How one mass retailer describes game consoles
Tuesday, September 4th, 2007 at 4:00pm by Blake
I stumbled on an advertisement from Circuit City a while back and got a chuckle in how they described current-gen game consoles, namely the Xbox 360, the Wii, and the PlayStation 3. Not that there’s anything wrong with plain, familiar (albeit cliched) language; it’s just funny to read the following marketing copy from a minutia-obsessed perspective (read: us). Here’s what the retailer had to say about each console in the following order:
Xbox 360. Xbox 360 was the first of this new generation of consoles, and still holds strong. High definition graphics and exclusive games make this an easy choice for hardcore players. And with the Xbox Live online community, you can play against your friends down the block, or across the country.
Nintendo Wii. The Wii delivers a whole new way to game. The break-through feature of a motion sensitive remote puts the player right in the action (whereas gamers were only sorta in the action before motion-controls, right?). Play tennis or bowling just like you would in the real world. Playing the game is so active, some have claimed to have lost weight from the hard-hitting workout you get.
Playstation 3. (They misspelled the uppercase “S” in the title.) PlayStation 3 (spelled correctly here) offers up amazing graphics and visuals in this gaming platform. With a new cutting-edge (and difficult to develop for) processor, this next-generation hardware puts you in the middle of a dirt bike race with life-like details you can’t find elsewhere.
So how befitting is each description?
September 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I’d say those are fairly accurate - albeit grossly over generalized for the mass consumer - descriptions of each of the three.
I will say, however, that the “Wii = Workout Gaming!!1!” description is already wearing thin for me, especially considering epic (and traditional) games like Twilight Princess and Metroid Prime: Corruption, among others. Not every Wii game is like Wii Sports.
September 4th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
“this next-generation hardware puts you in the middle of a dirt bike race with life-like details”
QFT.
Wait, what? Looks like the writer tried their hand at some colorful writing, which is very out of place considering the rest of the language. Either that or he/she was being literal and thinks the PS3 is the best way to experience the second half of a motocross event.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
They make the Wii sound like a one trick pony. It’s more than just a system for real life sports simulation games.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
sounds pretty good. though the PS3 graphical detail bit seems exagerated. graophically, the 360 is right there with the ps3 so far. and given the madden uproar…
September 4th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Personally, I think it seems pretty spot on. And while some may get sick of the Wii/Wii Sports lumping, the fact is right to most people, the Wii DOES equal Wii Sports. So if you’re advertising it, that’s what you’re going to push.
September 5th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Pretty accurate, even for the Wii! I play Metroid Prime 3 standing up, thank you very much, and jump around along with the action!
September 5th, 2007 at 2:05 am
Hey, it’s actually not PlayStation 3, but PLAYSTATION 3. Honest to God.
September 5th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Yeah, like NINTENDO GAMECUBE.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
“this next-generation hardware puts you in the middle of a dirt bike race with life-like details you can’t find elsewhere.”
I like how they make this reference to the only good game that exists on the PS3 so far.