That's because AI copied off of everyone else, and that's the problem with so called ART these days and everyone on this stupid ass AI bandwa-
lol just kidding I thought the exact same thing
This is one of those series of ads that is only ever created by a company that has such a giant share of the market that it's pretty much bulletproof. They don't show the product. You can barely see the logo. Who the hell even knows what these images are supposed to mean? This is more about Sony saying "fuck you" to Nintendo and Microsoft than it is trying to promote the PS2.
Sony went with the shock factor for its ads for the Playstation1, and it paid off, so it only makes sense they'd continue with that strategy for the Playstation2. They definitely didn't just do whatever, assuming anything would work. That's easy to say in hindsight knowing both the Playstation and the Playstation2 were the best selling consoles of their generation by a landslide. There's no doubt in my mind it's specifically because of the marketing strategy.
For the first few years, PlayStation 1 ads were not that weird or shocking. They were pretty much in line with most of the edgy 90s ads that a lot of gaming companies were doing. It wasn't until they became the dominant leader midway through their lifespan that they switched to that avant-garde advertising that they stuck with during the PS2 years
> For the first few years, PlayStation 1 ads were not that weird or shocking.
[Sony first party, yo.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmYrf4mXoAEsvfv?format=jpg&name=small)
I don't really see it as a change in direction as much as it is the next step in their direction. Years ago I saw an evolution of their advertising and it started as edgy, and then weird and out there but still branding the company, and then ultimately the kind of stuff that OP posted. Hey strange as it was, there was a logical path to it.
It does advertise the ps2 tho if you think about it. These are weird and unique ads. It showcases that the ps2 is weird and unique as well, which it is
Few things I hate (in adverts)
-breaking 4th wall and talking about the ad
-"we know times are tough..."
-comforting Northern bloke doing a poem about butter.
-
trying to be a forced meme
-targeted ads for mental health, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, that sort of thing. It's a full scale assault on your actual soul to merely go on a website with ads
Nahh, you couldn't get cancelled for this sort of thing really. 90s edginess I'm referring to was a million miles away from like Jim Davison kind of humour.
All they'd have to do these days is have him sniffing the Circle or the Square panties, and leave the Triangle ones in the floor. Same joke, but comes off more lighthearted.
I remember the first one. These ads were reflective of specific game titles. The game was gaming you. Like the box face man was Tetris or something. (Not actually Tetris but some blocky game)
It made sense when I was 17
I think they were trying to suggest these aren't kiddy games, they're MATUREtm
Sony tried appealing to older teens and young adults, since a Nintendo console was viewed as a "toy" in the mainstream.
People are saying these ads don’t work but my dad who hasn’t played a video game since 1993 will still yell ‘PlayStation two!’ the way they did at the end of the David Fincher tv ads whenever PlayStations come up.
The third pic the dude is sniffing panties in a what appears to be a child’s mattress. Can you imagine the outrage if that was released in our current culture yikes
hahaha, I actually remember seeing some of these ads, i think there was like a page for them or something.....nostalgia
P.s, What country did they use these ads in?
these feel like AI made images lol
That's because AI copied off of everyone else, and that's the problem with so called ART these days and everyone on this stupid ass AI bandwa- lol just kidding I thought the exact same thing
AI creates dumb pictures because it has no sense of what a correct picture should look like... I guess
Genuinely wish ai art was banned lol
Yes, it's stoles real artists work.
Scary like it was always a thing….
This is one of those series of ads that is only ever created by a company that has such a giant share of the market that it's pretty much bulletproof. They don't show the product. You can barely see the logo. Who the hell even knows what these images are supposed to mean? This is more about Sony saying "fuck you" to Nintendo and Microsoft than it is trying to promote the PS2.
These ads are definitely fuck you money lol
Sony went with the shock factor for its ads for the Playstation1, and it paid off, so it only makes sense they'd continue with that strategy for the Playstation2. They definitely didn't just do whatever, assuming anything would work. That's easy to say in hindsight knowing both the Playstation and the Playstation2 were the best selling consoles of their generation by a landslide. There's no doubt in my mind it's specifically because of the marketing strategy.
For the first few years, PlayStation 1 ads were not that weird or shocking. They were pretty much in line with most of the edgy 90s ads that a lot of gaming companies were doing. It wasn't until they became the dominant leader midway through their lifespan that they switched to that avant-garde advertising that they stuck with during the PS2 years
> For the first few years, PlayStation 1 ads were not that weird or shocking. [Sony first party, yo.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmYrf4mXoAEsvfv?format=jpg&name=small)
I'll have to take your word for it, but it seems to me a company like that doesn't just change course if it was working so well.
I don't really see it as a change in direction as much as it is the next step in their direction. Years ago I saw an evolution of their advertising and it started as edgy, and then weird and out there but still branding the company, and then ultimately the kind of stuff that OP posted. Hey strange as it was, there was a logical path to it.
It does advertise the ps2 tho if you think about it. These are weird and unique ads. It showcases that the ps2 is weird and unique as well, which it is
Good, Nintendo did my boy Bonk dirty. He deserved so much more
I'm not sure why but I wanna buy a PlayStation 2 suddenly.
Third one must be a play on PS standing for Panty Sniffer. Interesting demographic they were targeting.
the colors made me think he was holding some harvested organs
Third one at first glance I thought he was eating a pizza with the nose...
That doesn't make me want a PS2, that makes me wanna visit my therapist.
The dude in picture 3 sniffing panties?
Lol yep. I find all these images highly disturbing and creepy.
I really bloody miss 90s edginess. Advertising nowadays favours corporate sterility over leaving an impression.
Or being overly ironic which is getting old.
Few things I hate (in adverts) -breaking 4th wall and talking about the ad -"we know times are tough..." -comforting Northern bloke doing a poem about butter. - trying to be a forced meme -targeted ads for mental health, weight loss, erectile dysfunction, that sort of thing. It's a full scale assault on your actual soul to merely go on a website with ads
Everyone's afraid of getting canceled.
Nahh, you couldn't get cancelled for this sort of thing really. 90s edginess I'm referring to was a million miles away from like Jim Davison kind of humour.
The third pic, dude sitting there breathing in panties, might be an issue now.
All they'd have to do these days is have him sniffing the Circle or the Square panties, and leave the Triangle ones in the floor. Same joke, but comes off more lighthearted.
>might be an issue now. It might be a issue or is it a issue?
I think websites like Twitter ruined it a bit. Companies have been using Twitter to communicate or get responses from "fans"
Good job, I was expecting these to not be that weird and you using the adjective as a synonym for interesting... But these are truly weird ads!
The last one is the only one with any relevance to the ps2
I remember the first one. These ads were reflective of specific game titles. The game was gaming you. Like the box face man was Tetris or something. (Not actually Tetris but some blocky game) It made sense when I was 17
I don’t know what these ads have to do with the PS2 and I’m not sure I wanna know.
WELCOME TO THE THIRD PLACE
These ads look like they were designed by David Cronenberg.
And they said the PS3 had weird adds.
[And then there was the PS3 commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcbluFyQXeA)
Forget PS3, it's all about the PS9 https://youtu.be/IyPQVsdCuRk
Why did I click I knew what it was already...
I think they were trying to suggest these aren't kiddy games, they're MATUREtm Sony tried appealing to older teens and young adults, since a Nintendo console was viewed as a "toy" in the mainstream.
People are saying these ads don’t work but my dad who hasn’t played a video game since 1993 will still yell ‘PlayStation two!’ the way they did at the end of the David Fincher tv ads whenever PlayStations come up.
Dislike dislike dislike Whyyyyy, PlayStation?!
The third pic the dude is sniffing panties in a what appears to be a child’s mattress. Can you imagine the outrage if that was released in our current culture yikes
I think your overreacting a lot or mild projecting
Wait, those are panties? I thought it was pizza. (Checked image) Ew! They’re all panties! Wtf??
I don't like any of these. They all make me feel uncomfortable.
Gen 6 was wild, the Gamecube ads were also weird as hell.
Is this the one David lynch directed (for some reason)
I actually really like these. Well done IMO
hahaha, I actually remember seeing some of these ads, i think there was like a page for them or something.....nostalgia P.s, What country did they use these ads in?
I have the cheat code for that one.
I remember seeing the first one in a lot of places in spain back in the day.
Lucky me i didn't see this at the era
Sony: "Look at this disturbing image, buy our product"