PS3 Repositioning Itself As All-In-One Entertainment Solution

Speaking to the LA Times , SCEA Senior VP of Marketing Peter Dille said the new marketing push for the PS3 is all about positioning it as the ultimate all-in-one solution.

“We have been a game company for years and we would never walk away from that, but research confirmed there is a larger proposition under our nose,” [said Dille]. “We wanted to reposition as a total entertainment solution. We felt like we can really own entertainment.”

The article goes on to give analyst opinion that Sony’s chances at doing this is far better today than they were in previous years.  The advent of multi-featured technology like iPhone has opened up a new consumer acceptance that Sony hopes will fade into the PS3.

Unlock Xbox Doritos Campaign Is Back

From Kotaku :

Last year’s “Unlock Xbox” winner, Doritos Dash of Destruction, was downloaded nearly a million times, so while we endlessly poke fun at the contest, it is a way to get your skills recognized by a large chunk of the gaming community.

Those who feel they have a game concept that merges cheese-flavored corn chip and interactive entertainment in a way never-before-seen can visit www.unlockxbox.com from now until October 4th to submit a video of their idea. Ten quarter-finalists will be chosen to make their games reality.

Two finalists will have their titles made into 2010 Xbox Live Arcade games, with one grand prize winner scoring a $50,000 gaming consultant project from Doritos.

We re fans of this campaign just because it goes above and beyond just having ads show up on a game and actually gets the most hardcore users (usually the most vocal) involved.

The Ballad Of Gay Tony Starts Singing

Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad Of Gay Tony is the second and final exclusive DLC episode for GTA IV on the Xbox 360.

Developer Rockstar Games is known for keeping things extremely secretive, and this latest DLC pack is no exception.  After announcing the eye-catching title and logo a few months ago, they have finally released four screenshots.  Yup, only four.

And their method of distribution is equally interesting, as one screenshot went to each of four Grand Theft Auto fansites rather than the usual IGN/Gamespot route.

Expect this trickling of game media to continue until the DLC is released later in October.

[The screens] {link no longer active}

The Genesis Train Rolls On

Sonic the Hedgehog single-handedly made Sega a console powerhouse, so it s no surprise that they ve just finished porting their entire Sonic on Genesis library to the Xbox Live Arcade.

In an example of how old IP can still create opportunities on current consoles, Sonic the Hedgehog still satisfies (not critically, but in sales) with recent PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii releases, so the Genesis ports are an obvious choice.

Sonic & Knuckles goes the extra step of trying to actively market the other three Sonic games, as it acts as an expansion pack for Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2 and Sonic 3.

Shacknews  explains:

Buying each of the previous games unlocks the following:

Sonic the Hedgehog: Unlocks the game “Blue Sphere,” the bonus/Chaos Emerald level from Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Lets you play as Knuckles, complete with the ability to get to previously inaccessible areas of the game, and new power-ups added for playingas Knuckles

Sonic the Hedgehog 3: Play as Knuckles in Sonic 3, and also changes the flow of the game and connects it directly to Sonic & Knuckles, so that you can play the two seamlessly!

How prescient!  Sure, today we have easy-to-download DLC, but who would have thought Sega would have an old IP that would actively market the idea of DLC in such an easy and still-innovative way   Any other IPs in mind?

Buy One, Get One Half Off

Best Buy has been taking strides in gaining consumer acceptance for their video game retail efforts in recent months.

Last month, the electronics superstore began test marketing a program that would match Gamestop’s used prices for new titles (something Gamestop quickly matches by lowering the price of used games significantly).

Now, Best Buy is offering a buy one Xbox 360 game, get one 50 percent off sale through their website at bestbuy.com .

Couple Best Buy’s efforts with Amazon’s increasing used games market share, and Gamestop better start responding in more ways than just offering pre-order bonuses to consumers.  How about starting with more than just $5 off for a used version of recent releases

Exclusive GameStop Bundles Continue With Brutal Legend

With the prevalence of digital distribution, bricks-and-mortar video game retailer Gamestop has resorted to different techniques to keep gamers buying their wares at the store.  One of these methods   To partner up with publishers and offer downloadable incentives (through promotional codes) for people who pre-order their game at Gamestop.

EA’s upcoming rock opus Brutal Legend is the latest to join the action, and it helps us see a trend in marketing games (and locking down those dollars).

Gamers who pre-order Brutal Legend at Gamestop will get early access to a demo of the game on September 17, and there will be a special downloadable guitar that is only available to the pre-orderers.

Expect these kinds of offers to continue as both retailers and publishers continue to try and stem the tide of digital downloads and (in the publisher’s case) a long-booming used games market.