First Sony PlayStation 3 in-store kiosk spotted!
By Ryan Block 
posted October 1st 2006 3:15PM
posted October 1st 2006 3:15PM
[Thanks, Iboro Ekpo]
posted October 1st 2006 3:15PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
Wow! That's a giant kiosk. I'm not seeing any SIXAXIS controllers though ;(.
I think we're expected to worship it like an idol.
That's a good observation Will.
Is all that really neccessary? What a waste of space.
Clarence...
What the frig would YOU use the space above the display for? How is this 'wasting' space? The store isn't using ANY vertical space in the middle of the store so this isn't 'wasting' any space. This way Sony is getting advertising visable throughout the store.
But of course, you must be a marketing genius to make such a definiative statement.
is the black air-condition-like furniture on the floor = PS3? :)
No controllers...is it mind controlled?
someone probly stole them already
freaking huge...where's the controllers?
And... No one's gonna ask where this was?
-Taylor
Walmart or Best Buy? --> There, I ask it, Taylor.
HOLY COW!!! That thing is monsterous!!! Imagine walking up to that! must be a large air conditioner behind there
this just screams obelisk from 2001: A Space Odyssey
Nice choice of font. Are they going for the idea to remind everyone of Spiderman - 3 ?? Looks the exact same. And I believe they are the production company...hmm...
The font also caught my eye when i saw this picture (there's not much else to see, tbh). It looks exactly like the Spiderman font.
So uhh... yea, is this in the US or Japan?
So that's how big the power adapter will be...
MmM.. I dont know about anyone else but I'm already opening up some space next to my 360 for that.. well open up a new room for that.. which ever comes first..lol
FYI, according to Gizmodo, this kiosk only plays videos, which would explain the absence of controllers. yup.
so that means we (at least for me) have to look UP, like worshipping something, when watching the PS3 video? Look at the screens, they are over and above the highest game racks/shelves at the back! The system itself is what's at my eye level.
The good thing is the demo TV is big enough to see even from a distance.
Videos only.... weak. If I want to see videos of what a PS3 can do, I'll look online, not go to some giant "2001: A Space Oddyssey" obelisk at a Walmart to watch monkeys (err, idiots and PS3 fanboys) hoot, holler, and beat the ground with sticks in excitement.
This is supposed to be in "Akiba". I forwarded this to Engadget after I saw it posted by Emotep on the AVS forum.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=730657
I, for one, welcome our giant, black, monolithic, Playstation 3 overlords...
That is the funniest comment that I have seen on the internets. The fact that it is for Simpsons nerds is just awesome. Well done.
so is the real ps3 contained in those GIANT ps3s at the buttom of the display?
UUh, What an amazing phallos. The flat tv (Sony Bravia X-series?) design tho looks cool!
Obviously, since it only plays videos, those are DVD players housed in PS3 cases.
And as for the size...it's obvious there are 19 midgets in there, flipping switches and pressing buttons, so the thing keeps playing (You'll realize that there are 19 because they need to take breaks/brakes, and have someone else take their place, but they can't leave the kiosk, and they, being smaller than your average person, get tired twice as fast). And as for the minifridge looking thing, that obviously is a ventilation and air conditioning system, so they don't die from suffocation or heat strokes.
It could also be that you can put in drinks from outside, then when closed they can take them from the inside (like a 2-way mail box).
I think the point of emphasizing its largeness has to do with the whole "turn an insult into a compliment" philosophy. Kind of like how geek turned from an insult into a cool word. In sony's case, they want people to change their perception on how we value the size of gaming consoles..
I must say Sony has been in hot water recently wat with all those battery recalls and ps3 production problems but... they have struck back magnificently by producing a black bomb shelter, seriously, that thing should be way smaller if they want to capture the video game market
Am I the only person in the world who doesn't have a deep hate for Sony and everything it does?
If this was on a public sidewalk I'd think the size would be a problem, but this is in a freaking store - where bigger than life posters and ads abound.
Nope. I'm with you. Too many screaming weinies on the "anti-Sony" bandwagon as it is.
soccerdude21490, we already established that theres an aircon inside that stack.
So is that the jagnormous power supply in the bottom cabinet?
That looks very satanic.
I bet the kiosk is that big to house the cooling units needed to keep the PS3 cool. ;)
Any of you guys ever see 2001 A Space Oddesy? >_> I'm just sayin. . . We should put some monkeys next to this thing and see what happens.
The fact that it only plays movies makes me think they might be hiding something.
If you take away all that junk add stuff above the screen and just have one of them, it's just a bit wider and taller than the ps2 one... But LOL that thing won't even fit into my local games store. And the my other games store they would have to use a crane or something to get it into the second floor!
Hey Wilfred, STOP SPAMMING engadget with junk
Yeah, just making me feel even better about deciding against the PS3.
The picture was taken from a low point, to give the appearence that it's monsterous. I doubt that it is really that big. but it does look like it goes to the roof, Like a beacon, so you can see the PS3 from the other side of the store.
I sure love those LCD's though.
kei brought up a good point. Get an appointment with an orthopedist first.
Nice LCDs though. I should pick one up if the picture quality is as good as it looks. Does anyone know?
wow, sony really is on the ropes these days. hmmmm.
Citadel ?
Just let me know when Mr. Breen is spotted and I'll get my gravity gun.
I like the way they have a miniature glossy PS3 inbetween the screen and the great big actual size PS3 at the bottom of each side! :P
Now I can clearly see from across any store which isle to avoid.
But I have to admit, I like the mini fridge.
i feel sorry for the kid doing minimum wage working at best buy who has to spend hours following a paper diagram for setting up this damn temple of a kiosk..
I work at a Best Buy in Montana, and I heard our GM talking to one of the other managers, they were saying that we have a PS3 kiosk in our warehouse in the back, it's supposed to go up next week!!!
yeah i agree, why is everyone hating on the PS3. If it is bc of price, 360+the HD-DVD player is only $20 cheaper. What a bargain! Also they put the display up to make it big and attract peoples attention. Not all people follow technology and video games like we do, imagine walking into Best Buy or Wal Mart or wherever and seeing this. You are going to walk over and see what it is. Its simple marketing.
Okay, I'll bite.
The 360+HD-DVD drive may be $20 cheaper than the PS3. But not everyone wants a HD-DVD drive, and I'll assume that most people that buy a PS3 wont take advantage of the bluray drive (dont buy disks, dont have a display that takes advantage of the resolution). Both the 360 and the PS3 are gaming machines, and I truely believe that most people see and buy them as them as such.
Now I'm in no place to say that adding bluray was a mistake--only time will tell on that front. We'll see if the larger disk will lead to better games by developers; We'll see if people flock to a "cheap" blueray player; We'll see if the lack of rumble and $500/600 price tag scares people off. At this point, commenting on the success or failure of the PS3 is entirely speculation.