Is Sony Using Racism to Promote the PSP White?

[R-iZZy]

The fourth of July is an special holiday instated that Americans might never forget the struggle for independence and freedom, as such it's somewhat ironic that this little beauty should come to our attention this morning. Behold, and bask in the glory of the most recent in Sony's spate of horrifically ill-advised ads.

http://pspupdates.qj.net/uploads/articles_module/57882/omg.jpg

Just to be sure I wasn't being hypersensitive, I showed the picture to my girlfriend, her reaction, "Oh my God!' Then I showed it to my brother, who looked at it for a second, and then his eyes widened, "What the...!?!" So what do you guys think, is Sony just naively innocent, or are they just looking for attention any way they can get it?

SOURCE (http://pspupdates.qj.net/Another-Unconventional-Ad-From-Sony-UPDATED/pg/49/aid/57882)

I thought it would be a pretty interesting discussion, considering Sony's been pulling a lot of fishy moves, lately. This has become a hot topic on a few boards I've come across. Any personal opinions?

[ThirdMarioBro]

...okay, they just crossed the line. That's.....I think I'm going to puke. I'm serious here. This is just.......Christ.

[Peanut]

Sony has been pulling the whole racism thing with the PSP for a while now. No one has seen those PSP commercials with the squirrels or the scribble dudes? If that isn't racist, I don't know what is.

Whatever, Sony is going down hill. No one cares about the PSP, so why not stir up something to get it some more press? There's no such thing as bad press.

[Kid Icarus]

And Sony's the master of turning any press into bad press.

This ad's going to appeal to 20 something white males who like lesbians. Notice they're both female, and you can see the white chicks boobs.

[Spitfire]

Hahaha oh man that is funny beyond belief. I hope Sony burns, they just pissed off half of the people who play their system with this racist crap.

[Mecha Cow]

Is it racist? Probably not.
Is it in bad taste? Definitely.
Does the ad succeed? Yes.
Does that make it ok? No.

I really don't know what they were thinking when they came up with this one. But we're all talking about it, so I guess that makes it 'brilliant marketing'.

[Kid Icarus]

'cataly Mecha.

Like the name Wii. Love it or hate it, you know the name now and you know what it's about. Chances are you even know of a couple of games that were shown for it at E3.

[Peanut]

I don't think those two things are comparable. This is going to be out in the public eye. The Wii name isn't yet.

[R-iZZy]

Yeah, coming from a black American, the advertisement isn't racist. But what it does is remind people of a specific point in American history that people should try to overcome. With this ad, they're just reinforcing the idea of whites overpowering blacks in everyone's mind (or those who were taught of discrimination in America). Yeah, the PSP will get it's publicity and it just might prosper from this move. But is it a respectable one? No! Honestly, I had no problems with Sony before... but this was just a low-blow and a dirty trick. F*** Sony! I had ideas of getting the PS3 in the future, when it would be at a reasonalbe price... but nix that idea! I'd rather just get a Dreamcast now.

The PSP Squirrels didn't push my buttons far enough, but this one did.

[GK Punk]

Come on guys, let's not fight :)

[Sliced]

Hip hip hip... Hurray ! Hip hip hip .. Huray ! Yeah sony you rock. Man what a great pub. This will get the attention, I'm soooooo gonna get me a WHITE psp !

'' sarcasm ''

Yup here we go again... Sony are their worst enemy. I'm sure they somewhat hope that this will have the same effect GTA had with all the bad press. Must be somekind of last resort for Sony to have the attention.

Although I don't really see this as racism, but as a bad way to announce a product*. This is only ''representative''. A black women, dressed in black and not to hot looking representing the original ''black'' psp. Versus, the all new and superb ... . Just to show us that we ''will'' prefer the white version of the psp.

There's no need to be all upset, sure it will bring up that racism thing, but its not racism. Its just a good idea at the start, who turned damn wrong at the end. The bad press sony will have because of this won't help it sell more psp, don't you guys worry about that.

[GK Punk]

Comments removed, Please Keep it off the forums. We're all friends here. :)

[Dr. Doom]

I don't like any of you people.

[OA]

I don't really see this as racism but definately in bad taste...I mean we all know that the oringal PSP was in black and now they're touting their new white version....so for us, as gamers, we can basically see what they are trying to say: the white PSP is a superior product to the oringial black...that said, as an advertisment that will be seen by gamers and non-gamers alike, I can definately see where people can see the ad as a highly racist product...either way, it'll probably get people talking, which is what Sony wants anyways....

[Peanut]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6153816.html

Sony pulled the ad. You'd figure someone would have caught how stupid it was before it made it onto billboards.

[CookSux]

what people fail to realize is that this is a set of ads in a campaign in denmark and some other european countries... not america

[Kid Icarus]

Yes, because racism is ONLY in America :roll:

[DrSpengler]

Since nobody's posted it, here's the companion ad that went with the other one:

http://forevergeek.com/images/PSPad2.jpg

Funny how nobody cares when a black chick is beating on a white chick. Other way around? RACIUM!!

[Spitfire]

It's only racist when a white person does something but when other races do it's okay. I learned that in school! I had a teacher tell me that -_-

[Kid Icarus]

Funny, it looks like they're both beating on eachother in that one.

[Spitfire]

Funny, it looks like they're both beating on eachother in that one.
Looks like the white chick is dead to me hahaha

[Kid Icarus]

That's because she's clearly a skinhead. Preemptive strike and all by the black chick.

[DrSpengler]

All I want to know is "Why aren't they making-out, yet?"
:-?

[CookSux]

i'm not saying that racism doesn't exist in other countries, but the whole black/white issue isn't really prevalent over there as it is here. what would i know, i'm yellow

[Katie]

It's only racist when a white person does something but when other races do it's okay. I learned that in school! I had a teacher tell me that -_-


Dude...I'm seriously beginning to wonder about the quality of your education...this, and the segregation thing some thread ago. Just 'cause you hear it in school does not make it true :P

anyway....I look at this add and see them trying to show differences....maybe not the brightest way to show them, but that's what I see. The white chick is ugly....heck neither of them are that great...But then again, I'm no prize so who am I to judge.

but it's true...i don't think this would fly here in the states

[Peanut]

i'm not saying that racism doesn't exist in other countries, but the whole black/white issue isn't really prevalent over there as it is here. what would i know, i'm yellow

That's true. The fact that the complaints for this ad came out of California, and not in the Netherlands where the ads were actually released, shows exactly how serious they took it over there.

[Barkworm]

The Netherlands have a big history of black/white issues so it's still inappropriate.

[Spitfire]

Dude...I'm seriously beginning to wonder about the quality of your education...this, and the segregation thing some thread ago. Just 'cause you hear it in school does not make it true :P
I know that but I live in Cali where all this crap happens and here it IS true. This kind of crap happens all the time here. It's beyond annoying.

Where I live I am "White Devil" because I'm the minority so they can say what ever they want to me and nothing happens but the second I respond back I'm dead.

Gang violence, there was a riot at a gas station down the street from my house. A whole gang of black people*We're talking around 100 people* Went trashing the place just because the clerk there was white and the price of gas was a few cents more then at the other stations.

Is it the clerks fault? NO he just works there. But they don't care.

[OA]

Gang violence, there was a riot at a gas station down the street from my house. A whole gang of black people*We're talking around 100 people* Went trashing the place just because the clerk there was white and the price of gas was a few cents more then at the other stations.

Is it the clerks fault? NO he just works there. But they don't care.

You have to wonder if thats the entire (accurate) story... theres always 2 sides to a story...

[R-iZZy]

Since nobody's posted it, here's the companion ad that went with the other one:

http://forevergeek.com/images/PSPad2.jpg

Funny how nobody cares when a black chick is beating on a white chick. Other way around? RACIUM!!
In all honesty, I don't think the issue within the ad (with the white woman overpowering the black woman) lies within symbolism of racism. I don't think the problem stems from two colors, but rather the history between the two colors. So I'm not calling racism on this, but racially insensitive is the best way I can describe the ad.

[Spitfire]

You have to wonder if thats the entire (accurate) story... theres always 2 sides to a story...
I don't know I wasn't there. That's what I heard on the news. I just happened to drive by it when it was happening.