17PM
wow... Sony just may launch in November after all.
Jay @ Oct 1st 2006 4:18PM
Anonymous - there is? Oh wait, no they don't. My GAMEs and GameStations all have their own consoles, controllers and TV's hooked up. 360, Gamecube, PS2 and DS (no PSP).
Me @ Oct 1st 2006 4:18PM
Looks nice to me...I hope i have the priviledge to play the system at one of those kiosk's !!
HandOverFist @ Oct 1st 2006 4:22PM
That looks like a NOD temple from Command and Conquer.
Hamson27 @ Oct 2nd 2006 12:57PM
So does someone want to explain to me how Walmart is going to have enough room for this satanic beast of a demo kiosk, but not enough room for a smaller, friendlier looking Wii kiosk?
gamerx @ Oct 1st 2006 4:27PM
@ #26 Anonymous,
first of all, its PLAYSTATION 3!
second of all, you picture gamers masturbating
third of all, that makes you a very disturbing person!
Linkman2004 @ Oct 1st 2006 4:31PM
I bet the kiosk is that big to house the cooling units needed to keep the PS3 cool. ;)
Knoxximus @ Oct 1st 2006 4:30PM
Naw....they put the extra big PS3 mock ups just underneath the real ones to help give the illusion that, "Hey, it's not really THAT big". Hahaha
nick @ Oct 1st 2006 4:34PM
Kiosk implies interaction. This is not a kiosk, it's a viewing station
Knoxximus @ Oct 1st 2006 4:40PM
Uh uh...get it right. It's a viewing STATION. All caps, right Ken?
Raparat @ Oct 1st 2006 4:41PM
Masturbating to Ken or DOA characters is a step up then? Fanboys calling out other fanboys. You pathetic lot. :D
cheese @ Oct 1st 2006 4:46PM
that thing is in japan. Big deal. They can sell like that over there just based on name. American kiosks will be "hands on" because Americans demand "results".
broseph @ Oct 1st 2006 4:50PM
Kubrikian? What no love for Arthur C. Clarke? Jeesh.
Awol @ Oct 1st 2006 4:54PM
"Actually it cannot play, but you can experience the fine demonstration picture."
Means they're gonna show CGI and claim it as gameplay, just like they did with the PS2.
I'll stick to Wii.
ALH @ Oct 1st 2006 4:57PM
I wonder if the ps3 will ever get actual DEMO kiosks? Who honestly gives a crap about watching videos on a kiosk which can easily be displayed on in-store TVs. PSP suffered from this, I've only ever seen a playable psp in store once, and it was broken. The only times ive had a go at playing on one were when i went into import shops shortly after its us launch- had i actually been able to have a go on one i may have actually purchased one by now. I've already impulse bought 3 DS games i wouldnt normally have considered after having a quick go on them on in-store demos, sony are missing out on a trick.
Rod Oracheski @ Oct 1st 2006 4:58PM
Anyone surprised that they're making a big deal about watching video?
Again?
Doc P @ Oct 1st 2006 5:06PM
is that a fridge on the bottom-right?
CP229 @ Oct 1st 2006 5:10PM
@34
thanks for taking the words out of my mouth. :)
http://static.flickr.com/81/257785283_e9d8a4f858.jpg?v=0
Dux @ Oct 1st 2006 5:11PM
Yikes! That thing reminds me of an Oblivion tower!
Pulse @ Oct 1st 2006 5:24PM
People, what demos did you expect to play? The veiwable ones will be replaced with playable ones in due time, Sony is keeping quiet about it all, they want the first buyers to experience the true thing for themselves and let the word spread from there, it spoils the excitement if I go to a koisk and play the demos, already getting an idea of what I am buying and if it is worth it.
But hey, I swear I have seen some Xbox 360 veiwing koisks, even after the console has already been released, so its nothing new.
Enigma @ Oct 1st 2006 5:26PM
One can not simply walk into Mordor!
friedgreenmushrooms @ Oct 1st 2006 5:42PM
"One can not simply walk into Mordor!"
That made me laugh so hard that I voided my bowels.
I'm not joking.
William @ Oct 1st 2006 5:44PM
22. It's tall because it's part of a bearing column in the mall...
Posted at 4:05PM on Oct 1st 2006 by Armin 1 star
Haha so true so true. Best original quote so far! I guess Sony is investing in support beams and figured they'd save money by combing a support beam with PS3 to make SupportStation 3!
Drop A Load @ Oct 1st 2006 5:45PM
I got a new goal in life now and it to climb of top the new PS3 koisk. It shall be done....*shakes Fist*.