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The day EA nearly started a war, or how to upset 60% of Northern Ireland photo

EA Sports recently committed a worrying faux-pas by playing the wrong national anthem for Northern Ireland in its FIFA 08 game. Instead of God Save the Queen, Electronic Arts accidentally used the Republic of Ireland anthem, the Soldier's Song.

A war, you say? If you're not aware of Ireland's history of violence and conflict (as EA apparently isn't), then you might find it hard to believe that those stereotypical images of cheeky Irish rogues with a pot of gold and a spring in their step are actually all out to murder each other with bombs and rifles. There has been death over far less than what Electronic Arts did. 

Northern Ireland only very recently achieved peace, but it's safe to surmise that the situation will still be tender over there. Something like this could have ended very, very badly had EA's apology not been accepted. 

"At EA Sports, we pride ourselves on delivering rich and authentic videogame experiences," stated EA's Shawn White, possibly with a gun pointing to his head. "We sincerely apologise for this error." Luckily the apology seems to have worked and nobody needs to die. For now.

Up next, EA publishes Mohammed: The Official Videogame.

[Cheers, superhobo]


Continue: More United Kingdom stories





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53 comments | showing # 1 to 50

SnakeDude4Life's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:04
SnakeDude4Life
*In 2008, EA became self aware and declares war on Northern Ireland. There were no survivors.
exodus1925's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:29
exodus1925
Facepalm time? Facepalm time.
lowercaseluke's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:32
lowercaseluke
brb, bombing EA.
Remo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:33
Remo
People seem to forget that before al quaeda showed up Ireland no.1 export was terrorists. Seriouly just because the leaders are power sharing does not mean that everyones lovey-dovey now. Murders based on peoples religion and accent still happen on a regular basis.
spam's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:33
spam
this is what happens when you dont take the proper 6 months to localize a game
spam's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:36
spam
im a one trick pony
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:52
JustLikeBuck
Wasn't it EA who didn't know Czechoslovakia wasn't a country any more?

You can't blame them, after spending a year updating the names of every sports team, there's very little time to get anything else done.
glipe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 06:53
glipe
I'm from NI. At an athletic event many moons ago, the organisers couldn't think of what to put as an emblem on our banner. They eventually plumped for Mr Tayto from Tayto crisps: a Mr Potato-head lookalike. Not a harp, or even a Guinness pint glass. *sigh*

It's not as bad as people make out in NI. Never has been. There is a small minority where things like this might grate a little but in the main, it's just like all the rest of the UK.

I'm an atheist. I lolled. =)
catsithx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 07:36
catsithx
Oh yeah this has epic fail writen all over it Good one EA
Scrixx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 07:36
Scrixx
We should have a photoshop contest based on this. That'd be awesome :D
nebones's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 07:39
nebones
Bloody EA
coire's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 07:50
coire
Not really 60%... I'd say more in the range of 48%

And another 48% are very happy with this little mix-up.

4%+ don't give a damn.

Wow, EA does something right for a change. Doesn't really change my opinion of them but still, Thanks EA.
Sir Ireland's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 08:02
Sir Ireland
The day EA nearly started a war is a very over exaggerated tittle I doubt many people cared about Fifa 2008.
coire's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 08:06
coire
Yeah, a lot of people just play Pro Evo. And most Irish people own a copy and force themselves to play the Gaelic Games series. They aren't good, but goddammit, they're the only games catering to the nations favourite sport. Although those who do play the Gaelic Games series are also the ones who are happy with EA's mistake. And again; 60% is a huge exageration.
glipe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 08:27
glipe
I worked for Sony QA for a while and some friends of mine gave me some free copies of Gaelic Games Football AND Hurling.

They remain unopened.
Static Jak's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 09:21
Static Jak
Oh crap.
liam2015's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 09:26
liam2015
*sigh*
Wexx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 09:26
Wexx
YAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY IGNORANCE! I mean seriously, isn't the national anthem on the fucking wikipedia page?
brosef's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 10:03
brosef
*hides under desk*

Just tell me when it's safe.
ChaosInTheSnow's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 10:09
ChaosInTheSnow
Well being Irish I think this is blown a little out of proportion. I mean while peace has only been achieved officially somewhat recently, the real troubles ended quite a while ago. The FIFA generation isn't the type to have a massive problem with this. Most will just think that EA are being dilholes again before quickly moving onto more important matters like playing Pro Evo.
Alexradl's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 10:50
Alexradl
Go easy on them, they don't know any better. That's what years and years of making sports games does to the brain. Let us take time and learn from this almost tragic event.

Also, fuck EA.
Professor Pew's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 11:17
Professor Pew
Up next, The Wind that Shakes the Barley: The EA Videogame?
hjd uk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 11:18
hjd uk
Its not that bad, apparently The Soldiers Song is played at Sporting events but only when its a Derby ie Northern Ireland V Rep.Ireland, other wise its God save The Queen.
But yeah, should be a bit more careful over such a sensitive issue.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 11:26
MechaMonkey
Somebody's getting fired for this... or fired at.
superhobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 11:43
superhobo
Hey Jim, thanks for acknowledging my tip, or the fact that I had blogged about this hours before you.

'm just sayin...
Hamza CTZ Aziz's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:10
Hamza CTZ Aziz
superhobo, he fucking linked to your blog dude. Shit.
SnakeDude4Life's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:12
SnakeDude4Life
I believe superhobo was looking for a name check kind of deal.
superhobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:13
superhobo
Wow... sorry.
Fuck. I'm an idiot.
Thanks Jim.
mix's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:19
mix
Someone is indeed getting fired or suspended over this uck fup.
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:21
Demios
@Professor Pew

I Lol'd...hard.

I knew a guy in that movie. The ginger haired kid that got executed.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:31
brainderailment
EA has the financial resources to win that war though.
wonky360's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 12:46
wonky360
I live in NI and I can see some people finding this offensive, funny though.
Qwayfe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 13:09
Qwayfe
You'd have to be substantially brainstupid to toss around a figure like 60% for a unionist majority. That's in the same league of offensive ignorance as using Amhrán na bhFiann for the anthem. In addition, if they realistically wanted to not offend anyone they should use God Save the Queen but show half the team refusing to sing it.

The use of "Ireland's history of conflict" is also troubling. The republic hasn't seen any major violence since driving the IRA (the traditional enemy of the southern state, FYI) north of the border in the early 1920s after the war of independence. In fact, the south is ranked "sustainable" by the UN failed states index, one of only 15 in the world, whereas the UK is not.

Though normally I <3 <3 all of the Jim, there's quite a bit of ignorance and misinformation pervading this particular post. DOES NOT WANT.
bleep's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 13:09
bleep
superhobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:01
superhobo
superhobo's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:05
superhobo
@QWAFE: You'r a fuckin idiot. Northern Ireland IS part of the island of Ireland. Therefore 'Ireland' has had a conflicted history.

According to wikipedia: "A plurality of the present-day population define themselves as Unionist, 22% as Nationalist and 35% define themselves as neither". Plurality means strong majority. 60% is an easy way of saying strong majority.

You ignorant fuck. And that's from someone FROM the republic.
Qwayfe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:19
Qwayfe
Noun
Singular
plurality
2. (politics) (countable) A number of votes for a single candidate or position which is greater than the number of votes gained by any other single candidate or position voted for, but which is less than a majority of valid votes cast.

By definition, plurality is defined against the idea of a majority.

Not sure what point you're really trying to make, to be quite honest. Doesn't seem to have any bearing on my post.
Blackhat's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:32
Blackhat
"People seem to forget that before al quaeda showed up Ireland no.1 export was terrorists."

Export? To where, England?

I find this incredibly amusing, because I've always wanted a united Ireland (Irish being my main background, other than Canadian). Well, by united I mean Death To Protestants, obviously.
Qwayfe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:34
Qwayfe
Obviously.
braulio09's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:48
braulio09
FIFA '08 came out last year..how the fuck did it take this long for this to happen?
Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 14:59
Face
People in the south don't give a fuck about the whole thing anymore. But anyway, at least it proves they don't copypaste the game from last year and put a new year on the box art.
Fleet3000's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 15:44
Fleet3000
those fucking tossers.

somebody better have gotten fired over that.
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 16:33
Demios
Why does even the mention of the NI conflict only result in bullshit being thrown around and stupid statistics. Lets all just agree at the fact that EA were insensitive to play an anthem not recognized 'officially' as the NI anthem. I agree with Hobo stating that some of the players refuse to sing the UK anthem but for the sake of argument i think it IS the more appropriate choice.

"People seem to forget that before al quaeda showed up Ireland no.1 export was terrorists."

This has to be the dumbest thing i have ever read on this site. (Incl. the weekly troll invasion of the c-blogs) Both exaggerated and offensive. You sir, are fucking idiot.
Demios's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 16:50
Demios
@Blackhat

Wiping out Protestants wouldn't make that much sense because one of the founding fathers of the Irish struggle for independence - Charles Stuart Parnell was Protestant. Irish Anglican to be specific. Some of Ireland greatest writers,politicians and generally good people are/were Anglican.

The whole concept of the united Ireland doesn't hold too much weight with people in the republic anymore. Many of my friends living in Northern Ireland and are Protestants and i've never felt uncomfortable bringing them anyway in the Republic, Pubs/Sporting events etc...

The religious split in the north is more based on discrimination and intentional religious segregation, that issue has little in common with the republican struggle as a whole.

Sorry for the double post, just spotted other comments thats all.

Again, fuck EA.
Dimples's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 16:59
Dimples
blackhat:
"People seem to forget that before al quaeda showed up Ireland no.1 export was terrorists"
demios:
"This has to be the dumbest thing i have ever read on this site. (Incl. the weekly troll invasion of the c-blogs) Both exaggerated and offensive. You sir, are fucking idiot.'
me:
i agree,did this fella not hear of a drink called guinness?
nopk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 17:06
nopk
Yes Jim, Ireland is going to start a war over a game no one cares about.
Batthink's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 17:08
Batthink
That is a stupid mistake by EA. That could have caused a major political debate and ended up pushing video games into the bad press again. Sigh.
The Amazing Shenazin's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 17:20
The Amazing Shenazin
I wanna know where da gold is
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/04/2008 18:08
MechaMonkey
Obviously some of you people have never seen Patriot Games.
Wookiee's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/05/2008 05:07
Wookiee
"Ireland's history of violence and conflict?"

No mention of britain's history of virtual slavery and general imperialist douchebaggery?
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