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[SJRB]

This is...weird. "Help us sell the thing, plz."

really?

This is actually a very common marketing strategy. Restaurants, sports clubs, insurance agencies. Referal reward programs are nothing new.

The "problem" with this Sony thing is that they make it sound pathetic and desperate in this ad. It reeks of sheer dispair: "please help us sell our shitty thing, PLEASE".

This is a very cool thing that will never launch because instead of actually making it cool, they made it cringe-worthy.

 

[CountAntonius]

I really hate hashtag abuse.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

What are Sony Rewards Points? What can you use them for?

 

[fluffydelusions]

Hey man, it worked for Blizzard.

Are you referring to the WoW thing? That didn't require a $250+ investment...

 

[Tiops]

The campaign is only funny here because of Vita's situation. As people said, a lot of companies do that, it's common marketing.

 

[Tobor]

In essence though, the idea was for the hardcore to spread the word to the wider audience. This is the same thing, but actively solicited and with financial incentive.

I dunno, I get that ragging on the Vita is the cool thing to do but I just don't see how this is some holy shit unthinkable measure. If anything, it shows Sony are 'trying', and lord knows people have wanted them to do that for a while.

I just think it's funny that Sony thinks I would actually know anyone who would want one.

 

[Kimawolf]

Why don't they just drop the damn price of it. It'd sell better if it was 149.99. 199.99 is too much still. I'll buy it at 149.99 just for the RPGs it'll get.

 

[Aeana]

This'll be Nintendo in a few months with the Wii U, and they'll get praise for it.

This stuff happens all the time, and it was only sent to Sony Rewards members (didn't even know that existed) not all PSN members.

If Nintendo does this exact same thing, they probably will get praise from some people, just like Sony is being praised by some people in here. But the majority of people would be making similar comments about it being a bit of a desperate move. And then some people will say "Sony just did this with the Vita, but nobody criticized them!!" further illustrating the nature of loyalism.

 

[jspeerbr]

Feels like I was hired for a job I didn't apply for

I am so putting this on my resume now!

VP Business Development - SCEA - January 2013 - Present
-Maintained Marketing campaign Using WOM, Facebook, and Twitter
-Moderated multiple message boards to deliver company's mission statement
-Managed a team of 10000 board members
-had 100% increase in YOY sales

 

[SmokyDave]

It just has a desperation vibe about it that's all. People like to revel in bad press anyways, so let them have their fill.

They are desperate, and so they should be.

Also, if Sony really wanted to try, they'd lower the damn price.

They will, just not yet. I'm not convinced that it'll make any major difference though.

 

[DR2K]

So anyone want to buy a Vita?

 

[FLAguy954]

The advert made me laugh.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Well, it works for Mary Kay. Direct, interpersonal contact is the best marketing tool one can use, so this is a pretty smart little promotion. It won't change the Vita's fate, but at least it's something.

 

[Jaded Alyx]

Is there a link to more info on this promotion or something? An idiotic fanboy is telling me the images in the OP are fake.

EDIT: Nevermind, found this.

http://www.urefer.com/sonyvita/

 

[Synth_floyd]

Sony Marketing Team: "Please do our job for us!"

 

[Minions]

This is actually probably a lot cheaper than running advertisements to be perfectly honest. Surprised the wii-u has not started this promotion.

 

[dallow_bg]

I just think it's funny that Sony thinks I would actually know anyone who would want one.

Well, maybe not you, but I did help my friend get one and we play online once a week on it.
Now all the big three players have or (have had) referral promotions.

 

[BlackJace]

They are desperate, and so they should be.


They will, just not yet. I'm not convinced that it'll make any major difference though.

Fair enough

 

[guek]

When can we start laughing at people for having a vita persecution complex? Now? Next week?

Spoiler

note: I'm just kidding, sheesh. every company/product/icecream has its own share of haters.

 

[stuminus3]

I convinced EVERYONE I knew to buy a Sega Dreamcast for Christmas back in 2000. Sega pulled the plug like a week later. I can still remember the death threats.

 

[DR2K]

Sony Marketing Team: "Please do our job for us!"

AT least they're aware how bad they are at it. First step to improvement.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Sweet, just what the Vita needed, a pyramid scheme.

 

[ghst]

*to receive your one million reward points you must accept a two year contract as CEO of SCEA.

 

[prwxv3]

AT least they're aware how bad they are at it. First step to improvement.

They can be good when they try. The add campaigns for Uncharted, God Of War, and Heavy Rain were pretty good.

 

[Sandfox]

The fact that Sony would rather do things like this rather than lower the price, make a new bundle, or even have a limited time sale is telling.

 

[Paddington Bear]

Any of you guys wanna buy a Vita?

.

 

[Kimawolf]

They are desperate, and so they should be.


They will, just not yet. I'm not convinced that it'll make any major difference though.

Well it may not in the grand scheme of things, but 149.99 is much more of a impulse buy than 199.99. I know for me I could justify it to myself for the few games i'd get. And since I don't have a PS3 I won't get all the functionality out of it anyhow.

And even if I wanted one, are there still the 3g ones out there?

 

[EBCubs03]

Do you guys think it's embarassing for Hulu to give me a month of free Hulu Plus to any referral I get? I've seen countless other companies do this, too. This is coming from Sony Rewards (Read: getting rewards for doing something), not from Sony Computer Entertainment to everyone with a PSN ID.

you work for sony's marketing division don't you

 

[Htown]

"Hell, I don't know how to sell this damned thing. Why don't you guys give it a shot?"

 

[M-PG71C]

Hey, I've already started participating in this and I have had up to 84 people and counting buying Vita's. Sony considers me a winner, and for that, I feel like I am being treated well as a long-term customer.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

They could call them the Sony Ambassadors!

 

[VanWinkle]

Sweet, just what the Vita needed, a pyramid scheme.

Learn to read. You don't get more cards if your friends refer somebody.

you work for sony's marketing division don't you

No. My reasoning has common sense, unlike Sony's marketing department.

 

[Mileena]

Hey, I've already started participating in this and I have had up to 84 people and counting buying Vita's. Sony considers me a winner, and for that, I feel like I am being treated well as a long-term customer.

What

 

[Kacho]

Hey, I've already started participating in this and I have had up to 84 people and counting buying Vita's. Sony considers me a winner, and for that, I feel like I am being treated well as a long-term customer.

Mission Complete

 

[Hindle]

They have to start the game before they can change it.

 

[trixx]

The only ps vita commercial i can recall seeing here in Canada, was the one with the no name basket ball player in the car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5EaMGKBU-k

Sony can do a lot better than this. The campaign isn't bad but why not just drop the price, then do something like this.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Learn to read. You don't get more cards if your friends refer somebody.

A very poorly designed pyramid scheme.

 

[Lee Chaolan]

I don't see the problem with free stuff. Still I can see why reactions are what they are.

 

[Totobeni]

This is...weird. "Help us sell the thing, plz."

really?

yup,sound like they just gave up trying.

I guess since the PS4 is coming and they need to shift all their focus there they don't want to bother anymore with marketing Vita.

 

[Nordell]

This makes sense, if this deal would go out onto stores, I can imagine many store clerks selling customers a vita and hook them up with a 20 dollar psn bonus. It's a win-win for store clerk, customer and sony.

If I worked at gamestop or something I would push vitas onto customers like craaaazayyy!

 

[yon61]

I can see it now: "Sony blames fans for not saving the Vita"

 

[whatsinaname]

Sony should release an Amway co-branded Vita.

 

[javac]

I really hate hashtag abuse.

Sony's $50m Vita marketing campaign targets PS3 owners

"The hashtag #gamechanger will be used on telly ads, billboards and digital banner ads in an attempt to funnel online discussion of the device into one place and get Vita trending in the run up to its 22nd February launch."

 

[BomberMouse]

Nerds selling the thing will still do a better job that SCEA Marketing dept.

 

[The Last Lombax]

Is Dropbox did this campaign to Sony ?

 

[VanWinkle]

A very poorly designed pyramid scheme.

No, a very common referral program. Your favorite companies probably do the same thing.

 

[Metallix87]

"Well, we obviously can't market this thing well, so maybe you guys can do a better job?"

 

[DaBoss]

"Why market it ourselves when we can get Vita owners to do it for us."

EDIT: lol, beaten by a minute

 

[Hakai]

Hey Sony how about YOU convincing ME to buy a Vita, and then I can try that out huh?

 

[Dabanton]

This machine feels like it's taking that final walk to irrelevancy. I don't think Sony will kill it off, not obviously anyway, but they'll just let it amble along. Sony obviously can't be assed and it looks like third parties have taken their lead.

How has Sony not leveraged more of their IP's? it's Madness.

In the years to come when we read all the backstage gossip on this machine the tales are going to be wild.