PS3 bike commercial: This is living? This isn't even trying

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jan 23rd 2007 at 9:50PM }

"Ever thought about how you can get even more control?" This is the question posed to us in the latest European PS3 commercial. We could ask the same question about the marketing of the PS3 -- ever think about how Sony can get control over the content of these commercials? We thought the European cup stacking advert was a bit off, but this bike trick thing just throws a new heap of monkey waste at the wall. Once again, at least the Europeans get game footage in their advertising, which was seriously lacking in the states.

The guys over at GayGamer put it well when they mocked the "It's where the old rules don't apply" line, saying, "Eh? And you're showing us this by showing tried and true human talent with respected displays of technique? Maybe if the guy doing the bike tricks took off flying, a la The Matrix 2, I would understand these commercials." We're also a little confused about the sultry British woman's accent in the commercials. Does the British accent turn Europeans on as much as it does Americans? We're just trying to find some semblance of logic and reason in the entire library of PS3 advertisements.

Tags: commercial, europe, playstation 3, ps3

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Johnny @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:04PM

8. Oh, so this commercial is meaningless/stupid but this xbox 360 commercial here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKbyfovB_JQ is relevant?

Yea.. actually.. I beg to differ. The control of a bmx freestyle bike is a decent almost clichéd analogy for a controller that actually makes sense... vs.. the 360 add with NO MEANING.
"

HEY!
I really liked that commercial.
It makes great sense, its about interaction and community if you hadnt notice, where everyone and everywhere can become immersed into a world of false reality in a video games.
Its really an ad for xbox live more than the 360, about people playing games online. Thats what I percieved from it.

I thought it was a great ad when I saw it on tv.

Yea and sony ad phails.
But wasnt terrible. I liked some of the launch ads by sony for the US.

Metalmurphy @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:59PM

Oh for crist sake... Enough with the Sony bashing, this is a comercial for the UK, our culture is diferent then yours so if you don't like it, no one cares, we do enjoy these types of comercials, we find them to be ALOT better then crappy the "Jump in" comercials.

MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 23rd 2007 9:59PM

Meh, it got boring making fun of Sony. I won't even waste my time.

gredom2 @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:00PM

Hey, that's a great Wii commercial - all that movement and control...wait..what? That was for the PS3??

MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:02PM

"Oh for crist sake... Enough with the Sony bashing"

Then tell Sony to stop fucking up, so we won't get new material to bash them with.

SteveP @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:03PM

Makes me wonder what kind of sweet bike and accessories I could get for 600. And by accessories, I mean a Wii.

csc @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:07PM

Ignore Metalmurphy, Im from the UK and this advert sucks justs as much, of not MORE than you guys think it does.

CRAP analogies, worse footage.

We've had wii adverts for months so it kinda loses the point.

Go away sony, europe does not want your overpriced new toy, you've crapped on us enough already.

Metalmurphy @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:07PM

#4

Oh yes, tell Sony to stop advertising they're new console in the UK with commercial intentionally made for they're culture just because some Americans xbots don't enjoy it... thats smart...

Chris @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:07PM

Oh, so this commercial is meaningless/stupid but this xbox 360 commercial here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKbyfovB_JQ is relevant?

Yea.. actually.. I beg to differ. The control of a bmx freestyle bike is a decent almost clichéd analogy for a controller that actually makes sense... vs.. the 360 add with NO MEANING.

James @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:08PM

This is one thing I don't like about Sony right now, all they do is advertise how powerful their system is, they barely advertise their games. I guess that's understandable cause there basically isn't that many good games out there at the moment...

azesino @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:09PM

I kind of understand where the marketing department wanted to go with this commercial, but it looks like they didnt analize it in its entirety, they wanted to bring the term FREESTYLE, and the ps3 controller is a Vague analogy of what this term imply.

Freestyle dosn't only means movements in all 360 dregress , or moving in any direction. the Wii controller is more prone to the use of the term, so in reallity they look stupid trying to imply that the PS3 controller represent freestyle knowing that the wii controller is a more redefined definition of that term.

RDX @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:09PM

Wow...this is...uh....it's really...damn...I don't know what to say.

It's not that it's a HORRIBLE ad, it's just not that interesting to watch. No appeal in my opinion.

MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:10PM

"Oh yes, tell Sony to stop advertising they're new console in the UK with commercial intentionally made for they're culture just because some Americans xbots don't enjoy it... thats smart..."

No, tell Sony to stop lying and exaggerating the capabilities of their System.

Splinter @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:10PM

Grr, gredom2 you beat me to it! As soon as she started talking about motion control and what not, i thought "Are you sure shes not talking about the wii?".

grable @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:12PM

i dont get it.

Chris @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:16PM

As someone mentioned above, different parts of the would also have different culture.

Cyling is a big deal in Europe if you didn't get the memo. The Tour de France. The fact that they were invented there. A form of travel.

Pedro @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:35PM

"Ever thought about how you can get even more control?"

Yes. So I bought a wii. I cost about as much as the tax on a ps3.

Anon @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:18PM

My god. Do you guys ever stop bitching and moaning? You guys will jump on the most trivial of things, and then bitch about it.

You know, all you see is shit when your head is up your ass. Pull it out, and maybe you guys will stop whining about trivial things.

MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:20PM

"My god. Do you guys ever stop bitching and moaning?"

Answer this. Would you be saying the same thing, if Nintendo or Microsoft were in Sony's shoes?

jackbauer @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:24PM

wait so if i get a bike its basically a ps3. kool i just save a bunch to buy me wii

S_DOG34 @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:25PM

"Cyling is a big deal in Europe if you didn't get the memo. The Tour de France. The fact that they were invented there. A form of travel."

This commercial is not about cycling. It's about freestyle BMX. If you don't know the difference then you shouldn't be posting as though you do.

This ad is in English. The Tour de France is in France...if you didn't get the memo.

If you're going to be a pompous ass you should try to make logical statements. Helps a little bit with the credibility.

Bluefusion @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:25PM

I don't care whether you hate or love the PS3, or hate or love the other two systems...

That is one incredibly lame commercial. The music sounds like it's straight out of a QVC intermission.

mietha CAG @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:31PM

Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Was that a commercial for the Wii? Seriously, nothing else sony has done has made much sense, why would the adverts?

Slaziman @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:27PM

Damn, that was dumb. The music they used is horrible... and is it me, or is the controller shown on screen that supposedly shows how you control the dragon WAY off? It's tilted to all directions and barely matches the movements of the dragon? Also those bike tricks aren't impressive, I'm sure there are better bike tricks.

Shibathedog @ Jan 24th 2007 2:03AM

@ #4
That was the funniest thing ive read all day, thank you for that.

Arno @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:35PM

Funny how they forgot to mention that the controller lacks rumble.

Night Elve @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:36PM

Guys you are such a kids ... If you dont like the commercial that's fine, like someone said this 'let's make fun of Sony' well it got really old.

Mossflower @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:39PM

That commercial is just pointless...

Retrofied @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:43PM

A bladder control commercial is better than this. Imagine it!

yujie @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:44PM

How can u react when theres no dual shock/force feedback?

Justin @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:52PM

so where can you find this controller? Nintendo Wii

Chris @ Jan 23rd 2007 10:53PM

T"his commercial is not about cycling. It's about freestyle BMX. If you don't know the difference then you shouldn't be posting as though you do.

This ad is in English. The Tour de France is in France...if you didn't get the memo.

If you're going to be a pompous ass you should try to make logical statements. Helps a little bit with the credibility."

How about you say something relevant?
I love how uncreative you are by quoting me.
France is in Europe.
There are different languages spoken there, including English.
IF you didn't realize, many foreign people know a 2nd and 3rd language, unlike feeble minded people like yourself.

BMX freestyling uses a BIYCYCLE. A Cycle. Which as I previously stated, means a great deal to Europeans.
BMX freestyling is a hipper use of a cycle, to attract teenagers-young adults.

Again, I pity your small-minded feeble-ness that lacks understanding of another persons culture.

AJ @ Jan 24th 2007 7:02AM

British accent? That's what we Europeans call english. That's what they speak in England and that's what the rest of us learn in schools. Why would you have someone speaking with an american accent in a commercial?

Justin @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:49PM

yeh, people in France sure love to speak English. You're too funny.

Mercbenz @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:01PM

Well unlike the US commercials, at least the UK gets some game footage. I have to say though, what they are saying about control sounds more like they are selling a Wii than a PS3.

MoonfirePewPEwPEw @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:00PM

"Again, I pity your small-minded feeble-ness that lacks understanding of another persons culture."

Don't play the culture/race card. And leave the insults on GameFAQS, where it belongs.

DraGooN001 @ Jan 24th 2007 3:05AM

The bicycle tricks looked pretty neat, and the dragon game looked pretty neat too (though I wish they'd show more of it). Doing commercials by analogy or whatever is obviously not helping too much though.

Tony @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:04PM

I'm not sure what your point is here. Because America doesn't do the Tour de France, it's beyond our cultural capability to fully appreciate anything that includes a bicycle?

I question how you can sit here and compare the interest in traditional bicycle racing to BMX freestyle tricks (which, by the way, started up in the US, mimicking largely motocross figures... again, from the US) in a gym to begin with. The response to you didn't have to be creative because your implications are ridiculous.

I mean, is this really what you're trying to imply? So, if this commercial had instead featured the Harlem Globetrotters -- a distinctly US group in every sense -- could I fairly run around claiming people in Europe cannot understand the "real" meaning of the commercial?

As it stands, it barely shows off the product in question. I don't really, personally, think it's a bad commercial. But to claim that people in other parts of the world, where bicycling is also pretty goddamn common, will not fully appreciate this due to supposed "cultural" differences is just plain bizarre and egotistical.

A @ Jan 24th 2007 11:34AM

yeah- i'm in the 'wtf was that' camp. and was very bored half way through. probably wouldn't have made it if i didnt anticipate some game footage.

also, chris, regarding the 360 commercial... it's good to play together. never seen that commercial before, but i thought it was cool and relevant.

Josh L. @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:10PM

It is kind fo cool that Sony got Robot Chicken to make an ad, which then asks users to make ads.

Infact before the PS3 came out I saw a lot of great commercials with the trailers released.

The one I liked the most was an all white background and a masterchief from halo 2 standing there. Then a helghast walks through and goes "You thought that looked real?" or something a long those lines but with better delivery(I remember laughing for 5 minutes straight after I read it, so i am sure i bauched something up in the way i wrote it this time, sorry).

Although to be honest I like the way Microsoft is doing thier campaign. Many commercials each dedicated to a feature as oppose to one big one trying to mash everything up.

I still think nintendo should have 3 old people side by side, all playing madden on a seperate mahcine, and they all try to make a toss with the controller but only the old guy playing the Wii makes the pass, which lands a touchdown. At the same time the two other guys get tackled by real players(as in real people, not famous one). And then a slogan like "Do it for grandpa!". Then they could starts another one focusing on small children, and another about multiplayer for the whole family, and another for hardcore gamers.

You could have 3 really hyper kids all anoyying thier moms, (again side by side, like with lines and stuff) and they each go to play their video games, and and they speed up the video and like 2 hours into it the two kids are still annoying thier moms and the wii kid is all tired from playing. "Do it for junior!"

Oh and another for the Mii, where you have a sketch-artist-person on the street, and all you see is the back of him up to his wrist, and not the canvas. Then he goes "okay, just a little adjustment, perfect!" and they zoom out and he was creating a mii for the person, and the footage of the TV is already cut by now to the artist transfering the Mii onto the remote and he hands it to the guy. "Do it for Mii".

Then maybe another "do it for your friends" one. And I would change the slogan from "Do it blah blah blah" to something a little friendlier sounding. Still, damn, Nintendo should hire me!

Slaziman @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:07PM

Chris, as an European I can tell you that you are FULL OF SHIT. Just STFU please. And I've been to France, tons of the people there don't speak English, unless it's required for their jobs, I doubt they show a lot of English ads there.

Bicycles mean SHIT to Europeans except as a means of transport, and the occasional Tour de France fan. Tour de France fans are into races on bicycles, not on freestyle BMXing!

I get the feeling you aren't European at all, since you are full of shit, and think you know what we like over here. STFU.

Steve @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:07PM

It looks feels like a bloody British Airways advert.

OmahaGTP @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:10PM

"Oh for crist sake... Enough with the Sony bashing, this is a comercial for the UK, our culture is diferent then yours so if you don't like it, no one cares, we do enjoy these types of comercials, we find them to be ALOT better then crappy the "Jump in" comercials."

So it's true what they say. UK'ers are rude and bad spellers.

They also love run-on sentences and can't take criticism.

No, I'm not being serious.

Though, the use of the term "xbots" was particularly insightful. Bravo.

hern @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:18PM

LOL, this is the easiest to comprehend c'mon, guys have excellent control of their bikes PS3 will give you tons of excellent responsive control, control, cotrol. C'mon, really.... how could you question understanding that? Creepy crying baby doll, sure, plenty of reason not to understand, but this?

$Brian O\\\'lyaryz$

Brian O\\\'lyaryz @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:19PM

"Does the British accent turn Europeans on as much as it does Americans?"

Speak for yourself, I think British accents are quite a bit less than attractive.

Hardcore @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:19PM

And I thought the day might expire before the daily mandatory 2 minutes hate for Sony.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Minutes_Hate

Thanks for saving the day Alexander!

eunoia @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:22PM

I mean, there have been some really bad commercials for systems but... Really, you're using that?
I mean at least.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPfMUD0_PHA
did something.

Rubang B @ Jan 23rd 2007 11:39PM

Wow. Yeah, GayGamer hit it on the head. Where the normal rules don't apply? Those freestyling homies and that sport stacking girl didn't do anything amazing. Ya know, it actually looked to me like the normal rules definitely still applied. Or are the "normal rules" supposed to be rumble?