Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

March 9, 2009 -

At this point, British government health campaign Change4Life probably wishes it had gone in a different direction with its most recent ad campaign.

As has been widely reported, the ad, which visually links playing video games with an early death, has generated official complaints to the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority by British game development group Tiga and game business website MCV.

Now, reports MCV, Sony Europe is considering the filing of a lawsuit over the ad's unauthorized use of what appears to be a PlayStation controller:

A source close to Sony revealed to MCV that the agency behind the ad, The Gate, had not contacted the platform holder to ask about using a controller that bears a close likeness to PlayStation's pad.

The ad forms part of the Government’s Change4Life Campaign, and was created by agency The Gate in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK.

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Comments

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by DarkSaber on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:46.

Well, the British government already IS one big PR disaster.

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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

-------------------------------------------------- I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by deuxhero on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:53.

Is the "PR" qualifier needed?

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by PHX Corp on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 15:49.

British Govt= One GIANT PR Diaster

Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights

America has just became its own version of the Jerry Springer Show after a bizarre moment in Florida involving a carnival worker.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by insanejedi on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 11:59.

Sony's gotta make money somehow in this day and age.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Firebird on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 13:38.

I would wholly agree with that comment in light-hearted humor ................. that is, if it did not make me feel a little dead inside.

I don't know about any specifics, but a couple months ago I read and article of the PS3 almost breaking-even.

Personally, I blame bad marketing ads that don't target more casual audiences than harcore ones.

....also a linux based programmers for developers aren't really in high quantities, so expect lesser exclusives that truly maxes out the capacity. (On opposite of that note; Nintendo........ most third-party games suck!!!)

I would've preferred the 360, but RROD paranoia always settles with me (I have bad luck with receiving non-faulty equipment, and I take rather good care of my hardware)

and the wii.....(really, do I have to explain myself?) holds little interest to me.

Maybe I am a little biased, but until I own all three systems, I might as well bitch and moan.

______________________________ Because I have NO Life... :P I introduce the following. PSN User ID: FirebirdXR (Yes, I use that moniker often) Xbox Live ID: FirebirdLR (Don't bother, It's a Silver Membership) *Limited Time Only* I put both because I

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Weatherlight on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:09.

As long as you get one of the newer 360 after they changed the chipset slightly and the RROD doesn't seem to be an issue. Then again I partially fault consumers for the original RROD issue because so many of them did not treat the 360 like the sensitive piece of equipment it is, which made the problem a lot worse then it really was.

The PS3 was just to much for the market, it was overkill. Looking at what all is in it makes it a work of art, but it is just to costly for most people and in turn is not always cost effective for publishers. I have yet to buy a PS3 and don't foresee it in the near future because it is just to damn expensive.

Wii there is nothing I can really say about it, its a creative piece of hardware and was marketed successfully.

But back on topic, I am glad to see Sony go after these people. They do have a right to compensation and to have the ad pulled if they wish, because it is pretty clearly apparent that they used a Sony product in the advertisement and showed the product in a poor light.

~Weatherlight~

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Nocturne on Tue, 03/10/2009 - 10:25.

Then again I partially fault consumers for the original RROD issue because so many of them did not treat the 360 like the sensitive piece of equipment it is, which made the problem a lot worse then it really was.

Personally I blame Microsoft for releasing a product they knew was faulty just to get it to market as quick as possible then worry about getting it working right once a large number of their potential customers have already invested in it... otherwise know as business as usual for MS.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by Firebird on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 17:10.

@Weatherlight: Be that as it may, we are fortunate to hear of rumored price drops on both 360 and PS3.... so there is hope to be had.

Right, on topic...; Many people here don't seem to find out whether or not it is an actual PS3 controller in the ad, since there are others that have used this type of schematic.

-Perhaps if GP can provide a more detailed copy of the ad or confirmation?

@EZK: NOO! We must send that 360 to a sterile, hourly-filtered, 50-degree enviroment!! Call ER!! There is a fingerprint on it!!

(BTW, I have a cousin who takes care of his 360 religiously. BOOM!!!.... RROD)

Again, sorry..... off topic.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 16:44.

You mean we weren't supposed to put it in the entertainment center where we have always put our other video game systems and entertainment electronics? If I had known that, I would have placed it in its own climate controlled room like I should with all my delecate electronic hardware.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by DavCube on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:31.

Damn. I knew i'd get beaten to it, but i didn't think it would be on the first post. XD

The sad thing is, it's true (to a point.) If i remember correctly, Sony is still selling the PS3 at a loss. They DO need to make more money somehow if they want to keep selling them during these harsh economic times.

Re: Sony May Sue Over PlayStation Controller in "Early Death" Ad

Submitted by beemoh on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:09.

Ouch.

Shout box

Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

All shouts

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