Virtual Emotion (but emotion nonetheless)

I may not look it, but I am a fairly avid video gamer. I'm not particularly great at any one game, but I do enjoy wasting a few hours shooting terrorists, zombies, Nazis, or Nazi zombies. That being said, there is a new ad out from Sony that is sort of groundbreaking in its approach.

There are three major video game consoles on the market; Sony has the Playstation, Microsoft the Xbox360, and Nintendo has the Wii. Each of these consoles have certain game franchises which are exclusive to their platforms, in addition to each having a separate network for online gaming against other people. Furthermore, traditionally, the holiday season is the time during which the most anticipated games of the year are released.. So, all of this adds up to a ramp up in commercials for video games starting right around now, as most people cannot afford to buy the flagship game for each system (most people only have one). Often, these commercials are for one specific game, but Sony has done something new, they made a commercial which ties in all fans of Sony, regardless of what franchise they're most in tune with.

To Michael. I'll be honest, when I first watched that, I got goosebumps. Say what you will, but when you accomplish something difficult, virtual or not, there is a definite feeling of pride. This is even more likely with the scope of video games nowadays. Some games have HUNDREDS of hours of gameplay built in, you may well build your character from the ground up, going through missions and tribulations together. You grow attached to your character, whether it be a soldier, a greek mythology figure, a spy, or an adventurer. Sony has capitalized on this emotional connection, to solidify that idea that a video game is more than just a game, it is now, more than ever, a way to escape into a world where you can achieve the impossible.

Sony: Long Live Play
Xbox360
Wii