The image above was snapped by Flickr user, hiredgoon. The photo was taken in a Harvey Norman store, an electronics chain based in Australia. It seems innocuous enough. Just an ordinary PS3 display to promote the machine for pre-order. Nothing special, right? That's what we thought, too. Let's take a closer look, shall we?
Wait a minute. That's not a real PS3, it's just a cutout. Still, the PS3 hasn't been released down under, so it makes sense that they wouldn't have a real one to put on display. But wait, there's something underneath it. Maybe this deserves further investigation.
Alright, alright. Hold on. Something is fishy here. We can't put our finger on it, but there is something damned familiar about the stand that's holding up that cutout. Let's look closer still.
Why, that fake PS3 stand is an Xbox 360. Scandalous! What's more, the 360 is obviously connected to some kind of display. Is Harvey Norman running PS3 promotional material on an Xbox 360? Or worse, are they trying to pass off 360 games as PS3 games? Whatever the case, it's pretty funny and we thank hiredgoon for his investigative spirit. Have any of our Aussie readers seen similar displays?
See Also:
PS3 ad in 360 game, mass hysteria!
PSM readers, just give in and buy GOW
PGR3 image used to promote Gran Turismo HD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-15-2007 @ 10:59AM
Mrfreezie said...
The 360 just has so many uses!
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2-15-2007 @ 11:06AM
pipe said...
how can this store be that retarded?
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2-15-2007 @ 11:08AM
Toph said...
That really is dumb as hell.
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2-15-2007 @ 11:30AM
CarpeD1em500 said...
I know this is like "omg how dumb"
But maybe this used to be a 360 display...and they don't have a working ps3 to display, so they haven't bothered to disconnect the 360 yet...?
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2-15-2007 @ 11:45AM
Silver R. Wolfe said...
Or maybe they were just using the Xbox 360 as a paperweight? The cables might not be connected to anything. :D
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2-15-2007 @ 12:05PM
xdavis24 said...
What's with the bad photochop of dude in the background in the first photo?
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2-15-2007 @ 12:08PM
THWIP* said...
If I remember correctly, Sony decided not to provide PS3 kiosks to Australian retailers. I suppose this is just a funny way of saying "F**k you, Sony". 0_o
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2-15-2007 @ 12:19PM
chaostheory0982 said...
hahah, that's hilarious.
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2-15-2007 @ 12:25PM
OMAC said...
The guy in the first photo moved while the picture was being taken, that's why it looks like part of him is missing.
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2-15-2007 @ 12:32PM
Mikeawesome said...
I don't think it's a photoshop, it think it's an artifact of the latency on cameraphones.
He was in motion and the camera doesn't snap fast enough to pick anything up but his motion blur, where his arms are either pointing out front or above him.
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2-15-2007 @ 12:38PM
Grindstone said...
That's the best looking PS3 I've seen thus far. Looks like a winner to me.
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2-15-2007 @ 1:31PM
Mak said...
Here is another cool use of the 360. Looks like a tournament tower to me.
www.myspace.com/fragisle
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2-15-2007 @ 1:37PM
LunarDuality said...
You know, maybe they are using the 360 as a Media Center extender here. They could pull HD trailers of PS3 games down to a networked PC and then push them to a monitor on the floor via the 360. That would be pretty funny and ironic.
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2-15-2007 @ 3:08PM
Eric said...
That is f'ing funny, especially if they are trying to pass off 360 games as PS3 games.
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2-15-2007 @ 3:11PM
Justin U said...
Harkens back to the retard who said he could play Gears of War on his ps3...
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2-15-2007 @ 3:13PM
malamisura.1 said...
So that's how you get GOW on the PS3.
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2-15-2007 @ 3:58PM
ZeroCorpse said...
I guess Sony couldn't get their hands on a Silicon Graphics Workstation this time.
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2-15-2007 @ 4:31PM
Nick said...
As someone who lived in Australia for a year, let me explain that there are no Best Buys or anything similar in Australia. Most electronic chains like Harvey's are in the middle of the city and are about as big as a CVS pharmacy. They are packed to the gills with all the crap they are trying to sell.
It would be a very good assumption that they don't have room for multiple displays, and had to throw their PS3 adds on top of the old 360 display.
It's really not that big of a deal...not even sure why this is a story.
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2-15-2007 @ 4:52PM
smak said...
@xdavis24
See how there are games hanging to the left of the "ps3 display"? There are games hanging on the right side as well. What you're seeing is him standing in a way that part of those games are obstructing your view.
It's not a photoshop, you're just retarded.
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2-15-2007 @ 7:20PM
coalhalo said...
"It's really not that big of a deal...not even sure why this is a story." - Nick
The reason it is a big deal has something to do with what is known as "The Bait And Switch".
Since the 360 is clearly connected and is held in place by security devices, a rational conclusion is that this 360 is being used for in-store marketing. The photos do not have any controllers visible, which can lead me to believe that the 360 is showing promo clips of some sort. So far, this is not out of the ordinary; in-store product demonstrations is a time honored way of selling a product, especially with tv's, stereos, game consoles, etc...
The problem here is that the 360 is smack dab in the middle of PS3 advertising. And the unit itself is concealed, albeit half-assed, by a PS3 mock-up. Take the average Joe Consumer, who happens tobe walking by this display. He does not consider himself a gamer, and he certainly does not spend his time posting comments in online gaming sites. But he does buy new tech, and he does own a PS2, since he enjoys playing Madden, GTA, and afew others high profile games. Since Joe Consumer is not a gamer, he does not know the difference between a 360, a Wii, or a PS3 until it is pointed out to him. He sees the PS3 display, looks at the images on the screen, and is thus influenced into buying the console. But the reality is that Joe Consumer was watching content displayed on a 360, not a PS3. I'm not here to debate which console is superior, or if the average person can even tell a difference. The fact remains, that based on the photos, deceptive marketing practices are being used. Intentional or otherwise, it's a variation of the classic "Bait & Switch".
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