Amars
03-25-2007, 12:05 AM
Sony gave away free HDTV. Still in some place more media then customers.
Microsoft crashes Sony PS3 launch
Berlin launch of the PS3, AFP/Getty
Trying out the PS3 and its rivals
The European launch of the PlayStation 3 has been met by both cheers and indifference across the continent.
London saw the biggest turnout and all those that turned up for the midnight event also got a free HD TV to go with their new console.
But in France, Germany and many other places crowds of keen gamers were conspicuous by their absence.
In both London and France Microsoft mounted publicity stunts to rub some of the gloss off Sony's launch events.
Stunt site
At the Virgin Megastore in London's Oxford Street, the software giant handed out chairs to those queuing that had a website address printed on them.
Anyone visiting the webpage saw an Xbox 360 branded site that "welcomes" Sony to the next generation and chides the electronics giant for being "late". Microsoft's Xbox 360 launched in late 2005.
PS3 HITS EUROPE
PS3 boxes
Clickable guide to the PS3
A voyage around the hardware
Sony rewards patient gamers
Gamer who prefers Xbox 360
In other European nations the response to the launch of the PS3 was more mixed.
In France several stores stayed open until midnight so gamers could pick up a PlayStation but few people took the opportunity to grab one.
Game news site Next Gen reported that French gamers were outnumbered by the media on the boat Sony moored by the Eiffel tower to act as a temporary electronics store selling the console.
The event was upstaged by Microsoft which drove its own boat covered in Xbox 360 logos up and down the Seine near the Sony craft.
In Germany several hundred people turned up at the Sony Centre in Berlin where the electronics giant was hosting a launch event.
Game website Kotaku reported that in Berlin, at a branch of the Saturn electronics store, 50 gamers got a free PS3 after smashing their Xbox 360 by throwing it off a wall.
Screengrab of Microsoft spoiler page, Microsoft
Microsoft had a cheeky message for Sony
In Amsterdam only a "handful" of gamers turned up to pick up a console.
One of the better attended events seems to have been in Prague in the Czech republic where more than 100 gamers queued for the chance to buy a PS3 soon after midnight.
In Sydney Sony and retailer Myer staged a launch event at which customers were also outnumbered by the media. Danny Zarka, the first Australian PS3 owner, was at the front of the queue despite only turning up after 9PM.
About 80 customers turned up for the midnight launch and the Sydney Morning Herald called it "feeble".
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Microsoft crashes Sony PS3 launch
Berlin launch of the PS3, AFP/Getty
Trying out the PS3 and its rivals
The European launch of the PlayStation 3 has been met by both cheers and indifference across the continent.
London saw the biggest turnout and all those that turned up for the midnight event also got a free HD TV to go with their new console.
But in France, Germany and many other places crowds of keen gamers were conspicuous by their absence.
In both London and France Microsoft mounted publicity stunts to rub some of the gloss off Sony's launch events.
Stunt site
At the Virgin Megastore in London's Oxford Street, the software giant handed out chairs to those queuing that had a website address printed on them.
Anyone visiting the webpage saw an Xbox 360 branded site that "welcomes" Sony to the next generation and chides the electronics giant for being "late". Microsoft's Xbox 360 launched in late 2005.
PS3 HITS EUROPE
PS3 boxes
Clickable guide to the PS3
A voyage around the hardware
Sony rewards patient gamers
Gamer who prefers Xbox 360
In other European nations the response to the launch of the PS3 was more mixed.
In France several stores stayed open until midnight so gamers could pick up a PlayStation but few people took the opportunity to grab one.
Game news site Next Gen reported that French gamers were outnumbered by the media on the boat Sony moored by the Eiffel tower to act as a temporary electronics store selling the console.
The event was upstaged by Microsoft which drove its own boat covered in Xbox 360 logos up and down the Seine near the Sony craft.
In Germany several hundred people turned up at the Sony Centre in Berlin where the electronics giant was hosting a launch event.
Game website Kotaku reported that in Berlin, at a branch of the Saturn electronics store, 50 gamers got a free PS3 after smashing their Xbox 360 by throwing it off a wall.
Screengrab of Microsoft spoiler page, Microsoft
Microsoft had a cheeky message for Sony
In Amsterdam only a "handful" of gamers turned up to pick up a console.
One of the better attended events seems to have been in Prague in the Czech republic where more than 100 gamers queued for the chance to buy a PS3 soon after midnight.
In Sydney Sony and retailer Myer staged a launch event at which customers were also outnumbered by the media. Danny Zarka, the first Australian PS3 owner, was at the front of the queue despite only turning up after 9PM.
About 80 customers turned up for the midnight launch and the Sydney Morning Herald called it "feeble".
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.