First Sony PlayStation 3 in-store kiosk spotted!

Sony, you're really, REALLY not doing anything to help the perception that the PS3 is a large, overblown, intimidating monolith of a game console. And yes, we still want one.

[Thanks, Iboro Ekpo]

[Cody S. @ Oct 1st 2006 3:19PM]

Wow! That's a giant kiosk. I'm not seeing any SIXAXIS controllers though ;(.

[Will @ Oct 1st 2006 3:20PM]

I think we're expected to worship it like an idol.

[Kren @ Oct 2nd 2006 10:39AM]

That's a good observation Will.

[javaflash @ Oct 1st 2006 3:22PM]

is the black air-condition-like furniture on the floor = PS3? :)

[X Budd @ Oct 1st 2006 3:23PM]

No controllers...is it mind controlled?

[jason @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:20AM]

someone probly stole them already

[Taylor @ Oct 1st 2006 3:23PM]

And... No one's gonna ask where this was?
-Taylor

[me @ Oct 1st 2006 3:24PM]

freaking huge...where's the controllers?

[javaflash @ Oct 1st 2006 3:26PM]

Walmart or Best Buy? --> There, I ask it, Taylor.

[Erik @ Oct 1st 2006 3:28PM]

this just screams obelisk from 2001: A Space Odyssey

[Lucio @ Oct 1st 2006 3:33PM]

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...

[Sean @ Oct 1st 2006 7:04PM]

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.

[Tim @ Oct 1st 2006 3:33PM]

So uhh... yea, is this in the US or Japan?

[Kevin @ Oct 1st 2006 3:35PM]

So that's how big the power adapter will be...

[Eric M. @ Oct 1st 2006 3:37PM]

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

[Chris @ Oct 1st 2006 3:37PM]

FYI, according to Gizmodo, this kiosk only plays videos, which would explain the absence of controllers. yup.

[kei @ Oct 1st 2006 3:45PM]

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.

[Charles Reimer @ Oct 2nd 2006 2:30AM]

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.

[100 movies for your ipod $25 @ Oct 1st 2006 3:40PM]

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

[Jim @ Oct 1st 2006 3:41PM]

I, for one, welcome our giant, black, monolithic, Playstation 3 overlords...

[Jas @ Oct 1st 2006 8:57PM]

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.

[_habit_ @ Oct 1st 2006 3:43PM]

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).

[Galls @ Oct 1st 2006 3:44PM]

so is the real ps3 contained in those GIANT ps3s at the buttom of the display?

[soccerdude21490 @ Oct 1st 2006 3:44PM]

HOLY COW!!! That thing is monsterous!!! Imagine walking up to that! must be a large air conditioner behind there

[suihkis @ Oct 1st 2006 3:53PM]

UUh, What an amazing phallos. The flat tv (Sony Bravia X-series?) design tho looks cool!

[JamesB @ Oct 1st 2006 4:10PM]

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.

[FimShady @ Oct 1st 2006 6:20PM]

Nope. I'm with you. Too many screaming weinies on the "anti-Sony" bandwagon as it is.

[v_dogg @ Oct 1st 2006 4:15PM]

soccerdude21490, we already established that theres an aircon inside that stack.

[OXfire @ Oct 1st 2006 4:15PM]

So is that the jagnormous power supply in the bottom cabinet?

[Hamson @ Oct 1st 2006 4:19PM]

That looks very satanic.

[Mrinal @ Oct 1st 2006 4:23PM]

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

[Linkman2004 @ Oct 1st 2006 4:32PM]

I bet the kiosk is that big to house the cooling units needed to keep the PS3 cool. ;)

[Darrol @ Oct 1st 2006 4:43PM]

The fact that it only plays movies makes me think they might be hiding something.

[kyle @ Oct 1st 2006 4:48PM]

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!

[Danny @ Oct 1st 2006 4:51PM]

Hey Wilfred, STOP SPAMMING engadget with junk

[friedriches @ Oct 1st 2006 5:05PM]

Yeah, just making me feel even better about deciding against the PS3.

[javaflash @ Oct 1st 2006 5:10PM]

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?

[Jonnymossville @ Oct 1st 2006 5:48PM]

wow, sony really is on the ropes these days. hmmmm.

[lfred @ Oct 1st 2006 5:50PM]

Citadel ?

Just let me know when Mr. Breen is spotted and I'll get my gravity gun.

[ajprice @ Oct 1st 2006 5:52PM]

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

[JustMe @ Oct 1st 2006 5:58PM]

Now I can clearly see from across any store which isle to avoid.

But I have to admit, I like the mini fridge.

[Evan @ Oct 1st 2006 6:12PM]

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.

[Justin @ Oct 1st 2006 9:08PM]

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.

[slowcivic @ Oct 1st 2006 6:22PM]

Well, they must have abtained their HDMI CABLE separately because Sony will not be including this needed accessory in the box. Sorry, just venting.

[Jeff Frith @ Oct 1st 2006 6:26PM]

over hyped bloated monstrosity...very symbolic of PS3

[Finished Law School @ Oct 1st 2006 6:35PM]

That is symbolism regarding Sony's ego...

[uclatommy @ Oct 1st 2006 6:35PM]

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..

[Shredsled @ Oct 1st 2006 6:53PM]

Yowza.

[Jico @ Oct 1st 2006 6:58PM]

I wonder if those screens are running 1080p. If not, the system's strengths are decidedly less apparent. If so, It'll cost a fortune to build these all over the country.

[Sweetdelight @ Oct 1st 2006 7:03PM]

evan, one doesn't need the hddvd addition to the xbox 360, you can just get the xbox, and guess what, play the xbox.


Alot of people dont care about HDDVD/Blue Ray, Plus alot of people dont want to buy blue ray or hddvd discs until one fails or the either.

It's about choice, you get no choice with the ps3