Sony is celebrating 20 years of success with the PlayStation game console, and the company wants to commemorate the milestone with a special game console to get fans excited. The Japanese game maker created a total of 12,300 limited edition PlayStation 4 consoles.
Sony is offering different promotions in different countries to meet the market’s needs. For instance, in the United States, the game consoles were sold to whoever clicked the “buy” button fast enough. But they did things quite differently in the United Kingdom. Although Sony did sell a limited number of the special edition PS4 devices at a shop in London, the company received more publicity for the strange contest it used to sell the new console.
Sony’s controversial competition
Sony teamed up with GAME for a special promotion that required gamers to jump through hoops before being allowed to purchase the limited edition game console. Interested buyers have to follow both PlayStation and GAMEdigital on Twitter to find clues and solve the puzzle. If and when they can solve the riddle, they have to click the character as the answer. Buyers must fill out the form and cross their fingers.
Gamers filed complaints over unfair contest
U.K. consumers who want to purchase the limited edition PS4 console are not the only ones disheartened by Sony’s odd contest. The Advertising Standards Authority called out Sony’s latest promotion for unfair practices after six people filed complaints. During the competition, five people each managed to get their hands on more than one of the limited edition consoles before GAME disqualified anyone who submitted an entry before Sony shared any clue. The scam goes against the terms and conditions of the contest. It also poses a serious problem with the contest.
Although Sony and GAME were openly called out for the controversial promo, there isn’t much else being done about the matter. The companies were reminded that they must make sure future contests and other special promotions are fair for everyone.
Source: ASA
