Microsoft griefers crash Sony's PS3 Europe launch

Despite a good and clean launch night, with a moderate turnout -- at least in the UK -- and free TVs galore, Sony just can't manage a full 24 hours free of lame PR. Microsoft was on the scene to make sure a few Sony feathers were ruffled, ostensibly to "welcome" the PS3 to Europe, but somehow we're guessing Sony would've rather gone without the greeting. In the UK Microsoft handed out chairs to people waiting in line, with each chair pointing to a web address for an oh-so-clever "tooLate" message from Microsoft. In Paris, where Sony had a special barge docked to act as a makeshift launch store, Microsoft drove its own "XBOX 360 [hearts] YOU" barge up and down the river (see video after the break). There are also reports of Microsoft sending SMS messages to press members about the Xbox 360 wishing them a good night, and even Microsoft employees standing on rooftops blowing whistles to drown out Sony PR. And unfortunately, even the lack of violence couldn't last forever, with a woman in Wiltshire UK being mugged outside her home last night for her PS3, though she was able to fight off the attacker and hold on to her PS3, and the weak-sauce man and his accomplice were quickly arrested. Oh well Sony, you gave it the old college try. And Microsoft: you're pretty dang clever, but couldn't you try and resist the juvenile impulse now and then? Not everyone's laughing.

[Thanks, Oliver, Mehdi M and Dan]

Read - Microsoft crashes Sony launch
Read - tooLate
Read - Microsoft barge, whistle blowing
Read - Woman mugged for PS3

[Rohit Kapur @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:50PM]

You guys think Bill Gates is making up for the fun he lost when he dropped out of college?

Seriously, with the way these companies go after each other, you begin to wonder whether one ever really outlives their teen/adolescence years.

[andy @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:27PM]

Rohit Kapur: "Seriously, with the way these companies go after each other, you begin to wonder whether one ever really outlives their teen/adolescence years."

At 30y/o and someone who dreams this stuff up, I can tell you that the answer is undoubtedly no with respect to every facet of your life. Seriously, you never grow out of being 18, you just get a little smarter along the way.


This (MS's advertising) is what's called good, old fashioned ribbing/fun. The world could do with a bit more of this harmless ribbing.

[AI @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:51PM]

Microsoft did this just to attract attention cos they know that in a few month's time PS3 is going to be the biggest thing ever in the console wars. Microsoft can't gather a large crowd so they use Sony! Cheap!

[Manuel @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:17PM]

I like how everything about the PS3 is always "in the future" or "soon" or "in the next update" .

Gears of wars anyone?

[Arno @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:54PM]

Good fun.

Joystiq reports that they were also handing out chairs for the people waiting in lines with the following URL printed on the back.

http://www.shkyw.org/



:)

[Geoff Gibson @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:01PM]

"Not everyone's laughing."

I was. In fact that is probably the best media blitz microsoft has ever done. It was hilarious. Don't get my wrong, I don't have any particular love for Microsoft, but come on. Give credit where credit is due. Microsoft stole more than a few headlines from Sony last night. Good times.

[ATW @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:01PM]

that's so typical microsoft, begging the audience for attention with cheap-a$$ so-called strategy. zune, windows, xbox... could you for once not being so cheap and make some real products for us consumers.

[MearWolf @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:04PM]

ha ha trying to outdo each other with barges

[JoshLowry @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:06PM]

Luckily they weren't arrested like Microsoft's guerrila marketer in Austin who was putting up Zune posters all over the place. XD


- Josh

Where's your head at? - http://www.StateOfBrain.com

[dan @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:08PM]

>> And Microsoft: you're pretty dang clever, but couldn't you try and resist the juvenile impulse now and then? Not everyone's laughing.

Seriously? I completely disagree, I'm loving this! Too often, corporate competition is negative press leaking, meaningless marketing buzz and eventual legal battles. I much prefer this form of corporate competition, a good clean fun that includes witty jabs and even childish antics. Two excellent products with cult followings, going up against each other, challenging each other to a competition of quality, blowing rasberries at each other using barges and whistles.

These consoles are designed for fun, so might as well have fun selling/buying them, right? As long as no one ends up mugged or jailed, let the heckling begin!

[Sam @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:15PM]

I'm laughing. Its funny.

[Vilppi @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:22PM]

What I love about Microsoft products is that they're always released only when fully completed and never have to be updated or fixed because they're perfect and lovely and clever and stuff. Pot, kettle, see you next tuesday.

[Ryan @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:20PM]

"Microsoft did this just to attract attention cos they know that in a few month's time PS3 is going to be the biggest thing ever in the console wars. Microsoft can't gather a large crowd so they use Sony! Cheap!"

I've got to make a couple smart ass comments here. For one the PS3 will not be the biggest thing in the console wars, that will be the Wii. In fact I am fairly sure the 360 may take 2nd place this gen with Sony in 3rd. Ok, so that wasn't really smart assed.

This one is, you said MS couldn't get a large crowd and stole Sony's? Did Sony actually have a large crowd anywhere? /zing


"that's so typical microsoft, begging the audience for attention with cheap-a$$ so-called strategy. zune, windows, xbox... could you for once not being so cheap and make some real products for us consumers."

Wait so you're saying the Xbox, Windows, and Zune are not real products? Funny since most consomers with a computer run a Windows operating system. I recently bought a Zune and think it's a fairly nice MP3 player. And currently the Xbox 360 is the best value for a game console all around.

I will eventually buy a PS3, but mainly for Blu Ray over games. I think some die hard fan boys just need to have an open mind and realize that just because it says Sony, MS, or Nintendo does not make it the be all end all of gaming consoles.

[john @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:25PM]

"juvenile impulse"...like Apple's "PC vs Mac" TV ads.

[willrs @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:33PM]

lol owned.

[skagen @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:36PM]

Kind of funny that most people here cry about apple being immature with their ads for making fun of the almighty MS while when shoe is on the other foot, it's hilarious and awesome!!!111!11

[Kamokazi @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:02PM]

@skagen

I don't have any problem with Apple's maturity and find the commercials rather amusing. What I do have a problem with is their accuracy. Naturally as mareting, they should make the Mac look favorable, but some of those commercials are overly deceptive and underhanded (Namely the Cancel/Allow Vista one...with Macs you'd have to type in a password as often as you'd have to click allow for Vista). I would assume that is the primary 'beef' most people have with the PC vs mac commercials...not maturity but accuracy and truthfulness.

[jimhuf @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:40PM]

"that's so typical microsoft, begging the audience for attention with cheap-a$$ so-called strategy. zune, windows, xbox... could you for once not being so cheap and make some real products for us consumers."

What a stupid thing to say, climb back under your rock. you need microsoft more than they need you.

[LJKelley @ Mar 23rd 2007 2:48PM]

I'm loving this 'new' face of Microsoft. Yes, its childish and outrageous but its a good laugh and doesn't harm anyone. It isn't negative, or an 'attack' like the false lies out of Sony.

I'm not anti-Sony, As I am writing this on a Vaio that cost a leg and an arm and I'm gonna go to my local Sony Store tomorrow to consider upgrading. But I do think they have done their fair share of negative lies against the 360, claiming the PS3 was so much more better when the only thing that is better is Blu-Ray.

Way to go Microsoft. You made my day!!

[Paula @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:07PM]

They should have busted out the PS3 grills and cooked up some steaks. ^_^

[Deezee @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:17PM]

I think this is great. Everybody else makes fun of microsoft at will, so its good to see the xbox team fire back a little.

[kingofwale @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:26PM]

wait wait... Sony's showing goodwill by giving out free-tvs, and Microsoft's acting like the Apple ads??

What is this world coming to? :D

as much as it pains me to say it... Good launch by Sony in Europe, it's late, but they got it right finally. now.

[chris @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:36PM]

So apple's child like "switch ads" are ok, but microsoft starts getting playful with the 360 advertising vs the ps3 and you guys whine?

Stop being so idiotic, sony's really late to the game and so far has 0 to offer buyers, and with MGS and FF to be rumored now to be considering moving to the 360... its really 0 points on the ps3 side.

[SomeOne @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:36PM]

hahahaha

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:38PM]

Shouldn't the heart have a " 's " next to it to read 'Microsoft Xbox Loves You' instead of 'Microsoft Xbox Love You'?

[Garry @ Mar 24th 2007 6:45PM]

@Rick:

"Shouldn't the heart have a " 's " next to it to read 'Microsoft Xbox Loves You' instead of 'Microsoft Xbox Love You'?"

Technically, no. The barge was in Paris, so the ad was for French-speakers. In French, "I love" becomes "J'aime". "Microsoft loves" becomes "Microsoft aime". No "s" involved.

This is also why you see the T-shirts and buttons with "J'[heart] Paris" everywhere in Paris.

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 25th 2007 8:57AM]

Ah, so it's the translation to french then? I see.

[ssuk @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:49PM]

Funniest game related stunt in a while now. I mean, sad to say, but Microsoft hit the nail on the head with what it's saying, Sony are late and I don't think they deserve a fair chance to do anything, since Sony haven't given Europe a fair chance on anything regarding the PS3 so far, so to hell with them, I support MS 100% on this, if you don't you're an American PS3 fanboy (not insane) or a EU PS3 fanboy (what the hell is wrong with you?)

[mattstl77 @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:56PM]

Wow... you think Sony never pulled this crap? I guess you wouldn't have none about it if you read this site. You guys are pretty much anti-Microsoft everything.

Really...this is all harmless and fun prodding done by one company towards another.

With or without Microsoft teasing Sony, people were still not going to line up for a sub par system for way too much money! I am sure that you can go into almost every single store that sells ps3s and see that they are heavily stocked. But the 360s continue to be bought a year and half after it's launch. Could it be that Microsoft launched a quality product for a decent price. Yeah... I think so.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:18PM]

"Could it be that Microsoft launched a quality product"

Hold a sec while I hold my stitches from busting open...

[mattstl77 @ Mar 23rd 2007 10:36PM]

And Sony did launch a quality product? Wow...I guess all of the people who didn't decide to buy a ps3 have no clue on a fantastic quality.

[Mike on a Bike @ Mar 23rd 2007 3:58PM]

HA HA HA OMFG a barge and chairs and whatnot the console war has finally gotten hilarious and cool enough of the fanboys bring on the insane marketing tactics!

[Jesse @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:10PM]

I thought is was funny:)

[KC @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:30PM]

That's good marketing by MS to get some xbox attention. Nothing wrong with bumping up the competition by a couple of notches.

[Matt B @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:38PM]

It's funny that people still bring up the price whereas if you added the HD-DVD and wi-fi to bring the 360 up to par with what the PS3 does, you end up spending more.
And you still couldn't do folding@home during idle times.

[cs32 @ Mar 23rd 2007 7:17PM]

X360 Core price: $299
PS3 "Core" price: $499

I do not need WiFi since I have ethernet in the house, also not needed for movies - $0 for X360, $0 for PS3.
I need a HD DVD add on for X360 - $199 for X360, $0 (not available for PS3).
I need a remote - $0 for X360 (included in HD DVD box), $24.99 for PS3
I need HD cables - $39.99 for X360, $19.99/$59.99 for PS3 (you have to use sony cables, or else you void your warranty)

$538 - $544/$584
So that comes out to $5 to $46 cheaper for the X360 setup to watch HD DVD. Rather than blindly following what Sony tells you, try to add it up. So I get a cheaper (OK, $5 is not a big deal, but it is not vastly more expensive like you or Sony marketing would have you believe) system, with games that I enjoy that are out today, and it is not Blu Ray.

Next week is the GF's B-Day, and she really wants a BD player so that she can watch Big Fish - one of her favorite movies. I would like to see Bond in HD. Other than that, there are no BD movies available or announced that are also not available on HD DVD that I want. I may still have to buy one for her, but I am not happy about it.

I should run Sony's folding program? It is winter/spring, so I guess, yes I could. But I am not going to be running that space heater 24hours a day in the summer, wasting electric to run the machine and also air conditioner to cool it off. Besides, I buy game consoles to play games, perhaps Sony developers should spend their time, you know, creating games. Give me an incentive to buy a game machine.

[JP @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:41PM]

You know the video game industry is big when MICROSOFT has a "man" they can stick it to.

[OddManOut @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:42PM]

"she was able to fight off the attacker and hold on to her PS3, and the weak-sauce man and his accomplice were quickly arrested"

"Weak-sauce" is the (compound/hyphenated) word. 2, count'em, TWO guys could not successfully rob a WOMAN who presumably only had ONE arm with which to mount her resistance (the other arm ostensibly being occupied with carrying her PS3...though I suppose that in and of itself might indicate supernatural strength...). But I suppose if you don't have guts to get a job and earn the things you want as opposed to stealing them, there's already weakness apparent.

Good for her though...laying the smack down in, around, and for the gaming arena.

As for Microsoft's antics, all except the whistle blowing sounds okay to me. But in addition to chairs, free coffee/tea/sodas (festooned with MS ads and URLs of course) would have been good.

I mean that opportunity was there for Sony as well. The opportunity to show that Sony respects and takes care of it's customers. If they choose to let it lie fallow and unexploited, why shouldn't microsoft make use of it ?

Would have been nice if they had done it at their OWN launch though...

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:25PM]

"Would have been nice if they had done it at their OWN launch though..."

That wouldn't fit the Microsoft standard practices. Release crap, tell everyone it's the best, and buy out or berate those that produce a better product.

[Chedabob @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:55PM]

Somebody needs to harness the power of fanboy tears, cos god damn, they are flowing today!

[Rick Lyon @ Mar 23rd 2007 4:57PM]

Shouldn't the heart have a " 's " next to it to read 'Microsfot Xbox Loves You' instead of 'Microsfot Xbox Love You'?

[ph @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:00PM]

"Microsoft did this just to attract attention cos they know that in a few month's time PS3 is going to be the biggest thing ever in the console wars. Microsoft can't gather a large crowd so they use Sony! Cheap!"

I live in europe, and no one cares for the PS3...they do not even know it is coming out. They are xbox 360 fans the whole way. Unlike the xbox, which did terrible next to the PS2, the 360 is dominating. No one, especially in europe where the govt taxes the people who CAN afford it so much that they cant afford it anymore, is going to go for a PS3 over a superior xbox 360 console that costs 200 euro cheaper.

[Tristan @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:16PM]

Why?

[JP @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:22PM]

HEY, here's a cool new combo-move I learned!

Press A to release Gears of War,
Tap B to launch good marketing campaign,
Press trigger to tag teammate Master Chief,
Pull back on the analog stick, and watch Sony get pwned.

[Jon @ Mar 24th 2007 5:49PM]

Reply to JP:

You forgot to press and hold Y to take away exclusive franchises from Sony.

[Martez @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:47PM]

I lol'd.

[Sam @ Mar 23rd 2007 5:53PM]

I'm sorry but blowing whistles from rooftops is WAY more juvenile than the Mac vs. PC ads. I'm not for either company but in this round MS wins the childishness hands down.

[Andir3.0 @ Mar 23rd 2007 7:02PM]

I don't know..track history? Windows? Red Ring of death? Any of these ring a bell? Microsoft is NOT known for quality.

[AKM74 @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:24PM]

"No one, especially in europe where the govt taxes the people who CAN afford it so much that they cant afford it anymore, is going to go for a PS3 over a superior xbox 360 console that costs 200 euro cheaper.
"

360 with all this ugly attachment will come close to PS3 , but ... will be like 20% more expesive. Simple math. PS3 priced more than basic 360 for the same reason BMW cost more the ford focus.
MS just so how quickly Sony humiliated HD DVD. They didn’t expect those war will be over just in 3 mounts. And all this Paris events…. Well it funny. But you know what will be even funnier? If instead of offer free 46 LCD in London, just offer free exchange for new PS3 for old 360 for every single person on that boat if they manage to bring xbox in a next 2 hours. I will pay for it to see how 99% from them jumping out the boat instantly to made it in time….
Instead use “xbox love you” they just have to type “join 3 light club” 
Sorry for my English guys. (I didn’t own not 360 non PS3, yet)

[Dave @ Mar 23rd 2007 6:52PM]

I worked for 3 years at Microsoft in Redmond, and I can tell you I've never been around a group of smarter, yet more socially and emotionally retarded group of people. You've got all of these brilliant engineers that have no clue how to actually relate to people, I would rarely get them to even look at me when talking. Then you have the manager types, who don't get hired unless they finished college at 12 which results in someone who has never had an actual relationship, because they skipped that learning step at childhood. And don't forget the snobby designers, who don't want to talk to you if you're not beautiful, or at least wearing several hundred dollars worth of trendy clothes.

I've left burning buildings in less of a hurry.