Sony's last minute giveaway of free 46" Bravia televisions at the UK PS3 launch sure generated a lot of buzz for the company and its new console, but could there have been a much more sinister agenda at work? A spokesperson for major UK retailer HMV seems to think so.

"The stunt of giving away over 200,000 worth HDTVs, though great for the fans that managed to get one, struck me as being slightly unnecessary in the greater scheme of things - especially as it may have encouraged some of the more cynical media to think of it as a last-minute attempt to bolster queues and PR coverage."

Oh my god, he could be onto something here. Could giving away $480,000 worth of hi-definition televisions been something other than Sony demonstrating their Oprah-level philanthropy, or am I just a member of the more cynical media?

Why even bother commenting? Could HMV be miffed at having been passed up as the official launch venue for Virgin Megastores, or just feeling a bit inadequate for only offering free copies of Virtua Tennis 3? Uh oh, there goes that cynical media again. Michael Fahey

HMV questions PS3 TV "stunt" [GamesIndustry.biz]

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