Marketing

In case some poor unassuming soul accidentally discovers this blog...I have another, more frequently posted (not by myself :P) blog that is related to Jamaican music...more specifically, ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Reviews, interviews, and views. Check out Music is Our Occupation at www.musicaloccupation.com. The link is also on the right hand column of this blog.

So the holiday season has begun, and with November's numbers, the Playstation 3 is firmly planted at third place. It's a shame for Sony, who once dominated the console wars with its past two iterations, has fallen so far. It's actually similar to Nintendo after the SNES, but unlike Sony, they were able to keep a small army of die hard fans, while Sony is finding it hard to.

For my Marketing 401 class (Professional Selling), we had to do a group project where we chose (or create) a product and attempted to sell it. We chose the PlayStation 3, and in doing so, took a hard look at Sony's marketing methods for this console. I have to say, Sony has completely missed the mark with it's advertisement campaigns. Hell, even its current holiday season advertising campaign is completely off the mark.

Not to mention how little they've done to foster something unique for their system, something that even Microsoft has been able to do. Nintendo has Mario, Microsoft has Master Chief, who does Sony have...Sackboy may be Sony's savior, but they haven't been using Sackboy at all...

And wasn't there suppose to be a massive marketing campaign for Little Big Planet? Where is it??? This is seriously the game of the century, and yet, it's not selling well when compared to shitty games like Wii Fit or Gears of War 2! Jesus man...

I personally think its too late at this point for the Ps3 to catch up. They're too stubborn with cutting their prices, they continue to use flawed marketing campaign, and they don't market the right stuff. Fire their marketing team, and get in some fresh blood. (maybe meeeeeeeeee).

The games are more expensive than the 360, the games look basically the same as 360 (because developers don't develop for the PS3, they develop for the 360, then port it), and with the stigma of being a very expensive system....everything is going against it.

Maybe it's time to start being competitive, Sony.

Faith

It's been awhile since I've wrote on this thing huh? Almost two years now....

I like to think of myself as a minority in this great country of mine...one of the few Catholics that actually attempts to be a practicing one...that means trying to go to church regularly and receiving communion regularly, as well as trying to follow the rules. I don't always succeed, but I like to think I come close enough.

So I've recently read a book called, "Silence" by a Japanese writer, Shusaku Endo. Shusaku Endo is suppose to be regarded as one of Japan's greatest modern day writer, and what's rare is that he is a Catholic (Christians make up less than 1% of the population in Japan) and regularly discusses his religion in his books.

The book is a profound, heart wrenching book. It's based on a true story of a Portuguese Jesuit priest who enters Japan to find his mentor of which he has not heard from in over 6 years and rumor says has apostasized. This occurs a time when Japan was beginning to isolate itself and persecute Christians (Japanese as well as foreign ones).

And I have to say the book has certainly made an impact on me. It deals with a whole range of subjects from faith, to doubt, to politics, to clashing cultures. I think one of the most "tingly" moment for me was when the priest, captured by the local Japanese feudal lord, discusses and debates Christianity versus Buddhism with the Japanese lord.

A subject Endo seems to like to revisit (at least in this book) is Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. Was Judas evil or was he just a pawn in God's greater plan for Jesus?

And the last line of the book, "But Our Lord was not silent. Even if He had been silent, my life until this day would have spoken of Him." Very, very profound.

I know I am not describing very well why I enjoyed this book or why it made such an impact on me, but if you're religious, and even if you're not religious and like to read, I highly suggest you read "Silence"