Everytime nerds want to have a little bit of fun, society just smacks them back down.

[OTB]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/ea-blasted-over-questionable-marketing-stunt/1338121

EA blasted over questionable marketing stunt

Games maker EA has incited a wave of backlash over the latest marketing ploy for their upcoming action game, Dante's Inferno.

In an effort to promote the title at last week's San Diego Comic-Con event, EA decided to run a contest asking showgoers to "commit acts of lust" with any models working at the convention's myriad booths. They were then instructed to submit photos via social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook. The winner would receive "dinner and a sinful night with two hot girls, a limo service, paparazzi and a chest full of booty," while five runners-up would have to make do with a copy of the game, a $240 gift card and assorted game merchandise.

Of course, EA gave themselves an out, noting on the official rules page that "...judges reserve the right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any Submissions that are inappropriate for any reason, including without limitation, for depicting or mentioning sex, violence, drugs, alcohol and/or inappropriate language." In other words, don't get crazy while you commit your "acts of lust."

Unfortunately for EA, the gaming community hasn’t responded well. Twitter posts about the marketing effort have been largely negative; tweets to #EAfail have spiked, with many accusing the company of being tasteless, immature and sexist. In turn, those responsible have issued a respectful if unapologetic tweet right back:

"'Commit acts of lust' is simply a tongue-in-cheek way to say take pictures with costumed reps," it reads. "Also, a ‘Night of Lust’ means only that the winner will receive a chaperoned VIP night on the town with the Dante's Inferno reps, all expenses paid, as well as other prizes."

It's just the latest EA marketing stunt to go awry. Back in April, the company got in hot water for sending journalists illegal brass knuckles to promote their game based on The Godfather II. And at the E3 trade show in early June, EA angered Christian groups after making waves with a viral marketing campaign for -- you guessed it -- Dante's Inferno, this time featuring fake protesters.

Dante himself never had this much trouble.

 

[sodbuster]

Sounds like the marketing dept is socially inept. Society isn't trying to slap down nerds. But,you can't sell a game to Christians that insults their values,have a contest that does the same,implies if you are the best luster, you win a date with 2 women;and not expect a backlash.

If you were in the porn industry, kept the contest out of mainstream media, etc. it would be a different deal

 

[OTB]

Sounds like the marketing dept is socially inept. Society isn't trying to slap down nerds. But,you can't sell a game to Christians that insults their values,have a contest that does the same,implies if you are the best luster, you win a date with 2 women;and not expect a backlash.

If you were in the porn industry, kept the contest out of mainstream media, etc. it would be a different deal

Sounds like you're very in-tune as to what society expects of us.... hahaha

I get the feeling (from the very limited amount of information I can retrive from your brief "about me" info) that you are a White Christian from the Heartland of America who has experienced a very conservative upbringing. Not too mention the fact that your 40 years old!

The fact that you come from such a traditional background, yet still manage to help your fellow forum members realize the truth by dispelling many of the lies that society has placed upon them. Being a middle-aged man in the heartland of America, you probably had to go through more social conditiong than the majority of people on this forum.

The fact that you're still here preachin the truth of the game a fourty years old... That's quite an admirable thing sodbuster! :yes: :yes:

 

[Da Realist]

Truthfully it almost sounded like if you took dirty pictures with some of the models there you may win a night on the town with escorts. Just me, but whatever. Do I personally have a problem with it? Not really, but I figure if it sounds that way to me, imagine how some groups that are always looking for something to protest are going to take it. I imagine it wasn't just Christian groups but feminist groups as well that were ready to hit the streets and the networking sites. At the end of the day though, I think EA worded it like that to get some free publicity and their marketing wing has just made a huge bonus with all the money they didn't have to spend. I mean, what's the cost of some brass knuckles and a twitter/facebook/myspace account compared to how much money they'll make off the game?

 

[sodbuster]

The major problem with the"any publicity is good publicity"belief in Hollywood and New York-it's not necessarily true. Michael jackson dangling his baby[last nail in his coffin,sleeping with 12 yr old boys was the first],Paris Hiltons life[still hasn't made her a singer or an actor],etc.,etc. Donnie Osmand was told to get drunk and crash his car or hit his GF to revive his "career". His career ended when he turned 20 something-no longer the cute teen boy idol[a white mormon family version of the Jacksons with less talent]. Being a dumbazz isn't going to revive a career based on cute and young[average talent].

So, we have a game that a parent is going to have to buy for their kids[big part of the gamers market,maybe half] and they pull a stupid move and think bad publicity will help sell games to that half?

 

[Desert Fox]

Well let's see here:

1. Feminists whining about sexism - WORTHLESS PEOPLE. solution: ignore!

2. Christian groups - Ignore these deadbeat fanatics. Just tweet back "GET A JOB YOU LOSERS" and that should suffice. They do not deserve more.

3. AFC men who tweet politically correct sh1t like that to impress girls who might (read: will never) see them on twitter acting "macho."

So you see, when imbeciles or worthless people try to fvck with your life and interfere with your goals, just give them a quick STFU and put them in their place. They can seethe and sneer all they want, it's what losers do. Good job EA.

 

[Desert Fox]

Sounds like the marketing dept is socially inept. Society isn't trying to slap down nerds. But,you can't sell a game to Christians that insults their values,have a contest that does the same,implies if you are the best luster, you win a date with 2 women;and not expect a backlash.

If you were in the porn industry, kept the contest out of mainstream media, etc. it would be a different deal

Where does it say they are trying to sell this game to Christians?

You are not going to try to sell GTA to 3 year olds so if they start b1tching about the violence you just IGNORE THEIR ASS.

Same principle applies here, except the 3 year old are the Christians.

 

[sodbuster]

I may be old fashioned and out of date on alot of things, but most bosses are my age-along with most parents. You don't need to live our life,but our hiring and buying decisions will be based on our values. When your generation is in charge, you will look at some of the stupid things the kids are doing and do the same.[then you can decide if you want to interview a woman for a receptionist position who misspells words and leaves an e-mail address of hotsexkitten as the first representative of the company your customer will meet]

 

[sodbuster]

Last time I checked, kids under 18 need a parent to buy those games.

 

[Desert Fox]

Last time I checked, kids under 18 need a parent to buy those games.

Yo no offense meant with that post. I was just seeing if the ******* mods here would shut it down like they did w/my other thread.

Anyways, about the 18 thing. Yeah you're not supposed to look at p0rn if you're under 18 or 21 in some states but so many people do it anyways.

 

[Kal0051]

then you can decide if you want to interview a woman for a receptionist position who misspells words and leaves an e-mail address of hotsexkitten as the first representative of the company your customer will meet]

lol, I know a girl with a similar email address, and she is a hot sex kitten, lol. I know this is kind of a random post but it amused me :rockon:

 

[Bible_Belt]

I wish prostitution was legal, because then they could say, "if you win, you get to fvck these wh0res." But it isn't, so the entire contest is a lie.

The EA legal team blows goats. They need to hire me. I would have told them that the models could easily sue for sexual harassment and say that EA was trying to pimp them out.