Rubik's Cube PS3 commercial doesn't make babies cry

by Blake Snow { Nov 6th 2006 at 1:55PM }

We're not sure if it's just less painful to watch than the crying baby ad, but Sony's new PS3 commercial ain't bad. Cool concept, nice nod to the Rubik's Cube and its colors, and definitely a step forward. But if graphics are as big a selling point as they appear to be for the console, wouldn't a quick screen scan of several games be useful? And does this ad do its job at pitching the PS3 as a "premium" gaming experience, one worth waiting for?

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

MSaccarello @ Nov 6th 2006 2:02PM

zuh?

Jeremiah @ Nov 6th 2006 2:04PM

way to think conceptually guy... seriously
put thought into reviewing something
i've seen this commercial twice and can pull multiple messages out of it
its a pretty clever ad
...too bad its for PoS3

zero2dash @ Nov 6th 2006 2:06PM

I think the commercial is somewhat neat but it still doesn't show off jack $#!t about the console.

Meanwhile people are complaining about no Wii ads in the US.

I don't know what's worse - ads that don't make sense/show anything, or no ads at all.

JodyAnthony @ Nov 6th 2006 2:07PM

It is a less annoying ad, at least.
I would still rather see something you know, about the console itself, like some of the games maybe.

Paul P. @ Nov 6th 2006 2:09PM

I hate these high concept ads. I've never seen a good ad for a game console, from any company. The only exception was an as for the contest where you could win an XBox360. For some reason the guy running down the beach shouting "I just won an X-box 360!" and then the other guy with a sad look on his face... I found it cute and charming. But that wasn't even an actual ad for the console, it was for the contest, which I think was by Mountain Dew or Taco Bell.

It's Thinking.
Get N or Get out.
PS9.
Those floating cubes with people in them...

ugh, I hated them all. Actual game commercials are cool sometimes, but I always find the console commercials quite meaningless.

Waff @ Nov 6th 2006 2:12PM

I think it shows extremely skilled marketing talents. Although oblique at best, the high concept (see pretentious) is the best way to market "superior" technology.

jron @ Nov 6th 2006 2:10PM

THe video seams choppy.. was that a Red E??? nice. i remember the red e adds for the ps1

Fatality4u @ Nov 6th 2006 2:12PM

It still doesn't make any sense, but boy does it look dumb to me.

Jonathan @ Nov 6th 2006 2:13PM

Jody - When they have some games worth showing, I'm sure they'll try that approach (jk)

Seriously, I think they just want to give a simple message and raise awareness of the console. Everyone knows the name "Playstation". I think the idea is to let everyone know that a bigger, more powerful Playstation is coming. That way when people see stacks of Wiis and 360s on the shelves and think about buying one, they might say "Oh, but a new Playstation is coming out, I saw it on TV"

RDX @ Nov 6th 2006 2:15PM

With the PS3 being so smart and all, I'm afraid they'll all go HAL on our asses.

JodyAnthony @ Nov 6th 2006 2:18PM

"i remember the red e adds for the ps1"

I always thought those were sega saturn commercials, but I might be wrong.

360_Rools_U_All @ Nov 6th 2006 2:16PM

Does Sony actually have any games to show that aren't pre-rendered movies? It seems that they're going out of their way to NOT show the games. Why? Resistance Fall of Man? HELLO? Isn't this suppose to be the be all end all right now? At least show us real-time weapon change for god sake! Maybe some massive damage of some sort? Buying this thing is like loving an unclean woman, you might have fun but all you're going to end up with is GIANT CRABS!

Regula Oblique @ Nov 6th 2006 2:17PM

Yea and I remember just allllllllll the videos of 360 gameplay in the commercials before it was released. If you calling people playing double dutch, and throwing water ballons at each other a 360 game I wanna buy it.

Zoot Suit Jedi @ Nov 6th 2006 2:25PM

Play beyond what? This dimensional plane? In an alternate reality where creepy dolls weep and a Rubik's cube will redecorate my room?! Whisket Tango Foxtrot Sony? I think I'm good on that broseph.

Sjohn @ Nov 6th 2006 2:22PM

Am I the only one who sees this as a possible attack on MS? Look at the colors on the walls that it shows, and then if you are running windows look at the position of colors on the windows logo, left blue, top red, right green, bottom yellow. Exactly the same order that the paint exploded onto the wall, maybe they are saying that they will explode the 360?

Scott E @ Nov 6th 2006 2:22PM

I just saw this on tv at my school's cafeteria, many people watched, but not one said anything about it or even gave it any kind of reaction. I am also amused by the use of ///7 in the PS3 commercial. The average joe has no idea what that means and it is displayed very briefly. why not just display "November 17th"???.... For some reason everyone who sees that Gears of War trailer with that donnie darko song can't stop talking about it.

Marty @ Nov 6th 2006 2:22PM

Aside from the PS3 sitting in the middle of the room, what does this have to do with PS3? We don't need abstract ads about why Sony thinks the Cell processor is cool... they really should show us why it's better than a triple shot of 3Ghz CPU's, because right now, both from the media and from the stat sheets, I don't see anything that really says it's better than anything else currently on the market.

> @ Nov 6th 2006 2:23PM

Man the xbots and wiitards are out in droves today.

JodyAnthony @ Nov 6th 2006 2:24PM

nevermind, did some investigation and saw that it was indeed for playstation, not saturn.

jron @ Nov 6th 2006 2:25PM

Man the > are out in droves today.

Mark Felps @ Nov 6th 2006 2:27PM

I've had multiple people point out that they weren't entirely sure what the ad was for. Add that to the fact that if you don't know it's launching on 11/17, the tag of "///7" is completely useless.

So far we have a demonic baby and an exploding rubic's cube. Does the PS3 play games, or does it have strange psychic powers?

D dogg @ Nov 6th 2006 2:26PM

For a $150 billion dollar client on the rocks, you'd think Sony's advertising agency would be at least somewhat conservative and just come out and say, "The PS3 is THE most advanced gaming system".

Hell, they're not even attempting an emotional connection with this commercial... no music, no people... it feels so DETACHED.

jron @ Nov 6th 2006 2:28PM

yeah, ///7 is kinda like the "ENOS Lives!" thing they did for the ps1, which also had a red e. "ready ninth of september"

number40one @ Nov 6th 2006 2:30PM

Showing screenshots would fly in the face of this marketing style. Lots of people know what this system can do. The rest just know that it's the next Playstation. No need to show the system's prowess, these I just hype-mongering ads.

Logan @ Nov 6th 2006 2:35PM

Not sure if I like the ad or not. I tip my hat to the use of the Rubik's cube but it seems like its aiming a bit too high.

Though I have to credit Sony for these ads. Every single person within my dorms I have talked to that has seen the baby commercial has brought it up. They're getting people talking about the ads and thus buzz is building about the PS3. Creepy as all get out, but it's getting attention.

mikull @ Nov 6th 2006 7:56PM

those who made points about not seeing games or systems specs- well said; but then again, who is the target demographic anyway? in reality, its those who are already in the know, willing to either stand in line in the cold outside some retail store for 1 of 100 machines they may or may not have, or them crazy fellows paying half the line standers over a 1K on more on ebay to have it right away. in either case, you see, it doesn't matter what it is or does, or what games you can get for it... reading this site the last couple of weeks, most people aren't getting one right away anyways.

Fish @ Nov 6th 2006 2:35PM

Regula Oblique,

Those 360 ads were showing people having fun together, which was/is 360's stance. The "Jump in" nature of the ads coincided with Xbox Live.

I think these PS3 ads are a little more obscure. It's cool that it's the future of gaming and whatnot, but they really should spend their air time showing people why 600 dollars is worth it. Just saying "Cell is smart" aint gonna do it.

So far, all I got was "CAUTION: YOUR PS3 AND RUBICK'S CUBE ARE VIOLENTLY INCOMPATIBLE"

(joke btw)

Anthony D @ Nov 6th 2006 5:10PM

SONY = GO PLAY WITH YOURSELF

Regula Oblique @ Nov 6th 2006 2:38PM

Yes but this is sony, if your a true gamer where have you been the last 10 years sonys commecials have always been like this for there consoles.

Todd @ Nov 6th 2006 2:38PM

While I find the NEW Rubik's Cube commercial to be pretty damn cool and less scary than the possessed baby (Powered by Satan?) commercial, I'm still not moved to buy a PS3. Maybe if Sony put out a commercial stating the new system is really $250 then my interest would be peaked.

Anthony D @ Nov 6th 2006 2:40PM

17 = D-BAG

Anthony D @ Nov 6th 2006 2:42PM

The PS3's real tag line is "PAY BEYOND" not Play Beyond...wait and see....I hope they tank hard........

dpad @ Nov 6th 2006 2:48PM

"Man the xbots and wiitards are out in droves today."

After reading these forums a while I've come the conclusion that '>' desperately needs to get laid. I mean, what kind of person would troll an entire site only to make it their mission to bash other systems?

A big fucking dork with nothing better to say or do, that's who.

Get...a...life.

Fish @ Nov 6th 2006 2:50PM

Regala Oblique (again)

Yeah, but if you're a "true gamer" then a television spot isn't going to be what you base your purchasing decision on.

You need to realize, this is a TV spot, not a game-mag advertisement, or a trailer. This is going to be seen by everybody, and most people aren't "true gamers". The 360 ads were more accessible, which is why I believe they were better.

vaylen @ Nov 6th 2006 2:50PM

The previous PS3 commercials have been pretty boring. But this one rawks! Their ad company might still have the mojo after all.

minus_273 @ Nov 6th 2006 3:08PM

seriously , I hate the PS3 as much as the next guy, but there are a TON of 11/11 ps3 ads that are amusing. 11/11 is the japanese release date. check out these ads. For those of you who dont understand japanese, the voice just says November 11 the playstation 3 is coming out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eije-NoZ7o8&mode=related&search=

WatTsu @ Nov 6th 2006 11:55PM

This is actually a pretty good, stylish ad. It at least makes sense, unlike the baby thing.

Is it really going to sell a PS3? No, but then at this point Sony almost doesn't need an ad. All this ad does is create Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA, look it up). Would I have shown some game footage? Oh yeah. But then again, Sony ads have just about always been about style and imagery over what the thing can actually do. Even their actual game ads have an astonishingly small amount of gameplay (but then again, they are not unique in this regard - I believe the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance ad does not show one speck of gameplay, and that's just the most recent example I can think of at the moment).

But then again,this is just my opinion.

JD @ Nov 6th 2006 3:01PM

"I think the idea is to let everyone know that a bigger, more powerful Playstation is coming. That way when people see stacks of Wiis and 360s on the shelves and think about buying one, they might say 'Oh, but a new Playstation is coming out, I saw it on TV'"

-jonathan..

Unfortunately the type of ppl that are compelled to buy one product above others simply because they saw it on TV, also tend to be the type of ppl that are buying on impulse and not info, as such sticker shock from that price difference will sway them away. SCEA needs a commercial showing all (even the ones that can do the the 4 year online service math) what about it makes it worth the extra... if it could really make a baby cry or fix all my messed up rubix cubes, maybe its worth it.

Dux @ Nov 6th 2006 2:57PM

I LOVE this commercial. I think its brilliant.

Koekoenutt @ Nov 6th 2006 2:58PM

Most advertising that WORKS uses some type of human emotion, make you familiar with that emotion, and then flash their product on the screen so that you get that feeling when you think of their product.

Pepsi was one of the first to do this and it really worked. When Michael Jackson was huge and the emotion his music gave to people back then, Pepsi used him and his music to sell the product. Fact is, After that commercial, Pepsi sales were higher than ever. Whats even wierder is that Jackson didnt even hold the can, and admited he hated Pepsi when asked about the commercial. Not the greatest of examples, but the music and with a highly looked figure, putting you into a certain mood and then flashing pepsi across the screen actually worked.

These PS3 ads with no emotions at all getting to the viewer, besides a confused or wierd emotion. They should keep to the flowers in the field or an ad along those lines. Also, ///7 is pathetic.

> @ Nov 6th 2006 2:58PM

dpad:

I write the truth; today IS a busy day for xbots and wiitards... read over the comments in today's posts.. anyone can see this; perhaps its 'cause its a monday?

IF you're offended by my terminology then, ...

Kinmar @ Nov 6th 2006 3:04PM

YAY the PS3 can solve a rubix cube nearly 10 seconds faster the the fastest human. wait, that kinda sucks...

rjj130 @ Nov 6th 2006 3:05PM

I don't know about you guys, but these ads get my dog to stop doing whatever she is doing, dead in her tracks.

She watches the ad and the continues on chewing whatever it was she wasn't supposed to be chewing before the ad.

I DVRed the commercial if only to subdue my puppy for a few minutes.

Koekoenutt @ Nov 6th 2006 3:08PM

After my huge rant, The videos just seem bland and not much to it. There is no connectivity to anything. Yes, Its a concept ad. Yes, It makes you think. Yes, It gets across that the commercial is trying to say the Playstation 3 is coming soon. In the long end though, It doesnt give you a common ground and just so out of there that it doesnt really work. The only thing about this commercial people like is the rubix cube, so in a way, thats the only thing keeping us attached to the commercial.

Commercials like the new Gears of War is really good. Shows action, Has a familiar soundtrack in the background, gets the point across what you will feel and get out of the game.

Commericals like the old Super Smash Brothers where there was familair music in the background that was "Happy" and familair characters from Nintendo pulling a "Jackass" type of humor, showing screens and the Name at the end.

Sony needs to remember this, and remember they are trying to get to other people than the hardcore gamers. Its a confusing commercial for people that don't know anything about it, which is the average TV watcher and not hardcore gamer.

dpad @ Nov 6th 2006 3:07PM

#37

Then what, big man?

I have read the other comments - including yours. You're nothing but a thinly veiled troll on this site with a throbbing hard on for Sony.

Your 'truth' is also just regurgitated rhetoric. Anyone can see this, as is evident in the responses you draw.

LordMinogue @ Nov 6th 2006 3:13PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCI4z-s5LTs

Sorry, but I definatly think the Gears of War TV Spot is MUCH better. The music choice just blew me away.

PSWii360 Fanbot @ Nov 6th 2006 3:19PM

This ad campaign is just strange. What are they trying to tell us?

"The PS3 is for crying babies?"

or

"The Rubik's cube will explode when put near as PS3?"

Hmmmmm....

The advertising group needs to be fired. This campaign could have been better is it was made by a group of PS3tards.

:p @ Nov 6th 2006 3:24PM

All the JP PS3 adds are nice and short but all the UK ones are way too long. FYI they have all been up on youtube for a bit.

Smarter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4GrzpPCD9k

Capacity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZUUyVFhB_I

There are more but you people are smart enough to do your own youtube searches ;)