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PS3 launch fails across the pond; Where is your Phil Harrison now? photo

Last night was the midnight launch of the PlayStation 3 for our overseas brethren in France and England, and the crowds that turned out were dismal, to say the least. One of the Robot's many international amigos, Jeremy, sent in a tip with a number of links to official reports of just how poorly Sony was received in London and Paris, and while most of them are en français, that last link was written in the King's English.

Apparently one tenth of the people expected to be there actually showed up, and Sony was left with literal barges full of their newest console, at least in the land of wine and cheese. I guess this sort of thing shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has walked into a Best Buy here in God's Chosen Country any time recently, but with so few people willing to shell out the tremendous amount of euros necessary to acquire one of Sony's black beauties, one has to wonder about the future of the console in the Olde World.

Since I absolutely had to get a first hand account, I called one of my British friends a few moments ago, and according to him he spent all night pranging out and trying desperately to avoid this "chav bird who's grown keen on 'im", whatever the hell that means ...

Wait, what was my point again? 

(Editor's Note: How could I make this post without using that picture? -- Nex)


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54 comments | showing # 1 to 50

TorpedoTed's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 04:35
TorpedoTed
Haha brilliant article, if only you could teach that Summa to write as good as you.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 04:38
wardrox
wait... wait...... WAIT!............ rofl
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 04:39
ArrestedDeveloper
Sony's European launch recieves Massive Damage! But Nex, I warn you, don't confuse the obviously condescending tone of the frenchman as good ole american hatred for the ps3, that is just how French people talk. I have enjoyed the counter launch campaign response Microsoft Free Beer, French Barges, and Sneaky Chairs And good write up Nex, love the olde english speak.
Oolong's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 04:44
Oolong
There has been hardly any advertising campaign here in London. Apart from the odd TV ad; I haven't seen a single billboard or bus with a PStriple advert.

Maybe Sony took Summa’s article about how they should respect the internets a bit too seriously and forgot to tell the general masses they have a new console out via more traditional media.

On the other hand; leaving Europe last, giving us the highest price console, trying to launch it in the middle of March and circumcising the backwards compatibility – this is not a good time to start getting all subliminal & subtle on your advertising budget.
Nocturnal XVIII's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 04:55
Nocturnal XVIII
PS3 launch was a fizzer in Australia too. The major event had only 40 or so people buying a PS3 and maybe about 100 or more people looking on, getting free food, massages etc.
Last year the 360 had over 1000 people at the same venue.
The game sites and news over here could only report it as 'modest'. You'd think at least a few journalists would use the world 'failure'. But apparently none of them have any balls.
Alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 05:13
Alex
germany was nothing.. i dont want one, but i asked in a new gamestop here. They still have a lot of PS3s cuz nobody wanted them. Amazon.de (which was sold out of wiis months before it got released) still has them. .. Nobody wants the PS3 ;)
Hagar the Horrible's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 05:54
Hagar the Horrible
The official London event only had 120(ish) people turn up, which was a bit gutting. But everyone who did line up in Virgin Megastore did get a free Sony Bravia 46" HDTV for nowt. response from forums here have generally praised sony for giving the TVs away but derided them for using it to take away coverage from the lackluster launch and we still don't want the PS3... but do want the TVs.
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 06:35
Rosseh
Fuck I want a TV. Shit If I had known that I would have gone with the only guy I know to get his and shotgunned his new TV seeing as he has one already. Not that that would work.

I guess I'll go into town and check out how many are around. Speaking with people, they didn't even know when the PS3 was coming out. People who follow launch dates.

lowercaseluke's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 06:35
lowercaseluke
Down to a massive lack of promotion, I'm afraid.
Also crazy prices.
reytawn's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 06:35
reytawn
"chav bird who's grown keen on 'im" - gang of assholes that want to steal them
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 06:51
Rosseh
Good translation :/

Chav is a term used for adolescents and adults who live off benefits and have shrill horrible voices and bad diction. They love violence and being dicks. Only used cause we can't say Pikey cause it means Gypsy.

So it means "Some nasty bitch who won't leave him alone" but I'm guessing he already knew that and was doing a light communication joke.

I'm gonna guess that he had the same launch experience as me. Late night weekday, annoying chavs hanging around cause they're obviously not going to school tommorrow. Shouting "Geeks" or "losers" etc. And this one girl was the main bitch. I could be wrong, but I just want to share my pain with someone.
908peruvian's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:01
908peruvian
PS3 is the new 3DO!!!
Antimat3r's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:31
Antimat3r
@Peruvian: LAWL! I remember 3DO launch...it was cool for like 2 seconds >.<

I've seen countless websites just bashing Sony for ignoring the Europeans. I even saw fliers near game retailers (I went to Paris in January) basically saying don't buy the PS3. Sony really messed up a large market.
galagabug 's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:43
galagabug
this is living!
bhive01's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:46
bhive01
I was thinking of the comparisons between the 3DO and PS3 the other day. Really expensive, hardly any software, cutting edge technology... but the 3DO failed. Alas, the 3DO had terrible software support, which I believe the PS3 may suffer initially, but will eventually recover from. I don't expect them to sell anywhere near as many as the PS2 did. Sony fans have been virtually stabbed in the back it seems.
PetiePalo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:51
PetiePalo
I smell a price cut, simply because instead of hemorraging money money Sony is basically pouring their aortas out.
munkimatt's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:58
munkimatt
I'm part of a group of friends who spunk large wags of cash on anything shiny with buttons that launches here in the Uk. Not one of us can be bothered with a PS3. Not one of us has actually spoke about it. I think I'll hang on till the inevitable massive price drop.
Epitaph's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 08:59
Epitaph
Hmm... giving away Bravias just to get people to buy the PS3? Aren't those 46" Bravias 'a bit' more expensive than a PS3? Anyway, if Sony gives me one of those TV I'll gladly buy a PS3.
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:06
BahamutZero
HAHA they got MicroSPWNED

http://kotaku.com/gaming/only-in-france/xbox-crashes-french-ps3-launch-246475.php

BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:07
BahamutZero
pkhilson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:18
pkhilson
Come Microsoft, come on... Devil May Cry down, only Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid to go and I don't have to waste my money on the piece of shit that is the PS3...
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:20
BahamutZero
didn't you hear? FFXIII is probably coming to the 360
Lewis's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:30
Lewis
There wont be a price cut. The amount sony looses on console is already a lot i dont see them taking a bigger loss since it wont make any sense because microsoft can just lower their console price to make it cheaper.
pkhilson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:35
pkhilson
We can only it's officially official for FFXIII though, still in talks. Let's keep those fingers crossed.
pkhilson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:36
pkhilson
LOL what the hell was I trying to say there? Fucking mornings.
Chuma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:37
Chuma
If you have a look at Game's Website you will notice that even AFTER launch they are advertising "immediate availability" on the PS3. I haven't seen that on a console launch for a LONG long time. The Wii was still fulfilling the HUGE backlog of preorders well into February and even now they sell out of any stock they get within the day (I had to call up every morning in March they got stock in to eventually get one set aside for 1 hour so I could run down and grab it).

Am I anti Sony? My PS2 and 60 games say otherwise. Do I think that they have severely lost their way with the PSP and PS3? Definitely. I genuinely hope that they can turn it around, and as a friend of mine who works for the big S pointed out, eventually Blu Ray Drives will fall in price like DVD players and we will see the PS3 offered for less. I just hope it is soon and that some seriously killer exclusives come with it or I might just have to brave the red rings of death and become an Xbox360 owner... *feels unclean*
PwnDaddy's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:41
PwnDaddy
Sony loses money on every PS3 they sell. They are (supposed) to earn it back with accessories, games, and other juicy bits. But, if you make an Imperial-Ass-Ton of consoles that nobody buys, then you don't sell the real things making you money, therby solidifying yourself at the bottom of the food chain. Shit, they said it themselves about how they marketed the PS3 as a Mercedes (they also reffered to the Wii as a "Low-end economy car"; Kia is very pissed I'm told). I mean, even the OG XBox had launch troubles, but at least it had some exclusive goodies to keep it alive (well, actually it had Halo. Nuff said). Sony just backed themselves into a corner with it. As soon as they get an exemplar exclusive title, they are kinda boned at the moment. White Knight better fucking cure cancer, all I'm saying.
Epitaph's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:44
Epitaph
Imperial-Ass-Ton... that sounds like a lot xD
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:50
Dexter345
These people heard about how badly eBay sales went for us Americans, so only the people who actually wanted a PS3 showed up. Unfortunately for Sony, that wasn't very many...
Kagari's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 09:57
Kagari
http://vgcharts.org They've already sold over 500K units in Europe already. Not really a failure if you ask me.
FrogMan's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:09
FrogMan
Kagari, that number for others also includes Australia.
GatsuTheBerserker's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:10
GatsuTheBerserker
Lawlz, Sony doesn't seem to understand the "trial and error" process.
PiKo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:11
PiKo
Awesome news. I love the Chruchhill pic. The Brits should have a reverse Boston Tea Party and throw those PS3's into the sea.
FrogMan's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:11
FrogMan
"Desperate producers unashamedly asked the crowd to fake excitement when the cameras were rolling, while a team from 2Day FM let out bogus cheers to convince their radio listeners that a launch extravaganza was underway."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/crowds-go-mild-for-ps3/2007/03/23/1174153291466.html
topcow's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:14
topcow
Give it time. I think a price drop and one or 2 hard-hitting "exclusives" will make people start buying this shitbox.

The "exclusives" seem to be falling off, but eventually one will stick and fanboys will eat it up.
Lolthien's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:16
Lolthien
If you ask me Dexter has the right idea.. the main reason the PS3 and even 360 and Wii sold out at launch was largely due to scalpers.

However, the 360 and Wii hit their target markets closely enough to continue that success... I think this is a LARGE indicator at just how poorly Sony judged the market for the PS3.

Sony got cocky and is paying the price.. maybe Blu-Ray will get them out of the red, but I wouldn't count on it.
Vyruz's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:17
Vyruz
heh, i just realised the PS3 launched here today by reading this post, I totaly forgot it.
I have about 0 reasons to buy it though, maybe home and littlebigplanet.
I still wanna go multyplatform someday, so maybe next year.
for now, I'm going to save up for a 360.
pkhilson's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:19
pkhilson
topcow's right. I'm a Metal Gear fanboy and I WILL buy a PS3 if that title remains PERMANENTLY exclusive (keep in mind that Metal Gear Solid has not been exclusive in the past, thank God)
BahamutZero's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:20
BahamutZero
kagari that 500k is units SHIPPED not units SOLD they did the same trickery in the US to inflate their numbers. units sitting on shelves aren't making money. and lolthien - while I was waiting for my wii on launch day in line not ONE person I talked to was selling theirs on ebay. that also wouldn't explain why they are STILL selling out everywhere
Kagari's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:23
Kagari
How is it shipped units if they received over 1 million systems then? vgcharts does units sold.
cbebop007's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:27
cbebop007
IGN had a much more positive news story about it. But let me say, I"m not surprised.

And, I am totally in love with that pic of ol' Churchill there.
topcow's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:28
topcow
There reason they aren't selling is because there's NOTHING TO PLAY ON THEM.

Of course they're going to inflate their numbers. You think the Wii would've sold so well if the ZOMGZ THEY'RE SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE!!!111!1 hype machine hadn't gotten rolling?

Hell, if the PS3 had a game to play on it, I'd buy one right now. I'd get more use out of it than my Wii.

Eventually there will be something to play and people will buy it.
Joseph Leray's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 10:54
Joseph Leray
At the very least, Sony has shipped enough to meet the (small) demand. They at least got that part right.
bhive01's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 11:04
bhive01
@Piko, I think you should revisit history. Bostonians threw Chinese-produced, British-owned Tea into the Boston Harbor. Why would the English throwing Chinese-made, Japanese-owned PS3s into the Thames be a reversal of what happened in Boston?



scottoid's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 11:09
scottoid
Churchill and hirohito, the struggle continues!
908peruvian's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 11:41
908peruvian
i hope Microsoft releases tons of news this week...

new games, Exclusives, price drops, arcade games,
that new black system, whatever....

just keep that Sony Morale down...!!
hahaha

everyone said it even before the launch...

THEY GOT COCKY!!!
Turbostraw's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 11:45
Turbostraw
So yeah yesterday I was walking on the Champs Elysées at half past midnight. There was a huge banner on the main Virgin Megastore saying: Exceptionnal opening tonight for the PS3 launch...nobody was there and the employees were closing the shop.

At the main PS3 event (the one where the XBOX 360 boat showed up) a full 60 person came up, surrounded by a hundred journalists, lost in a sea of useless security barriers and bored security guards.

Meanwhile at the main Fnac (electronic) shop, a full 5 person showed up to the "super special" party organized for the PS3 launch...

I would find all that funny but it was rather sad really.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 13:11
Sharpless
This is dying.
Civnerd's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 13:26
Civnerd
Europe just showed us what Sony's true launch would have been if there was no E-Bay.
C_h_a_n's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2007 13:48
C_h_a_n
Yes, Kagari, they are counting every PS3 sold in every store from every country. That makes sense. And in less than 24hours! Amazing!
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