AfterDawn: News

Microsoft crashes PS3's Euro launch

Today's European launch of Sony's eagerly-awaited Playstation 3 console has not only seen flocks of ardent gamers queue into the small hours awaiting its release, but also several publicity stunts by rivals Microsoft in an attempt to upstage the event.

At the Virgin Megastore in London's Oxford Street, the software maker handed out chairs to those queuing which had a web address to an Xbox 360 branded-site printed on them. The site "welcomes" Sony to the next generation, and ribs the Japanese entertainment company for being "late" in comparison to the 360's 2005 launch.



The launch was met with mixed feelings throughout Europe. Despite the fact several stores were kept open late especially, few French gamers took the opportunity to get their hands on one. Sony had moored a boat by the Eiffel Tower to act as a temporary base to make sales but gamers were crowded out by the media. Meanwhile, Microsoft drove its own boat covered in Xbox 360 logos in and around the area in an attempt to distract people's attentions away from the launch.

At an electronics store in Berlin, Germany, gamers who smashed their 360's off of a wall were rewarded with a free PS3.

Sony believes that the PS3's high-definition Blu-Ray DVD player, online capabilities and gaming powered by the Cell processor will persuade gamers to fork out £425 (599 Euros) on the machine. "High definition is very important to people," said Ray Maguire, head of Sony Computer Entertainment in the UK. "A lot of people have bought flat panel TVs and they want content to go on it and PlayStation 3 is one of the few places they can get that kind of experience."

Source:
BBC

Written by: Ben Reid @ 23 Mar 2007 12:30

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• 32 comments

• Pop_Smith

  Looks like a double-edged sword to me.
  
  Microsoft might have been dumb to do what they did but Sony's ID (A psychological term for your inner-child) over came them and Sony committed a similar act according to the end of the article. What happened to the good old days when just ads, not major publicity stunts, sold consoles?

  23.3.2007 12:39 #1

• chickenR

  Microsoft's publicity website. Might be a bit cocky on MS's part (and of the two consoles I'm on the side of the 360), but quite amusing. :)

  23.3.2007 13:23 #2

• eb72826

  Both companies are acting very childish. I still love my 360 although i wish i got a free upgrade to the black one with the 120 gig hd.

  23.3.2007 13:25 #3

• Rydis

  right, thats really smart. Go buy a 360, break it and we will give you a free PS3. Not only did you pay for the 360, but you didn't pay for the ps3. So um..who is lossing money now?

  23.3.2007 13:39 #4

• muccione

  Originally posted by Rydis:right, thats really smart. Go buy a 360, break it and we will give you a free PS3. Not only did you pay for the 360, but you didn't pay for the ps3. So um..who is lossing money now?
  Why do that just buy a broken 360 off ebay for 100-200 USD and smash away for a $600 PS3 what a deal sign me up 10 times

  23.3.2007 13:45 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Lethal_B
  not seen you around allot,nice article BTW! ^^
  
  ------------------------
  
  Sony and MS are playing PR TAG ><
  
  
  I am not to hot for the new 360 unless the new CPU is confirmed.

  23.3.2007 13:47 #6

• WierdName

  ROFL, what a bunch of little kids! Well I guess we know what would happen if it was run by kids, oh wait...

  23.3.2007 14:23 #7

• cashman91

  M$ is being weak

  23.3.2007 15:04 #8

• Unfocused

  This is pretty childish on Microsoft’s part. All the companies have taken little stabs at each other over the years, but this is getting to be a little escalated.
  
  As far as the shop offering a free PS3 for destroying your X Box, the real loss comes at the hands of the shop. Microsoft is getting their money from the sale of the X Box; and Sony is getting their money from the shop giving away the PS3.
  
  All in all, this is building up to be a good rivalry between Microsoft and Sony. In the end this can only be good for the gamers. This resulted in some really good games coming out for the NES towards the end if its life due to their rivalry with SEGA.

  23.3.2007 15:07 #9

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Unfocused:This is pretty childish on Microsoft’s part. All the companies have taken little stabs at each other over the years, but this is getting to be a little escalated.
  
  As far as the shop offering a free PS3 for destroying your X Box, the real loss comes at the hands of the shop. Microsoft is getting their money from the sale of the X Box; and Sony is getting their money from the shop giving away the PS3.
  
  All in all, this is building up to be a good rivalry between Microsoft and Sony. In the end this can only be good for the gamers. This resulted in some really good games coming out for the NES towards the end if its life due to their rivalry with SEGA.and makeign a killing on selling it 300+ in other countries.

  23.3.2007 15:12 #10

• tehjoker

  Lol, this is really childish on Microsoft's part.

  23.3.2007 16:18 #11

• snowlock

  Microsoft's moves might be cocky and childish, but:
  
  Sony had moored a boat by the Eiffel Tower to act as a temporary base to make sales but gamers were crowded out by the media.
  
  Sounds like Sony was going for similar effect but didn't think it through too well. I guess they could have came with it in Europe a bit earlier.
  
  Microsoft, however, has the excuse of being from the US; stomping around hollering like they own the place sort of comes with the territory. Although they didn't bring any tilt-tech and that's just an eff-up from them releasing too early. Period.
  
  All I can say is that smashing a 360 for a PS3 sounds more fun than sitting in an ad. That and buying two systems for the price of PS3 sounds more fun than HD.

  23.3.2007 19:14 #12

• rihgt682

  gotta give props for crashing the lanuch.

  23.3.2007 20:53 #13

• WierdName

  Originally posted by rihgt682:gotta give props for crashing the lanuch.Your joking right? I mean, ya microsoft actually succeded at something but it was pretty childish.

  23.3.2007 21:09 #14

• Ragnarok8

  Wait, what did microsoft achieve?

  23.3.2007 21:26 #15

• Dela

  I was delighted to see this, this is just all in good fun as far as I'm concerned. It was like a nice little hint from Microsoft to Sony to tell them that they already have an established next-gen machine in Europe and that Sony is late. It also doesn't hurt to have Microsoft display themselves a s cocky enough to crash such a high profile launch of a rival's product, for the past few months all Microsoft has been reading is Sony's claims that they havbe the most powerful console and constantly hyping up the European launch. This little "response" from M$ would hurt more.
  
  But really, I just think this is humorous and there will probably be fanboy wars about it but if someone is silly enuff to get offended, thats their problem :-)

  23.3.2007 22:13 #16

• gozilla

  how rich Microsoft accusing Sony of being late. how many years behind schedule was Vista?

  23.3.2007 22:50 #17

• WierdName

  Originally posted by gozilla:how rich Microsoft accusing Sony of being late. how many years behind schedule was Vista?ROFL, I CANT BREATH! Excellent point!

  23.3.2007 22:56 #18

• Dela

  I don't think you can compare a software operating system release to a release of a next-gen piece of hardware. There is a very big difference in both markets. Microsoft dominates the operating system market flat out, so it can afford to take its time. In the case of the PS3, when it first launched Microsoft was approaching the 10 million mark, thats quite a head start to have when you consider there are now 3 next gen systems out. Microsoft tis just poking fun while it can I think, although the PS3's lateness will have a ripple effect for maybe 2 years I'd imagine, in about 2009 it will be gone (the effect i mean, not the console ;-) )

  23.3.2007 22:59 #19

• WierdName

  Originally posted by Dela:I don't think you can compare a software operating system release to a release of a next-gen piece of hardware. There is a very big difference in both markets. Microsoft dominates the operating system market flat out, so it can afford to take its time. In the case of the PS3, when it first launched Microsoft was approaching the 10 million mark, thats quite a head start to have when you consider there are now 3 next gen systems out. Microsoft tis just poking fun while it can I think, although the PS3's lateness will have a ripple effect for maybe 2 years I'd imagine, in about 2009 it will be gone (the effect i mean, not the console ;-) )Er, I think you can when you consider how hypocritical it is of microsoft. They are to completely different fields but its still the same point. Neither could stay on track. Then microsoft bashes sony cause they released late.
  ...The whole thing is just stupid. Its like a bunch of 2-year-olds having a fight.

  23.3.2007 23:06 #20

• BobbyBlu

  Quote:Sony had moored a boat by the Eiffel Tower to act as a temporary base to make sales but gamers were crowded out by the media. Meanwhile, Microsoft drove its own boat covered in Xbox 360 logos in and around the area in an attempt to distract people's attentions away from the launch. Where did Sony do anything wrong hell its there launch not M$.The question should be did Sony do this to them during there launch...That would be H.E.L.L. no so the next person that brings up M$ name with class really need to get there head checked.

  24.3.2007 03:37 #21

• muccione

  Originally posted by Dela: In the case of the PS3, when it first launched Microsoft was approaching the 10 million mark, thats quite a head start to have when you consider there are now 3 next gen systems out. Microsoft tis just poking fun while it can I think, although the PS3's lateness will have a ripple effect for maybe 2 years I'd imagine, in about 2009 it will be gone (the effect i mean, not the console ;-) )
  I hope your not saying that the Wii-Wii is next gen....its a GC that took so VGGH (video game growth hormone)so it will never have a chance to get into the Olympics or the video game hall of fame...ROFLMAO

  24.3.2007 03:38 #22

• nohm

  What's PS3's equivalent of the Xbox's blue screen of death??

  24.3.2007 06:36 #23

• Dela

  Quote:Where did Sony do anything wrong hell its there launch not M$.The question should be did Sony do this to them during there launch...That would be H.E.L.L. no so the next person that brings up M$ name with class really need to get there head checked.You really shouldn't take it that seriously. Even if they did crash the event in a few different countries, so what? Nobody died and shit.. Sony handed out 46" LCD TVs..... giving someone a chair or telling them that Xbox 360 loves them doesn't exactly come close ;-)Quote:I hope your not saying that the Wii-Wii is next gen....its a GC that took so VGGH (video game growth hormone)so it will never have a chance to get into the Olympics or the video game hall of fame...ROFLMAOThat "Wii-Wii" just happens to be kicking ass and yes it is Next-gen but Nintendo decided to go down different road instead of making their stuff faster or packing in a HD disc player or whatever, and probably because they would have lost a battle to try to create a more powerful machine. Either way, Wii is on top right now so they are doing something right, even if its just the price, once they establish a huge base of Wii-owners, then they can pretty much guarantee successful software sales, and I think we can all agree that Xbox 360 and PS3 wont be at $250 for quite some time yet.
  
  But ye, back on point now, people really shouldn't take the Microsoft "crashing" so seriously, hopefully when Microsoft lets black Xbox 360 lose, Sony will somehow attempt to undermine that. It's competition and thats the way it will be this time around, no console is going to run away with it.

  24.3.2007 08:19 #24

• WierdName

  Originally posted by "Dela":That "Wii-Wii" just happens to be kicking a** and yes it is Next-gen...I would only say that its doing good because they targetted it towards a more family based consumer. A hardcore gamer really would'nt buy it. But there are a lot of families that will get it just to play some virtual tennis or whatever.

  24.3.2007 10:42 #25

• muccione

  Quote:Originally posted by "Dela":That "Wii-Wii" just happens to be kicking a** and yes it is Next-gen...I would only say that its doing good because they targetted it towards a more family based consumer. A hardcore gamer really would'nt buy it. But there are a lot of families that will get it just to play some virtual tennis or whatever.yes I agree...

  24.3.2007 11:29 #26

• Dela

  Quote:I would only say that its doing good because they targeted it towards a more family based consumer. A hardcore gamer really wouldn't buy it. But there are a lot of families that will get it just to play some virtual tennis or whatever.I have to disagree with some of what you said, and agree with some. Firstly, yes it is a machine targeted at the family audience, but it is Nintendo so that's not surprising. However, saying a "hardcore gamer" wouldn't buy one I think is a bold statement, I think the queues at last year's E3 and the sales figures beg to differ, I'm 100% sure it's not just family members who are buying Wii.
  
  You bring about an interesting concept tho, as we have to wonder "what is a hardcore gamer?" in 2007. Sure, you might think of some guy or girl with PS3, 360, Xbox, PS2 and high-end, extreme gfx -powered PC and shit loads of titles, spending hours out of everyday playing and earning those achievement points on Xbox Live ;-) That's what comes to mind for me too.... "but".... Nintendo products, like DS, which btw, is still also performing incredibly well, and internet-based flash game sites are suddenly bringing about new audiences of "gamers".
  
  It's hard for you an I to think about, being people who play games like Gears of War, Halo, Resistance etc. but when it comes to hours spent playing games, audiences like "middle aged women" playing stuff I wouldn't consider fun like Mah Jong, are starting to give us some competition for the definition of a gamer. Every year millions more middle aged women get addicted to these online sites, Nintendo saw this and gave a lot of its DS line-up a "female" feeling and started to produce titles that really grab the attention of these new addicts.
  
  I think the DS game sales are proof that Nintendo is doing something right, even if you don't want to admit that Wii also is showing that, wait and while and see how sales go first, but DS has been out now for a long time and it is a great platform and is performing well.
  
  One more thing, when I think PS3 and 360, I don't just think of just games, I think of the extra features both offer that appeal to me as a home entertainment freak. But I think personally, what Sony and Microsoft are failing to realize is that for a lot of ppl, gaming will remain "separate" - I'm more than happy to get an "all-in-one" device like PS3, but a lot of consumers really just want to play games. It's easy for us, regulars of sites like AfterDawn and QJ.net and whatever other sources you can think of, to believe that "everyone" has the same feelings about gaming as we do, but I think that by general population, there is still an incredible amount of diversity left that we choose not to realize. So thats why I have serious respect for Nintendo for seeing this and capitalizing on it, but also producing titles that appeal to you and I. :-)
  
  Either way, when it comes to competition, fuck it, keep it going, you do realize that if Wii continues to outsell 360 and PS3 then Microsoft and Sony will feel compelled to do "something" - may it be price drops or push developers for better titles, either way in the end we benefit, so let's just sit back and watch the greedy bastards for over their bread and butter ;-)

  25.3.2007 02:48 #27

• WierdName

  Point taken but when I say "hardcore gamer" I mean someone who likes the graphic intensive, action packed gaming. One that wouldnt be to interested in picking up a "wii-mote", or whatever its called, and try to hit a home run. However, it seems that nowadays more "hard core" gamers are beginning to buy and play these smaller platforms. I think the reason its selling so many consles is because there are a lot of families that will buy the consles. But I think there are also a lot of "hard core" gamers starting to expand and play on more consles. Even if its not the most high end.

  25.3.2007 11:13 #28

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by "Dela":That "Wii-Wii" just happens to be kicking a** and yes it is Next-gen...I would only say that its doing good because they targetted it towards a more family based consumer. A hardcore gamer really would'nt buy it. But there are a lot of families that will get it just to play some virtual tennis or whatever.Uummm..there are 2 types of "hardcore" gamer the hard core sheeple that buy the most shiniest console because they are told from high to buy it and there are hardcore gamers that will buy all the systems just because its relvent to being a gamer.

  25.3.2007 12:53 #29

• snowlock

  Originally posted by muccione:I hope your not saying that the Wii-Wii is next gen....its a GC that took so VGGH (video game growth hormone)so it will never have a chance to get into the Olympics or the video game hall of fame...ROFLMAOSee, Nintendo has next-gen controls, while PS3's next-gen graphics look blurry on the Sony HD monitor I played on in stores. Also, I was mad that I didn't get to tilt or move the sixaxis at all in the game I played, considering how that makes Wii next-gen to me.
  
  But that's not the point.
  
  The point is Sony and Microsoft need publicity stunts after Nintendo beat them both out in sales. It's simple supply and demand; more people are talking about the Wii (even negative talk counts, obviously) so competition needs to create more stuff to talk about so sales might increase.

  25.3.2007 16:58 #30

• muccione

  See, Nintendo has next-gen controls, while PS3's next-gen graphics look blurry on the Sony HD monitor I played on in stores. Also, I was mad that I didn't get to tilt or move the sixaxis at all in the game I played, considering how that makes Wii next-gen to me.
  
  But that's not the point.
  
  The point is Sony and Microsoft need publicity stunts after Nintendo beat them both out in sales. It's simple supply and demand; more people are talking about the Wii (even negative talk counts, obviously) so competition needs to create more stuff to talk about so sales might increase.[/quote]People are buying the Wii-Wii because of the price..Its the price of 4 real next gen games.
  Mommy and Daddy are not going to spend a car payment or house payment on a "game" thats fine...Us real gamers buy it to get the chicks to come over and "PLAY"
  As for the topic everybody feeds off each other..Nintendo keeps quite because it has NOTHING to talk about
  just my thoughts

  26.3.2007 03:58 #31

• ZippyDSM

  muccione
  better to talk about nothing than claim awards for your new system that were actuality on your old system,about MS all can claim is the fail rate is not as high as it really is :P

  26.3.2007 04:15 #32