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Yesterday we decided to post the frankly disgusting news segment that was aired on Fox, in which the game Mass Effect was unprofessionally and underhandedly mauled by a panel of self-proclaimed experts who had zero expertise in the field of videogames. Well, one thing Fox probably didn't know (along with everything else) was that game developer BioWare just so happens to be part of the corporate machine known and feared as Electronic Arts, and EA VP of communications Jeff Brown had a few things to say in a letter sent to the network. The letter asks Live Desk producer Teri Vanhorn to clarify the "serious errors" made in the show's segment, rightfully claiming they were "insulting" to the hard working developers of the game. I think my favorite quote has to be "As video games continue to take audiences away from television, we expect to see more TV news stories warning parents about the corrupting influence of interactive entertainment." That really gets to the heart of the matter. EA highlights several of the glaring mistakes made by Live Desk, including the false use of the term "graphic sex" to describe a scene which is tamer than the shows Fox itself puts out during prime time hours. After the jump, you can read the letter shared with the masses by Kotaku, but first, we'd like to commend EA for going to bat for its property, something which games companies need to do more and more as vicious and motivated people attempt to slander and do damage to the industry we love. Say what you will about Electronic Arts, but it did the right thing here, and didn't even threaten legal action, which Fox practically deserves for the careless and childish behavior it displayed with this "controversy."
As the parent company of BioWare, the studio which created the game, EA would like you to set the record straight on a number of errors and misstatements which incorrectly characterize the story and character interactions in Mass Effect.Your headline above the televised story read: "New videogame shows full digital nudity and sex." Fact: Mass Effect does not include explicit or frontal nudity. Love scenes in non-interactive sequences include side and profile shots - a vantage frequently used in many prime-time television shows. It's also worth noting that the game requires players to develop complex relationships before characters can become intimate and players can chose to avoid the love scenes altogether. FNC voice-over reporter says: "You'll see full digital nudity and the ability for players to engage in graphic sex." Fact: Sex scenes in Mass Effect are not graphic. These scenes are very similar to sex sequences frequently seen on network television in prime time. FNC reporter says: "Critics say Mass Effect is being marketed to kids and teenagers." Fact: That is flat out false. Mass Effect and all related marketing has been reviewed by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and rated Mature - appropriate for players 17-years and older. ESRB routinely counsels retailers on requesting proof of age in selling M-rated titles and the system has been lauded by members of Congress and the Federal Trade Commission. In practical terms, the ratings work as well or better than those used for warning viewers about television content. The resulting coverage was insulting to the men and women who spent years creating a game which is acclaimed by critics for its high creative standards. As video games continue to take audiences away from television, we expect to see more TV news stories warning parents about the corrupting influence of interactive entertainment. But this represents a new level of recklessness. Do you watch the Fox Network? Do you watch Family Guy? Have you ever seen The OC? Do you think the sexual situations in Mass Effect are any more graphic than scenes routinely aired on those shows? Do you honestly believe that young people have more exposure to Mass Effect than to those prime time shows? This isn't a legal threat; it's an appeal to your sense of fairness. We're asking FNC to correct the record on Mass Effect. Sincerely, Jeff Brown Vice President of Communications Electronic Arts, Inc.
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Friggin' A!
Changes in focus - and moves like this - have all but restored the faith I used to have in EA from waaaaaay back in the day.
Good move on their part. That segment was disgusting.
Bravo!
I'm keen to hear Fox's reply, a public apology maybe?
Holy shit that was great
Oh my, I'm shocked Fox news just making shit up and reporting it as news!
Now what's really shocking is someone actually calling them out on it.
"LEAVE THAT GAME THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ALONE"
Shouldn't Microsoft Game Studios be defending it? It's their game, EA just bought it after the fact.
I love you EA!
Chalk one up for the machine. Go EA. (Just don't copy paste that letter and flower it up with a roster update)
If FOX News started publicly apologizing than they should just turn the channel off and do us all a favor!
I never thought I'd say this... Bravo EA.
I would be very pleased if Fox actually manned up and corrected themselves on this blasphemy. Hasn't the world learned it's lesson after Kevin McCullough? I sent an angry email to Cooper myself, but I highly doubt the twat will reply.
Go tear someone up EA, earn my love back.
This will probably be one of the few times I ever say this but:
Good on EA.
It was an EA Games property when FOX decided to make shit up, so it's EA's property to defend. Bless 'em for actually doing the right thing.
And, while that wasn't a threat, if FOX doesn't air a retraction it WILL turn into a lawsuit. Which FOX will lose. Badly. You simply cannot tell lies about a product on the air.
Does FOX News ever apologize for anything?
I think that she thinks that ignorance breeds success.
I just want to do this once...OH SNAP!!
Fuck yeah EA.
It's about time.
@Harknett: No, they have so much money, they don't apologize for anything at all.
Well done EA. I'm not only impressed by the content of the letter, but the fact that the didn't feel the need to make this a legal matter.
OH SNAP!
Nice. Maybe this will get those idiotic talking heads fired. like that would ever happen...
my hat is raised
balls of steel?
not a huge EA fan but this kind of thing makes me happy.
Good. Thank god they didn't just let that slip. That report was appalling.
c-c-c-c-c-combo breaker.
quite right for fox they shouldn't be such media whores
Chance are Fox will completely ignore it. Give the info to abc let them run a story about their competitors over exaggerating things and then when they are called on it doing nothing.
Hear Hear!
Fox represents the downfall of everything decent and reasonable in the media and society.
I hate Fox.
*Except Geoff Keighley. He was great! :)
Toys R Us doesn't even carry Mass Effect. I've never seen a Mass Effect ad during childrens programing, nor Hanna Montana or even Sponge Bob. I'm just wondering, how is Mass Effect is being marketed to kids and teenagers again? It's assumption, being misinformed and ignorance. That guide these morons on Fox News.
@covah:
It is EA's franchise, which they want to survive at least two sequels.
Props to EA for this one.
@Harknett: No.
I'm glad that EA wrote the letter, I hope that it will at least be mentioned on FOX, so those who were influenced by the biased report (hopefully, none) can see the truth.
By the way, FOX, remember THIS?
Link is 100% FOX news, and probably NSFW.
I had a message before the *, but it got deleted somehow. Ugh. It's been one of those days.
EA deserves a pat on the back here. Fox doesn't exactly set the standard for moral TV programming, so I hope they get what they have coming.
EA did something......good? I think Hell just froze over. At any rate kudos to EA.
You know, EA... if you keep this up, I might spread my legs open for you.
♥♥♥
If they don't get a response I hope they don't drop it. I want to see results. Good on EA so far. Lets see how this pans out.
That was utterly brilliant. Good show. He basically took the email I sent Cooper Lawrence and condensed it and made it more effective. Noice.
Hell yes! Power to EA! I hope they keep this going, as was just said, if they, being fox, doesn't comply EA had better continue on o.o
Fox news loves the cock.
Her email - cooper@cooperlawrenceshow.com
http://www.myspace.com/thecooperlawrenceshow
Cooper Lawrence's Myspace
You're all beneath me
Ok so EA does one good thing and everybody is sucking their cock? What about all the bad they have done? Thats all out the door because they made a PR move on behalf of shooting down negative press on a game they intend to make money on? You people are tools.
Good for EA. Although it probably had underpaid workers write the letter. And they were probably highly-trained marine life.
covah says:
01/23/2008 17:55
"LEAVE THAT GAME THAT WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ALONE"
Shouldn't Microsoft Game Studios be defending it? It's their game, EA just bought it after the fact.
They have a financial stake in the company now dumbass. It doestn matter about the past, because now theyre tied to EA. Think Jackass, think.
Why play nice? Just sue the fuckers!
That was cool....and that was EA.....I'm so confused.
Wow, good link Ipodz. I guess this is what Rupert Murdoch masturbates to...
Good on EA for taking a stand on this issue. It should also be a warning to all the media giants, who are just of cabable of doing this time of shit.
Normally I hate EA and everything it stands for, but they gain a few points in my book for stepping and up and calling this bullshit.
Kudos.
This is great. I don't like a lot of things EA has done but this is setting an example for game developers and publishers everywhere: defend yourselves! Hopefully this doesn't end here.
Fuck. Yes.
I hope tomorrow we get a video from Fox News from Cooper's show with them apologizing. Even though it probably won't happen, how sweet would that be?
"And light shined down from the heavens and God said, 'One point for the VG industry!'"
Well done EA....but i'm still pissed at you for killing off the NFL 2k brand with your monopolistic nature....what's wrong with a little healthy competition...
I'm scrying forward into the future... and I predict... LIBEL SUIT!
Fox won't apologize, and neither will Cooper. Baby boomers aren't responsible for anything.
Kudos to EA for sure, but don't let that one good deed win you over.
At least someone with a big enough voice slapped that story down with the quickness.
Good on EA!
Comparing Mass Effect to Family Guy won't help your cause EA.
Video Games = Children. You'll never get them out of that mindset.
i apologize in advance:
i think EA is a pretty cool guy. eh tells Fox there stupid and doesn't afraid of anything.
again, my apologies.
I have a new respect for EA after reading this, I'm going out to buy an EA title after work. Thank you EA.
YAY ea
The disappointing thing is, even though EA is totally right, Fox has all the power to just brush this off and completely ignore it.
And they will, because they're just saying what their audience wants to believe. Fucking baby boomers are ruining the planet.
I agree that this is good but Necros is right. Fox isn't going to say anything about it.
Holy shit EA did something right?
I'm gonna go check to see if hell froze over.
@ nanowerx-
No, YOU'RE a fucking tool, and you're a cynical prick internet contrarian who has to shit on everything. I think I did forget all the terrible, horrifying things EA has done, so why don't you job my memory. Do they employ 8-year olds overseas for 15 cents an hour? Do they dump toxic waste into our rivers and oceans? What have they done that's so god-awful terrible? Oh, that's right. They tried to MAKE MONEY. Just like every other game company in the history of games. Quit being a whiny crybaby. Oh no, they paid for an NFL license, how awful of them. As if they're the first company in the history of the world to do so.
People who shit on EA but support Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, etc. are hypocrites and are drenched in a gallon of lame sauce. All companies try to make money, and they're all willing to play "not so nice" to do so. Nano, you need to stop blaming your abuse and incest-filled childhood on a gaming company and move on with your pathetic life. And you call *us* tools.
As appalling as that article was, any soul who watches Fox News, for anything other than lulz, is harldy relevant to society in the first place.
Kudos to EA for sticking up for their product. As much as some of you hate EA, it's either sticking up for them or FOX.
EA set them straight.
Damn, one of the very few times I've actually been impressed by EA.