Perfect Day

This Playstation 4 advertisement featuring two players participating in multiple competitions may not seem like a romantic commercial since the two players are directly competing and even killing each other, but anybody who enjoys video games sees these familiar situations and falls in love with them all over again. Each and everyone of these competitions happens in a genre of games that is well established and many people already enjoy. This bringing back nostalgic feelings of the environments which have already been explored and enjoyed previously. In order to attracts as many people as possible the advertisers used multiple genres of games and sceneries. The commercial play's on more than just the viewers nostalgia, it also refreshes the environments seen in older games so that they are brighter and feel new as if there is something to explore. The 8 second mark in the video is a great example of this as it show a great view of a sunset fading behind mountains which is a classically romantic scene to draw in the viewer. However, since this is a video game commercial they also show a castle as many "gamers" have fond memories of role playing games with knights and castles.

The commercial switches to a new genre 24 second mark. This time it is a racing game which brings up more memories for those who enjoy the genre and cuts to a new view at 26 seconds to once again show you how beautiful of a world their console can create. When the commercial cuts back to the two players racing they seem to be enjoying themselves as they are enthralled in their competition. They are able to stir up a feeling of excitement as we picture ourselves in a similar situation. Even as he is flipping through the air he continues to sing about how great of a day he is having.

At the 38 second mark we cut to our final scene in which the two players are playing a shooter. All of the explosions (I counted 20 in the 18 seconds of action ) create a small adrenaline rush and the two continue to mindlessly enjoy their alternate world with no consequences.

While the commercial focus's on 3 main genres of games it still has a few themes that overarch the entire narrative. The song "Perfect Day" originally by Lou Reed, doesn't fit in with the action that is happening but it is a great fit for the commercial as it describes the amazing time the two players are having with the Playstation 4. "Perfect Day" also makes the smiles on the two players faces seem like they belong. Throughout the original medieval fight, the car flipping over, and the 20 explosion the mindless smiles of pure enjoyment never break for a second and they make these fantastical environments truly seem like fun places to be. The bright colors and landscapes also help to engulf the viewer in the fantasies.

"We have no sympathy but what is propagated by pleasure: I would not be misunderstood; but wherever we sympathize with pain, it will be found that the sympathy is produced and carried on by subtle combinations with pleasure. We have no knowledge, that is, no general principles drawn from the contemplation of particular facts, but what has been built up by pleasure, and exists in us by pleasure alone." -Wordsworth's 'Preface to the Lyrical Ballads'

Wordsworth states that we only sympathize through pleasure. The genius's behind this commercial must have felt the same way as they continually show the pleasure these two players feel and use the sympathy drawn from that pleasure to pull the viewer into their worlds and help them to envision the joy they could have playing on a Playstation 4. The advertisement continually draws on the happy moments from the viewers past in order to relate themselves to the two players who are over dosing on enjoyment.

"THAT when a thing lies still, unless somewhat else stir it, it will lie still for ever, is a truth that no man doubts of. But that when a thing is in motion, it will eternally be in motion, unless somewhat else stay it, though the reason be the same (namely, that nothing can change itself), is not so easily assented to. For men measure, not only other men, but all other things, by themselves: and because they find themselves subject after motion to pain and lassitude, think everything else grows weary of motion, and seeks repose of its own accord; little considering whether it be not some other motion wherein that desire of rest they find in themselves consisteth. From hence it is that the schools say, heavy bodies fall downwards out of an appetite to rest, and to conserve their nature in that place which is most proper for them; ascribing appetite, and knowledge of what is good for their conservation (which is more than man has), to things inanimate, absurdly." - Tomas Hobbes 'The Leviathan'

Tomas Hobbes is trying to make the point that imagination needs a spark before it can become a fire and this commercial is filled with sparks. All of the nostalgia packed in this commercial will flood "gamers" minds with their fondest video game memories and for those who may not have much interests in video games anymore it is supposed to draw on those fondnesses for castles and adrenaline and explosion and rekindle the need to play.

The argument made by the commercial is that you will have fun on this new video game console. The pleasure and the nostalgic moments shown manage to pull you into the fantastic worlds and convince that the Playstation 4 will be a new place to enjoy everything you allow yourself to imagine.