Sony in trouble again...
- Posted August 8th, 2007 at 15:37 EDT by
- 5,293 views
- 34 Comments
UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled against Sony’s PlayStation 3 viral internet marketing advertisement shown on the web around the EU launch. This video seemed to promote violence and potentially influence anti-social behavior, according to complaints.
The advertisement called “Kovac,” show the character waving a knife along side a banner reading, “Kovac mercenary or misunderstood?” and Sony’s PS3 catch phrase, “This is living.” One can easily see why members of the media and society misinterpreted the ad, especially with some of the news articles over the past few months.
After numerous complaints, an ASA investigation and the lost ruling, a company representative said, "We acknowledge the recent ASA ruling in relation to the PlayStation 3 brand advertisement and the recommendation contained within." Just when it seemed Sony pressed ‘cruise control,’ more bad press.
All is not lost, however. Sales are still increasing and brand adoption is expanding. Keep a close watch to PSU for future news and information.
Comments
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Solar20 |
Kira-Kun- 4:05pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 3
Always the same BS. Commercials, music, movies and games which contain anti-social messages or things of that sort dont change people! I wont kill someone if I play to much fps and things like that. Seriously people need to lightend up searching for reasons behind everything ofcourse there is always something that fits your story...but look at it another way and it fits another. Sigh....
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mikeghtmare |
mikeghtmare- 4:08pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 4
I'm certain Sony knows better; this is probably part of their advertisement game. Now because of this more people will be reached and they'll probably look up the add and PS3 just to find out what that was all about.
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MMDs |
MMDs- 5:43pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 8
seriously quit dissing the UK, sure they have some slight cultural differences, but a lot of good stuff comes from SCE in Europe and Phil Harrison is bringin it to us. Avi's Colleague: London? Avi: Yes, London. You know: fish, chips, cup 'o tea, bad food, worse weather, Mary f***** Poppins... LONDON.
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DParadise
- 6:47pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 12
The UK is wicked. I live here and I love living here. Its just some poeple dont like what they see so they ban things and complain about things. i think there right, when i see it i wanted to go out and stab someone, NOT. These complaints are starting to get really boring now.
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Alpha2
- 7:49pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 14
If it's part of that weird as5 ad campaign with the crazy hotel with the sex and possible drug use and stuff then yeah I can understand why someone would take issue, the freaking thing makes no sense, it's a psychotic mental raping waiting to happen if you try to comprehend it. The one character doing kung fu in his room that gets attacked by a ninja or something then goes off doing flips and kicks down the halls of the hotel is probably that guy they refer to in the ad, if it is then it's just another case of hyper sensitive media freaking out over nothing but because the comercials are so abstract it has no clear definition when you see other related material and you take at face value.
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InfernoReaper |
GrimDarkling- 10:19pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 17
Should we recommend a section of new complaints towards Sony?
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BobbyRoc |
BobbyRoc- 11:22pm BST - August 8th, 2007
- 20
Its just one thing after another with this whole Sony campaign. The next big news will probably be something like "The PS3 impregnated 5 woman and they are suing for child support". All this negative news is gettin old, who cares! As long as Sony drops the good games, everybody will be happy.
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Paranoimia |
Paranoimia- 6:53am BST - August 9th, 2007
- 28
Why do you all judge the UK as a whole by these reports? All we seem to hear about America over here is school shootings by hicks and religious nuts - but we don't believe that you're all a bunch of murdering, God-fearing, inbred hillbilly pig-fiddlers!
The vast majority of people in the UK aren't bothered by these ads in the slightest. Unfortunately, we are in a position where a vocal minority can ruin things, causing various authorities to respond with knee-jerk reactions to the slightest issue.
The ASA are a bunch of t0ssers. We once had an advert banned here because they recieved 13 complaints! Yes, 13 complaints out of around 60 million people! Sad to say, in the 80s we adopted the initially American disease of Political Correctness; but while the US grew out of it, we took it to whole new levels of stupidity.
Please understand that the people who object to this kind of stuff in the UK are very much in the minority. The rest of us are perfectly normal, and are just as disbelieving of this BS as you are.
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Tha_Last_Romeo |
Tha_Last_Romeo- 8:15am BST - August 9th, 2007
- 29
Wow... This came out around the launch??? Does people ever grow up?
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gamewaffle
- 11:46am BST - August 9th, 2007
- 30
why not complain about MS advertising on THIS site? I swear, xbox's Ads are starting to become like cigarette ads. all posted in the wrong places. i mean, c'mon, candy-like fruit flavored cigs? would that appeal to kids or adults? take that in for a sec.
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MatrixSixaxis
- 7:37am BST - August 10th, 2007
- 31
Good luck with getting GTA IV in the UK, it'll probably get BANNED!!!
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The Cleaner
- 11:09am BST - August 10th, 2007
- 32
Sony needs to fix its image and stupid advertisements like this just make them to be more of a pariah than they already are. Please Sony pull your act together.
Anyone see that Sony Pedo advertisement? The one where a boy walks into a public toilet and an old 40 year old business man stands next to him at the urinals and looks down at the kids crotch and asks "can I touch it" - Pedophilia is not cool. Old pervs touching you is not something to promote.
Guys Sony are unpopular right now and its no wonder with dumb r-ss stunts like this. Just because Kaz and Phil like something in there bottoms doesn't mean they should make crap like this.
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Svetlana |
Please PM me.- 6:17am BST - August 11th, 2007
- 33
Sony's advertising department should be collectively hung drawn and quartered for the complete botch job they've made of the Playstation 3's marketing campaign. It's been gaffe after gaffe and still Sony hasn't done anything to rectify this. The Sony Bravia adverts are amazing - why can't the PS3 have an equivalent?
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