When an industry is made-up of almost equal parts society-changing brilliance and playboy man-child syndrome, itâs bound to generate some exceptionally stupid ideas.
Case in point:
Most of the stupidity flies under the radar and only enrages mothers and religious people for a few days before they move on to an even ridiculous-er topic that will get them more airtime on the evening news, like âWigger Day.â
But other bonehead moves from the game industry have done more than just induce worldwide face-palmingâ-theyâve cost companies thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of credibility and respect. (As well as real, actual dollars.)
There are many spectacular f-ups that belong on this list, but here are my personal favorites:
5. Sony Celebrates God of War II with Topless Women and a Headless Goat
The Shitstorm
What better way to send a message to the world that video games are not violent and unhealthy for children than to throw a party for your new game with boobs and butchered animals.
Back in 2007, Sony held a crazy shindig in Athens, Greece to promote God of War II. Instead of offering partygoers an open bar and an end-of-night SWAG bag like every other video game party, Sony thought to itself, âNo. Thatâs not the Sony style.â Then one brave executive in the Sony party-planning meeting slurred through Vodka breath, âHey. Thiss game iss about, like, Greek gods and stuff, right? Well, then sscrew it, we gotta have a Greek shit theme.â He then passed out and fell out of his spinny Ikea desk chair into a potted plant. Ha ha! Drunks.
Apparently, this was the best idea that came out of that meeting, because the party in Greece was dripping (literally) with Sonyâs version of Greek mythology: a headless, bloody goat as a centerpiece and topless women feeding people grapes. It is unconfirmed whether or not Charlie Sheen was in attendance.
The Aftermath
Turns out this came across as âpoor taste,â and Iâm not just talking about the goat entrails they supposedly served. Animal rights groups were outraged, and critics had a field day saying, âSee?! Video games really are all about blood lust and boobs!â
My favorite part, however, was the statement from Sony: âThe goat was returned to the butcher. On this occasion we recognize that we fell short of our normal high standards of conduct.â
I love that stating the location of the headless goat was equally as important as apologizing to the world for throwing the stupidest party of all time. Stay classy, guys.
4. LittleBigPlanet Recalled Worldwide for Qurâan References
The Shitstorm
If youâre not thoroughly educated on the subject, and Iâm guessing youâre not, you should probably refrain from saying anything about the Quâran. In fact, Iâm probably going to get in trouble by someone on the Internet for simply writing that sentence. But I wouldnât be the only one.
LittleBigPlanet is one of the most adorable games ever made. Out of all of the video game characters to ever run across my TV, the Sackboy is the one Iâd have the hardest time believing was convicted of first-degree murder or genocide. Thatâs why it was such a shocker to learn that, in 2008, the game was pulled from shelves and recalled for featuring a background track containing two offensive expressions from the Qurâan.
The first phrase translated to âEvery soul shall have the taste of death,â and the other said âAll that is on earth will perish.â Come on, whatâs not hilarious about imagining this little guy whispering those phrases into your ear at night with a big smile and possibly a butcher knife. âDannyâs not here, Mrs. Torrance.â
The Aftermath
As stated, the game was delayed and recalled from retailers worldwide. A new, less Quâran-y version of the game was released a short while later, in an effort to say to the public, âJK LOL.â
Oh, and whatâs it time for? Another apology from Sony? âWe have taken immediate action to rectify this and we sincerely apologize for any offence that this may have caused.â Sorry Sackboys, youâll have to find a different way to get your death threats across.
3. EA Holds a Contest to Win Prostitutes (Basically)
The Shitstorm
When you are running a super serious business, itâs crucial to know your consumers. Youâve got to know what they really, really want. If your audience consists of housewives, for example, they want spatulas, irons, and checkered aprons. Plumbers just want pants that stay above their buttcrack, and postal workers? They just want shotguns! In a similar effort to erase all progress ever made to break through a stereotype, EA offered women as a contest prize to gamers, insinuating (on paper, for the world to see) that they are all lonely, drooling, lust-crazed walking boners.
To promote Danteâs Inferno, Electronic Arts asked Comic-Con â09 goers to âcommit acts of lustâ by uploading photos of themselves with hot booth babes to Twitter and Facebook. But hereâs the kicker: the winner (whoever did the best fake groping in their picture?) would be awarded âa sinful night with two hot girls, a limo service, paparazzi, and a chest full of booty.â If that doesnât suggest an evening of clean, family fun, well gee golly I donât know what does!
Prostitutes. Obviously they mean prostitutes, right? Or, pardon me, âescorts.â Either way, itâs⌠pretty damn questionable.
The Aftermath
Needless to say, many people were butt-hurt by this contest, and I donât mean in the fun way. Maybe it had something to do with the blatant objectification of women or the poorly-worded contest rules, or maybe that the whole thing was advertised on a picture of breasts with the moronic phrase, âDinner, Booty, and More.â Hey, who knows. All I know is we got another great apology:
ââCommit acts of lustâ is simply a tongue-in-cheek way to say take pictures with costumed reps. Also, a âNight of Lustâ means only that the winner will receive a chaperoned VIP night on the town with the Danteâs Inferno reps, all expenses paid, as well as other prizes.â
So, âa sinful night with two hot girlsâ magically turned into âa night of driving around with company representatives.â Where do I sign?!
2. Sony Debuts âWhite Is Comingâ Racist PSP Ad
The Shitstorm
God bless you once again, Sony. You are like a plane filled with girl scouts crashing into a mountainside. Itâs all so horrible and I canât look away.
Now, Iâve never visited the Netherlands, but if these are the kinds of blatantly offensive billboards they greenlight, I need to go there immediately before the whole place gets shut down. I canât imagine a more hilarious vacation.
You remember the boobs, you remember the headless goat, you remember the Quâran references. Well, brace yourself for glaring, larger-than-life racism. In 2006, Sony debuted a Dutch-only ad campaign for the white PSP. That sounds all well and good, until you see the billboard for it.
âŚYeah. Iâm a pretty terrible journalist, and not even I can make this stuff up.
It baffles me to think how a promotional idea like this can make it through all of the B.S. stages of marketing without someone, anyone, saying, âUh, hmm. Hey, guys? Do we think that an angry Caucasian forcefully grabbing a timid African American by the jaw with the words âWhite is Comingâ behind them could possibly upset someone?â NAHHHHH! Donât be ridiculous!
As Kotaku said, âIâm not quite sure what they were thinking here, but you might as well slap a hood on that chick.â
http://lastchance.cc/185081/offensive-psp-adthis-time-racist%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Come on, really-what do you think happened? People were pissed, Sony freaked out, the ad was pulled, and⌠an an apology was released:
âWe recognize that the subject matter of one specific image may have caused concern in some countries not directly affected by the advertising. As a result, we have now withdrawn the campaign.â Sonyâs marketing: the most entertaining shame spiral of my lifetime.
1. EA Illegally Mails Out Real Brass Knuckles to Promote The Godfather II
The Shitstorm
Yes, 2009 really was a great year for video game industry controversy-and this one takes the shiny, gold, four-fingered cake.
Video game companies like to send fun promotional gifts to game journalists accompanying review copies of their game. I assume itâs in an attempt to be memorable, but we all know theyâre just trying to kiss major ass for a good score. Sometimes the gift is a cute little toy or stuffed animal, and sometimes itâs a package of meat. But on a good day, it will be an illegal weapon.
https://lastchance.cc/game-company-sends-us-sack-of-meat-5558490%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
The Aftermath
In another âJK LOLâ attempt, Electronic Arts contacted game writers around the country asking them to return the brass knuckles immediately. The company wanted to make sure that the weapons were âproperly disposed ofââ-but, like, in a designated weapon destroying facility, and not in someoneâs cranium.
According to Kotaku, the company declined to comment any further, making this âRETURN THE BRASS KNUCKLES, NOWâ phone call basically a threat. I donât know about you, but I think this is the most accurate promotion for The Godfather II game they could have ever hoped for.
https://lastchance.cc/update-ea-ships-illegal-weapons-to-press-wants-them-b-5207521%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
For the record, I didnât realize this was going to be solely an EA and Sony bash-fest until I started writing. But it is what it is, and these have been the controversies that have made me laugh the heartiest. Oh, games industry, never change-just please include me on the list next time you ship out free weapons. Iâve made an under-the-table deal with the Sackboys and weâre on a budget.
Kotaku Presentsâ debut season features Lisa Foiles, who is best known as the former star of Nickelodeonâs award-winning comedy show, All That. She currently works as an actress/web host in Hollywood and is continuing to dabble in video game voiceovers. For more info, visit Lisaâs official website Sheâs also on Twitter
