Sony uses PGR3 graphic by accident

By Tom Bramwell Published 26 January, 2007

To promote GT HD. Oops.

Score one for the "driving games are all the same" crowd: Sony's been caught using a Project Gotham Racing 3 graphic to promote Gran Turismo HD Concept, apparently unaware of its mistake.

"This one was too good for me not to stop my vacation for a few minutes to post," Xbox Live's Major Nelson chuckled on his blog, pointing out that the main image on the PSP Connect site was actually quite an iconic one from Microsoft's own Bizarre Creations-made Xbox 360 racer.

Screen captures are all over the place if you want to join in the mockey. As Kotaku puts it: "Know what that's a picture of? Somone getting fired."

The picture has since been removed from the PSP Connect website.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (99) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BM #1 5 years ago

    Oops indeed. I wonder who'll be getting hung for that PR

  • Killerbee #2 5 years ago

    lol! Chance of Sony spinning a story that this wasn't a mistake, but their site was h4x0r3d?

  • mattigan #3 5 years ago

    Ha Fucking Ha!

  • peteb #4 5 years ago

    Interns...

  • lambtron #5 5 years ago

    Oh man. This is real Truth is Stranger than Fiction material.

    You can't make this stuff up!

  • jonsaan #6 5 years ago

    I thought the Muppet Show was cancelled years ago?

  • Mr_Brown #7 5 years ago

    The sony train wreck continues...their PR seriously suck...

  • SeesThroughAll #8 5 years ago

    "Know what that's a picture of? Somone getting fired."

    Indeed.

  • Blerk #9 5 years ago

    The most likely explanation is, of course, that the site is actually created and maintained by an external company who are just on Sony's payroll.

    But don't let that stop you guffawing. :-)

  • Royal Fool #10 5 years ago

    Not as bad as the "All I want for Christmas is a PSP" video, though. Now that was some grade-A failure material, something that should be taught in schools as an example of how not to do marketing.

  • Jheronimus #11 5 years ago

    I read it on another site. Anyone here who wants to comment about the superiour Gr4fix of the PS3?

  • UncleLou #12 5 years ago

    Why not?

    The new GT looks better than PGR3 to me. Happy? :)

  • Royal Fool #13 5 years ago

    Blerk, I don't think so. The site is registered to Sony and is uses Sony Pictures' nameservers, also, "Sony Connect Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America".

  • L42yB #14 5 years ago

    ROTFLMAO :-D

    Ahahahaha! That made my day. Nice one $ony :) Couldn't get any decent screens from ur own property then?

  • Mageme #15 5 years ago

    Maybe the employee who did this was a Micro$oft spy? Gyahahahaa... Well, anyhoo, I needed a good laugh in the morning.

  • BadBoyBonner #16 5 years ago

    ROFL - now that is funny - not so funny for whoever did it if they have mortgage payments to make, but seriously who let that go up? Must be more than one head rolling I'd guess.

    For another gaff reported on Kotaku see http://ko taku.com/gaming/wii/sony-advert... with the link's name a bit of a give away.

    Did make me laugh where the page said "The Official US PlayStation site often showcases the latest games for the PS2, PS3, and PSP. NOW THEY SEEM TO BE BRANCHING OUT A BIT, if the description of Metal Slug Anthology is any indication."

    Come on Sony sort your house out.
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 09:48

  • ruttyboy #17 5 years ago

    Noone's getting fired for that, sure it's embarrassing but it's not that bad in 'the real world'. Certainly not enough to risk an unfair dismissal lawsuit.

  • Mordum #18 5 years ago

    How long before this mistake was realised? does GT:HD not look better than a 14 month old 360 launch title then?

  • lennon #19 5 years ago

    /Pictures scene at Sony HQ

    "To me, To you"

  • Jheronimus #20 5 years ago

    @ Mordum

    That was the same thing I was thinking about...

  • Steroyd #21 5 years ago

    lol

  • BadBoyBonner #22 5 years ago

    Depends on previous record

  • Blerk #23 5 years ago

    Blerk, I don't think so. The site is registered to Sony and is uses Sony Pictures' nameservers, also, "Sony Connect Inc. is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America".

    I didn't mean that it wasn't an official Sony site - it is. But companies often hire third-parties to design and maintain their sites. My company has a web site, but we don't create or host it ourselves. You see?

  • ruttyboy #24 5 years ago

    Exactly Blerk, it's almost as if the person who made the graphic wasn't a hardcore gamer and wouldn't see the difference between one shiny CG car and the next. But everybody's obsessed with the 'console wars' right?

    /rolls eyes

  • Balסּr #25 5 years ago

    Amateurs. Seemingly even Sony themselves no longer take the PS3 seriously. :D

  • sanctusmortis #26 5 years ago

    When you're getting your assets from Sony, though, how do you make that mistake?

  • gerald #27 5 years ago

    Yeah, typical hyperbolical gaming-blog stuff. It's funny, but not something to fire people or canceling webproducing-contracts about.

  • JonFE #28 5 years ago

    "The most likely explanation is, of course, that the site is actually created and maintained by an external company who are just on Sony's payroll.

    But don't let that stop you guffawing. :-)    "

    In which case the screenshots material used by this external company would be provided by Sony itself, wouldn't it?

  • Stormflood #29 5 years ago

    It seems too perfectly embarrassing to be an accident. Someone did this on purpose.

    And it's not like there aren't any decent screens of GT HD either.

  • karlidog #30 5 years ago

    Exactly Blerk, it's almost as if the person who made the graphic wasn't a hardcore gamer and wouldn't see the difference between one shiny CG car and the next.

    They're being paid to, though. I might not be an expert at long-distance burger recognition, but if McDonald's hired me to design their advertising, I'd say I'd ballsed it up pretty thoroughly if I showed a photo of a Burger King meal.

  • gerald #31 5 years ago

    Somebody searched google for images on "gran turismo hd" and picked the first suitable one on page three (second line on the right)...

    Edit: "gran", not "grand"
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 10:59

  • Balסּr #32 5 years ago

    Try spelling the game name correctly and then see relevant hits. ;)

  • chronom4n #33 5 years ago

    no way! funniest thing for some time i have seen

  • davisorle #34 5 years ago

    AHAHAHAHAHA OMFG!!! You guys are so so pathetic! I MEAN GET REAL!!!
    If that was from MS you would have been talking so so much shit! lol And now this could have been
    A) An MS' spy on the work
    B) A hackers work
    C) "Sony's been caught using a Project Gotham Racing 3 graphic to promote Gran Turismo HD Concept, apparently unaware of its mistake."

    WTF? R u serious even think of using those excuses? How old can you really be to even think of saying these things? In their own damn site... OMF... First they pretend they are youngsters to like always use your stupid heads and now this made out of your own... I need a serious answer.. It's sad giving this impression to people that comment dayly or talk with you through this site.

  • UncleLou #35 5 years ago

    /points at poster above, chuckles

  • the creeper #36 5 years ago

    Hmmm. Has Sony Connect ever been talked about this much? It would be interesting to know how many hits it's had in the last 24 hours. And how many downloads.

    I think the article over on IGN said this was done by an external company.

  • Stormflood #37 5 years ago

    @davisorle

    WTF are you ranting about?

    Read back your own sentence and ask yourself if you make any sense whatsoever: "First they pretend they are youngsters to like always use your stupid heads and now this made out of your own"

    Seriously, what are you saying here?

  • gerald #38 5 years ago

    ^ see what I mean with "hyperbolic". We are not crapping our pants enough... :-)

    Here you are: MUUAAAAHHAAHAHA. THIS IS THE END OF SONY!!1! TTLY PNWD, THOSE FKRS!

    Satisfied, davisorle?

  • Rambaldi #39 5 years ago

    Quality :)

  • JonFE #40 5 years ago

    "Somebody searched google for images on "gran turismo hd" and picked the first suitable one on page three (second line on the right)..."

    Seriously, any responsible company should/would provide all necessary material themselves and not rely on Google to provide it for them...
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 11:36

  • davisorle #41 5 years ago

    @Stormflood
    "WTF are you ranting about?
    Read back your own sentence and ask yourself if you make any sense whatsoever
    Seriously, what are you saying here?"

    R u so weak in the head so u forgot already about the blog shit? BUY A PSP WE KIDS LOVE IT. Dude.... wake up already... It's not so early not to understand what im talking about

  • davisorle #42 5 years ago

    @gerald
    Not untill I c it happen. U dont get that it's not that I don't want to c MS on top or whatever. It's that I want Sony to start gettin back in their heads and realise what I want for next gen... When they give it to me in also a reasonable price according to what the competitors offer me then I'll be more than glad to go Sony. Till then I'll be having this stance against Sony. Fair enough?

  • prettyboytim #43 5 years ago

    Davisorle: Just out of interest, what grade do you expect to get for your English GCSE exam when you take it in a couple of years?

  • crazyhorse174 #44 5 years ago

    ...I'm obviously not down with the kids these days because I have no idea what davisorle is going about either...

    ...I was pretty sure that the "reports of MS spies" were meant to be taken tongue-in-cheek. Do the youth of today have no concept of sarchasm or irony??

  • gerald #45 5 years ago

    It's easier to hack some keywords into GoogleImage and pick a file than to phone the other company or department for the material.

    The poor guy who made this banner certainly learned a lesson about gaming journalism, digg and web(marketing)2.0 today. He not only made a embarrassing mistake, but fucked up big time ...

  • davisorle #46 5 years ago

    @prettyboytim Fucktard.. Im greek... Talk me in greek now since u wanna reace in this.. how much of MALAKAS can u be? seriously... can you tell me that? And I'll answer your smart question... Plus I'm at work and I have to be posting either little by little either in a hurry so mistakes are acceptable I believe... So... HOW MUCH MALAKAS CAN YOU BE? >:)

  • crazyhorse174 #47 5 years ago

    @prettyboytim: Genius mate, genius! If I'd have been drinking tea there, I'd have had to buy a new monitor! :)

  • davisorle #48 5 years ago

    @crazyhorse174
    I'm 24... I 've raised & supported a familly on my own from the age of not even 18 I believe I have the right to consider myself mature.Is that fucking alright with you?

  • davisorle #49 5 years ago

    @crazyhorse174
    "@prettyboytim: Genius mate, genius!"

    I guess you are as much of a genius as he is... What a shame...

  • rhinoxious #50 5 years ago

    "It's not so early not to understand what im talking about"

    You're talking jibba-jabba,

    use coherent sentences or earn yourself a place on my ignore list.

  • crazyhorse174 #51 5 years ago

    @davisorle:

    If your fucking 24 as you claim, then why the hell do you write sentences that my 4 year old cousin would be ashamed of?

    Have you heard of grammar? Or spelling? Or are these mythical beasts to you?

    Piss off back to the job club - I'm sure there'll be some street-sweeping jobs along soon.
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 12:04

  • gerald #52 5 years ago

    @davisorle (boy, your writing is hard to read)
    I have no problem with your stance against Sony or any other company. And it's perfectly fine to state your antipathy in forums or comments. But please don't call everybody "pathetic", who is not as seriously as you into this console wars thing. Ok?

    Everybody is just laughing and joking over this.
    (And now, apparently, over you too. Which is also not nice, if you ask me).

  • davisorle #53 5 years ago

    @rhinoxious
    R u that stupid that I have to write "EARLY IN THE MORNING"??? Whats wrong with you?
    @crazyhorse174
    "Piss off back to the job club - I'm sure there'll be some street-sweeping jobs along soon."

    First of I still don't get how stupid can you be? Is that all you can use against me? Why care about grammar? When chicks from your countries come here and we screw them they don't ask as to write it down.. Most of older Greek people don't know shit in talking english but they still get laid with chicks kids like you can't sutisfy! Seriously... Give me your email and I can send you some vids... We have new every summer. About the job you told me about, Im sorry but we don't all have the same goals.. At least my familly taught me that. I can see your education dude. Nice getting to know you though. Seriously. I guess that was your answer on how much Malakas you are. NICE!


    And something else... I don't claim to be 24... I just happen to be 24. April 4th is my Bday and guess who is not invited! Do I have to send a freaking copy of my ID for an ignorant like you or what?
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 12:21

  • agparrot #54 5 years ago

    lol

    coughs snot into beer

    ugh

  • davisorle #55 5 years ago

    @gerald
    I don't mind. I'm not forced to be able to write in English so perfect that they wont comment about it. I thought people had more intresting things to do that spin this around that way. It's ok though and I'm sorry you had to say you think it's not nice to see this. WHAT THE HELL! :) I know how I'd deal with this in person but since in the web anyone can talk like this I'm fine with it. And about the pathetic thing... I'm not talking about everyone and anyone but some people like this dude that I don't need to point out that you can already tell he is since out of my post he had to only comment on my spelling... Don't you think that IS stupid?

  • davisorle #56 5 years ago

    @rdexter
    "Old enough to say 'are you' instead of 'R u'"

    Still comments on the way I type.. I repeat... Is it so important that you care so much? WTF? It's like you can't write lol or something. I think you got that "r u" meant "are you". It's a good thing that at least you got it that easy. Way to go!

  • crazyhorse174 #57 5 years ago

    You know what? This could go on all day like this, but I can't really be bothered even arguing with any more.

    For the record as ewll davisorle, I've put you on my ignore list, so you can rant away like the idiot that you are all day and it won't make any difference - coz I wont see it.

    Rant, rant, rant. Rant, rant, rant. Rant, rant, rant...

    Bliss.

  • davisorle #58 5 years ago

    Smoooooooth

  • Mageme #59 5 years ago

    Wow, I would never have guessed that my little "Micro$oft spy" comment would be taken so seriously by someone!!! Ahahaha.... my apologies to those who were caught in davisorle's crossfire!

  • davisorle #60 5 years ago

    @Kato
    I c (see) u (you) r ( are) a busy person too. Intresting things to do all day. "Get a life" tells you something? ( Oh don't make me cry by adding me in your ignore list as well... That will be too much :p )

  • TheJanitor #61 5 years ago

    that wasn't sony.

  • Nige #62 5 years ago

    And if I could add a PS...

    The kind of UK girls who holiday in Greece - you are welcome to... with our blessing.

    Just don't come crying to us when it falls off... okay?

  • alpha-0ne #63 5 years ago

    all this tells me is that sony dont actualy care if they use authentic screenshots that actaully represent their games
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 12:52

  • davisorle #64 5 years ago

    Did I say anything like that? BC (before Crazyhorse) It was ok with you posting and talking with me through here. Now I guess we aren't much for the likes of yours right? lol.. This is stupid. I wonder why I even bother when it has to do with kids... I do feel pathetic now.

    So.... I guess I took away all the glory in this site from Sony's new big fuck up?
    O.o

  • davisorle #65 5 years ago

    @Nige
    Since we ( Greeks ) invented condoms we know when to use them... When you start having sex you'll need at least some research in google about that....
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 13:08

  • davisorle #66 5 years ago

    @alpha-0ne
    Thank god you editied your post dude... You would take all this trash talk away from me with those mistakes!!! lol! ;)

  • Greebo #67 5 years ago

    This thread made my coffee break a joy.

    God bless Sony and condoms.

  • davisorle #68 5 years ago

    @Greebo
    lol ( laught out loud ) :p

  • BadBoyBonner #69 5 years ago

    Hahaha this thread is far more interesting than the news article it stemmed from! Lol

    As for the job jibe - people should get brushed up on HTML and flash skills as a contract for mainting one of Sony's sites will surely be available shortly! lol

  • matt__jon #70 5 years ago

    What kind of loser could tell the difference anyway? Both games suck.

  • Hughes. #71 5 years ago

    I don't know what's more shocking, the stupidity of using the pic, or that someone actually went to PSP Connect.

  • ruttyboy #72 5 years ago

    Wiki reckons the Egyptians invented condoms?

  • ruttyboy #73 5 years ago

    Well whatever, it's always amusing when people try to share in the kudos of achievements from (ancient) history just by virtue of where they happened to be geographically when they were spat out from their mother.

    Like modern Italians likening themselves to ancient Romans.

    "Yeah, well we built the Colosseum! And the Fiat Panda..." :D

  • ruttyboy #74 5 years ago

    Tortoiseshells eh? Sounds like the fabled use for crisp packets from my youth. Salt and vinegar? Ouch!

  • chupachups #75 5 years ago

    "The most likely explanation is, of course, that the site is actually created and maintained by an external company who are just on Sony's payroll.
    But don't let that stop you guffawing. :-)"

    That doesn't make any difference, Sony is responsible for whatever they publish in their own name. If there are mess-ups, they should have checked the copy more carefully.

    Sony doesn't manufacture most of the PS3's components, but they're the ones who choose what goes in and what doesn't so it's ultimately a Sony console. It's the same with publicity.

  • ruttyboy #76 5 years ago

    Of course they're 'responsible', but the point is that this has been blown out of all proportion, stuff like this happens all the time but it takes fanboys (not referring to anyone) to blow it out of proportion.

  • peteb #77 5 years ago

    Since we ( Greeks ) invented condoms we know when to use them... When you start having sex you'll need at least some research in google about that....

    didnt u guys also invent gayness?

  • L42yB #78 5 years ago

    @peteb: LOL :) Was thinking that too... isn't that a typical Greek sterotype?

    EDIT: Maybe that's why the condoms came about...?
    Edited by 1 at 26/01/07 @ 15:10

  • prettyboytim #79 5 years ago

    Davisorle:

    You're right; I had assumed that English was your first language. Considering it's not your mother tongue, you speak it (should that be 'type it'?) pretty well. Also, it's good to see the rest of your post devoid of textspeak 'r u etc...'

    Anyway, my apologies.

  • TonyCocaCola #80 5 years ago

    This thread keeps getting gayer.

  • Moz #81 5 years ago

    @TonyCocaCola & peteb
    As "A Gay" I take offence to that ;o)



    LOL @ the balls up by Sony, and LOL at random thread it spawned!

  • peteb #82 5 years ago

    "@TonyCocaCola & peteb
    As "A Gay" I take offence to that ;o)



    LOL @ the balls up by Sony, and LOL at random thread it spawned! "


    yea sorry about that dude, but someone was bound to say it anyway.

  • quantumsheep #83 5 years ago

    As a greek I take offence.

    At davisorle I think :o

    ;)

  • Moz #84 5 years ago

    What troubles me is that davisorle is the only person on my ignore list yet that reduces this thread from 92 posts to 77!!!

  • NthSimulachum #85 5 years ago

    I feel this is a great moment for the furthering of Anglo-Greek relations. Just like when we boldy ran away from there in World War 2 to let the Nazis get on with it...

  • Nige #86 5 years ago

    Moz - maybe posts with his name in get blocked too? Or do you see those okay?

  • Retroid #87 5 years ago

    NEWSFLASH

    Cretin doesn't understand why people call him a cretin when he writes in a cretinous manner

    NEWSFLASH

    Anyway. Yes, this has been blown out of all proportion, but taken alongside all of Sony's recent gaffes it makes you wonder who the hell is running their PR of late O_o

  • captain-future #88 5 years ago

    That's the funniest thing I read about Sony since "Riiiiiiiiiidge..." comedy gold, they SHOULD PROMOTE THE GUY!!!

  • DocTep #89 5 years ago

    It was obviously Microsoft's "Ninjas"... Everyone forgot they existed?

  • effinwooly #90 5 years ago

    shame on your sony !

  • Merlinho #91 5 years ago

    snorts on orange squash @ Rutty's Fiat Panda comment :)

  • davisorle #92 5 years ago

    @ruttyboy Condoms are called Trojjans ffor some reasons.. Don't you people take History lessons? :p
    @peteb... Dude... You knew that Americans and Greeks hate you cause you have so many gay people there or not? If not, go ask around. About Americans hating you guys I found that out cause I lived there for 4 years so i'm really not making it up. That goes for you and French that they hate so much. I didn't have a problem till I figured out why they thought of you like that. ( that doesn't go for everyone)

    @L42yB
    No, we invented condoms so that there won't be so many morons like you around.. Imagine how your famillywould have to live to supposrt another like you. We also invented toilets and the flash... You'd have to whipe your ass with your hand right now ( though it'd be the least for someone to notice about your attitude when you talk like that for something like that and to someone older than you in that manner ) I bet your parents are very proud of you! Way to go raising you.
    I bet you have also no shame on you on making comments about your gay people there and no respect about them.

  • jynxce #93 5 years ago

    "Sony uses PGR3 graphic by accident" like Coke uses a Pepsi can to market their product. Talk about damage control...

  • SomaticSense #94 5 years ago

    LOL!!!

    Utter brilliance! Sony mistakenly bigging up the 360?? Class!!

    You really couldn't make it up anymore regarding the absolute circus that is 'The Sony PR Show'. It's getting to the point where I'm actually starting to think that MS must be paying them shit loads to repeatedly fuck up on purpose.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/07 @ 22:17

  • davisorle #95 5 years ago

    @Kato
    When did I say I hate gay people? :/
    Are you stupid or what? Your whole post is based on....?

  • J0YCIE #96 5 years ago

    What a good read. Well...the parts I could decypher (Thankyou davisorle.) Lol, he chose not to comment about child sex.

  • SomaticSense #97 5 years ago

    I know I'm not part of this conversation, but I felt an obligation to butt in, especially when bigotory, idiocy and ignorance is involved. As well as people with a shockingly shit memory.

    Davisorle: "When did I say I hate gay people? :/ "

    Um, in your previous post?: "@peteb... Dude... You knew that Americans and Greeks hate you cause you have so many gay people there or not? If not, go ask around."

    What a prick. And fucking stupid as well.

  • TonyCocaCola #98 5 years ago

    @davisorle
    Man I wish your parents used a condom.

  • davisorle #99 5 years ago

    @SomaticSense
    You stupid little kid, first of watch your mouth cause if not me that I live so far away somone will be there to brake it when you talk like that to people that are too much for you. In the same post I wrote that in the end and I guess it proves that I didnt say anything bad about gay people. The last guy that refered to me talked about gay people and I answer to him. So in the same post that you are saying I wrote "I bet you have also no shame on you on making comments about your gay people there and no respect about them."
    So stfu and get a life.

    @TonyCocaCola
    I wish your parents knew what a condom was. I bet that they can't be so proud of raising a kid like you. I'd have killed you. (The least kick you out of my house)

    Some of you have to start thinking that just cause it's the internet accidents can't happen. Plus watch their manners according to who they talk to and the age difference.