Sony's latest PSP promo helps sneak some extra play time

We'd like to officially congratulate the Sony marketing team for graduating from offensive to merely "sending the wrong message." Sony Italy is handing out fake books complete with fake hands to disguise PSP play from those pesky authority figures. There's even a helpful outline of the book you're not reading to get you out of any jams. LeVar Burton will be so disappointed.

[Via The Raw Feed]

[Jacob Theby @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:28AM]

I guess Sony forgot people usually flip pages every so often when they read books.

[makr @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:29AM]

who sees a jump in PSP sales thanks to this?

[Tom @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:34AM]

Whether it's racist (PSP White is coming), stupid (take a running jump here), or simply the most insultingly bad attempt at viral marketing in history (all I want for xmas is a psp), Sony always succeeds in making the worst advertising in the industry. PS3 adverts included.

[Jared Gibbs @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:34AM]

Um... does it come in non-Caucasian hands?

[Aaron @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:06PM]

No. If you're not white, you're expected to inform your new hands that they are adopted, but you still love them like they were yours.

[somejerk @ Jul 2nd 2007 5:51PM]

How's it going with the triple K dude? your uncle still feeling sick after all the remorse from his racism?

[marcelass @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:39AM]

lol well, i think it's really neat!

[Jacob Theby @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:39AM]

Sony does have some pretty bad marketing/advertising. The PS3 commercials are annoying at best...and I own a PS3.

@Jared
Didn't even think of that. I guess they only expect Caucasian's to buy their product? Yikes.

[John @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:25AM]

That's a good point. In fairness, this is PSP Italy, and Italy is over 95% ethnic Italian, so it might not be practical to make many "hands" of other colors. But still, good insight.

[sean @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:14PM]

The better insight is to ask why all of the materials are in English. If this was only given to Italian students (and for that matter, Dante Alighieri was Italian as well), then why is the name of the book in English, not to mention the "Cliffs notes"? Everything about this screams "stunt for media attention" rather than "actual advertising."

[Maestro @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:39AM]

I teach High School and I can tell you why none of my students would get away with this. The next time I see one of my students picking up a book to read will be the first time. Instead, school has become a battle of kids trying listen to mp3-players/txt messages versus teacher telling them to put it away. So if I look up and see some kids actually reading, I know something is amiss!

[humpty @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:25AM]

Dude, you're taking this too seriously. Its an advert.. like those car adverts with stunt drivers doing crasy things normal people would think about doing.

[Not a fan boy! @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:40AM]

Awwwwwwww! The poor nintendo fan boys are hitting on the PSP again! Awwww! Jeeze grow a pair, its only an advert! Who in their right minds would mistake a pair of paper hands for your real digits?

You fan boys make me sick!

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:00AM]

Sony did it's own foot-shooting here my friend.

-as seems to be the case of late.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:59AM]

Do not belittle Sony's key innovation here!

They've actually developed the first book that truly DESERVES to be burned!

[jdmbo1 @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:06AM]

All the PSP needs now is some good games so the fake book can actually be used.

[kyle allen @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:46PM]

but don't take my word for it

[TomK @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:19AM]

Reading Rainbow reference was priceless. :)

[Ryan @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:47PM]

I can go anywhere! Take a look! It's in book!

[Anthony @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:19AM]

So should I keep my PSP behind my Sony Reader too?

[Pamela @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:34AM]

Where can I get one of these? ^_^

[Boynamedsue @ Jul 2nd 2007 11:37AM]

butterfly in the sky
won't even catch my eye
i've got this game
it rots my brain

gaming rainbow...

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:31PM]

It's a freaking advertisement...

I don't see you harping on the latest Geico commercials for making kids think that a gecko can talk. How about the commercial that tells people that you can form green clay into a XBox360 and games! (games based on Sony brand names mind you) Or let's not forget the latest Kia(?) commercial where it's perfectly fine to play "musical chairs" with your car and parking spots.

Nope, it's the PSP, and it's Sony, so the commercial must be the true representation of what Sony wants your kids to do. Yup. Uh-huh.

Morons, all of you...

[freddy @ Jul 4th 2007 11:03PM]

I'll have you know that I did play musical chairs with my car. My insurance went way up, damn Kia.

[lhasapso @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:44PM]

Wouldn't anybody notice the PSP icons on the spine?

[nikkijamaica @ Jul 5th 2007 12:14PM]

lol well you're very observant because I didn't :) Mebbe they assume that "fuddy-duddy" authority figures would think it's just the publisher's mark

[KC @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:44PM]

OMG. This is marketing at it's best.

[William @ Jul 2nd 2007 12:51PM]

What I think is funny is Sony's book choice: Dante's "The Divine Comedy." Everyone reads that, so of course it wouldn't give you away. ;)

[tiuk @ Jul 2nd 2007 1:47PM]

Haha, Reading Rainbow? Talk about an obscure reference. Nice one.

[diego nunes @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:13PM]

. . I think it's clearly a subliminal message telling kids to read better books. Two thumbs up, Sony.

[Jitty @ Jul 2nd 2007 2:37PM]

@ Andir3.0:

Amen...

[akproductions2435 @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:28PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[breakthedummY @ Jul 2nd 2007 3:53PM]

@Not a fan boy!

I don't think any one mentioned anything about Nintendo here, and maybe they are making a genuine observation at a company lacking in common sense.

"You fan boys make me sick!" = Jeeze grow a pair, why don't you.

[Not a Fan Boy! @ Jul 2nd 2007 7:43PM]

Yay! You're an idiot who doesn't know how to use the reply link!

Looks like you need more of that brain training ;)

[pandaSmore @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:01PM]

Wow that is genius and numerous. Hurray for Sony i just love there advertising and marketing campanes.

[James @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:08PM]

I think it's actually quite clever -- they're playing to a relatively innocent version of the "bad kids". It's like hiding comics or porn behind a Time magazine... time honored tradition, brought up to date for the new generation.

Right?

[Lowest Ranked @ Jul 2nd 2007 4:27PM]

Great advertising, $ony!
[Only school-kid-imbeciles will want that.]
please go to www.$ony.com/$$$
broken link, dammit

[jtavarez112 @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:25PM]

Wish they had this kinda stuff when i was in school!!

[Henry Tavarez @ Jul 2nd 2007 6:27PM]

yeah cuz god forbid you actually paid attention or anything!!

[marty @ Jul 2nd 2007 9:24PM]

Sony's marketing team owns, regardless of what any of you tools have to say. This is great.

[diverguy @ Jul 2nd 2007 10:18PM]

personally, i think this is hilarious.... then again, i agree with everyone that realizes how impractical it is... just very archy and jugghead -ish... it brightened my day slightly... is that a sad thing?

[Murc @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:57AM]

lol, nice.

[Mac Choudhry @ Jul 3rd 2007 12:58AM]

I'll take one please :D

[Three Rs @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:55AM]

Clever advertising. I wonder what the three rs of sony adveritsing policy is. The iphone has already had its

[Me!!! @ Jul 4th 2007 2:45PM]

I need this!