SCEA Lends Support to Hip Hop Summit Action Network

SCEA today joined forces with hip-hop luminary Russel Simmons (founder of Def Jam Records and Phat Farm clothing) to bolster support for the Hip Hop Summit Action Network. The initiative has been presented as non-partisan and non-profit based, acting entirely as an incentive for the youth of America to get off their behinds and into the polling booths for the upcoming election. Sony will be setting up PlayStation booths at various summits around the country, where famous Def Jam artists like Beyonce and LL Cool J will be talking about the importance of politics.

Whilst LL Cool J may not be the most insightful political commentator in the world, it is hoped that 'da kidz' will respond to the pro-active advice offered by such gold-caked, bare-chested rappers. Sony's provision of consoles seems like a more abstract contribution. According to the press release, the youth of America love their PlayStations, and so would be willing to stop playing them in order to go to a local political summit where they could queue at a booth to get a go on a Playstation. It is, however, possible that SCEA are less concerned with increased political interaction and are simply exercising their brand publicity machine in a way that will help convince middle America that videogames aren't so bad after all. A cynical explanation perhaps, but almost certainly an accurate one.

How the playing of Medal Of Honor at a political summit will affect young Americans' political outlooks is a mystery, but if there is any upsurge in young voters' participation, Sony and Def Jam will - rightly or wrongly - surely claim some credit.