Today, all over the country, retailers will be receiving their supply of the Wii, and the majority of them will be delivered by UPS. Earlier today, UPS had a small press event to show them delivering the Wii to an Atlanta area Best Buy. Since it was practically on my way to work, I thought I’d stop by and grab some photos for the blog. It was pretty cool seeing all those Wiis come in, but other than that it was pretty boring. Obviously since the press event was for UPS, there wasn’t much talk about the Wii, the general message was that Nintendo wanted something done, and UPS was there to do it for them. There was only about 6 or 7 people there, most of them being camera men getting B-roll footage for tonight’s news and photographers. From the way they were talking they didn’t know anything about the Wii or PS3.

Ironically, while we were all taking photos and filming the delivery of the Wii from the comfort of a dry Best Buy, several people were camping outside for the PS3 in the rain. I asked them how many were camping out to play a PS3 and how many were camping out to sell a PS3 on eBay. They seemed very standoffish and responded with “No Comment”. I really didn’t understand if they were just paranoid, or if they didn’t want the “word to get out.”

Here’s a video of some UPS guy winging some corporate talk. Also, you can check out more pics at Flickr.

Sony has made a lot of mistakes with their upcoming console, the PS3. They have underestimated production times, they have played follower to Nintendo and Microsoft, and they have set a steep price point on their system. But as the launch gets closer they seem to be getting desperate. Sony initially thought they could cover their problems with arrogance and ridiculous PR statements. As the launch grows closer, they now resort to their final strategy: Lies. Take a gander at this. This was a “fact” sheet distributed at Sony’s recent press event, Gamer’s Day.

This “fact” sheet surpasses typical marketing deception, and just includes flat out lies. Let’s set some things straight.

1. Using an Xbox 360 does not “require users to buy” the Hard Drive, HD-DVD drive, a Wireless Controller, or a 1 Year Xbox Live Gold subscription. I understand the point you are trying to make Sony. If a gamer wants a next-gen console, hard drive storage, a next-gen DVD player, a wireless controller, and online gameplay, then a PS3 could be a good deal. But your “fact” sheet goes beyond assumptions into asserting that everyone needs this. I like Microsoft’s pricing model. If you want a next-gen DVD player, be it HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, you shouldn’t be forced to purchase it.
2. The method by which Sony implies to buy an Xbox 360 is a stupid one. Obviously if you wanted a Hard Drive and a wireless controller, you would not buy a Core System, you would buy the Premium System that already has it included. This is like saying that since buying a compact sedan, and modifying it to be faster than a sports car would be more expensive than buying the sports car, then a compact sedan is more expensive than a sports car. In the words of Stephen Colbert, “Do you see how your logic eats itself?”
3. Microsoft isn’t the only one attacked. Sony also mentions that Wii’s online service is free for the first 6 months. This is a lie. Wii’s Opera browser is free for 6 months; their online service is free indefinitely.

Chris was nice enough to put together a fact sheet that actually had facts in it. Notice that key word, “Optional”, sure has a different meaning than “Requires”.

I have already heard reports that MS is threatening legal action if this “fact” sheet keeps its current dearth of facts. Sony has now moved from silly analogies, arrogant backhanded remarks, and deceptive PR statements to flat out lying. On behalf of Big Head Mode, STFU Sony!