Why is that weird? It depends on who pays for the ad. If anything, it's interesting that the hardware manufacturers are paying for software ads rather than the publishers themselves.
But the 360 got a huge push out of doing that for Madden, and the PS3 is now trying to catch up. I'm sure Activision or EA or anybody else is more than willing to let Sony or MS pay for running the ads that promote their product, and I'm also sure they don't care if they both do it.
What would be weird is if you saw AC PS3 ads and AC 360 ads in the same region. I would imagine that the marketing deal must include language stating that if Sony buys advertising for AC over a certain period of time that MS isn't allowed to do the same in the same region.
So instead of actual exclusives, we're down to marketing departments battling over exclusivity of advertising.
And the publishers are smart to take those deals now, because it's all about install base at this point. Once that has been determined, neither Sony nor MS will have any need to advertise 3rd party games.
I'm seeing lots of apparently "PS3 sponsored" advertising for Multiplatform titles here in Germany lately. Last night alone I saw the Massive Attack AC spot, always with the PS3 logo at the end, like 3 times. Also one a R&C PS3 exclusive trailer. All the "Can you FIFA 08" spots I caught over the past weeks also had only the Playstation Logos in them.
Barely seeing any 360 advertising at all lately. Are they holding back (for what?), or am I just missing them? Granted I'm not watching too much TV lately due to all the great games to play, but you'd think if I catch like 15 PS3 spots by accident, chances are I should stumble over one or two 360 ones by pure chance...
Anyway, I'm off to unwrap Mass Effect now... woohoo!
It seems that here in Finland Xbox360 advertising has picked up a little. Many sites and magazines seems to carry a 360 Arcade picture.
And to those who are interested, here's the official list of best selling games in Finland (5.11.-18.11.2007). 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision) PC PS3 Xbox360 2. The Simpsons Videopeli / Game (Electronic Arts) DS PS2 PS3 PSP Wii Xbox360 3. Crash Of The Titans (Vivendi Games) DS PS2 Wii Xbox360 4. Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft) PS3 Xbox360 5. NHL 08 (Electronic Arts) PC PS2 PS3 Xbox360 6. Crysis (Electronic Arts) PC 7. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo) Wii 8. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (Electonic Arts) PC Xbox360 9. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami) PC PS2 PS3 Xbox360 10. Rottatouille / Ratatouille (THQ) DS PC PS2 PS3 PSP Wii Xbox360