Advocacy Group Angry That Moms Hate Dead Space 2

[Canadamus Prime]

I actually agree with Common Sense Media here. ...well sorta. I do think that Dead Space 2's ad campaign is really messed up. I don't know if EA really needs to be sanction for it. Hell I didn't even know the ESRB even had guidelines for advertising until now.

but I have a feeling it forgot one key point: Everyone has a mother. There's no way it can be proven that EA was targeting a segment of consumers younger than 16 when plenty of people 17 and older also have a mom.

While it's true that everyone has a mom, presumably, who other than 13-16 year olds are going to care if their mom hates the game they're playing.

 

[jaketheripper]

well.... in all of the ads the moms are like sixty. lol. so that should at least say something.

 

[Cyrax987]

I think what helps EA is that most of the mothers shown for the ads have been a lot older so their kids are most likely in their 17+. Just my opinion anyways.

 

[SacremPyrobolum]

I think the project was simply suposed to be funny and people are overthinking it.

 

[yundex]

Intentionally or not, it comes off as directed at children.

Even setting that issue aside, the ad campaign is immature and detrimental to all of the effort everyone else is putting in trying to fight these stereotypes against games and gamers.

I was completely taken aback when I saw the slogan for the first time; it feels like we're back in 1999.

Good for them. Seriously, I think, for the most part, Common Sense Media is one of the more reasonable and awesome groups out there for that. Rare groups like them, Reviews4Parents, and... well like I said, they're rare. Point is, they understand and respect the medium to a degree while also helping parents be careful what they allow their kids to play. And EA was way out of line with that ad campaign; it's degrading, demeaning, and patronizing. They're treating mature gamers like rebellious teenage brats. Anyone and everyone is right to act against them for this.

Honestly, I think the age requirement for games like this in America should be lowered. We can have sex at 16 but god forbid we shoot virtual aliens. My 7 year old sister played DS2 and had fun just stomping corpses, if parents actually parented, we wouldn't have these groups or these ad campaigns.

First, the ad campaign is tasteless, immature, and stupid regardless of your stance on age for gaming. The "if parents actually parented" comment is also fairly dumb. Parents have a lot of things to deal with, things will slip through the cracks, and absolute big-brother parenting is probably extremely detrimental to children anyway. Also, I am extremely doubtful that there are very many 7 year olds who should be playing DS2. Perhaps I'm misreading a sarcastic remark, but if your sister actually had fun "stomping corpses" in DS2, the people trying to restrict the age are right on the mark. As gamers, we typically like to speak against the "games desensitize people" and "violent/sexual/etc games can negatively affect a person's personality", but there's no reasonable way to make the same argument when you're talking about young children playing these games.

The maturity of the ad campaign is irrelevant. I'm also not being sarcastic, I provide for my sister. I don't seem to have any trouble being a parent, we've come from a broken home and have experienced MUCH worse than shooting virtual shit in a video game. I guess I have a different view on things because I was never sheltered from reality when I was a child, hell, spongebob is worse that any 17+ game in my opinion.

 

[zehydra]

Lol I thought the ads were intended to be a joke, not seriously targeted at kids who want to defy their parents.

 

[BrionJames]

I agree, with the group, who else would really give a shit if their mom had apoplexy or not? The answer, twelve year olds, just the fucking audience we don't want on xbox live or the sony network for that matter. Plus the fact that the ad-campaign itself was stupid as shit.

 

[Senaro]

Of course, even if the ad campaign was aimed at children, it shouldn't matter. The kids can't buy the game, they can only complain to their parents that "Omg I want this game so bad". Once again, no one is pointing a gun at the parents of these kids and telling them to "Buy the freakin game or else". If they cave in and buy the game for their child, they've got no one to blame but themselves. No one can ever say "This ad campaign forced me to buy this 17+ game for my son, and now he's dismembering people with a buzzsaw", especially when the ad campaign is campaigning the direct opposite.

So... what's the point?

Real world scenario: Fourteen year old goes in and attempts to buy Dead Space 2, and the clerk, who doesn't care, lets him.

Other real world scenario that I see when I go into Gamestop. Minor gets ID'ed trying to buy Halo Reach, gets kicked out of the store.

Every store I've to that sells games checks the ID of anyone buying an M-rated who doesn't clearly look like they're over 30.

 

[The_Yeti]

personally i think the advocacy groups looking for someone to harass to kill time, the campaigns intent was clearly to be funny, the game has an age restriction label either way, and if your kids are truly so eager to put a knife in your back anyway possible, their either dullards or your an a**hole of a parent.

 

[lacktheknack]

Of course, even if the ad campaign was aimed at children, it shouldn't matter. The kids can't buy the game, they can only complain to their parents that "Omg I want this game so bad". Once again, no one is pointing a gun at the parents of these kids and telling them to "Buy the freakin game or else". If they cave in and buy the game for their child, they've got no one to blame but themselves. No one can ever say "This ad campaign forced me to buy this 17+ game for my son, and now he's dismembering people with a buzzsaw", especially when the ad campaign is campaigning the direct opposite.

So... what's the point?

Real world scenario: Fourteen year old goes in and attempts to buy Dead Space 2, and the clerk, who doesn't care, lets him.

Other real world scenario that I see when I go into Gamestop. Minor gets ID'ed trying to buy Halo Reach, gets kicked out of the store.

Every store I've to that sells games checks the ID of anyone buying an M-rated who doesn't clearly look like they're over 30.

Where I am, they NEVER do.

And another real-world scenario:

Fourteen-year-old goes <link=http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/?snr=1_4_4__13>here, lies about age.

 

[Noctis_XZ]

It seems to me that there are people here who are just trying to make excuses for EA and that Dead Space 2 ad and defy all things logical.

This has nothing to do with how funny the commercial was or wasn't, how you do or don't think children are affected by what they see in a video game, or how it's just a video game and everyone needs to stop thinking about it so much.

I'll say it again.. there are RULES, plain and simple. The argument Common Sense Media is trying to make is that this ad is overly appealing to those under 17 years of age and is therefor breaking the RULES because the game is rated M(17+).

It has absolutely nothing to do with the game itself. And the excuses being made are actually the funny thing out of all of this. Are there people truly that dense who believe that ad was not intended for children in a sense..

All I can say is that if it wasn't than that means EA thinks you are truly stupid and little things like your mother will hate it will drive you to buy their game. Cause let's face it.. that's what ads are made for. To make you want to purchase the item contained within.

If you honestly think any ad is simply meant to be funny without trying to pry your money from your wallet you absolutely have no concept of why commercials are there in the first place..

 

[shintakie10]

Where I am, they NEVER do.

And another real-world scenario:

Fourteen-year-old goes <link=http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/?snr=1_4_4__13>here, lies about age.

Wherever you're at needs to have all of its Gamestop employees fired then. The sale of M rated games to minors is prolly top five in the list of stuff you absolutely do not do as a Gamestop employee.

Also If a parent is dumb enough to not only let a child have completely unrestricted access to Steam but also their credit card then that's their problem, not EA's.

It seems to me that there are people here who are just trying to make excuses for EA and that Dead Space 2 ad and defy all things logical.

This has nothing to do with how funny the commercial was or wasn't, how you do or don't think children are affected by what they see in a video game, or how it's just a video game and everyone needs to stop thinking about it so much.

I'll say it again.. there are RULES, plain and simple. The argument Common Sense Media is trying to make is that this ad is overly appealing to those under 17 years of age and is therefor breaking the RULES because the game is rated M(17+).

It has absolutely nothing to do with the game itself. And the excuses being made are actually the funny thing out of all of this. Are there people truly that dense who believe that ad was not intended for children in a sense..

All I can say is that if it wasn't than that means EA thinks you are truly stupid and little things like your mother will hate it will drive you to buy their game. Cause let's face it.. that's what ads are made for. To make you want to purchase the item contained within.

If you honestly think any ad is simply meant to be funny without trying to pry your money from your wallet you absolutely have no concept of why commercials are there in the first place..

You brought up rules...but ummm...the news post clearly states that EA broke no rules. The ad campaign was signed off on by the ESRB. The advocacy group says that EA violated an ESRB rule. The two cant both be right and considerin the ad was approved, I kinda doubt the advocacy group is right.

And ads arent solely meant to make people buy stuff. Well...most of them are. However the idea isn't always simply "buy my product." Other times the idea is simply to spark some controversy and create some buzz about somethin. EA clearly pulled that off with this ad campaign and got people talkin about Dead Space 2.

 

[lacktheknack]

Where I am, they NEVER do.

And another real-world scenario:

Fourteen-year-old goes <link=http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/?snr=1_4_4__13>here, lies about age.

Wherever you're at needs to have all of its Gamestop employees fired then. The sale of M rated games to minors is prolly top five in the list of stuff you absolutely do not do as a Gamestop employee.

Also If a parent is dumb enough to not only let a child have completely unrestricted access to Steam but also their credit card then that's their problem, not EA's.

My point: It's very possible for a fourteen year old to get his hands on it. I thus hold EA responsible for very obviously enticing fourteen-year-olds with their marketing. Much of the thread agrees with me.

 

[lacktheknack]

It seems to me that there are people here who are just trying to make excuses for EA and that Dead Space 2 ad and defy all things logical.

This has nothing to do with how funny the commercial was or wasn't, how you do or don't think children are affected by what they see in a video game, or how it's just a video game and everyone needs to stop thinking about it so much.

I'll say it again.. there are RULES, plain and simple. The argument Common Sense Media is trying to make is that this ad is overly appealing to those under 17 years of age and is therefor breaking the RULES because the game is rated M(17+).

It has absolutely nothing to do with the game itself. And the excuses being made are actually the funny thing out of all of this. Are there people truly that dense who believe that ad was not intended for children in a sense..

All I can say is that if it wasn't than that means EA thinks you are truly stupid and little things like your mother will hate it will drive you to buy their game. Cause let's face it.. that's what ads are made for. To make you want to purchase the item contained within.

If you honestly think any ad is simply meant to be funny without trying to pry your money from your wallet you absolutely have no concept of why commercials are there in the first place..

Thank you. Very much.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

Well, yes...yes it is. But, at the same time, for people who are allowed to buy it themselves, it's just funny to see their reactions.

I don't know, I think I have to agree with the group here. I love the videos, but it was a silly campaign.

 

[shintakie10]

Where I am, they NEVER do.

And another real-world scenario:

Fourteen-year-old goes <link=http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/?snr=1_4_4__13>here, lies about age.

Wherever you're at needs to have all of its Gamestop employees fired then. The sale of M rated games to minors is prolly top five in the list of stuff you absolutely do not do as a Gamestop employee.

Also If a parent is dumb enough to not only let a child have completely unrestricted access to Steam but also their credit card then that's their problem, not EA's.

My point: It's very possible for a fourteen year old to get his hands on it. I thus hold EA responsible for very obviously enticing fourteen-year-olds with their marketing. Much of the thread agrees with me.

Once again I point out that the idea that is bein put out that the very existence of immaturity somehow equates to bein aimed at children is ludicrous. Are young people immature? Some are and some arent. Are older people immature? Some are and some arent. Seriously. Toilet humor knows no age limit.

 

[VelvetHorror]

I'm agreeing with the advocacy group. I think they make a good argument. Saying that your mom hates dead space 2, it sounds like it's more geared towards a younger audience. Now if it said your girlfriend hates dead space 2, that would indicate a more adult target audience while still basically telling about how gruesome the game is.

I hate to make this comparisan, but some tobacco companies have been attempting to make tobacco mints that look a lot like tic tacs, and the container looks like a tic tac container as well. Yet, they're trying to market it off as an adult product. Bullshit.

 

[lacktheknack]

Where I am, they NEVER do.

And another real-world scenario:

Fourteen-year-old goes <link=http://store.steampowered.com/app/47780/?snr=1_4_4__13>here, lies about age.

Wherever you're at needs to have all of its Gamestop employees fired then. The sale of M rated games to minors is prolly top five in the list of stuff you absolutely do not do as a Gamestop employee.

Also If a parent is dumb enough to not only let a child have completely unrestricted access to Steam but also their credit card then that's their problem, not EA's.

My point: It's very possible for a fourteen year old to get his hands on it. I thus hold EA responsible for very obviously enticing fourteen-year-olds with their marketing. Much of the thread agrees with me.

Once again I point out that the idea that is bein put out that the very existence of immaturity somehow equates to bein aimed at children is ludicrous. Are young people immature? Some are and some arent. Are older people immature? Some are and some arent. Seriously. Toilet humor knows no age limit.

Sure. But is this toilet humor?

If they ran an ad with toilet humor ad nauseum, then why not? But I defy you to find a twenty-five year old who bases his buying choices off what his mother disapproves of. Because I can give you quite a few young teens.