PS3 violence mirrors novel storyline

by Kyle Orland { Nov 22nd 2006 at 4:15PM }

File this one in the "life imitating art" department ... or maybe in the "art predicting guerrilla marketing?" department. Max Barry's book Jennifer Government revolves partially around a Nike marketing plan to shoot the first ten buyers of a new shoe in an effort to build hype and street cred for the launch. Today, Barry posted on his blog about the similarities between his book's plot and the recent violence surrounding the launch of the PS3.

Could the muggings and robberies surrounding Sony's new system be a carefully orchestrated marketing ploy to increase exposure for the PS3? Barry stops short of making such a serious accusation. "That would be unspeakably immoral," he said. "To rip off the opening of Jennifer Government so blatantly, I mean."

We have to agree -- while Sony 's PS3 marketing has occasionally been disturbing, you have to admit that it's also been pretty original.

[Via AeroPause, Thank Reddrive]

Tags: art, culture, life, PS3, shooting, violence

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

socrates @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:22PM

Strangely enough, the events of the Wii launch match up shockingly closely to my recent novel: "The Sextacular Adventures of Video Game Playin' Billy".

Shagi @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:23PM

I'd buy a pair of those shoes!

Werbal @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:23PM

Was the violence deliberate? No. Did Sony like the news about people going kah-razy for their newest product? Yes.

troy @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:23PM

It's funny - I thought about the book when the stories started coming in.

For those that haven't read it - pick it up. It's a very funny, very quick read.

Tucker @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:27PM

Every day the world gets more and more like Jennifer Government. Great novel. Also check out Barry's other novel, Syrup, which is about a guy whose idea for a new Coke product gets stolen... It's another good one.

otakucode @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:34PM

Anyone who hasn't read "Jennifer Government" ought to. It's pretty damn fun. It provides what I think is a semi-plausible future (certain aspects of it anyways). If you try to think how will the current American government end (since no government is eternal there is no reason to expect this one is), I think he comes up with a good one. An armed takedown of the government either from within or without is pretty much impossible, but an erosion of the economy like that in the book could be one way it could happen.

I'm pretty sure it'll come down to the govt using the military against its own citizens and the citizens adopting a scorched earth policy (the only workable one) though...

Rein @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:36PM

That guy's blog is hilarious. I really need to pick up his books now...

Shad Genki @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:43PM

Wow, the marketing for this book on Joystiq seems pretty effective already!

Actuall I play the game on the guys website, which is mildly entertaining. I joined a group of pirate nations and we're all...well, piratey.

Judd @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:50PM

Part of Sony's marketing plan? I think not. But here's something to consider that might seem crazy, but not as crazy as the previous theory. Organized crime. Seriously, there are many mob movies involving gangsters shooting each other down, but in reality most organized crime involves some sort of money extortion. I live in New Jersey and while the "The Sopranos" makes it seem like the Mafia is much bloodier than it is, in Jersey a lot of people feel crime and political corruption are involved in gambling(lottery and casino). Why not the PS3? It's not that far off the realm of possibility that cargoes of Playstation 3's are being stolen off of trucks. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/14/major-shipment-of-black-ds-lites-missing/
And even if that's not that case whose to say that when people are robbing people on launch day, they aren't working for someone else? I'm not saying this is definitely true, but if you look at the kind of money being made off of Ebay, you can't assume that whoever you're buying it from is a legitimate source.

Raynre @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:54PM

I've been meaning to pick this book up... might just have to add it to my Christmas list this year...

gwangi @ Nov 22nd 2006 4:56PM

Well I'm picking up this book.

KLink @ Nov 22nd 2006 5:16PM

And while we're naming all of his books, read COMPANY too. Yet even more conspiracy theories!
"That would be unspeakably immoral," he said. "To rip off the opening of Jennifer Government so blatantly, I mean."
So that means that he actually WAS mad and that "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGE RACER!" Was actually his meds wearing off.

ChrisL @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:00PM

"6 - If you try to think how will the current American government end (since no government is eternal there is no reason to expect this one is), I think he comes up with a good one."

Bush and his butt buddies are doing a pretty decent job of hastening the end right now. Doesn't take much imagination.

ePay @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:41PM

kinda at #9

the ones making all the money on ebay is ebay.
when i last looked at ebay during the beginning of the week there were roughly 32,000 systems being sold at that moment. if the average selling price is $1100 bucks, most sellers i looked at offered free shipping and a game.
$1100(sold amount)
-65(game)
-130(shipping and handling for overnight fedex)
-650(system)
-100(ebay fees)
-45(pay pal fees)
=$110 profit for ONE ebay seller

If all 34,000 systems at that moment sell at an average of $1100.
Ebay will clear $3,400,000
just thinking about all the different transactions that go down on Ebay every single day....

Madness, i say, madness.

daeval @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:02PM

An interesting coincidence, but pretty sensationalist to think it's anything more. People get robbed, or murdered over valuable things, pretty often.

The surface similtary makes good marketing for barry's book though, nevermind that it draws connections between a real world company, with an image to uphold, and his imaginary evils. Sony's good enough at smearing its own image without sensationalist claims.

James @ Nov 22nd 2006 7:06PM

My local BB just got 8 more 60GB PS3 in. I didn't get one and I was going to start a fight, but I thought wtf do I care about the PS3 anyways. None of the launch games interests me and I only wanted to use it for Blu-Ray movies. Gaming is secondary. I'll get one of those 20GB after the madness is over or when Sony gives up on dominating the world.