Namco Apologizes for "Inexcusable" Chilean Miner Welcome

[Andy Chalk]

Namco Apologizes for "Inexcusable" Chilean Miner Welcome

Namco Bandai has apologized for using an image of Mr. Driller [http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Driller-Drill-Spirits-Nintendo-DS/dp/B00068VQ2C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1287157045&sr=8-1] to welcome the recent rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners, calling it "inexcusable."

Assuming you haven't been living on Mars for the past several months, you know that 33 miners in Chile were recently rescued after spending 69 days Namco Bandai [http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/10/13/chile.miners.timeline/index.html] released an image featuring Mr. Driller and the Chilean flag, along with a message that notes the date and says, "Welcome Back!"

Mr. Driller is name of a series of Dig Dug [http://www.amazon.com/Dig-Dug-Digging-Strike-Nintendo-DS/dp/B000A6K6BC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1287157284&sr=8-9]-style videogames that debuted in arcades in 1999 and have since come out for the PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare and more. The lead character, Susumu Hori, aka Mr. Driller, is actually billed as the son of Dig Dug hero Taizo Hori.

But the image was apparently in rather poor taste in the eyes of some, because just a day later Namco Bandai took it down. What exactly sparked the removal is unknown but the company said on Twitter [http://twitter.com/nbgi_webmaster/status/27318616194] that it "lacked consideration," adding, "We would like to offer a profound apology to everyone. It was inexcusable."

Tasteless is in the eye of the beholder and maybe I'm a bit jaundiced in that regard, but the truth is that I'm really having trouble seeing what all the hubbub is about. A friend suggested that it was akin to using the WWE wrestler Earthquake [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/earthquake/] to congratulate the survivors of an earthquake, which I think we can all agree would be pretty awful, but I don't believe the two situations are similar enough to warrant a comparison. Namco's image, while perhaps self-serving, was in my eyes just an expression of joy over a very happy ending to a story that could easily have gone the other way. Goofy maybe, but far from inexcusable. Am I off-base here?

Source: Kotaku [http://kotaku.com/5664706/namco-bandai-pulls-mr-driller-chilean-miner-image-apologies]


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[Onyx Oblivion]

Tasteless? That was the most awesome thing ever in my eyes.

 

[Celtic_Kerr]

Families of "Tragedies" don't always adhere to logic sadly. What the rest of the world sees as a kind hearted welcome, the families say "How could you? He was trapped in there for 69 days you heartless bastard"

 

[imnot]

huh huh huh 69...

sorry lost my train of though, why do people get offended by everything i mean really he could have turned up with a sign saying tits or GTFO but he did'nt

 

[bue519]

Aww, I really liked this picture, so much so I made it my desktop background. I thought Mr. Driller's awesomeness transcended cultural boundaries.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Um, I don't get it?
This is offensive?

 

[ThreeKneeNick]

Well, on what authority is Namco Bandai welcoming them back? It's just a bad try at promotion. Though i don't think it needed to be taken down, i really can't feel bad about it.

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Maybe I'm a lame politically incorrect dunderhead, but I think that's possibly the BEST thing they could've shown them.

 

[lacktheknack]

Um, I don't get it?
This is offensive?

It's because Mr. Driller is a miner, and no one's good enough at the game to make him not die over... and over... and over... and over...

I thought it was just fine. Oh well.

 

[LightspeedJack]

They just got slapped by the pimp hand of political correctness.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

How the hell is this offensive? Yes, it's mining related, and a bunch of miners were rescued, ok, I get that much. But it's not like this mocks them, quite the opposite. People who ***** about that need to get a life, or preferably end the one they currently have. Too many damn idiots on this planet /hypocrisy
However, I do find it commendable that Namco even did something like this. It's not like they had a stake in the matter, so it's a rather nice gesture.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

I.. don't really get why?

I am clearly missing something, it seems.

 

[MasterSplinter]

I find it more offensive the ridiculous race of politicians to aper next to one of the miners on tv to boost their popularity. Politicians that probably would have neglected or ignored requests for regulation on the miner industry just a few months ago that would have prevented all of this from ever happening.

 

[Jonci]

Unless people were considering it a shameless plug for one of their games, I don't see what about the image could be offensive.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I thought it was just fine. Oh well.

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking.

 

[Atmos Duality]

The message seems to be done in a strictly welcoming tone; not a sarcastic or ironic one.
Talk about mis-interpreting ones' intentions.

That's the kind of Politically Correct-world we live in today; where we are too afraid of lawsuits to even publicly celebrate the saving of lives.
Money is now more important than rational joy...this is such a stupid world we live in.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Families of "Tragedies" don't always adhere to logic sadly. What the rest of the world sees as a kind hearted welcome, the families say "How could you? He was trapped in there for 69 days you heartless bastard"

yeah, what else have families of tragedies banned recently....oh yeah, the Taliban.

Despite the military saying the soldiers would quite enjoy it.

Feelings before Logic. AGAIN.

 

[ShadowsofHope]

I.. don't really get why?

I am clearly missing something, it seems.

Clearly missing A HEART!

You monster, how can you not see how offensive and unnecessary this is?

I'm guessing they saw it as profiteering... maybe?

I honestly cannot tell if you are being serious or not in this post. And you still failed to answer my question, though I suppose I've already found out through skimming over a few other posters responses.