OK, we know that saying Japanese TV commercials are "weird" isn't exactly revelatory, so how about this: Sony's new "Playface" ads for the slimline PS3 are really, truly, disturbingly weird. Yes, perhaps even more odd than Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's "The Third Place" ads for PS2 directed by David Lynch.
If this is what we really, truly look like when playing PS3, we're unplugging our PS Eyes immediately and checking for hidden closed-circuit surveillance. Who knows -- we could be next; clicking, shaking and generally acting creepy in a Sony ad without even knowing it.
i liked it, at least it wasn't somebody screaming they got a free one of something i'd be paying for. i didn't mind the older ads, but i'm an early adopter so
Yeah, maybe i dunno what artsy is... but what I do (think I) know, is that ps advertising would be much better served by advertisements that actually show and/or focus on THE PRODUCT, rather than other elements surrounding it. As a gamer, and ps head, I can appreciate the sensations of intense emotion coming from playing my playstation, but the ads shouldnt be targeted people like me. I think the ad would have been much better for j6p if it had a pip window showing what they were looking at. I think people need to see what the playstation is/has to offer. Its "artsy" to me to take an angle based on human emotions rather than showing the product itself. While they did show the unit, I feel like a more logical approach is clips of the awesome graphics, blu ray movies it can play, clips of the ps store, and library of games it has to offer; spliced in with showing the fun the people are having playing it. Those of us that know, already have playstations. The others really need it spelled out for them. Im sick and have a headache, so I dunno if all this makes sense..
Not but serious. what the hell? what.......a japanese person looks and thinks "hmmmm orgasm for playing PS3? YES!" seriously..why cant sony just show what the ps3 can do rather then show it in some articulate way that 85.324% of the world doesnt understand.
They would definitely appeal to a Japanese audience. Some people here are to introspective to realise the whole world doesn't think like them, the author of this article included apparently
www.playface.jp
These are a lot better than those 'This Is Living' commercials which were interesting, but came at a time when the PS3 couldn't sell itself and really needed some more direct advertising.
In Japan, the word PlayStation is so synonymous with gaming, these ads just get people thinking about the brand again and showing hints of the slim to pique the interest,
Seems like no one bothered to check the website (playface.jp). Thisis actually a competition being held in Japan. SCEJ is trying tocapture real gamers' facial expression/emotional response duringgameplay. They even made a 360 degree "Bullet Time" HD camera rig todo it. Starting Sep.3 the general public can go to one of 2 locations(Tokyo & Osaka) and get "captured", all the footage will be open foron-line viewing/voting later this year. The winner, runner-ups etcget prizes.
Its not genius, madness or even remotely weird. It's just another version of something we've all seen countless times before - people make faces when they play games. No biggie.
I love this! Sony should run these adds here in the states. Nowadays you gotta get peoples attention with adds and this one gets mine. Plus that last girl is really sexy.
I thought it was brilliant. Take the early Wii ads, that didn't show any gameplay either, but stylize the ad for a more sophisticated audience and you get this ad.
Love it or leave it I appreciate that Sony goes against the grain on a lot of their ads. While they still have to make money on their product they're not afraid to leap off the edge of consumer marketing every now and again.
Dissappointed, not what I would term weird not like the original PS3 and Playstation brand commercials with the strange acid trips and floating consoles.
The orgiastic faces that it always seems to close on (and consistently female) are just kinda disturbing. But I have to say, they've been doing their marketing 101. A majority of them are young, funky, beautiful people who they are trying to bring in with their marketing campaign. Undertones of sex tossed in to the mix without being outright explicit and voila. Marketing Magic. Now hopefuly the price drop, new logo, new form factor and new ad campaign can get this horse back in to the race.
No one probably cares, but I think the over all visual aesthetic that is created with these commercials is very catching. I for one like them. Without even showing any games it really catches your attention. I just want to see more advertising in general. I say good job SONY!
