Sony gives £2500 TV to first 100 PS3 campers in UK
by Christopher Grant 
{ Mar 23rd 2007 at 10:13AM }
Sony, no stranger to launch events gone awry, made right by some UK PlayStation 3 campers during last night's launch event at a Virgin Megastore in London. Not only did they ensure that none of them left with any additional perforations in their fleshy bits, but they actually saddled the first 100 up with a 46" high-definition telly and a free cab ride home (presumably from Big Al's Comically Large Taxi Service). The television giveaway, each reported to be worth £2500 (about $5000 US), was a great way to spice up the launch of a console that's battled, err, some publicity problems these past couple months.With a high-price tag, plenty of stock, and no crazy Christmas shopping crunch, the European launch could never live up to other recent events, but we're sure the 100 lucky winners of the televisions -- "a reward for gamers' patience" -- don't mind. And, instead of bragging (erroneously) about shortages, they're advertising their strengths: supply. Ray Maguire, PlayStation's UK chieftan, said, "We have got plenty of stock in shops, so people know they don't have to rush out to secure a console." But if you did rush out, well ... isn't that a nice screen?
Check out Pro-G's video of the UK launch here and skip ahead to 2:30 to spot the giveaway.
[Thanks everyone! Now, who got a free TV?]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jack of No Trades @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:17AM
No fair! I would buy a PS3 for the free TV.
Myke @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:17AM
Finally the PS3 is a good value...
BIGGEN @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:23AM
...and a virtual slap across the face for those of us in the US and JP who bought one...even if it was the first 5 that got the tv, that's dodgey, pure dodgey.
Ian @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:30PM
Man I would have loved to be there. My Xbox 360 would have loved that huge television.
www.MarioKartWii.com
Liqwid @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:24AM
Good on Sony's PR. Bad on Sony's wallet.
NintendoFanbot @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:29AM
Well I guess that's one way of beginning the HD generation. >_>
baby sea tuna @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:32AM
Man, free TV's? That's sure lucky! The people here lined up and only got robbed or shot. Talk about getting gypped...
RoroCo @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:32AM
Now if only there was a way to connect those devices. Anyone have an HDMI cable on them?
Jeff @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:16PM
Have you seen a London cab? Could fit a few 46" tv's in there with room to spare.
Vidikron @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:33AM
Damn... would have been pretty awesome to be one of the first 100.
Razmataz @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:13AM
I would've bought a ps3 just for the television set ... and sold the PS3 afterwards... and got me some nice games for my X360 with the cash :D
mccomber @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:35AM
When will we get an idea of how many units were actually sold?
FrankTheCrank @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:44AM
But...360....but...Gears....but....Halo....but....XBOX LIVE.....but....but....but...but..
GamerCrusader @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:07AM
After the 100 mark everyone probably went home.
sheppy @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:39AM
What? No mention of the launch event in Germany where if you smashed your 360, you got a free PS3? And likewise, no reporting of the various dickheaded moves Microsoft made on the Sony launch parties all throughout germany?
If it's one thing this launch has taught us, both sides seem to be ran by soccer hooligans....
gregory mitchell @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:40AM
I would have shot someone for their tv
Shmil @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:40AM
wow sony has to give away tv's to sell their ps3 talk about a sucky system
i jest, i jest
i kinda wish i was in that line, i could use a 46"HDTV, those lucky bastards
Brazil 360 @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:41AM
Extreme luckers
denney @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:41AM
Well i was up town 2day and virgin dixons game and HMV all PS3s in stock. So much for a sell out
denney @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:21PM
Well i was up town 2day and virgin dixons game and HMV all PS3s in stock. So much for a sell out
KaneRobot @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:59AM
" ...and a virtual slap across the face for those of us in the US and JP who bought one"
The delay of the console, higher pricetag and gimped backwards compatibility was a slap in the face of the UK fans. This was a step, however minor it may be, into gaining back at least some of the trust. I say minor because 100 people is nothing compared to how many they likely sold.
Oh, and I'm from the U.S., for what it's worth.
Phil @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:50AM
wow that's crazy...
I wish they did that here...
But you know what the European launch besides the free giveaway sucks...
Seriously... watch my videos of the launch here in Belgium:
STORE OPENING
http://one.revver.com/watch/212675/flv/affiliate/29676
and
PEOPLE BUYING
http://one.revver.com/watch/212676/flv/affiliate/29676
Myke @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:48AM
"If it's one thing this launch has taught us, both sides seem to be ran by soccer hooligans...."
I don't know if you're complaining about that or not but I, for one, LOVE IT! Seriously, its just fun to watch and hear about. I was laughing my ass off about the story of the 360 boat that passed by the PS3 launch party. I can't get enough of it. It doesnt even matter what console you support, or if you even support a console at all, it's just hilarious to see this stuff go down. Warfare at it's finest.
bob @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:50AM
hi, my names is george, one day i was walking down the street when i saw a spasticated pirate with a cheese wooden leg and a purple parrot who would constantly shout out " fuck you buddy ", i was slightly bemused by this so i wen to say boo to him, when i arrived he pull of his face to reveal michael jackson, he then lunged towards me with a pedo look, i ran as fast as i could but i ran into a post box and it exploded, along with my left testicle, it was a good day, the most action ive had all year :D
CaptNink @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:50AM
@ FranktheCrank
WTH is that inane post supposed to mean?
NintendoFanbot @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:53AM
Microsoft attacking the frontlines with a boat.
http://www.dailymotion.com/search/ps3/video/x1inxu_bateau-xbox-au-lancement-ps3
Anyways I'm not taking sides on this particular matter, other than launches are getting ridiculous.
Jason @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:55AM
That just seems like overkill... and a complete slap in the face to any other loyal PAL buyer who probably just got free cake and ice cream. That is some desperate PR tactics! That could have been a free game for thousands of faithful across the territory, but instead they go for a huge splash to get more attention and distract people from the empty lines.
sheppy @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:58AM
@Myke,
I take it you didn't see the Microsoft camper chairs handed out at a line in front of a store then? Seriously, you couldn't tell it was Microsoft until you followed the link on the chair. It even said "Thanks for your patience." Go to the website, "Sony... You're Late. Let the games begin."
IslandLife @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:00AM
Hey Jason,
SHUTUP!
Thanks.
shase @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:01AM
Too bad no one had a rocketlauncher when that ship came by. it wouldve been classic
Matt B @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:01AM
Of course everyone who didn't get a TV calls it a "slap in the face."
A little too self absorbed I guess.
Phil @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:05AM
The only problem is the PS3 is not compatible with the Sony TV they got for free.....LOL.
Seriously, that is a f*cking sweet deel! I would have hated to be number 101!
SuicideNInja @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:10AM
Wow...they have to give TV's away to get people to camp? We get bullets, they get TV's. Isn't that some form of racism?
I'm happy with my 57" and 51" TV's anyway, and they're not made by Sony. They couldn't convince me to remove the "WARNING: I SUCK." label from the card reader hood on my PS3 anyway.
Myke @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:13AM
Sheppy - Hahahaha, yeah! That was awesome too. I don't know if you take offense to that or what, but I just think it's cool that they try to light fires under each other's asses. It's fun to watch and it doesnt exactly hurt the consumers to have a nice, healthy competition underway. And even you have to admit that SOMEONE needs to kick Sony in the ass to get them going, because clearly they're not doing that bang up of a job at the moment. I love it, but that might just be me. If you don't like the vibe they give out or just dislike public company rivalry then that's cool too, to each his own, but I think it's just plain fun.
F1ghter @ Mar 23rd 2007 11:26AM
It's a good thing only 2 PS3s got sold, otherwise Sony would've gone broke!
JUST KIDDING
Seriously, though, they dropped half a million on this?
HOVA uk @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:15PM
i am seirously pissed.. seriously..
i live in london and instead of going to the official launch, i decided to be loyal to GAME and buy my 360 from them.. last time i stay loyal to a shop and when i buy a PS3 what do i get? A free game? A Free HDMI cable?
Noo.. a fucking t-shirt and a yo-yo.. well i am selling it on eBay and any little profit i get i will be happy with it..
Todd @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:00PM
I'd invest in a PS3 if it came with a free HD TV. Kudos to Sony for trying to jolt interest in their system... however it's still pretty sad that a company has to do this to instill interest.
vidGuy @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:00PM
Wow, what next? I'd have a hard time shaming up to buying a PS3, but if I could then turn around and sell it whilst keeping the TV? Shoot, that's actually an incentive to get in line for the POS.
Alan @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:33PM
Just a heads up to every saying that Sony had to give away TVs to move PS3 units, get your facts straight. They didn't announce the free TVs until close to the launch time. Essentially, Sony was giving everyone that lined up a bonus. I would have loved to be in that line. The free TV would remove any qualms I had about spending that much on a console.
RHP @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:05PM
I have mixed feelings about this.
It's great for those who received the free TV, but kinda sucks for everyone else who didn't get the same offer. To my knowledge this didn't happen all over the UK, nor anywhere else.
Jake @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:05PM
What would have been even funnier is if MS gave the first 100 people a 360 and 10 of the best 360 games to go home.
Kamalot @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:18PM
There were fewer than 100 people in line. There were expected to be 3000. Sadly, PS3 is more like the 3DO. :(
BPM @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:44PM
I would've worked more hours to get a PS3 if it meant I got a free TV. :/
[hopes for a similar promotion in the US]
Jay @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:42PM
On several fora I have seen claims that "Sony have to give away free HDTVs to sell their PS3!".
Look, idiots, NO-ONE KNEW THEY WERE GETTING A FREE HDTV!
How about getting a brain before communicating with other people?
NeverSage @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:56PM
"Man, free TV's? That's sure lucky! The people here lined up and only got robbed or shot. Talk about getting gypped..."
I LOLed
AssemblyLineHuman @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:59PM
It doesn't cost them £2,500 to MANUFACTURE, does it?
Trujillo @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:39PM
i'd get in line if it meant i got a free TV, maybe they should do something like this over here. Theyd probably sell a couple more PS3s.
Jim @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:52PM
The TV rocks - I saw one today in the store, but they wouldn't give one free - so I didn't buy a PS3 ;)
10Deep @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:55PM
i refuse to buy a PS3 until i can get a free 46" TV with my purchase.
mnemo @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:21PM
At the launch party in Berlin they wanted to break a Xbox (1) on stage and didn't manage to do it because it wouldn't break.
Also, a retailer in Berlin offered up to 50 Xbox 360 owners to climb a 10 meter high wall and throw down their Xbox 360 to receive a PS3.