Sony are to reimburse Vita customers after their TV adverts made false claims. The adverts had exaggerated the device’s ability to connect to the PlayStation 3, whilst staff at the ad agency used by the electronics giant are said to have used their own Twitter accounts to fool the public. Users who live in the US and bought a Vita before 1st July 2012 will be eligible for partial refunds.
It’s said that those eligible will be e-mailed by Sony shortly. The move comes after a settlement with the FTC. They will able to opt for $25 in cash or a credit refund or a $50 voucher, which they’ll be able to spend on video games or other services offered by the company. The company pulled an advert for the Vita recently after it was branded offensive.
The original ad suggested that players of Killzone 3 would be able to use a feature that wasn’t available and said that users would be able to recommence games on the Vita that they had started on the PS3. However, this was only possible on some games and in certain circumstances. Users weren’t informed that if they could pick up where they left off on a different device, they would need to buy two copies of a game. It also claimed that users would be able to compete against each other using the different devices, even though this wasn’t possible.
The ad agency Deutsch LA were found to have sent out an email to their staff asking them to post positive comments about the Vita. The more recent, controversial ads were deemed to have been “over-sexualized”, with a female doctor apparently talking about sex acts before it was revealed that she was in fact referring to the Vita.
Have you been duped by Sony’s ads? Tell us below.
