This is one of those ads that is so original, witty and funny, that it left a wide grin on my face.
The Sony PSP ‘Lamp Post’ ad shows a typical action scenario, a police car parked to the side with one policeman calling for back-up while another is guarding the suspect who appears to be handcuffed to a lamp post. However, when you look closer, you see that the suspect is actually playing on a Sony PSP with his hands around the lamp post!
So simple, so effective. It shows that Sony PSP is so addictive, even a criminal cannot let go of it in exchange for a chance to run away.
The excellent ad was created by TBWA Espana, Madrid, Spain with creative directors Juan Sánchez, Guillermo Ginés, Vicente Rodríguez, Bernardo Hernández (doubling as art director as well).
Video Game Handcuffs
Sony PSP Ad
Trend Themes
1. Addictive Gaming - The use of gaming as entertainment and escape is becoming so all-consuming that even criminals pause in their escape attempts to indulge.
2. Marketing Creativity - Marketing firms are exploring novel ad concepts, blurring the line between entertainment and commercials which showcasing the innovative aspects of their clients products.
3. Attention-grabbing Ads - Advertisements that tell a story or show the unexpected, like criminals playing video games while handcuffed to a post, emulate the video games and other media the technologically savvy consume, and thus, are better received.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - The immersive gaming industry has the opportunity to take its platform and technology to unexpected locations in the public sphere to better showcase its products.
2. Advertising - The trend of developing increasingly innovative ads provides opportunities for new creative mediums, like video games.
3. Entertainment - People continue to consume content at an astonishing rate, leading to a need for new and creative ways to capture the public's attention.