Quantcast


Stride Gum aims to take down Uwe Boll photo

I've got no beef with Uwe Boll. The industry is full of really sh*tty movies, and Boll is just another guy out there trying to make a buck. I think he's become an easy guy to blame. In the end, movies, like games, are for fun, and I think that we sometimes forget that and become too critical of these forms of entertainment.

But, for some reason, Stride Gum does have a beef with Uwe Boll. In fact, they're urging their customers to sign the Stop Uwe Boll petition, and are offering a free pack of gum as incentive.

UGO tells us that Stride would like to see the petition reach its one million signature goal, so they're going to release a coupon online for a free pack of gum for signers on May 23. I think they're making a statement with the date, as Postal is released on the 23rd.

“Since gamers are one of our most supportive groups, we’ve been looking for ways to return the favor,” said Gary Osifchin, Stride North American Marketing Director. “And what better way is there to get gamers’ backs than by helping them rescue their cherished videogames from the clutches of Uwe Boll?”

Of course, we see right through this; it's marketing, and they're trying to be "hip" in our eyes. But isn't this a little mean? Targeting someone's career for marketing purposes? What if we created a petition against Stride gum (really, Orbitz tastes better) and endorsed it here on Destructoid?

Is a pack of gum incentive enough for you to sign this petition? Or have you already signed it? Or is this just too mean-spirited for you?








More gaming stories around the web. Got news? Submit yours to tips@destructoid.com

Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

46 comments | showing # 1 to 46
prev next

Red TheHaze Veron's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:11
Red TheHaze Veron
Gotta admit that theyre trying soemthing different. Thisll give em the publicity they want.
akathatoneguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:13
akathatoneguy
I want to fight Uwe Boll.
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:14
Maurice Tan
Looks like they got the publicity!

Never let another girl like you, whip me over
Never let another girl like you, drag me under
If I meet another girl like you, I will tell her
Never want another girl like you, have to say - oh!
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:15
Aaron Mxy Yost
Well, it's a better idea than those "spit your gum on our CEO" ads I keep seeing.

Frankly, I don't consider anything short of physical assault too mean-spirited for Boll. The guy is a greedy troll who knows his own work is shit. The guy even set up a chance to beat the shit out of his critics (after carefully screening them to make sure he wouldn't face anyone with an actual chance). So scratch that, maybe physical assualt is okay too.
tornotlukin's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:15
tornotlukin
It sucks, like you said, Boll's trying to make a buck. Regardless of what he says about video games (he's totally wrong) he or anyone else should be a target like that. I'm talking about singular people, companies are free targets.

Dupont = 1000pts
M$ = 500pts
Apple = 500pts
Sony = 250pts
. . .
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:17
BlindsideDork
Boll needs to be stopped...I think his old movie will hurt the sales of the NEW Alone in the Dark game. And I craving for some more Stride Gum. Just ask what Zach Wards' thoughts on Boll's movies is...


SLiFE's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:22
SLiFE
I've gotten over my issues with Boll. His movies blow, but they're great to pop in with a couple buddies while enjoying some adult beverages.
And you know something? I'm kinda looking forward to Posatl. He's taken some of the piss out of himself on this one, and it looks like it's got a great tongue-in-cheek sense of humour (with plenty of dick and fart jokes for filler).

I think the Stride campaign is full out redonk(ulous). It's pretty mean-spirited. Sadly, I think the unwashed internet masses (read: fanboys, forum trolls, etc) will buy it, hook, line and sinker.
brandon85's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:23
brandon85
I don't get why Uwe Boll is so hated. Yes he made some really bad (okay, really, really bad) movies based off some of our most awesome games, but seriously, there have been many motion pictures based off a video game that totaly sucked. So why is everyone picking on Mr. Boll.
BlindsideDork's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:26
BlindsideDork
Boll ONLY does video game movies and they are pretty darn bad.
Two's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:28
Two
I agree with Brandon, I really like Uwe. His movies suck, but damn, I love this guy. Everytime someone takes a jab at him he's always like "Eh, whatever." But yeah, this Stride thing is gonna work, which is sad.


When the hell did Stride start to give a fuck about gamers anyway?
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:30
Maurice Tan
Boll does not do only video game movies.
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:35
Aaron Mxy Yost
ProfPew is right, but the other movies he does still suck. His "best" work was a rip-off of the Kentucy Fried Movie.
crimson diabolik's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:39
crimson diabolik
Well, this is conflicting. On one hand I have a bizarre admiration for Uwe Boll. I mean, anyone who can make movies like Bloodrayne and House of the Dead and still get not only the rights for more movies, but also movie studios agreeing to distribute them has to be a savvy filmmaker. That or he has incriminating photos of movie execs doing a line of coke off the back of a 3 year old while fingering Osama Bin Laden.

On the other hand, I do love free gum.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:46
AgentMOO
I'm no lawyer but I would think that this is dangerously close to slander territory.
galagabug 's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:53
galagabug
i'd sign, but i'm still on my first piece. damn, this flavor is just never ending. i want to bathe in it.
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:53
Aaron Mxy Yost
The thought occurs to me... this gives Boll an out if the petition does reach 1 million sigs. All he has to say is that due to Stride "bribing" gamers with free gum, the petition is fixed and he doesn't have to abide by his promise. If I had my tin foil hat handy I'd even go so far as to suggest Boll and Stride are in cahoots! DUN DUN DUM!!!
Phoenix Gamma's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 11:59
Phoenix Gamma
I fucking LOVE Stride gum. Flavor does last forever. I'll sign it 100 times if it means 100 packs.
MINOR THREAT's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:01
MINOR THREAT
I'd fucking throw a party if that Euro-twit died. I'm definitley signing.
Satsumomo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:03
Satsumomo
Isn't Uwe Boll just part of the Hollywood ploy of having to release shitty movies every now and then, in order to keep the good movies, good?

I remember reading that somewhere, involving Pixar being told to "Stop making only good movies" and such. Uwe Boll I'm sure, gets his funding to support this tactic.
Bizznet's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:06
Bizznet
Personally, I don't mind Uwe Boll. He keeps making movies that I barely hear about. I discovered a few months ago that Uwe made a screen adaptation Bloodrayne, and even made a sequel. But am I ever going to watch his movies? Probably not. Even if I do, they probably wouldn't be as bad as the 1999 thriller "The Alternate" or the 1989 abomination that is "Snake-Eater" with Lorenzo Lamas.
MINOR THREAT's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:11
MINOR THREAT
(Regarding casting prostitutes in Bloodrayne) "For 150 euros a piece the whores would be naked and do as they were told. It was better."

- Uwe Boll

I just pulled that off the petition site. Okay, he has one redeeming factor. I still signed it though.
teach4food's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:12
teach4food
I have seen his movies... they suck. Sign the Petition! You will get more enjoyment out of the gum than one of his films.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:22
mistic
they both suck...

so they can both lose for me :-)
skullivan's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:30
skullivan
"But isn't this a little mean? Targeting someone's career for marketing purposes?"

That's exactly how Boll markets himself, calling Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay pussies so he gets attention for his movies.

I guarantee you that he friggin loves the attention that this anti-Boll petition has generated and this Stride thing has got to have him pissing his pants with glee.

Everyone just needs to ignore him, he'll go away.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:31
GuitarAtomik
I don't even need the gum to sign this. It's too bad it probably won't do any good though.
TheStripe's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:39
TheStripe
Wait, wait, wait. . .

We're supporting Uwe Boll now? I mean, I'm all about doing what you want to do, but seriously. I TiVo'd Bloodrayne once and my TiVo recommended I punch myself in the dick.
morkuma's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 12:53
morkuma
I signed this ages ago... hmmm.. do i still get my gum?!
Monte's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 13:08
Monte
I'd want to see the petition reach 1 million just to see if he will really hold to his promise. Boll has always talked big; despite the horrid reviews and the outcry to how bad his movies are he still thinks he's one of the greatest directors ever. Him promising to stop if 1 million people sign the petition sounds to me like he's thinking "I'm awesome, that petition will never make it to 1 million signatures"... to me, it sounds like he made the promise because his ego is big enough to tell him that the petition will never make it to a million.

If the petition reaches 1 million, will he really keep his promise, or will he back out saying he's awesome and that those signing the thing have no taste in movies and have no idea what they are talking about?
LionheartAce's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 13:18
LionheartAce
Mmm, gum.
the GAMEGOBLIN's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 13:22
the GAMEGOBLIN
I don't even have a grudge against him but golly gee I do loves me some gum
-----'s Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 13:23
-----
I'm with you, Dale. Stride Gum's just trying to buy their way into gaming culture. If anything, I'd say Boll has become a celebrated joke rather than an arch nemesis of gamers. And like you mentioned, I find it really shitty that an out of touch company is trying to destroy someone's career simply to promote their product. If you make an anti-Stride petition, I'll be the first to join.
slayoyayo's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 13:41
slayoyayo
I think Boll's movies are a significant factor in keeping video games outside of the mainstream/accepted art, by exposing them to a mainstream audience as shite schlock.

I think the best thing that can come out of this fucked up situation is if Uwe Boll chokes to death on a piece of Stride gum. The comedy overload might just kill me too.
Druid 01's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 14:13
Druid 01
"Or is this just too mean-spirited for you?" really dale? too mean spirited for gamers? idk i think in we've shown we can be a really harsh bunch. but thats not he point i;m trying to make

Uwe Boll's movies fucking suck, everyone knows that. so i don't see them. but if you wana offer me free shit to try to bring boll down ill do it in a heartbeat (save box him :X).

ill def be signing this come may23, sorry uwe . . . its free gum
necrozen's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 14:28
necrozen
GAMERS (as a group) seem to be a pretty easy market to coral (which is kinda embarrassing). They get bored easily and tend to lump together for dumb causes like this, I guess to feel important and strong. Many of them are sad nerds who are grasping for the feeling of power that they experience in their games, only in the real world. I guess this gum companies marketing engineers have discovered this in their labs and concocted this publicity stunt to what? To sell more gum. Kinda funny, I think.
MaximusPaynicus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 14:28
MaximusPaynicus
1.) Uwe Boll is an insult to gaming and to Hollywood.
2.) I feel bad for Zach Ward -- he's a good actor who keeps getting involved in terrible movies.
3.) When your big sales pitch is "Watch Verne Troyer get raped by monkeys", something is terribly wrong.
ToeKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 14:42
ToeKing
already signed it, but I don't care about gum.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 14:46
MechaMonkey
I will chew less Stride now. They have FAILED!
savagesaladin's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 15:00
savagesaladin
I care about gum, I hate Uwe. Double Win.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 15:13
TrailerParkJesus
This makes absolutely no sense.
cavemanlegend's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 15:46
cavemanlegend
I don't chew gum, but I hate Uwe Boll. When people do not achieve success in their job they are fired. I would like to fire Boll out of a canon, into the sun.
Reeper's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 16:08
Reeper
Wow, out of left this this one did come.
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 18:52
SourGr8pes
Whatever daemonic chemical they use in that stuff to make it last, I want it pumped in my veins.

Time to sign with my 37 known aliases.
Joe 100517's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 20:41
Joe 100517
That's awesome! I applaud people for being against him... Like that time Chris Furniss shouted "Uwe Boll sucks!" while he was on stage at some Canadian awards show. I bet that hurt.
Volomon's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/07/2008 21:52
Volomon
LOL i find this very amusing and will now buy Stride gum. LOL. Marketing works wonders.
Ocified-Xboxer's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/08/2008 07:24
Ocified-Xboxer
I watched the trailer for Postal, that includes cockpit talk between 9/11 hijackers. It was funny...But then Boll went too far...At the trailers end, it shows a window washer finishing up the WTC windows, and as he turns he sees the pane comming in, and makes the "AH FUCK ME" face. Up until that, I thought the trailer was funny...But for people who live in the NY/NJ area, that shit is offensive. He could have been fine without that part in there...But I wouldn't pay to, or pirate Postal. Fuck Uwe Boll.
Daxelman's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/08/2008 21:18
Daxelman
Rather just jack a pack from the Quicky Mart.

Unlike the rest of yall, I have no problem with making fun of American Suffering. And I live here.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!