Sony plays dirty with Destiny in the UK, thoughts?

[Riff Moonraker]

Ok, while I am fully aware of the already over-discussed timed exclusivity of the next Tomb Raider, and such, I came across this last friday and find this to be MUCH worse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN2gdO1bbj8&list=PLpg6WLs8kxGNSKv8bpEwgS7TIwWd3SncZ

Sorry, I am not quite sure on how to put the actual video up in my post, so I apologize for that ahead of time.

According to this, Sony paid Activision to not allow Microsoft to run adverts in the UK for Destiny. Before anyone even brings up COD, I do not believe that there is any ongoing attempt financially by either Microsoft to not allow Sony to advertise for COD, so lets not just fall back on that and make it out to be the same thing, because I am pretty sure its not.

I am sure we are all aware of the console wars, and the ongoing rivalry between Microsoft and Sony, and alot of us probably have taken part in it as well, at some point or another. My personal take on the whole thing is that 1st party exclusives are all well and good, but beyond that the whole timed exclusivity thing is just ridiculous on BOTH sides of the fence. However, as silly as the timed exclusivity and all that is, to me this is even worse. Its just flat out disgusting to not allow your competitor to even run an ADVERTISEMENT for a game that their console will also get, simply because you paid the distributor (Activision) an untold amount of money for them to do so. I personally find this practice by Sony to be disgusting, and a brand new low for them.

So, thoughts? Judging by the comments under the video it appears that no one seems to fully get what is being said in the video, and are only laughing and calling Microsoft desperate for making an ad about Destiny Cologne, while apparently thats the only way they can get the word out that the Xbox will ALSO be getting the damn game in the UK.

*by the way, IF someone happens to find proof that Microsoft has also done this in the past.. PROOF... then yeah, that would piss me off, too. While I am a fan of the Xbox, myself, there is NO excuse for this kind of activity, in my opinion, on either side.*

 

[Evonisia]

Wow. That is my only reaction.

Sure, somebody could bring up how Microsoft basically only advertised Titanfall as an Xbox One game, but then again the only other platform Titanfall was released on that wasn't Microsoft was PC. EA was making money off of Titanfall regardless of whether it sold on Xbox One, Xbox 360 or PC. I guess they could bring up the CoD DLC timed exclusivity, but they never advertise that it's never coming to PS consoles (they always say PS3/PC version comes later, or a month later).

 

[Riff Moonraker]

Wow. That is my only reaction.

Sure, somebody could bring up how Microsoft basically only advertised Titanfall as an Xbox One game, but then again the only other platform Titanfall was released on that wasn't Microsoft was PC. EA was making money off of Titanfall regardless of whether it sold on Xbox One, Xbox 360 or PC. I guess they could bring up the CoD DLC timed exclusivity, but they never advertise that it's never coming to PS consoles (they always say PS3/PC version comes later, or a month later).

Agreed... also, the timed exclusivity thing is something done by both parties. (I honestly hate it, either way...because ultimately, it is us gamers that get shafted with these situations)

But this is a situation where Sony paid X number of dollars to Activision to have them tell Microsoft "You cannot advertise this game in the UK"... this is a new low, to me.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Wow. That is my only reaction.

Sure, somebody could bring up how Microsoft basically only advertised Titanfall as an Xbox One game, but then again the only other platform Titanfall was released on that wasn't Microsoft was PC. EA was making money off of Titanfall regardless of whether it sold on Xbox One, Xbox 360 or PC. I guess they could bring up the CoD DLC timed exclusivity, but they never advertise that it's never coming to PS consoles (they always say PS3/PC version comes later, or a month later).

It's the same with CoD when it comes to advertising though. I have never seen a CoD advert on TV, in a conference that makes any reference to it coming to a Sony console. Microsoft shouldn't throw a hissy fit if they've been doing it for years.

 

[Riff Moonraker]

Wow. That is my only reaction.

Sure, somebody could bring up how Microsoft basically only advertised Titanfall as an Xbox One game, but then again the only other platform Titanfall was released on that wasn't Microsoft was PC. EA was making money off of Titanfall regardless of whether it sold on Xbox One, Xbox 360 or PC. I guess they could bring up the CoD DLC timed exclusivity, but they never advertise that it's never coming to PS consoles (they always say PS3/PC version comes later, or a month later).

It's the same with CoD when it comes to advertising though. I have never seen a CoD advert on TV, in a conference that makes any reference to it coming to a Sony console. Microsoft shouldn't throw a hissy fit if they've been doing it for years.

Thats the point, though. I do not believe that Microsoft has paid anyone to not allow Sony to advertise the game. It doensnt make it so, just because you havent seen it, remember. I have also seen people comment that they HAVE seen Sony adverts for COD, so unless someone can point out to me that it has actually occurred, then Microsoft cannot be accused of doing the same thing.

 

[Evonisia]

Snip

Well erm...

Snip

Ok, I'll let that happen.

I would like to update a thought then. If Sony advertises Destiny by just mentioning the PlayStation consoles, well I don't like it (same with last year when a lot of the adverts I saw were BF4 for Xbox One!!!!). It could be forgiven if during the obligatory game cover ending to the adverts it showed all the versions (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC).

 

[Guerilla]

OK, that's kind of desperate from Microsoft. And an exclusive adverting deal doesn't hurt gamers at all unlike the exclusive deals Microsoft makes because they rarely focus on making their own first party games. Those deals actually hurt gamers because they deprive them of a game. Instead of contributing to the gaming industry Microsoft seems to just limit it, it's a real problem with them.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Snip

Whilst it's not explicit (mainly because Sony didn't act like a child over it) remember we are talking about the UK here, and as a Brit I can tell you that every single advert I've seen for Call of Duty on TV, websites and more has shown it to be an Xbox exclusive, with the Xbox logo appearing at the end and nothing else. It's obvious and even if you don't fully believe it, in the UK Microsoft has a monopoly when it comes to advertising CoD.

 

[Barbas]

(...)Sorry, I am not quite sure on how to put the actual video up in my post, so I apologize for that ahead of time.(...)

Here's the relevant code (remove the asterisk). Basically, you only want the gibberish that's right after the first "=" symbol, minus all the other stuff after the "&":

[*youtube=tN2gdO1bbj8]

That way, you get the video but not the playlist stuff. Further useful codes are in the thread linked below (DO YOU LOVE ME NOW, AEROSTEAM?! D.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.850242-The-Escapist-Users-Guide-to-Posting-Commands-and-How-to-do-Fancy-Code-Stuff

 

[AtomChicken]

Yay marketing bribery!

Now, will Sony pay Microsoft to not advertise the PC version of Destiny?

 

[carnex]

Yay for corruption!

But I don't know why are you so surprised. I don't know who started that tradition, bur this is what is going on for quite some time. Microsoft ha payed Activision (in marketing) over and over again to put XBOX jingle on the end of COD commercials for example. It's "we are not going to say that it's exclusive to us but you are going to see only out logo in it". And I have no idea does it work but since both M$ and SONY do it to this day it probably does.

 

[Fsyco]

Ok, while I am fully aware of the already over-discussed timed exclusivity of the next Tomb Raider, and such, I came across this last friday and find this to be MUCH worse.


Sorry, I am not quite sure on how to put the actual video up in my post, so I apologize for that ahead of time.

Fixed that for you. It's [ youtube= video code (the stuff after the v= in the url, minus any additions about playlists or time and such)]

On Topic: Corporations doing possibly unethical things? Oh no! In a similar vein, I think I found a bear turd in the local woods this morning.

 

[Rozalia1]

Thats the point, though. I do not believe that Microsoft has paid anyone to not allow Sony to advertise the game. It doensnt make it so, just because you havent seen it, remember. I have also seen people comment that they HAVE seen Sony adverts for COD, so unless someone can point out to me that it has actually occurred, then Microsoft cannot be accused of doing the same thing.

Here is where you should be very careful, indulging in these matters is not advised.
As said by others countless games here in Great Britain (and other places I'd imagine) have adds that solely mention the Xbox version. The call of duties are one, I recall Resident Evil 5 being another, and there are many more.

It ultimately means little as most people will check the game out on the internet anyway and it'll be clear as day what its available on. Its I suppose that whole cigarette marketing deal (irrelevant now for the most part) I suppose where its not really an effective thing to do, but you can't surrender the field to your competitors and allow them free reign.

 

[L. Declis]

Well, Microsoft has paid Square Enix to not let PS4 owners have Tomb Raider or EA to not have Titanfall either.

So boo hoo, Microsoft, this is the game you've chosen to play.

 

[endtherapture]

Meh.

Not sure how this is an issue. So they can't advertise - so what?
The game is still on the machine and those interested will still purchase it.
Meanwhile, most multiplatform ads only show an Xbox logo at the end, here in Canada.

I shrug my shoulders at a non-issue.

If Microsoft had an agreement with Activision that Sony couldn't advertise Destiny I'm pretty sure the entire of this website would be absolutely up in arms about it, it's one of those partisan Escapist issues, Marvel > DC every time, Sony > Microsoft every time and many other cases.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Let them kill each other. I don't care. Both companies are terrible.

 

[josemlopes]

Wow. That is my only reaction.

Sure, somebody could bring up how Microsoft basically only advertised Titanfall as an Xbox One game, but then again the only other platform Titanfall was released on that wasn't Microsoft was PC. EA was making money off of Titanfall regardless of whether it sold on Xbox One, Xbox 360 or PC. I guess they could bring up the CoD DLC timed exclusivity, but they never advertise that it's never coming to PS consoles (they always say PS3/PC version comes later, or a month later).

Its starting to piss me off how they present their products, Sony said in E3 that the next gen version was only available on the PS4. Then it was quickly debunked since Rockstar published the same announcement trailer with the Xbox and PC included in the end so maybe the exclusive part was only the transfer account thing between the PS3 version to the PS4 version that they also talked about in the E3 presentation but no, that is in the other versions too.

Basicly there is nothing "Only on Playstation" and yet they said that. The PC version actually has an exclusive feature that is the movie making tools like in GTA IV.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

So, thoughts?

I'm assuming the deal was for TV advertising only? 'Cause if not Sony need their money back. I live in the UK and my Xbox Homescreen has been swarming with Destiny ads and vids for months now.