The concept of consequence has never been fully grasped by videogame PR. Whether they're putting severed limbs around London or sacrificing goats, you can always count on marketing bods to do something stupid in the name of promotion. Take EA, for example, who has had to recall the illegal weaponry it sent out to press along with Godfather II.
For some mad reason, Electronic Arts believed that sending a set of brass knuckles with its game was a clever idea and that there wouldn't be any trouble as a result. Now it's had to ask them back, since possession of these "novelty brass knuckles" is a misdemeanor in a number of states.
Destructoid received an early copy of Godfather II, so remained knuckle-free. Kotaku, Joystiq and GamePolitics, however, are awaiting the arrival of pre-paid shipping material so they can return their offensive weapons to EA. It is unclear whether or not EA has already been brought to task by authorities, or if someone in the office actually grew a brain and realized preemptively that this stuff needs to be disposed of.
Oh, videogame PR. May you never stop.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
8:00 PM on 04.11.2009
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But seriously, how stupid, they actually sent a REAL weapon out as a promotional gift. They could have at least make it a hollow brass knuckle or a plastic brass knuckle with a metal coating on it.
Other than that, that is one sweet knuckle duster.
... or swing and a ball straight to the pitcher's nuts.
They did, but they somehow got lost when Iran invaded bethesda offices. Oh well...
video games marketing = violence
not the video games themselves. Problem solved.
You should have a contest to win them. I think I should win that contest.
You can't carry an AK 47 to the mall, dude.
That was just plain stupid. maybe they should have sent severed horse heads.
stop fearmongering.
Also, Naim has a good point. Sure, get all up in arms over the brass knuckles, but feel free to head to walmart and grab a .22. :)
Maybe the in the city where the game is being developed the knuckles aren't illegal, as it's usually only a couple of people that have the final say on the marketing of a game. If you look at all the marketing in other buisinesses this isn't really a rare mistake, it's just a bit on the "blunt" side.
Too bad the demos for Dead Space didn't ship with functional Cutters and Line Guns. Those would be tons of fun.