PS3 kiosk, can you spot the 360?

by Richard Mitchell { Feb 15th 2007 at 10:45AM }

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

Tags: business, console wars, ConsoleWars, fake, harvey norman, HarveyNorman, ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mrfreezie @ Feb 15th 2007 10:59AM

The 360 just has so many uses!

xdavis24 @ Feb 15th 2007 12:05PM

What's with the bad photochop of dude in the background in the first photo?

pipe @ Feb 15th 2007 11:06AM

how can this store be that retarded?

Toph @ Feb 15th 2007 11:08AM

That really is dumb as hell.

CarpeD1em500 @ Feb 15th 2007 11:30AM

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...?

Silver R. Wolfe @ Feb 15th 2007 11:45AM

Or maybe they were just using the Xbox 360 as a paperweight? The cables might not be connected to anything. :D

THWIP* @ Feb 15th 2007 12:08PM

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

chaostheory0982 @ Feb 15th 2007 12:19PM

hahah, that's hilarious.

OMAC @ Feb 15th 2007 12:25PM

The guy in the first photo moved while the picture was being taken, that's why it looks like part of him is missing.

Mikeawesome @ Feb 15th 2007 12:32PM

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.

Grindstone @ Feb 15th 2007 12:38PM

That's the best looking PS3 I've seen thus far. Looks like a winner to me.

Nick @ Feb 15th 2007 4:31PM

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.

Mak @ Feb 15th 2007 1:31PM

Here is another cool use of the 360. Looks like a tournament tower to me.

www.myspace.com/fragisle

LunarDuality @ Feb 15th 2007 1:37PM

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.

ZeroCorpse @ Feb 15th 2007 3:58PM

I guess Sony couldn't get their hands on a Silicon Graphics Workstation this time.

smak @ Feb 15th 2007 4:52PM

@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.

malamisura.1 @ Feb 15th 2007 3:13PM

So that's how you get GOW on the PS3.

Eric @ Feb 15th 2007 3:08PM

That is f'ing funny, especially if they are trying to pass off 360 games as PS3 games.

Justin U @ Feb 15th 2007 3:11PM

Harkens back to the retard who said he could play Gears of War on his ps3...

coalhalo @ Feb 15th 2007 7:20PM

"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".

Drewcifer @ Feb 15th 2007 10:18PM

"how can this store be that retarded?"

As per the article, it's a "Harvey Norman" store. They're referred to as "Hardly Normal" for a good reason... and not just the IQ of their staff..

jellybean @ Feb 15th 2007 10:33PM

Are people really this dumb?

Quite clearly on display is NOT a PS3.

If the Xbox 360 is playing promotional video which can be assumed as no controllers are present, this is akin to playing promotional videos on a DVD player or a PC.

Bait and switch - i think not - maybe look at fair trading laws...hehe. Good on 'em for generating interest!

KATSU @ Feb 15th 2007 11:02PM

That's why us Aussie called them Hardly Normal instead of Harvey Norman. Bunch of idiots... one day they're selling bedding, next they're selling electronics. They wouldn't know what's a PS3 if it bite them on the ass!

Mr. Dumb Idiot @ Feb 16th 2007 12:56AM

Oh what a suprise! More people hatin' on the PS3. You're all just jealous cuz teh PS3 is teh best game machine EVARRR! It totally pwns ur lame ass Xbox360. PS3 has already sold twice as many as the 360 has and is in so high demand that you can't even find one anywhere, unlike the Wii, you can buy a Wii anywhere u go cuz they suck and nobody's buying them! PS3 iz teh l33t h4xorz on u n00bzorz!!

Ge64 @ Feb 16th 2007 8:55PM

how do you expect them to display 360 games as PS3 games? how are they going to connect the PS3 controllers to the X360? or do you rly think the ppl dont see the difference between an x360 controller and a ps3 controller? btw, if ur stupid enough to think that images (promo movies whatever) are coming from a peice of printed paper, you dont deserve to know the difference between a 360 and a ps3.

also, if the x360 is used to display video's who cares if its a x360 or a ps3 it wont matter shit.

Joe @ Feb 18th 2007 2:35PM

Maybe they are using the 360 to run a Demonstrational/Promotional DVD Video for the PS3. I don't see how stores could afford NOT to sell all the PS3's including floor models.. well not even put out floor models since Sony's initial distribution was so small and its still hard to find PS3's in the stores, best to order them online through ebay.

why are u all stupid? @ Mar 10th 2007 2:00AM

There is no proof the xbox360 is being anything more than a paper weight?. christ it might even be a busted one? (or a working one, thats best use is a real expensive paperweight!, take that fanboys)

EVEN if it was running promo, that would be promo off a dvd or image file!, the 360 would be being used as a dvd player!.

sit back and think before you post retarded things...

idiots...