Poll: So have you sent EA the email yet?
- Thread starter Azex
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Nope. I don't really have an issue with how EA markets anything. That's actually been my issue with Extra Credits as a whole. They have this grand idea of how games "should be more", and act like anyone who doesn't agree is hurting the industry as a whole. Sometimes a game is just a game. The show in general, and that episode in particular, just comes off as way too preachy for me.
No. I don't really think games are art, so I think EA can advertise however they want. Plus none of these adverts are shown in the UK, so I have even less of a beef with 'em.
Don't know why I have this viewpoint yet come back to Extra Credits every week...
Don't know why I have this viewpoint yet come back to Extra Credits every week...
I doubt EA really care what Extra Credits says either way - marketing is about getting as much publicity as possible from a specific demographic - and their advertising campaigns have done that very well, for the most part; making gaming news sites such as this one because they're so "controversial" [in the case of Dante's Inferno]. They meet the demographics they're aiming for; the largest current target market for game.
I haven't seen the video, because frankly I find Extra Credits assessment of what games should be to be highly contradictory to their own comments in videos, and the fact they never actually suggest any quality improvements so much as just insult and moan about how games could or should improve in area X or Y just makes it seem like babies first game design lesson. The fact so many people take their word as law on this forum is astounding...design is all about freedom of expression and not being tied down, so why are you supporting someone preaching their own specific way games should be as fact? Regardless I haven't seen the video, but there's nothing wrong with marketing controversy; and I certainly wouldn't waste my time getting a giant corporation to watch the likes of Extra Credits...
I haven't seen the video, because frankly I find Extra Credits assessment of what games should be to be highly contradictory to their own comments in videos, and the fact they never actually suggest any quality improvements so much as just insult and moan about how games could or should improve in area X or Y just makes it seem like babies first game design lesson. The fact so many people take their word as law on this forum is astounding...design is all about freedom of expression and not being tied down, so why are you supporting someone preaching their own specific way games should be as fact? Regardless I haven't seen the video, but there's nothing wrong with marketing controversy; and I certainly wouldn't waste my time getting a giant corporation to watch the likes of Extra Credits...
its not about the success or failure of there campaigns. its about the negetive perciption it gives people about games. which comes back to hurt gamers. I dont live in the USA either but they are such a large market that if all games there have to be made for 13yo for example the rest of the world will follow just to turn a profit.
what they do there hurts us
what they do there hurts us
No, it really doesn't. Seriously, I hate EA's advertising. I think it's childish, stupid, and it just turns me away from their games. However, I don't think it's doing damage to the medium as a whole. You know why? I really doubt people are going to remember whatever stupid commercials they push out. Sure, some people will. But these people are the ones who hate games so much they wouldn't give them a chance regardless of what they saw. Their the only ones who are going to fixate on these ads. Everyone else is just going to move on and forget about them. I thought the advertising campaign for Dante's Inferno was horrifyingly dumb, but I already forgot about it.Azex said:
Point is, both you and Extra Credits are really overblowing the influence these commercials have in the long term. Sure in the short term they cause problems, but in the long term I really don't think they're going to have a significant impact.
So I'm not going to send this email to EA. I don't care that much, and I know EA won't care that much either.
That's such an immature way of looking at it - and one I would expect from Extra Credits - why must games try to appeal to those that have no interest in playing games so there's less of a "negative" perception in the first place? Do films, a game trailers equal, attempt to make themselves appear more sophisticated during their trailers? Some do, but most are fine with just admitting they are what they are - and most big films these days are dumb action cliches - like most games. Look at Mass Effect 2 for example, last years "big GOTY" - it was a cliche sci-fi game with a large portion of the game spent simply shooting generic enemies. It's a big dumb game; why should it be marketed as something it's not so people can feel more secure about the fact they like a specific form of media? Seems like the only people that need to grow up are gamers, not marketers...Azex said:
Edit: Internet Kraken is also correct regarding the fact nobody really remembers commercials anyway - if you only visit gaming sites you might not get that impression but mainstream society really didn't have an issue with say the Dante's Inferno campaign - it was just overblown by the gaming media.
I don't really see the point, as the way I see it, the issue isn't just with the EA's marketing, but the American culture and demographic it's being marketed to.
What can I, one lone Englishman, do to change America?
EDIT:
Just to clarify, this isn't meant as an attack on Americans or America, but I find lots of aspects of it's culture (and consumer culture) bizarre and over the top, so while I can see how EA's marketing is questionable, I find the fact that it can exist even more so.
For example, the fact that EA impersonated religious protesters seems minor compared to the fact that protesters like that exist in the first place and can be so easily impersonated, or the "Sin To Win" controversy seems minor compared to the fact that "booth babes" are used to promote games in the first place.
As an outsider, I'm sure I can find plenty of other American advertising and TV that seems just as bizarre to me, so much so that a lot of the controversy with EA's approach is lost on me.
What can I, one lone Englishman, do to change America?
EDIT:
Just to clarify, this isn't meant as an attack on Americans or America, but I find lots of aspects of it's culture (and consumer culture) bizarre and over the top, so while I can see how EA's marketing is questionable, I find the fact that it can exist even more so.
For example, the fact that EA impersonated religious protesters seems minor compared to the fact that protesters like that exist in the first place and can be so easily impersonated, or the "Sin To Win" controversy seems minor compared to the fact that "booth babes" are used to promote games in the first place.
As an outsider, I'm sure I can find plenty of other American advertising and TV that seems just as bizarre to me, so much so that a lot of the controversy with EA's approach is lost on me.
If you wish to respond it's best to use the "quote" button so I receive a message confirming you've responded in the first place...Azex said:
As for that issue, yes their advertisement may have been a poor choice, but that's one example; and what does that have to do with "the negative perception it gives people about games?" This wasn't an issue picked up by the mainstream, nobody bar gamers and a few groups really cared about the potential issues behind it - again your over-blowing everything, much like Extra Credits does.
This is pointless, even my country (Chile) wasn't put on the Fifa11 game after a decent performance in the Worldcup( we even got to the WC) while other countries that are playable haven't been there in year ¬¬, after like thousends signs in local forums,mail, etc and nothing happened, I can't be bothered with this.
Ditto. That whole "Your mom's gonna hate Dead Space 2" thing was just juvenile and stupid.TiefBlau said:
And EC's point isn't that games necessarily SHOULD be more, but that they CAN be more, and that EA's reinforcing the message that games AREN'T anything besides insipid and gratuitous with this kind of crap, not to mention embarrassing all their customers.
Agree with the UK post above.
This kind of advert simply wouldn't be shown in the UK. While I agree with alot of points raised by Extra Credits, they're a little wide of the mark with what they are targeting as the cause. The demographic that these adverts are aimed at seem to be High Schoolers (Even if these are what...R rated games?) and college frat "bro's". Gaming will always have this demographic close to it's core. EA know this, and while what they are doing is degrading and downright embarrassing, it's also understandable.
This kind of advert simply wouldn't be shown in the UK. While I agree with alot of points raised by Extra Credits, they're a little wide of the mark with what they are targeting as the cause. The demographic that these adverts are aimed at seem to be High Schoolers (Even if these are what...R rated games?) and college frat "bro's". Gaming will always have this demographic close to it's core. EA know this, and while what they are doing is degrading and downright embarrassing, it's also understandable.