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After several years of speculation, the first next-generation game console is less than one month away - as the Sony PS4 is set for release on Friday, November 15, 2013. Microsoft's Xbox One follows close behind on Friday, November 22 and should have no problem selling a massive number of hardware units; however, a lower price point along with Sony's consumer and developer-friendly approach to this latest PlayStation console has given the company a fresh start for the next-gen console war.
A higher price and a one year Microsoft head start left Sony at a disadvantage out the gate in the last HD console marketplace. Overtime the PS3 has closed the gap but, this round, the publisher does not intend to make the same mistakes - and they're backing their new machine with some especially creative pre-launch marketing.
The latest PS4 advertisement offers-up an entertaining mix of live-action PS4 game recreations as a pair of friends sing their way through The Elder Scrolls Online, DriveClub, and Killzone: Shadow Fall - to the song "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed.
The charming (albeit cheesy) video opens as the two friends duel in the world of The Elder Scrolls Online - with player one claiming victory. Still, player two gets serious payback when he sends his competitor crashing into the barricade in a DriveClub-inspired race. Unfortunately, we never find out who wins the third scenario - an all out live-action version of a Killzone battlefield.
No doubt, the Killzone segment makes a strong case for a live-action film set in the world of the ISA and Helghast but this isn't the first time that Sony has offered-up cool non-gameplay versions of fan-favorite franchises. Players will easily remember other live-action trailers for the Long Live Play campaign, PlayStation - All-Stars Battle Royale, and Resistance 3. In case you missed one of them, we've embedded each one below:
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The PS4 'Perfect Day' commercial adds further fuel to Sony's Greatness Awaits mantra - which has been a fixture of their pre-console launch advertising since the official unveiling of the new PlayStation hardware back in February. The commercial cuts-off after the one minute mark - but the tongue-in-cheek approach of the video coupled with the eye-popping live-action visuals (especially in the Killzone segment) will likely have a lot of Sony fans hoping for an extended version - or possibly a full series of the musical mash-ups.
Who wouldn't want to see these guys take-on other fan-favorite Sony exclusive game series - especially InFamous: Second Son? Not to mention, pending possible PS4 game announcements in the coming months/years, a singing Nathan Drake from Uncharted and/or Kratos from God of War could have serious viral potential!
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The Sony PS4 launches on November 15, 2013.
Follow me on Twitter @benkendrick.