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Codemasters looking for descendants of man who almost killed Winston Churchill photo

Yes, Codemasters is really looking for anyone who is a descendant of the Taxi Cab driver who hit Winston Churchill with his car while he was visiting New York on December 13th, 1931. In Codemasters upcoming game, Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, they're exploring an alternate reality where the cab driver that struck Churchill ended up killing him. Because of Churchill's death, WWII took a turn for the worse and the Nazis invade America.

An Oxford historian is actively seeking out any descendants and the quest is being chronicled on Codemaster's Web site. 

This is the first time I'm hearing of this actual incident. The man who hit Churchill was Mario Contasino who kept up on Churchill for the rest of his two-week visit in America making sure he was OK. They even ended up being good friends after this accident.

I am at a complete loss for words. This whole scenario sounds like it's been made up. Also, why are they even looking for a descendant in the first place? Whatever the case, I at least got to use the Winston Churchill picture for once -- and in proper context to a story too! 

[Thanks, Aerox!]

 


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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38

Dyson's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:26
Dyson
Dyson's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:27
Dyson
Oops. Meant to say -- Nex Lives!
etfp's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:28
etfp
THIRD!! CRAP.
Atlas's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:28
Atlas
I believe I am related. What do I win?
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:30
Justice
Yeah so how does Nex sign up?
Clockwork's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:31
Clockwork
I'm really curious as to why they need him. Final Boss in the game? Hell yes.
grrza's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:32
grrza
Zomg! Where's Nex when you need him??
Jonathan Kerr's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:32
Jonathan Kerr
It's been too long since that picture has graced the front page.
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:32
wardrox
So that's who I hit!
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:35
Hamza CTZ Aziz
clockwork: Good point man. Added that to the post.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:39
Samit Sarkar
Well, in the original CGI trailer they showed, the main character (you) wakes up at the wheel of a taxi...so maybe it’s your character (or his father, since the game takes place in the early 1950s) who hit Churchill!
F Whipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 19:45
F Whipple
I like the premise
liqideos's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:05
liqideos
Isn't this game coming out soon? Shouldn't things like a principle storyline be put in place before the game is even given the go ahead?

Or is this like one of those ironic press releases, like when IGN says a new Crash game has come out when it released two weeks prior to the posting?
Brochoose's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:11
Brochoose
Maybe they need to find the descendant because they need his permission to make this Contasino chap a character. Either as the protagonist or some kind of other significant character.
mid3vol's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:18
mid3vol
AHAHA this storyline sounds so stupid, yet so intriguing at the same time *scratches chin
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:30
Cheeburga
Robert Summa.
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:35
Professor Pew
What? You mean if the UK fell, the US wouldn't have been able to win World War 2? This changes history as Hollywood shits it down my throat!

Next thing you know, people will be saying that the Russians did most of the fighting in that war...
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:35
Sharpless
NEX! BABY COME HOME!
MrSadistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:40
MrSadistic
USA! USA! USA! USA!
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:53
Sam Spectre
I call shenanigans!
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 20:55
The-Excel
As Action Bastard would say, plot contrivance ho.
B5512's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 21:17
B5512
Clearly they are planning on exploiting his genetic memory to recreate the event, ala Assassin's Creed. Sounds like a good premise for a sequel actually.

Also, I disagree...you just can't make this stuff up...
NightDehumidifier's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 21:42
NightDehumidifier
All I have is my uncle from Brazil, Adolfo Hitler.
LarkOhiya's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 22:23
LarkOhiya
long live the nex.
liqideos's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 22:35
liqideos
My grandpa told me a story about how he once pissed on a taxi cab in New York when he was in the Navy, can I have five dollars in store credit please Codemasters?
PrinceofCannedPeaches's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 22:46
PrinceofCannedPeaches
Winston Churchill: Drunking drive since after it was popular. Er, before.
ThelolDranger's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 23:01
ThelolDranger
Nope, not a single clever comment in response to this odd story.

I'll have to add one.

"Hmmmm! Interesting!"

You're welcome.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2008 23:58
Velt
Im still waiting for Mr. Sterling comment... it isnt coming.
Orionsaint's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 00:20
Orionsaint
This man kicked fucking ass!

One of the greatest men of the 20th century!
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 00:51
MechaMonkey
Revenge of the Churchill picture... I thought I'd never see the day.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 00:54
mistic
sure hope they find the offspring of that guy, the whole premise is pretty incredible...

I really like the idea of the story behind the game btw finally a WW2-game that isn't set on normandy beach...
ian_esq's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 01:30
ian_esq
Damnit Rob Summa
Necros's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 01:59
Necros
This is crazy.
Jim's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 02:04
Jim
I can smell the FAUXNEWS headline this evening:

ZOMG!!! The man who hit Churchill was Mario (who cares for the rest anyways)!!!
episodic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 05:05
episodic
Someone tell Jim he's not wearing his monocle in that picture. I want my subscription fee back. Not enough monocle.

I'd say this sounds interesting, but indeed why the hell are they looking for a descendent? Haven't they learned from the BBC yet? Just make it up; Claim someone in the company is the taxi driver's grandchild. It only takes 2 years to find out. Job's done by then.

This alternate reality game will no doubt make baby Jesus cry.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 07:08
Mxyzptlk
Sounds like someone's trying to drum up attention for their upcoming game Turning Point: Fall of Liberty.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2008 18:01
Fading Star
Lol. Awesome.
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/10/2008 09:48
Holyetheline
Wow holy crap that is amazing. Seriously WTF, I want to be the descendant... but I'm more likely one of Hitler since I'm 100% German.
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