Are these the PS3 and Wii demo kiosks?

As you've probably already discerned from the headline and the pictures themselves, the images above supposedly depict the demo kiosks that Sony and Nintendo will be setting up in retail locations to lure people into buying the PlayStation 3 and Wii, respectively. Since the photos are low-res, a little blurry, and of unknown origin, they have all the makings of a jolly good Internet hoax, but we'll play along for now and assume that they're the real deal. So, what new information can we glean about the upcoming consoles based on their respective kiosks? Well, by mounting the LCD so high, Sony is obviously targeting taller individuals with its marketing strategy, while Nintendo is going after the brainier crowd as evidenced by the lack of any informational pamphlets adorning its display. With all of this speculation swirling around, one thing is certain, though: tucked behind the Wii kiosk's center column are a bevy of first aid kits, for the inevitable injuries that will occur when arm-swinging gamers collide with innocent passers-by in the impending blood baths sure to plague our favorite big box retailers.

[Via Joystiq]

[Joel @ Aug 31st 2006 9:33PM]

I believe the purpose of mounting the LCD higher is so that when people of any size are playing it, passerbys can look at it and go. "oooooooooo" and then they'll want one. It is angled downward enough to be visable by most.

[Raider @ Aug 31st 2006 9:34PM]

Monitor would have to be huge for the PS3, because the PS3 is huge.
Monitor would have to be small for the Wii, because the Wii is small.

[Jacob @ Aug 31st 2006 9:36PM]

I see they're now going for the Black/Red theme on the PS3, in contrast to the PS2's Black/Blue theme. (The red only strated appearing in the last week or two...)

[Sponge @ Aug 31st 2006 9:40PM]

Three things:
1. The Wii one looks fake.
2. Will the PS3 monitor be HD?
3. What happened to the clearing out the closet contest?

[Intrepid @ Aug 31st 2006 9:54PM]

Why is the Wii one usinga Sony LCD? They would/should use a Samsung (like MS did) to avoid getting Sony's name on their stands.

[LAMBERGHOTTI FASTEROSA @ Aug 31st 2006 10:03PM]

Why is the Wii one using a Sony LCD?

LOL - that's a very good point. Too bad Nintendo doesn't make LCD's and SONY's name is on almost every American electronic there is.

I don't see myself buying a WII.
I'm definately buying a 60 Gigabyte PS3. So far, the games look pretty good to me and I'd buy without even seeing the Kiosk - just like when I got Xbox360.

[Deluxe @ Aug 31st 2006 10:10PM]

Assuming these are the real deal -

Sony did well to discard any flat surfaces on their display stands. That means no stray coke-cans and crap collection. The monitor is indeed high, but I think the point is anyone can step back a foot, or look up a bit. This means a wider viewing audience.

Nintendo's, (although I concider prettier) - may not be quite as functionally efficient. Flat surfaces, for reasons stated above - Wii in strange shaped case that looks almost a bit dodgey and precarious, no space for folded propoganda.

As for my ameture real/fake thoughts, they both look like they come from the company that produces them, and fairly detailed - but the grain may simply be a cover for some 3D renders to make them look reak.

Anyway, my opinions are worthless at most - so take 'em with a grain of salt.

[jgee242 @ Aug 31st 2006 10:22PM]

I agree with the post, I remember playing at kiosks as a little kid, I had to crance my neck to play the ones with higher LCD's, back in the day it was the PS1, and it was a painful experiance. Where the N64 was lower down closer to eye level, I ended up getting the N64. It definently has an effect on kids.

[5ftassassin @ Aug 31st 2006 10:37PM]

The PS3 kiosk kinda looks like it's using the one of the new V series 1080P LCD that Sony is comming out with. So maybe this isn't a fake, how ever that LCD on the Wii isn't a Sony.

[Mike @ Aug 31st 2006 10:51PM]

I thought that the PS3 paddels were going to be different...

[ChrisRX @ Aug 31st 2006 10:53PM]

Well the wii screen would have to be pretty low anyway for people to point the wiimote at. You want to be at a natural height if you're using the screen aiming(as opposed to the motion sensing)

[theinvisiblemooseman @ Aug 31st 2006 10:56PM]

Intrepid, im pretty sure its a panasonic lcd, http://secure.ebutiken.se/catalog/images/Panasonic_TX-32LX500F.jpg

[Chris @ Aug 31st 2006 10:57PM]

the grain could be due the imahes being scanned from some kind of marketing material, like the stand manufactures mock up to show sony and nintendo.

sony has always put the display way up high, i think it serves 2 purposes. first, as mentioned, it gives onlookers a clear view. this is important as grandparents couldn't care less how the games play, but they do want to see someone play it to see if it looks like their grandkids might enjoy it. second, you gte a kink in your neck playing it so you're more likely to move on quicker and give someone else a chance to play.

[Chris @ Aug 31st 2006 11:04PM]

looks more like this one than the panasonic http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=15MF400T/37&scy=&slg=ENG&grp=TV_GR&cat=FLAT_TV_CA&sct=M_FLAT_TV_SU

[Tony Rayo @ Aug 31st 2006 11:10PM]

Regardless to the fact of if these pictures are real or not, I'm really looking forward to when the kiosks hit nearby stores. I really want to try out the Wii controller for myself (as from everything I've read from press and other people, it's something you really have to feel to understand) even though I won't be buying one this year. I have 700$ sitting in my checking account reserved for pre-ordering a 60GB unit/extra controller/a game (I don't know which game yet, but I believe Sony will announce the final launch titles when they announce distribution plans in Sept... just in case anyone is wondering why you cannot pre-order the systems from EB Games/Gamestop/etc even though the date and price have been released is because they don't want to get burned like they did with the 360).

Speaking of which, I know a lot of these units will end up on eBay (in fact I have a friend who just got a new job that pays 85,000$/year that is going to pre-order a unit just to sell on eBay and make a few hundred bucks off some rich tween... he is in NJ while I'm in DC, but you can be sure when I visit NY/NJ later in the year I will be punching him in the chest... if you know any other console eBay price-hikers/console stealers I suggest you do likewise =p... also ph334 my run-on sentence).

- Tony R.

[David @ Aug 31st 2006 11:36PM]

I like the Wii one the best.

[Dominic @ Sep 1st 2006 12:09AM]

You guys...I think it is definitely a Samsung display on the Wii...I've seen the Nintendo gamecube at CircuitCity and Bestbuy, and they used a Samsung LCD. It even looks completely identical to this one...
http://www.dtvcity.com/lcdtv/manu_img/samsung-lcd.jpg

[Rick @ Sep 1st 2006 1:12AM]

What you fail to see behind the PS3 kiosk is monitor hooked up to a dell computer next to a little midget peddling a bicycle generator to provide it power.

[fraxyl @ Sep 1st 2006 1:51AM]

They're both pretty decent looking kiosks.

Though, is that just an image at the top of the Wii one or is it a secondary display for running videos that show how the system works?

And they've tethered the remotes just like I thought they would. It's an especially nice "up yours!" to people who couldn't understand how the heck a Wii kiosk would work.

[iwantanimac @ Sep 1st 2006 2:43AM]

The PS3 one's LCD looks like it's been photoshopped in, it's kinda curved on the edge. Oh well, in reality who cares what the kiosks look like, it's the actual games we care about!

[d3 @ Sep 1st 2006 3:00AM]

I don't know if it is the intended effect or not, but when the kiosks have screens up as high as in the PS3 photo, it puts a strain on your neck after playing for 5 minutes. At least that way people don't hog the demo console.

[Shredsled87 @ Sep 1st 2006 3:03AM]

I think the Wii one looks photoshopped.

[Taylor @ Sep 1st 2006 3:30AM]

I'm trusting in these pictures, but I have a suspicion that the PS3 kiosk may have been skewed to make it the same size as the Wii kiosk, and that in reality it would be shorter and fatter.

I hope there'll be a PS3 Locoroco making use of the tilts.

[Kevlar @ Sep 1st 2006 3:31AM]

Hm. I think they're both quite real. The noise helps make it look legit, since its both regular and irregular at the same time, and looks exactly the sort you would get from a scanned image.

The other clue is that in both cases, the lighting is bang on, in every aspect. 'shopped jobs will always get the lighting wrong somehow, and renders' would have reflections that are a bit.. off.

The Wii in the case looks perfect to me, complete with angled base, although its hard to see with the case around it.

They both feel too professional to be 'shopped jobs, and there is too much detail to be a render.

My vote goes to real, and I'm buying the Wii.

Also, the black/red thing the PS3 has going on, makes it look even more like spiderman than ever. Also, the PS3 kiosk looks like something you might see as a prop on the original star trek series. :P

[Francis @ Sep 1st 2006 3:32AM]

Looks like the Wii one has a Sony tv, or atleast a tv that looks like its from Sony.

If you look closely, there are two monitors for the Wii display, and the top one seems to be a monitor with the players themselves, so I'm guessing there will be a camera in there somewhere.

[is @ Sep 1st 2006 4:14AM]

No, the top monitor will doubtlessly show you how to play, as in, what motions need to be done.

I don't think nintendo are the type to care about sony tv's or not. They know their products stand on their own.

Hey Engadget, how about a poll to see which console readers will be buying, or have you done that already?

[aic007 @ Sep 1st 2006 4:51AM]

Tony Rayo,

Your gonna need about another 75 bucks to cover the cost of tax. Unless you plan on squatting at a store for 2 days, you should set your sites on preordering as soon as possible. With all the probs they have been having there is going to be a HUGE shortage of systems, and bundles are gonna be expensive prob close to a grand due to the usual 3 game minimum with controller and another useless piece of crap.

[idude135 @ Sep 1st 2006 6:16AM]

Design-wise, the Wii's kiosk represents simplicity and harmony. Meanwhile, the PS3 bears a set up of extraneous and redundant shapes. They end up living up to the each console's ultimate impact.

I like how the Wii kiosk's LCD is very well placed at a person's regular field of vision. Very enveloping, especially for exploiting the new UI.

The PS3 on the other hand has an intricate, hierarchical and awkward design, that will make people hesitate to wip out $500~$600 + tax.

Folks, this is where the PS3 will lose the war...

Prediction: Nintendo wins this generation's Video Game Console War.

[UKO @ Sep 1st 2006 8:23AM]

@idude1345

Please, please get a life mate. Yes we understand you're a twelve year old fanboy but some of the pathetic excuses some of you use to try and predict the PS3s apparent "failure", seems rather similiar to when people were declaring the GC the overall winner and we all know what happened there. Seeing as many consumers may never even see this kiosk I douibt its industrial design will prevent someone from buying it. Personally on that matter I see this gen war ending like the last one with the PS3 narrowly on the top and the Nintendo offering at the bottom.

[Andrew Eller @ Sep 1st 2006 8:30AM]

I dunno guys, the PS3 "folded propaganda" looks more like where they will put boxes of the games that are on demo....that's generally what the kiosks stock there. If you look closer at the pic I'm seeing game boxes, not pamphlets.

[Perrey Z. @ Sep 1st 2006 8:49AM]

Knowing how close Nintendo works with Matsushita Electric in a number of projects they will be using a TV from their reliable partner.

The prototype Nintendo kiosk shown above have a Panasonic Viera TC-20LA50 which was a 20" 4:3 EDTV now discontinued., the TV that gets the closest for an application like that is this year's 23" 16:9 Viera TC-23LX60 set.

The same deal with those year old Wii photos when it was know as The Revolution, the TV shown was a JVC WVGA 35" Plasma sold only in Japan. JVC is owned by Matsushita Electric Industrial the parent company of Panasonic. See the connection?

[Perrey Z. @ Sep 1st 2006 9:14AM]

Correction: The model number is TC-20LA5 not TC-20LA50.
Here's a photo of it: http://www.dtvcity.com/agraphics/lcdtv/panasonic_tc20la5.jpg

[Tech^CF @ Sep 1st 2006 9:23AM]

As long as they don't catch on fire like one or two Xb360 kiosks did...

[Jay @ Sep 1st 2006 10:44AM]

2 things:

1 - What are the things hanging down from the wii controllers? They look Photoshopped...

2 - The PS3's logo looks like the LEGO Exo-Force logo

[Eric @ Sep 1st 2006 10:51AM]

Has anyone else actually tried playing a demo in a store that has the TV 8 feet above the ground? It's painful. Sony's display isn't quite that high, but it doesn't look too comfortable.

I'm also kind of wondering what that second frame is on the Wii display- is it a smaller LCD, or an information card?

[Jacob Burdecki @ Sep 1st 2006 11:10AM]

PS3 Wins hands down. Personally It does'nt matter to me what the kiosks look like I hated the other Sony kiosks and I still bought the PS1 and PS2. Also im curious to see how people are going to play the Wii in the average 12 by 25 foot game store....

Come on just one more run and i win...Whoooshhhh!!!!! THUNK!!!!! AGGGGGHHHH MY HEAD!!!!!! yes i win!!!!!

[justin @ Sep 1st 2006 12:17PM]

they are both fake.. they have a photoshop canvas plugin applied to make it look distorted.. it's really noticable on the ps3 one towards the bottom. also the wii nintendo logo on the base is crooked.. they didn't skew it properly.

[rob @ Sep 1st 2006 12:30PM]

I don't think these are fake, but they are probably just preliminary examples. I happened to see in a Software Etc/Gamestop Fall marketing guide whatever its called, and these were the pictures that were in that (or at least the Wii I remember for sure) given as examples of what the kiosks may look like. I don't think they are photoshopped, or if so I don't see the point, but they are probably scanned.

[rob @ Sep 1st 2006 12:32PM]

Also, I think the screens are up high so people not currently playing can get drawn in and watch. They aren't designed to be comfortable, they want you to play a few minutes and move along.

[rob @ Sep 1st 2006 12:34PM]

Fall Relay, thats what it was called, sorry for multiple comments.

[Soupasam @ Sep 1st 2006 12:50PM]

The cord for the Wii controllers looks way too long. If dropped they'd hit the floor. And even if the cord was shorter they are likely to take a battering from hitting the stand. Maybe they should have padded controllers.

[hey4 @ Sep 1st 2006 2:02PM]

personally i think they are both ugly, but whatever. and yeah, thats been the problem with nintendo's stuff lately, it's too delicate to be in a busy store - just look at all those DSs!

[Lil Coop @ Sep 2nd 2006 3:05PM]

With the Wii (God it is so gay 2 call it that), that top screen is most likely running a demo on how 2 use the Wii (ugh!) controller or if they want 2 B all snazzy about it - showing the player as they play the game. And that is NOT a friggin Sony screen on the Wii kiosk. As far as if they R fake or not - does it really matter! Anyway - I can't wait 2 own both of em!!!

[AJ @ Sep 3rd 2006 1:09PM]

I smell hoax. Look at the screen of the PS3 - unless Microsoft went insane and decided to release Halo 3 on the PS3, this is suspect.

[ShadowGod @ Sep 9th 2006 10:04PM]

Yeah these are real, there's a video somewhere where a games store employee is showing these pictures from the brochure thingie.