Is Sony trying to fail?
by Anton Bursch · in General Discussion · 07/12/2006 (2:35 pm) · 32 replies
What in the world were they thinking with this billboard ad for the PSP?!??!??
White is coming
Are they trying to crash and burn?!?
And this is a an excerpt from their public apology:
So, what? This ad was 'ok' in some places? Where? I'd like to see them say who the local racist locations are! What a bunch of tools.
White is coming
Are they trying to crash and burn?!?
And this is a an excerpt from their public apology:
Quote:We... recognize that people have a wide variety of perceptions about such imagery and we wish to apologize to those who perceived the advert differently to that intended. In future, we will apply greater sensitivity in our selection of campaign imagery, and will take due account of the increasingly global reach of such local adverts, and their potential impact in other countries."
So, what? This ad was 'ok' in some places? Where? I'd like to see them say who the local racist locations are! What a bunch of tools.
About the author
I design and direct games for Somatic Vision. We primarily make games for use with biofeedback, but our latest game, Tropical Heat, a jet ski racing game, is for regular gamers and is available on PC/Mac and will be available on ipad and iphone soon.
#22
07/13/2006 (11:35 pm)
Racist? By who? Where? White people being racist against themselves? Who do you think created, approved, and put up the money for this add? A white man. Doesn't 90% of all media, video games, magazines, movies, comercials, and TV shows here in America portray mostly white people as the lead character/roles? I saw the add and saw a lady who was the same race as the majority of people in all adds I've ever seen, dressed in white, with white hair, blowing white smoke, advertising a white colored system, and being advertised in a prodominatley white part of the world. It makes perfect sense to me. The issue of race never came up in my head. But you do see racism all the time on TV. I've seen a car comercial on BET where a black man was driving the car and the same exact comercial on CNN but it was a white man now. How about the Popeye's national "flava" challenge? I wonder who that slang is supossed to cater to? The shit is all around us everyday. This little PSP add is the mildest form of it if that was even their intention in the first place. Did somebody say this was an add in Holland? Who else are you gonna have on a billboard advertising to poeple in Holland? A Mexican person? C'mon now.
#23
07/13/2006 (11:55 pm)
Ajari, did you see the whole ad? The image of a white person throttling a black person just might be offensive to some folks.
#24
Why aren't we talking more about the picture of the black woman standing over the white woman, and actually has done more (or planning to do more) than a chin holding?
It's pretty much along the same lines of saying King Kong was a movie about the black man's plight. White men invade his country, shackle him up, ship him to America to make him work. So, are these "enlightened" folks honestly seeing a monkey as black man (traditional stereotype)? Just who really is the racist one(even if only subconsciously)?
One can find racism just about anywhere you like, but that doesn't mean it isracism.
07/14/2006 (12:09 am)
Actually, she's not throttling, but rather holding the other woman's chin.Why aren't we talking more about the picture of the black woman standing over the white woman, and actually has done more (or planning to do more) than a chin holding?
It's pretty much along the same lines of saying King Kong was a movie about the black man's plight. White men invade his country, shackle him up, ship him to America to make him work. So, are these "enlightened" folks honestly seeing a monkey as black man (traditional stereotype)? Just who really is the racist one(even if only subconsciously)?
One can find racism just about anywhere you like, but that doesn't mean it isracism.
#25
The Billboard isn't insignificant because it's a Sony product. Sony is the undisputed king of media right now and you can be sure that a successful ad campain like this will spawn numerous similiar campaigns. If you know anything about advertising you know this is the real problem with the ad. It's offensive, no doubt. It was made for Holland. I am married to a Dutch girl and I know what sentiment this ad is appealling to. It's not an ok thing at all. And, I don't know if Sony intended it to be a anti-ad to garner what ever kind of attention they can or if someone in Holland Sony severely screwed up.
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As for whether or not racism in gaming is a topic that is relevant for a gaming forum... are you seriously telling me that you think that game developers can't handle or don't care to handle a subject like this? Games will overtake movies and books as the biggest door to the hearts and minds of people soon. Do you think that this comes without social responsibility?
I'll say my honest opinion. This ad says plain and subtle as day that the strong large white woman will forcibly take back dominance over the struggling small black woman. And this is to the country of people who started the African slave trade. It's not difficult for anyone who has any kind of an ability to see subtle meanings in art to see what this is saying to these people.
It's the same as a picture of a father grabbing the face of his daughter who turned him in to the police for child molestation with the words "daddy's back". yeah, I suppose that some people who think incest is sexy will see nothing offensive in the ad. To the women and girls who've been molested and endured private torment and/or public humiliation and scorn... the message in the ad is clear and extremely hurtful.
And when games start using this kind of shit to advertise... a game developer forum is exactly where a conversation about it should occur.
07/14/2006 (12:10 am)
@AnguelThe Billboard isn't insignificant because it's a Sony product. Sony is the undisputed king of media right now and you can be sure that a successful ad campain like this will spawn numerous similiar campaigns. If you know anything about advertising you know this is the real problem with the ad. It's offensive, no doubt. It was made for Holland. I am married to a Dutch girl and I know what sentiment this ad is appealling to. It's not an ok thing at all. And, I don't know if Sony intended it to be a anti-ad to garner what ever kind of attention they can or if someone in Holland Sony severely screwed up.
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As for whether or not racism in gaming is a topic that is relevant for a gaming forum... are you seriously telling me that you think that game developers can't handle or don't care to handle a subject like this? Games will overtake movies and books as the biggest door to the hearts and minds of people soon. Do you think that this comes without social responsibility?
I'll say my honest opinion. This ad says plain and subtle as day that the strong large white woman will forcibly take back dominance over the struggling small black woman. And this is to the country of people who started the African slave trade. It's not difficult for anyone who has any kind of an ability to see subtle meanings in art to see what this is saying to these people.
It's the same as a picture of a father grabbing the face of his daughter who turned him in to the police for child molestation with the words "daddy's back". yeah, I suppose that some people who think incest is sexy will see nothing offensive in the ad. To the women and girls who've been molested and endured private torment and/or public humiliation and scorn... the message in the ad is clear and extremely hurtful.
And when games start using this kind of shit to advertise... a game developer forum is exactly where a conversation about it should occur.
#26
Oh yeah Sony is really doing a lot of kill their image. Rootkit viruses, fake Motorstorm and Killzone demo's passed off and confirmed as real gameplay, a $600+ system, possible $80+ games, possible plans to eleminate pre-played gaming, arrogant spokespeople (Ken Kakarugi: the PS3 is a PS3 and it's the only PS3 so it's worth $1,000,000! The 360 is cafeteria food while the PS3 is a 5 star dinner) and now this racist shit? LOL too funny. I've just about lost all respect.
07/14/2006 (12:13 am)
LOL Oh shit!!!!! Oh my god... I didn't even see the black person until you said something about them John. I thought the shine on the black person's face was smoke coming out of the white womans hand or mouth. Ok scratch everything I said in my earlier post. Anton, your right and thanks. This is crazy. Oh yeah Sony is really doing a lot of kill their image. Rootkit viruses, fake Motorstorm and Killzone demo's passed off and confirmed as real gameplay, a $600+ system, possible $80+ games, possible plans to eleminate pre-played gaming, arrogant spokespeople (Ken Kakarugi: the PS3 is a PS3 and it's the only PS3 so it's worth $1,000,000! The 360 is cafeteria food while the PS3 is a 5 star dinner) and now this racist shit? LOL too funny. I've just about lost all respect.
#27
07/14/2006 (12:19 am)
Double posted...
#28
07/14/2006 (12:21 am)
I see two props in an ad --could just have well been a white car and a black car. They may not be "racially sensitive" for Americans, but then they weren't displayed in America.
#29
@Eric: You're right, she's not throttling... but it's a dominating/subjugating pose, which is going to stir up some resentment in a subculture that's been oppressed in the past. And to a lesser degree, the present.
Whether it was displayed in America or not is a moot point -- the internet has brought us all into the same neighborhood. The fact that we're discussing the issue is proof of that.
In a perfect world, the imagery wouldn't be a problem... but in the world we live in, with its long history of racism, wars, and atrocities, there's still a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. Sony should have been more sensitive to that.
07/14/2006 (3:36 pm)
@Ajari: Heh, I thought that might be the case! =)@Eric: You're right, she's not throttling... but it's a dominating/subjugating pose, which is going to stir up some resentment in a subculture that's been oppressed in the past. And to a lesser degree, the present.
Whether it was displayed in America or not is a moot point -- the internet has brought us all into the same neighborhood. The fact that we're discussing the issue is proof of that.
In a perfect world, the imagery wouldn't be a problem... but in the world we live in, with its long history of racism, wars, and atrocities, there's still a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. Sony should have been more sensitive to that.
#30
Man, I seriously don't think i'm going to buy a PS3....not only would it NUKE, rather than break, my bank. It would also support this shit.... Wow, this is probably the first time i've looked at my previous posts and seriously considered that I was being stupid and blind....
This idea was succesful before it was even brought to this forum. There's no point in trying to ignore it and leave it alone when it has already done it's job. I'm sure half the people on the planet have seen this ad. Now towards the publicity thing.... if there is such a thing as bad publicity, this is it. Sony's apparantly losing sight of the fact that they can't just do whatever and still expect to survive.
Here are some funny comics that kinda reflect Sony's recent attitude....
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060512
ooooh, and this one shows WHY Sony is so desperate for attention
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060623
a show of their desperation(somewhat ripping off the motion sensing ability of the Wii)
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060512
ahhhh, this one's my favorite....
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20051104
Lastly, I heard that Howard Stern was the king of all media....though I don't see why.... what's his radio show ABOUT?? If he's such a big deal.... how is it that I know nothing about him, and I am completely disinclined to look him up on Wikipedia....????
07/14/2006 (7:02 pm)
Anton, I have been turned. You're right....this will almost certainly spawn copy-cat ads. BTW, I'm not saying racism in games isn't something to be discussed, but this isn't about racism in games. This is about the billboard. The second you mentioned that it'll spawn copy cats I was like.........SHIT!! He's right..... Ok then....what do you think is going to happen?? I wonder if Jack Thompson's gonna find some black guy to represent so he can sue Sony. Also, now that Ajari mentions all the other crap Sony has done recently....even if this does more or less blow over....Sony is going to end up raping themselves with a rusty iron rod if they continue this crap....Man, I seriously don't think i'm going to buy a PS3....not only would it NUKE, rather than break, my bank. It would also support this shit.... Wow, this is probably the first time i've looked at my previous posts and seriously considered that I was being stupid and blind....
This idea was succesful before it was even brought to this forum. There's no point in trying to ignore it and leave it alone when it has already done it's job. I'm sure half the people on the planet have seen this ad. Now towards the publicity thing.... if there is such a thing as bad publicity, this is it. Sony's apparantly losing sight of the fact that they can't just do whatever and still expect to survive.
Here are some funny comics that kinda reflect Sony's recent attitude....
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060512
ooooh, and this one shows WHY Sony is so desperate for attention
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060623
a show of their desperation(somewhat ripping off the motion sensing ability of the Wii)
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20060512
ahhhh, this one's my favorite....
http://cad-comic.com/comic.php?d=20051104
Lastly, I heard that Howard Stern was the king of all media....though I don't see why.... what's his radio show ABOUT?? If he's such a big deal.... how is it that I know nothing about him, and I am completely disinclined to look him up on Wikipedia....????
#31
07/14/2006 (7:13 pm)
That's a wonderful idea. I happen to have found a very compliant black man, he's a refugee from Ethiopia. He doesn't speak English, but he's very good at repeating things....anyways, I would just like to thank you for your excellent idea to help me bring down a monger of ultra-violent, brain-corrupting/ brain WASHING programs that this community calls video games. Though remember....i'll bring you down too eventually.
#32
Sorry if it seems childish or stupid.... but it's fun....maybe someone should make a Leeland Yee account....though he seems much more sane and I don't believe he is deserving of my making fun of him all the time just because he takes an opposing position to mine....then again....I also don't believe that Jack Thompson is sane....but he was forced by a judge to take some sort of test.... he is now the only lawyer in all of Florida who is certified as being sane....
EDIT---- But on this forum, he's still my bitch!!!! ;-P
07/14/2006 (7:18 pm)
Lol, I just can't help but make stupid posts with my Jack Thompson account ;-PSorry if it seems childish or stupid.... but it's fun....maybe someone should make a Leeland Yee account....though he seems much more sane and I don't believe he is deserving of my making fun of him all the time just because he takes an opposing position to mine....then again....I also don't believe that Jack Thompson is sane....but he was forced by a judge to take some sort of test.... he is now the only lawyer in all of Florida who is certified as being sane....
EDIT---- But on this forum, he's still my bitch!!!! ;-P
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