EA Spanked for Burnout Poster
Can a poster turn you into a social misfit? Apparently so.
More wrist-slapping for the game makers in the UK as the Advertising Standards Authority has upheld complaints against posters EA made for its recent PlayStation 2 and PSP driving-action game Burnout Dominator.
The ad, which shows a wrecked sports car and the headline "Inner Peace Through Outer Violence", was "likely to cause serious or widespread offence", the ASA said in its report.
The poster was brought to ASA's attention by 37 complaints made to the agency.
The complainants said the posters was offensive and was "likely to encourage violence, dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour, such as vandalism".
EA's said in response that it was "obvious" the ad was for a game. The company added that playing Burnout Dominator could "relieve stress and tension in real life".
EA had been warned before running the campaign that it was walking a thin line. It even went so far as to create a separate version targeted at younger people with the tamer headline: "Destroy your way to inner peace".
Given that the poster in question was destined for use at London Underground stations, EA felt it wasn't necessary to use the meeker-headlined version.
The action to stop EA's use of the poster comes days after the British Board of Film Classification rejected Rockstar's violent game Manhunt 2, effectively banning it from sale in the UK.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo
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