Xbox 360 dominates in mainstream newspapers

Regional freesheet Metro has told GamesIndustry.biz that Microsoft's total spend for the huge advertising campaign in today's edition amounts to around GBP 500,000.

Microsoft has bought up almost all the ad space in today's paper, with huge adverts for first-party titles such as Gears of War, Viva Piñata and Ninety-Nine Nights. There's a competition to win a 360 and home cinema system, plus ads promoting the Xbox Live Vision Camera, the Classic range, the forthcoming HD-DVD player, wireless accessories and Xbox Live Arcade.

In addition, the paper features ads from companies such as PC World, Samsung, HMV, GAME, GameStation and BT which all prominently feature Xbox 360. Plus there are plus third-party software ads from Activision, THQ, Capcom, Sega, Rockstar, Ubisoft, EA, Atari and Konami.

[BlackCountryBob]

I picked up the paper on the train this morning and I was amazed at how much 360 coverage there was, literally every page has a 360 game or console on it. Very smart move by M$ I think as the paper is read by everyone so maybe moms an dads have seen the 360 and decided what they are buying little Johnny for xmas!!!

[SuperSaiyan4]

I need to find a copy lol!!

[DJ]

You'd think the shortages would've made them more confident. Smart move.

[Thugbot187]

Really smart move. Europe’s game market is almost as large as the US, so if MS grabs that they will more than make up for there lost in Japan, will also get Japan Dev’s to rethink there stance against developing for the 360.

[SuperSaiyan4]

If you missed it on this site it gave a link showing that 2 Xbox 360 Japanese games were doing better than even MGS4 on the PS3! The 360 has no competition its an inbetween of the Wii and PS3 and is the best choice for pure gaming.

[PS360WII]

So how many years does ms need the 360 to sell well before they start making any money off of it. They sure do spend a whole lot on it.
I DO think the 360 is aweseom!! I have given MS many dollars for games and attachments but they sure are throwing the money around. 360 will have to be around for 7 or more years of awesome sales before they get out of the red it seems

[shotty]

Actually they have started making money off the consoles according to iSuppy they make about $70 off a console. Some of that is lost to Retailers, shipping but none the less money is being made.

[PS360WII]

Good to know that they are doing well

[malachi23]

I've got the pull-out which is 4 pages long to keep as a sign of microsoft's AMAZING EFFORT to win the next-gen war!.

[THAMMER1]

You would think PS3 hype should boost today but it seems to have faded.

[power of Green]

Just what they needed to do. Sony was already telling half truths on Fox News yesterday and folks are already; PS can do this and that and wording it like it's the only console to do so.

I'v seen people talk about games that are on the 360 now and will be coming out with the PS3 the way they talk to the public thw tone/language is like PS3 will have this game then in small print in the back or in the corner say also for the 360.

[AuburnTiger]

I've heard of stealing the spotlight, but buying it?

[Yo Wassap]

EA does that, just they ruin stuff in the process

[Master of Menace]

Microsoft poured millions into the original XBOX advertising back when it was released. Now they are doing with it XBOX 360. Gee, on the very day PS3 is released. If 360 is doing so well, why the advertising campaign? Why such an expensive campaign? They are running scared of course. It didn't make much difference back then, and it won't now. I can't say I blame them though. The PS3 is going to be tough competition.

[BlackCountryBob]

This advertising campaign was run in the UK!!, the PS3 has not been released in the UK today and will not be for the next 4 months, same as in Australia! Microsoft chose today as in the UK today was emergence day when GOW was released! Thats nothing to do with fear of sony, its advertising your console on the release day of the years biggest software title! Pure good business sense if you ask me!

[ScorpioKyle]

it's called smart business. Sony is getting all this free publicity by all the morning shows and local news, hell even CNN showing off the system and the lines (also the inflated ebay prices). Microsoft needs to keep the Xbox brand name out there.

[BlackCountryBob]

I get what you are saying but Sony has nothing to do with it, PS3 has received almost no mainstream press coverage in the UK except for on gaming sites and a few stories on BBC.co.uk! This campaign was all about advertising the launch of GOW, nothing to do with Sony in any way, shape or form! The people who read the metro are from all areas of the population as it is given away free on every bus and train across UK every weekday morning, most people who read the paper have probably never heard of xbox 360 but will be on the search for a xmas present for their kids which would explain why so many references to viva pinata were in the paper!

[Mikey_Gee]

..but I tell you one thing, when we were at FS and BB's later that day ..... 360's were flying out the doors.

My brother in law who used the money he made on the PS3 to buy one of the killer 360 bundles (premium system with GRAW, GOW, XBLU, RR6) for only $450 canadian had a hard time finding one. We had to hit 4 FS stores to finally get one.