Sony marketers are horrible liars, pretend to run fansite

by Blake Snow { Dec 11th 2006 at 7:15PM }

PSP fansites are popping up all over the internet. The demand for the portable system is at an all-time high as enthusiasts can't contain themselves. Rather, they opt to start seasonal fansites evangelizing the portable's many benefits not to mention its huge list of AAA and exclusive games. PSP fansite All I Want For Xmas is a PSP is no different. It was started by two "kids" -- one of which raps and looks disturbingly old for a kid -- in an effort to entice their parents to buy them a PSP for Christmas. Furthermore, the site only uses lower case letters, always references "two" as "2," embraces hip phrases like "here's the deal," publishes fake user-generated comments like "this is the best site ever" under the alias of True Gamer, and posts homemade rap videos full of stage props and trite "izzies." The above video is sure to reach the top spot on YouTube by tomorrow. It just screams street cred.

The only problem is the registered domain where this lame video is posted is owned by a marketing company called Zipatoni, presumably one hired by Sony. And we can't think of an individual stupid enough to post such a video only to get laid into worse than the Star Wars kid had it. I won't even quote the atrocious lyrics for fear you might throw up a little in your mouth after hearing. You almost had us, Zipatoni. Almost!!! Dense marketers usually do an excellent job in fooling ignorant consumers with such authenticity.

[via Something Awful; indeed it is]

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

the Brayn @ Dec 11th 2006 7:21PM

Its nice to see K-Fed getting work even after Britney dropped him like a bad habit.

Justin @ Dec 11th 2006 7:23PM

lame, like psp

Cosmos @ Dec 11th 2006 7:24PM

You forgot to mention that they filter out marketing words in the comments, like... um... well, marketing. Also, "product" and "Zipatoni." But it's ok, it turns out they just want people to be hip like them; "m4rketing" and "Zipat0n1" are perfectly acceptable ;)

Zach @ Dec 11th 2006 7:24PM

Wow, Sony apparently thinks that gamers are idiots.

moominsean @ Dec 11th 2006 7:29PM

who the hell has a couch and tv in a warehouse with xmas lights? if it wasn't such a stupid video, i'd feel that my intelligence was boing insulted.

and is the psp target group?

Rman @ Dec 11th 2006 7:28PM

Blake Snow you fool of a Took!

Amos @ Dec 11th 2006 7:29PM

That was painful...please don't make me watch it again...

moominsean @ Dec 11th 2006 7:30PM

jesus i can't type for shit.

Jinkin @ Dec 11th 2006 7:35PM

Holy crap. I doubt there is a fanboy alive who can top their enthusiasm-for-hire rap video.

anghus @ Dec 11th 2006 7:31PM

if there's a god in heaven, the people responsible for this will suffer horribly before their imminent deaths.

i mean seriously, is this what marketing people think kids would want to watch, much less influenece their video game system buying habits.

Hope they didn't pay in full.

Kritz @ Dec 11th 2006 7:37PM

@ #4

They've been thinking /that/ ever since they decided to make a portable gaming system without the games. Or, yannow, "$599 US Dollars".

Seriously, has there ever been a /good/ Sony advertisement? I mean, vandalism, racism (As some may view it as) and now treating their customers as fucking retards.

Then again, you may just have to be retarded to buy from Sony now.

Good job, Sony. Good job.

>> Kritz

Richie Rich @ Dec 11th 2006 7:34PM

Damn, I thought the Xboxback video was bad....this sounds like someone smeared shit on my speakers...

Hana @ Dec 11th 2006 7:37PM

I'm sure one of those people from those marketing companies has a cousin, nephew or SOMEONE who's in the "tween" to college student age group that they could've used for a more authentic internet vernacular...I mean...OMG!! Duh??

Big Ed @ Dec 11th 2006 11:24PM

Haha, Sony's got grillz.

Scott @ Dec 11th 2006 7:41PM

This site is UNBELIEVABLE. I've never seen something so incredibly insulting in my life. Does Sony think we all talk like this?! Take a look, here's a real comment.

Let me start by saying LAWL111

i luv what you guy's are doing an i hope ur grandma get's j that psp he rly wants... I will be saying 2 all my frendz (SHOUTOUT kenny knutaragi, tub ril & last but n0t least Trogdor teh Burninatorrr) who dont have psp's like mi 2 cum 2 this site for insperation

Props word yo!!1
Comment By PSP Roxxors At 12/11/2006 3:23 PM

Wow. Just...wow.

Grant @ Dec 11th 2006 7:44PM

High quality "christmas cards"(PSP ads). Check!
High Quality "fan site". Check!
Blatent plugs about PSP and how much they love it. Check!
a guy rapping about PSP who is nearly 30. CHECK!!!
this stinks.
is pathetic.
and whoever thought this was good marketing should be beaten to death with a blunt object. Or even better, i hope it's the guy in the video so he earns himself some well deserved internet infamy. Because he deserves to have his name AND face plastered all over that masterpiece.

TheH2s @ Dec 11th 2006 7:44PM

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!!!

"Fo-shizzy!" UGGGGGGGGHHHH!

Hoolarious! Everytime I see a PSP I will laugh in utter amazement and disgust. This makes me even more sure that buying the DS Lite was the right idea.

BklynKid @ Dec 11th 2006 7:45PM

I love to see Sony shoot itself in the foot.

Nate @ Dec 11th 2006 7:46PM

Obviously its working since it was posted here, and other popular blogs.

FatalFlak @ Dec 11th 2006 7:55PM

Was this (Sony's) PSP video in response to (Microsoft's) XBOX360- Sexyback video. Because, this one takes the cake for lameness.

Also, I think this post should link the Sexyback video, you know, just to show that Sony isn't alone in the lame-fake advert bid.

tacticality @ Dec 11th 2006 7:48PM

one of those ads says "not an ad" on it. speechless.

Fish @ Dec 11th 2006 7:51PM

And people ask why I transfered out of the marketing program to be a doctor. Now I remember, instead of selling everyone's soul, I only have to sell my own now. NICE!!

tnarg @ Dec 11th 2006 7:53PM

WTF?
Seriously that has to b a joke!

Ya kno wat, fuck u sony, ur nearly bankrupt anyway and i hope this is the last nail in ur patranizing coffin.

Oh and hey, Ken Kutaragi, I hope ur laptop battery explodes with u under it!

Maybe a bit too far there, but watever.

John @ Dec 11th 2006 7:55PM

Agree this is quite silly.

That said, there is a certain irony to reading about corporate advertising masked as fan-interest on Joystiq of all places. This site as only slightly more journalistic credibility than the Korean News Agency. Joystiq has proved time and time again that it is more interested in harming PS3 than reporting about it. How many headlines such as "Sony is a bunch of liars" does one have to read before getting suspicious of Joystiq's true intent. I find myself wondering how many MSFT bloggers are at work.

tnarg @ Dec 11th 2006 8:02PM

Keep ur panties on john, every1 has ther own opinions.

Ben Friesen @ Dec 11th 2006 8:07PM

Wait - what if this company wasn't hired by Sony? What if it was the classic "double-reverse" marketing campaign made by Microsoft to harm Sony's image? (Although MS isn't in the handheld market, so I'm not sure why they would do that - it might have been Nintendo, but they already have success on their hands).

Jackson Pritt @ Dec 11th 2006 8:20PM

@23

John, man, are you forgetting all the anti-Wii posts that what'shisface was making right after the Wii launch? Or how about all their reporting about 360s bricking and overheating? Joystiq is equally critical of ALL SIDES. The difference is that only SONY has been stupid enough to hire such a hack marketing group.

I'm a Ninty fan, but I actually feel *bad* for SONY because of this. I'm sure the marketing group sold themselves as being really in-touch with the "urban" market and lied to SONY about what they were going to do with their funding, because there's just not way I can believe that ANYBODY would approve of this if they knew what they were signing on to in advance.

Actually this is so awful that, as much as I love Nintendo, I'm starting to wonder if maybe THEY hired these people to make the worst possible site so that SONY would take flack for it.

The only way we'll know who this is is if SONY doesn't issue a press release within the next 1-2 days denying involvement with this site. If they deny involvement then it was either Nintendo or Microsoft trying to make SONY look bad. If they DON'T deny involvement then this really was a SONY marketing ploy, and that will push me over the edge to never, ever buy another SONY product as long as I live. I'm still pissed about them killing the AIBO, but this is just intolerable.

abm @ Dec 11th 2006 8:10PM

Maybe John is in marketing :)

I always wonder how many comments here accusing rampant bias, etc. are actually from the companies being lambasted.

Joystiq is not biased, they sh*t on everyone - rock on guys! Besides, anyone who actually posted a POSITIVE article about this schill website would be biased against reality...

Lil Jimmy @ Dec 11th 2006 8:12PM

It stinks. And I don't like it.

Billster @ Dec 11th 2006 8:16PM

I have a slightly off topic question regarding Sony and advertising. Does anyone know why there are still commercials for the PS3 on TV? What purpose do they serve?

obo @ Dec 11th 2006 8:33PM

"Joystiq is not biased, they sh*t on everyone"

except Intellivision

Marc @ Dec 11th 2006 8:32PM

John = Angered Sony Employee in some office somewhere getting payed to act like a concerened commentor with positive intentions for sony (who happens to own his soul even tho they pay him shit). and btw John, joystiq doesnt make the headlines, they just take whats happening on the web and post it here, so we dont have to surf around for newsworthy info, even if it happens to be negative towards sony, prob Cuz thats what is being said everywhere, SONY BLOWS

anghus @ Dec 11th 2006 8:21PM

to be fair, i dogged the XBOX Back video just as hard.

It just goes to show you that the people running the companies making video games are so tragically out of touch.

Thank God Nintendo didn't put out anything like this.

Septim @ Dec 11th 2006 8:22PM

G-dawg I gots to get me a pSP just like tat dude in the sweat song yo. His rhymes be fresh and salty yo and he speak from da heart.

Thoughtful Consumer @ Dec 11th 2006 8:23PM

"Ahhhh yeah, these prints are gonna make for some pretty bad ass CS:S sprays, I'd be like 'PSP IN YOUR FACE, BITCH!!!!' Then I'd spray the ground. That chick is hot, get me those digits and you can have my PSP."

that absurd prefab comment on the site had me rollin for hours.

ROFL doesn't take much for the "consumer" monster to come out these days eh. Like people are really insulted by this. It's just lame (to the third power). After reading some of the comments on this story (not particularly at this site..more so on the site itself). The ignorance spewed is so bad..makes me wonder.. who's the real monster? Zipatoni marketing...or the so called "disgruntled consumer".

Hellsing @ Dec 13th 2006 9:40PM

This is a disgutsing tactic to take. Really shows that Sony has no respect for their customers to think that anyone would respond well to something of this fuckitude.

plooby @ Dec 11th 2006 11:26PM

You guys, this is called guerrilla marketing, and isn't that uncommon nowadays. This campaign is a really terrible example, but don't blow it out of proportion.

Mics @ Dec 11th 2006 8:52PM

The SexyBack video was made by Laura Foy, an employee of Channel 10 which is a blog owned by Microsoft. The site makes it very clear that it is owned by Microsoft (including a copyright notice at the bottom of the page). The video was intentionally campy as most spoofs and parodies usually are, right Weird Al? The site and the video did not try to pass themselves off as "fan"-made, as Sony did. The Sony site/video is just sad, and trying to pass itself off as a real site/video and "not an ad" is just sadder. Here's hoping Sony can improve its public image.

---
XBOX 360 - Now supporting all HDTV resolutions so that you don't have to.

Capta1n 0bv10us @ Dec 11th 2006 9:05PM

Alright, that decides it. I'm trading in my frigging PSP. I haven't played it in about two months anyways, but the idiocy of Sony to approve such a marketing campaign is beyond the pale.

underbiter @ Dec 11th 2006 9:11PM

to: meredith.goette@zipatoni.com
date Dec 11, 2006 5:08 PM
subject offensive marketing campaign

I'm a high school teacher who is committed to helping my students sort out reliable information from ethical sources and dishonest, lame marketing schemes like yours. Congratulations. . . you just made the next lesson with the "all i want for xmas" campaign.

Tel @ Dec 11th 2006 9:08PM

@36
100% agree.

The main difference between the “Bringing Xbox Back” and the “All I want for Xmas is a PSP” is that Microsoft stamped their mark on the video and was happy to pass it off as parody. Sony tried to make their rap look like a fan video.
It’s like the Sony blog “ThreeSpeech”. Sure, Major Nelson runs a blog and is a M$ employee – but it says so all over his site. ThreeSpeech was a Sony blog trying to pass itself off as journalism.

Hell, Sony – your fans are desperate to hear from you. Just come out and hype your games. Microsoft does, and it’s only brought them positive things. Quit trying to sneak the publicity onto us.

Miniboss @ Dec 11th 2006 9:11PM

@ 18.

"Obviously its working since it was posted here, and other popular blogs."

Wrong. Advertising only "works" if it results in sales of the product it's selling.

Can you honestly see people buying a PSP after watching this?

Delsvr @ Dec 11th 2006 9:13PM

You'd think they'd save the money from registering a domain name and monthly hosting to actually pay for the psp.

cheese @ Dec 11th 2006 9:20PM

u guys are clueless, anyone remember the majorynos website? If not, nevermind, you just don't get it.

chuck @ Dec 11th 2006 9:22PM

ROFLMAO makes me wanna hurl and then chuck my psp at k-fed and rob his ass for my 350 plus tax back that i spent on the psp (i bout 2 for those of you thinking the psp doesnt cost 350)

PRguitarman @ Dec 11th 2006 9:23PM

This makes me hate NOT want a PSP....even more. It should be a federal law to forbid white people from rapping.

Pixelantes Anonymous @ Dec 11th 2006 9:37PM

plooby, no that is not guerilla marketing, that's astroturfing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

True Gamer @ Dec 11th 2006 9:45PM

Hooray for Joystiq on posting on this terrible marketing site. One thing they got wrong though. I am "True Gamer" and none of my posts support Sony. My posts are all very articulate posts calling out Zapatoni and Sony for their horrible viral marketing ploy. I got the name from a LAN house my friend runs in Dallas, TruGamers. Please, Joystiq. Fix this error just so I can feel better. I don't like being associated with Sony - even in a case of mistaken anonymous identity.