Sony PSP marketing AD: "All I want for christmas is my psp"

Bask in the glory of an insulting marketing campaign!

This video is an actual attempt by Sony to use viral marketing in order to get more people to buy the PSP. When the ad first came out on Youtube, there was no indication that the video was actually an ad. Presumably, Sony wanted us to think that "Cousin Pete" was actually some hip hop artist rapping about the PSP, in an attempt to appeal to all of the 'gangsta' kids, who are clearly their target audience. An admission that this was an ad can be found at http://www.alliwantforxmasisapsp.com/blog/default.aspx. The original video has since been deleted from the site and youtube, and Sony has posted a sort of pseudo-apology/admission for the trickery, which never actually admits that Sony has done anything wrong.

The video was brought to my attention via www.penny-arcade.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• all
• want
• for
• christmas
• xmas
• my
• psp
• sony
• rap
• viral
• marketing
• advertisement
• ad
• cousin
• pete
• penny
• arcade

[babylonian]

From the description: "Sony wanted us to think that 'Cousin Pete' was actually some hip hop artist rapping about the PSP, in an attempt to appeal to all of the 'gangsta' kids, who are clearly their target audience"

Um, I don't think that's how it happened.

[Monologue]

I do.

[babylonian]

You're wrong, then. As the dude who's responsible for uncovering their lame viral marketing attempt (I posted the thread on SomethingAwful that was cited in every article written about it), I guarantee that the point of the campaign wasn't to convince you that Cousin Pete was an actual hip hop artist. What they were aiming for was some relatable kid who wanted a PSP for Christmas. Nothing about it was an earnest attempt to "appeal to all of the 'gangsta' kids". You kinda just made that part up.

[Monologue]

If I remember correctly, the original youtube posting of this video (which has since been deleted) did make the claim that Cousin Pete was a hip hop artist.

The fake blog itself didn't make this claim, though, but the language seemed like a lame attempt at making the kids sound 'gangsta,' with such great quotes as:

"so we started clowning with sum not-so-subtle hints to j's parents that a psp would be teh perfect gift. we created this site to spread the luv to those like j who want a psp!"

[Monologue]

Granted, I was being a bit sarcastic when I made the claim of appealing to 'gangstas'.

I don't doubt that they were trying to be relatable to their general audience. But it seems they tried to seem relatable was by mimicking some kind of street slang that they picked up through listening to hip-hop, giving the site a faux-gangsta feel.

Hence, my statement interpreting the site's intent as trying to appeal to the 'gangsta' kids. It was more intended at mockery than legitimate interpretation.

[KuragariNoKaze]

Yay for Sony trying to make an "independent" viral video to hype up the psp... ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS THIS WIGGA'S HEAD ON A PLATE!

[DSNesmith]

I want that hat...

[Pooky1991]

OH manXD I'm don't know what to say about this, but DAMNXD

[yahoozle123]

pee ass pee

[Mulder4life]

*likes* just for teh lulz

[oozealot]

Worse fail: Sony's PSP marketing campaign or the PSP Go?

[ScaniaChan]

It's funny, because the PSP gargles balls.

[brent7109]

a new season of jersey shore already!

[RobSanchez89]

Fuck this guy and fuck Sony's pathetic stealth-marketing attempt.

[66richardson]

"Gotta ask my mom for one.......fo' shizzy!!!!"

[KyoPwnsU]

Pathetic as hell.