News
90,000 flock to PS3 Tour as O2 hosts glitzy climax
Neil Long Dec 18 2007, 12:04pm
Comments (8)
Music venue hosts SingStar-based centrepiece of UK-wide promotion; Hordes of gamers exposed to console
Over 90,000 consumers have felt the power of PlayStation 3 during a tour which has taken in countless shopping centres, universities, train stations and – most spectacularly – the giant O2 Arena in London.
Sony’s marketing team has promoted the console across the UK for several months, culminating in a SingStar installation at the O2 venue – which was formerly known as the Millenium Dome.
“The O2 is the final venue in our PS3 UK Tour which was put together to showcase the console’s capabilities, which stretch far beyond the realms of gaming to include HD picture quality, music, photography, network capabilities and also PSP compatibility,” said SCE UK trade marketing manager Rosemary Buahin.
“We decided to feature SingStar in this last pinnacle venue as we felt the game was a natural fit in the enviroment of the O2 Arena.”
And the tour has aroused great interest from both consumers and the trade, added Buahin.
“The response has been overwhelming,” she said. “There are a large number of consumers including PlayStation loyalists with access to a PS3 but who actually have limited knowledge about the non-game functionalities.
“Neighbouring retailers were very pleased with the tour and reported a huge increase in unit sales since our arrival. And we have converted a lot of consumers who were unaware of the capabilities of PS3 and found other reasons to buy.”
SingStar PS3 debuted at number eight in the PS3 chart last week.
Comments
“*Yawn*”
Posted by: Ryu Hayabusa - Dec 18, 2:01pm
Come on seriously, Singstar? Now if they had been showcasing MGS4 and Final Fantasy 13 I think they would have had more people 'flocking' to the arena I know I would.
The PS3 seriously need some of its own exclusives and fast.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted by: Billy bob - Dec 18, 2:17pm
@ Ryu
How is Singstar not a PS3 exclusive??
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted: Dec 18, 2:47pm
Yeah and how many more people do you think they can actually get in the O2 arena as well!? Sounds pretty full to me.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted: Dec 18, 2:59pm
Who cares?
This isnt even a game, its Karaoke with a score system.
PS3 isnt a games console, its a Blue Ray player that happens to play games as well.
What is wrong with this community?
Seriously, what was the last console that was taken on a roadshow?
Nintendo Gamecube.
And we all know what a success that was in this country....
Yawn.
Come on Sony, release some games and stop arsing about.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted by: Tony Nibbles - Dec 18, 3:15pm
At this point I have to stand up and say that SingStar is the most fun I've had in YEARS on any game.
The community features are truly innovative and unrivalled on any other game ever.
It absolutely knocks the socks off any other party game.
Including Rock Band.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted by: Murray - Dec 18, 3:39pm
And it is the most popular game I can think of for girls/women.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted by: conciencous objector - Dec 18, 5:14pm
While I completely agree that the Ps3 is doing very badly, i do know that it is most definitely the most powerful of the 3 next generation consoles. I personally think that Singstar will be a huge success in Europe as well as America. I know many teenagers who sing in choirs and in bands that would love to have a game like that. Downloadable content helps as well. Now, although i do see that sony had gotten desperate for a minute or two, I think that it was all in good business. Sometimes you have to do things you don't want, and be a little bit sly to make it in the business world, and look what happened. Their sales went up over 250%. Which is REMARKABLE in business. So, what you're looking at is a very business-centric, customer-centric, company with a superior system but less media control trying to win over a system whose company owns halff the world... If you really take a look at microsoft, you would see that its arms stretch out over most of the market, and right into every home in america. They are a media Giant. Don't get me wrong, Sony is a giant of its own, but with Japanese origins, they don't have the credibility and american manpower to be able to run a PR campaign. I think that is all I will say for fear of becoming a gamer... but I feel that when you're up against an enemy who controls the market you're selling in, you have to do whatever it takes to win the customers, and no matter how much you hate it, over the past few months, with sales jumps as much as 300%, The Ps3 is doing actually quite well. For an example of how the afformentioned microsoft product is favored, i would like you to go into any EB Games or Gamestop. I'm going to let you in on a little secret, the noise coming from the Ps3 box isn't for cooling purposes, and the sound proof glass around the xbox isn't for your safety... it's all in the presentation boys...we all the know the Ps3 is MUCH quieter...Good luck in the video games market.
“Re: *Yawn*”
Posted by: Akbar - Dec 18, 5:45pm
Sony have 15 game studios working on games - which is more than Microsoft and Nintendo put together. They just need more third-party support. Then once those games release their sales will go way up. Still they have a lot of good exclusives like GT5, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Killzone 2 FFXIII, God of War 3, etc.