I don't know if you guys had some time to catch Sony Playstation's latest series of ads for the PS2 or PS3 game "Syphon Filter", titled "Advanced Spy Fighting Techniques". It's a hilarious parody featuring spokesperson and action hero "Agent_Kevin_78 a.k.a. Dramahawk", a kinda fat, military-obsessed 20-something kid giving us the low-down on the latest in counter-spy field ops. Great work by the folks over at TBWA/Chiat/Day L.A. and Epoch Films.
What's impressive is the shameless, blatant use of guns and aggressive military techniques depicted in there, which are now sure to spur outrage in the ranks of parents, pacifists, and people out there who think video games are already violent, let alone showing videos of kids handling guns. But Playstation has a track record for being outrageous, and I can only think these folks are the kind of people who would drop their pants and moon an entire audience of christian fundamentalists at the local mass, complete with hairy balls and whatnot. But taking in consideration the audience, let's put on our pimples for a minute and agree that there is some funny in there.
What's also impressive in these ads is that these days, you can produce video material with little budget, and still gather quite an impression -- the "authentic botched look" trend speaks. Some audiences like the authenticity more, the blunt comments and the raw feel. And if you can make a series such as this one, you don't want this on TV. This can only be on teh Internets because you won't fool any gamer by throwing this on TV and trying to give it the podcast look.
Authenticity+Trend Insight= A deadly combo. Now you know! And knowing is half the battle. Go Joe!
(Watch the 3rd one first. Yes, I'm random like that, making you do all those little annoying activities).
Earlier today, I was talking about Sony which started to roll down the "consumer experience" road with their marketing approach. I was hoping to see if they would act consistently on this decision.
Well, it appears they are. In concert with different recognized british art insitutions such as BALTIC, the V&A, the ENO, Sadler's Wells and the BFI, they have put together The PlayStation Season, a series of interactive artistic performance installations.
As they describe it on their site, "The PlayStation Season will create unique content that explores the PlayStation brand and its available platforms (PS2, PS3, and PSP). The contents produced across this programme of events will offer experiences beyond just being spectators, and or geographical boundaries. The content derived from these programmes of events is to be consumed and shared and passed on. In each execution there is not a static art exhibition experience. The audience will be encouraged to participate (for positive outcomes) - haha, funny they mention - in the exhibits. In many cases, audience participation is integral to the display."
This further reinforces their "Live in your world, play in ours" ideology, and their latest "play b3yond" PS3 capitalization. Check out their first installation, titled "Volume", which is made of a series of vertical light columns that interact with visitors' movements, producing a display of light, colors and sound.
Reports the CoolHunter: "The collaboration is between lighting designers United Visual Artists (UVA) and Robert Del Naja (aka 3D) of Massive Attack and his long-term co-writer Neil Davidge (as part of their music production company, one point six)."
You probably don't know that, but the much-awaited Playstation 3 launch in Japan was held on Nov. 11. (ours is next friday, Nov. 17). Sony had been deploying incredible efforts before, including these very short ads, which might appear quite odd to the untrained western eye - but the fans (and everyone who can read japanese) know their very unique particularity. Just look carefully, and think "launch date".
(If you didn't figure it out, you can see 11/11 (the launch date) in each of the commercials.)
Now, check out what is a Sony Playstation 3 video game console launch in Japan.
Holy smokes! This is machiavelously creepy. The art director in me loves the strange flavor in the film direction (assumed by Rupert Sanders of MJZ production house in L.A.), yet I cannot help but create a few parallels of freudian dysfunctionality. But by now, we all know that PlayStation ads are known to evoke dysfunctionality in all spheres of human emotions, to demonstrate how we just can't control our playing obsession. From a very young age.
As I'm writing this, my behavioral psychologist is sitting next to me, taking notes with a grave expression on his face.
While I'm at it, here's another PS3 commercial - this time, explaining what the new implementation of the BluRay technology inside the Ps3 means exactly. Agency: TBWA/Chiat/Day. I for one, was curious to see if it'd be worth the 600$ launch price, available to my quite scared wallet starting Nov. 17.
An oldie but a goodie, brought back to the scene (and to my delighted eyes) by the most excellent Llamamelola blog. Thanks for that! Here it is on AdKrispies, in half-crisp youtube-o-vision, for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.
If you guys don't know it yet, the most loved and awaited PS3 will hit the stores across North America on November 17. A teaser campaign has recently begun, titled "Play B3yond", which is currently hitting the NYC (corner LaFayettte and Bond).
Also, you can already feast your eyes on the recently released commercial for this upcoming launch, now available on AdKrispies. Featured soundtrack is An Ending (Ascent) by Brian Eno. The commercial is once again the work of crazy awesome agency McKinney + Silver. I bow in your general direction. Need kickass partners in Canada? Write me. Hehe. Shameless plug.
Ps3 coming. Better get those sleeping bags ready in front of your local electronics store now.
Sony and Standford University have announced that the PS3 will be able to participate in a worldwide cancer grid research program titled Cure@PS3, due the the awesome computing power found inside the console's revolutionnary chip.
Distributed computing, or "Grid computing", "...breaks down complex computing problems into small steps that can be solved in parallel by thousands or even millions of machines at once. ", according to Wired.
This means that when you leave your PS3 on, it will crunch down formulas and numbers pertaining to cancer research, and send the info back to a master computer. Says electro^plankton: "...To put that into perspective, lets just say the PS3 sells as many units as the PS2's has sold to date. That's over 60 million PS3's number crunching away, far more powerful than any super computer at any facility."
I often dream of getting me one of these babies when they get out, but their reported december launch price of 600$ makes me reconsider. BUT NOW THAT I KNOW PS3s CAN HELP SOLVE CANCER, MAN! Maybe I can find a kind and generous spot in my heart.
I'm a freelancer and free thinker in the field of marketing and communications, trying to continually expand the known universe in my little mind -- and yours.
