Sony incentivizes Euro PS3 with Casino Royale Blu-ray

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Feb 12th 2007 at 9:45AM }

He's dashing, he's debonair and most importantly, he's packing a very large gun. Clearly, this is exactly the kind of man you need to persuade gamers to pick up a PlayStation 3 when it launches in Europe next month. His name is James Bond, and according to GamesIndustry.Biz, his latest outing on Blu-ray will make its way to the first 500,000 gamers who register their consoles on the PlayStation Network.

Sony's VP of brand and consumer marketing, Darren Carter, calls Casino Royale a "phenomenal incentive" for gamers to join the PS3's online service, no doubt drawing attention to the fact that it's a hell of a lot better than Talladega Nights. Catch all the reckless driving, lustful double-crossing and unashamed Daniel Craig-ery on your European PS3 when it launches on March 23.

Tags: Blu-ray, Casino Royale, CasinoRoyale, Euro PS3, EuroPs3, James Bond, JamesBond, PS3 launch, Ps3Launch

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

erac3rx @ Feb 12th 2007 10:06AM

My understanding is that the PS3 pack-in of the movie will beat the street date of the movie's release on Bluray (much like Talladega Nights did), making this deal that much sweeter. Nice.

Pedro @ Feb 12th 2007 10:10AM

wow. A movie actually worth owning.
I wonder if this will make up for giving europe the shaft when it comes to launch and price.

Steve @ Feb 12th 2007 10:09AM

"1. My understanding is that the PS3 pack-in of the movie will beat the street date of the movie's release on Bluray (much like Talladega Nights did), making this deal that much sweeter. Nice."

It's not a pack in. First 500 000 to register their consoles will get a copy sent to them so chances are you're not going to see it before the street date.

Intentless @ Feb 12th 2007 10:10AM

I guess I'm buying a PS3 when this comes out.....

LunarDuality @ Feb 12th 2007 10:16AM

This is another brilliant way of ensuring that "90% of PS3 users have used their PS3 to play Blu-ray movies" remains true. It's a brilliant stat/bullet point to tout Blu-ray.

Silver @ Feb 12th 2007 10:25AM

"Buy our $600 game console that lacks any truly appealing games, and get this $30 movie, ABSOLUTELY FREE!"

Wow, this irresistible offer should sell BILLIONS of PS3s.

Dave @ Feb 12th 2007 10:20AM

Another interesting fact about the PS3: I hear it can also play games. Probably just a rumor...

polly @ Feb 12th 2007 10:28AM

Hardly proves Blu-ray's superiority when they give half a million of them away for free. I thought this was the movie that would tip the format war.

bmac @ Feb 12th 2007 10:30AM

Very nice, much better than talledega. That definitely didn't show off the bluray as best as it could, Casino Royale should be much better. Would at least give the surround sound a bit of a workout as well. Planning on picking up the bluray myself when it releases.

Glasgow-Gamer @ Feb 12th 2007 10:35AM

You know, an actual GAME for this GAME SYSTEM would be nice. Weren't people saying this when they put Talladega Nights into the NA box? Thanks so much for being all ears Sony. Don't get me wrong, any pak-in is nice to have but I'm really beginning to beleive that Blu-Ray dominance is the sole purpose for this machine's being. Much like it's being a cheap DVD player pushed along early PS2 sales. I certainly hope not because that would be a VERY bad thing in terms of the console's survivability if BR doesn't dominate.

evilplushie @ Feb 12th 2007 11:36AM

"4. I guess I'm buying a PS3 when this comes out....."

You're buying a ps3 and blowing 425 pounds just to watch Casino Royale on blu-ray? ........................

DrXym @ Feb 12th 2007 10:57AM

@8, what format war??? In Europe HD-DVD and Blu-Ray have virtually zero market penetration. Seriously - so few people have bought HD players in Europe that I doubt you could even measure them above the background noise.

When the PS3 hits, Blu-Ray will become the defacto HD format in Europe simply because a million players will have hit the market in the space of a week. Doesn't mean Blu-Ray is suddenly going to take off overnight but with HD-DVD nowhere to be seen and BD everywhere it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise the likely outcome.

Josh @ Feb 12th 2007 10:59AM

No appealing games? Have any of you guys even seen the list of launch titles for Europe?

sheppy @ Feb 12th 2007 11:00AM

@Glasgow Gamer

You realize the PS3 launches in Europe with nearly 30 games, right? Not to mention the extra boost of about 8 downloadable games. PS3 launch is not lacking in games.

But while we're on the subject, Sony gives you a free BluRay infinately better than Talldega Nights and still, this is bad news?

Joe @ Feb 12th 2007 11:36AM

You dorks pledging BluRay can watch all the James Bond movies you want on your PS3s. The rest of us big kids will be happy watching porn on our HD-DVD players. Whether you like it or not, the porn industry WINS. Sorry Sony.

IslandLife @ Feb 12th 2007 11:38AM

@sheppy

Aww Sheppy, c'mon. You know that any good news about the PS3 only serves to bring the rabid anti-Sony fanboys out of hiding, so that they can deride and express their illogical distaste for anything Sony. You should know this by now, mannnnnnn!!

polly @ Feb 12th 2007 11:44AM

@DrXym,
Don't get me wrong, I think both formats will fail to unseat standard DVDs. But if you think Sony will be able to use gamers to buoy their bluray format while it tries to take hold of the mainstream market, then I have some UMD movies you might be interested in.

Dukhat @ Feb 12th 2007 11:46AM

@ Joe:

"The rest of us big kids will be happy watching porn on our HD-DVD players"

So you admit to being 45 and living with your parents. And you also admit to watching porn. How brave of you.

polly @ Feb 12th 2007 11:52AM

Like you don't watch porn...

Cory @ Feb 12th 2007 11:52AM

So will this be the full retail release of Casino Royale, or a bare-bones one that is missing many features of the retail Blu Ray (ala US's pack-in of Talladega Nights)?

Slaziman @ Feb 12th 2007 11:52AM

And 90% of those Blu-Ray movies will be watched at 480i because HD-penetration in Europe is very low.

Noshino @ Feb 12th 2007 11:58AM

"14. You dorks pledging BluRay can watch all the James Bond movies you want on your PS3s. The rest of us big kids will be happy watching porn on our HD-DVD players. Whether you like it or not, the porn industry WINS. Sorry Sony.

Posted at 11:36AM on Feb 12th 2007 by Joe"

Debbie Does Dallas Again, and again, and again, and again :)

ephraim @ Feb 12th 2007 12:13PM

Does anyone else find it funny that us americans get a NASCAR based redneck movie, whereas the UK gets a movie about a suave and dashing secret agent? C'mon, not all americans are obese rednecks(just most of us).

Alecks @ Feb 12th 2007 2:33PM

Lol.. So like 100 Million people own a ps2... up until recently 8 million of those ps2 owners play World of Warcraft. If that's true.. then I think the ps2 has Pushed a DvD format into almost every household. Sony accomplished pushing a dvd format into peoples households. Ps3's numbers I do not know for America, japan, and well of course- Europe- But their pushing a format onto everyone who owns or will own a ps3. Lets say in 4 to 5 years the ps3 sells 50 million and the next world of warcraft game has 8 million people playing on it. 8 million of those people have a blu ray player in their house. I guess Sony isn't that stupid. It's like trying to pick up a girl in a club,school,anywhere. If you give the girl a choice to not choose you, There's more of a chance that she won't choose you. If you're a complete Asshole and give her no space to make an opinion- Well... what's the nice guy story? Nice guys finish last and all girls love an asshole. Sony being the asshole and the world being a girl. See not only did that help me explain.. but I also got to call you( including myself) a girl. Take that ME(you)

samfish @ Feb 12th 2007 12:22PM

Psht. Daniel Craig.

Last I checked, James Bond doesn't have a vagina.

DrXym @ Feb 12th 2007 12:23PM

@17, UMD is a entirely different beast and its no wonder it failed. UMD was device specific, expensive and proprietary. In short it was a ripoff. I own a PSP and I don't own any UMDs except the demo disk that came in the box. The format was doomed when Sony slapped 30 euro prices on each disk.

The same is not the case for Blu-Ray. Prices are fairly reasonable considering the content is HD. And while Sony might be the leading light for Blu-Ray, the fact is that Blu-Ray has almost total industry support both from electronics firms and studios. The PS3 is but one of many players that will be able to play the discs.

While I have no personal love for Blu-Ray over HD-DVD (aside from it having slightly larger capacity), pragmatism alone says it will kill HD-DVD. Especially in Japan where Blu-Ray domination is total and soon Europe where it will be total on March 23rd. Even in the US, HD-DVD is getting stomped, primarily because of the PS3.

It seems inevitable that HD-DVD will lose unless Microsoft or somebody pulls some major surprise. My bet is that Toshiba will pull the plug within 12 months.

Johndude @ Feb 12th 2007 12:51PM

Sigh. I live in Northern Ireland and want a PS3. I just feel somewhat ripped off by Sony. 827 dollars for one thing. Then theres the lack of rumble in the controller. and then theres 827 dollars. no vga support. EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY SEVEN DOLLARS. real lack of ram. 827. crappy online network and of course 827 DOLLARS. gah.

mushiking @ Feb 12th 2007 1:58PM

mj @ Feb 12th 2007 2:08PM

I can't believe no one understands the real tipping point for HD-DVD beating PS3, sorry BluRay:

When $200 HD-DVD players appear at Walmart in 2 years, HD-DVD wins. Walmart needs people coming in and buying actual discs, so they'll go for the option that gets them customers earlier. Which is the cheaper HD-DVD. Personally, I think Apple TV beats them both, but then I have an Ipod, too.

velocitystrike @ Feb 12th 2007 2:28PM

I'm actually really stoked for the PS3 launch over here now! I won't be getting one straight away, but Blu-Ray seems to be doing a lot better than HDDVD. Roll on PriceDrops! (tm)

polly @ Feb 12th 2007 2:29PM

"Especially in Japan where Blu-Ray domination is total"

For a country "dominated" by bluray...they sure have one hell of a selection...

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127166

Revo @ Feb 12th 2007 3:33PM

In comparison to the US situation:

+ WAY better than Talladega Nights
- Not a pack-in, must register console online

miles foreman @ Feb 12th 2007 4:04PM

RE: 27. which is why Vivid's backing Blu Ray?

Posted at 1:58PM on Feb 12th 2007 by mushiking

Not according to wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-DVD#Industry_support

GL @ Feb 12th 2007 10:00PM

Guess you missed that "Non-exclusively hd dvd" part, miles, huh?

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/7236.cfm

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/437

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Disc_Announcements/Vivid/Blu-ray_PornGate_Ends_with_the_Return_of_Debbie_Does_Dallas/445

Gansly @ Feb 13th 2007 12:17AM

Yeah, sorry to all who still think HD-DVD will magically win. Content people. Porn on Blu-ray, movies on Blu-ray, JAMES BOND on Blu-ray.

And @ that $200 comment, you realise HD-DVD players are sold at a loss, while Blu-ray players are sold at a profit. It's not only easier to undercut HD-DVD's price in both discs and players, but it WILL happen because Blu-ray will reach a far larger market than HD-DVD much faster.

Joe @ Feb 13th 2007 8:29AM

Keep telling yourselves that BluRay has a chance. Just like your PS3s will kick all kinds of ass sometime next year (maybe):

"Content people. Porn on Blu-ray, movies on Blu-ray, JAMES BOND on Blu-ray."

Actually it's going to be about consumer confidence and manufacturing process - and Sony/BluRay has neither going for it right now. If this qualifies as "good news for Sony" then it really has reached an all-time low.