Week 10 - Product Concepts

Sony is looking at minimizing their impact with their products by reducing the size of their packaging. They also use non-VOC vegetable oil-based ink in all Japanese made units. On the inside of their boxes, all Sony-created documentation uses 85% post-consumer recycled content. By promoting environmentally conscious packaging the size of the product packages become smaller making it is possible to increase the number of products it can load per container, thereby increasing trasport efficiency.

On behalf of Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PSP; their products are the easiest to get out of the box quickly and safely. The accessories and add-ons for these games systems, whether by Sony or a third party, are very easy to get out of the box, too. Even the tough shrink wrapped Sony accessories have a secret pull-apart section, making the impossibly tough looking protective shield a snap to remove and open. Their product packaging is part of the whole marketing plan for a great majority in their products. Packaging is important because their stunning or attractive packaging draws customers to try their new product without that customer even knowing anything about it. Thinking about it practically; if product packaging didn't play an important part of Sony's product overall appeal, then why do they spend so much money on packaging? It's because they know that their attractive packaging can make a difference between their products being sold.

MGS4 PS3 hardware bundle box art, which is now officially in a white box instead of the black blox shown when the bundle was announced back in February 2008. 

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) also started the Playstation Logo Licensing Program, part of their Official Licensing Program, which is targeted to a variety of lifestyle products from apparel to everyday items. Licensees who enter into an agreement with SCE through this program can design their product using the PS3/ PSP/PSPgo/PS2/ Playstation/ Playstation Family logo and iconic (triangle, circle, x, square) marks on a variety of lifestyle products such as apparel, accessories, house wares and more.

The packaging for such items will show the same "Official Licensed Product" logo that's applied to licensed gaming gear. Since the launch in 2009, 45 licensees have released over 123 items.