I checked today and Sony Playstation 3 Game Consoles were selling for $1450 US on ebay. For weeks prior to its Playstation 3 world-wide launch Sony was advertising in movie theaters, and on both television and the net.
But you know what, for all the talk about how the Playstation 3 would change gaming, there really was not all that much advertising. I wonder why. Prior to the release date, people lined up and where they could afford it, paid homeless people to do it for them. Naturally, there were not enough consoles to go around. Rather than some sort of strategic release or delaying until sufficient units could be produced, Sony and its retailers started the sale of the consoles in a charged atmosphere. Only an idiot would not recognize that chaos would ensue. Below is video of a riot outside a Best Buy in Fresno California. The store announces that only 34 consoles are available and the crowd goes wild. You cannot buy this kind of advertising. Maybe that is the point, there is no need to pay for advertising if you can get it on the news for free.
The other thing I notice is that the police service was sent out to keep the peace. The taxpayers foot the tab for this. Sony is then able to shift the cost of advertising onto the back of the taxpayers. Maybe someone should send Sony or the retailers a bill or start a class action lawsuit for the cost of the riots and violence associated with the release of Playstation 3. This might encourage big business to act in a responsible manner in the future. Here is the video from in front of Best Buy in Fresno. Enjoy your Playstation 3.
