EA sends illegal gift to journalists

[Fhloston]

Publisher: Please give us back our illegal weapons - plugged in - Yahoo! Games

Pens? Snore. T-shirts? Boring. Notepads? Been there, done that. Thinking up creative ideas for promotional tchotchkes can't be easy, but someone at uber-publisher Electronic Arts went a little too far last week.

The game in question: Godfather II, a Grand Theft Auto-style adventure based on the famous movie. The offending item: a set of brass knuckles, mailed to video games journalists together with other goodies including a cigar, a silk handkerchief, and a book of matches. But while it nicely complements the game's mafiosi theme, it also had the unfortunate side-effect of turning recipients of the mailing into criminals, as mere possession of brass knuckles is illegal in many states and can carry hefty penalties.

After blog GamePolitics expressed its consternation, the publisher began a flurry of hush-hush phone calls to arrange the return of the weapons. EA declined to comment beyond expressing a desire to assist journalists in proper disposal of the items.

The controversial promo also doesn't seem to be helping out the game's critical fortunes: it's turning in some decidedly mixed reviews.

Don't fuck with gaming journalists son, they get free brass knuckles.

[Brill Weave]

I think it's safe to say that most videogame journalists have never thrown a punch in their lives.

[Ensam]

I think it's safe to say that most videogame journalists have never thrown a punch in their lives.

I'd beg to differ. I'd assume most have played Wii Boxing.

[Acturus]

And EA games gets double the publicity from this one "accident".

Well done, Marketing, well done.

[Myst]

if you're punching correctly in wii boxing it doesnt even look like punching.

[Traydor]

I boxed when I did Wii Boxing, man I must be doing it all wrong, but I always seem to win, So I'm ok with that. lol. The Godfather mishap is just plain stupid, they should have known better, I'm sure someone at EA is right now sitting back in his chair, eating a Ho-Ho, and saying You see! I told you guys it was a bad idea, next time maybe you'll listen!

[Null]

I wouldn't see it as a 'bad idea' since now the game has gotten more attention.

[Hercule]

Pics of the toy

http://www.gameblog.fr/images/blog/T...ain_EA_USA.JPG

[Brill Weave]

I'd beg to differ. I'd assume most have played Wii Boxing.

That's different. It's game related, not actually striking another carbon based lifeform

[Headspace]

Anyone who thinks is an "accident" is completely mistaken.

[guartz]

I wonder what journalists are gonna get if the reviews are poor.

[Kajii]

I wonder what journalists are gonna get if the reviews are poor.

dick in a box

[guartz]

dick in a box

What would be the first step?

[Brill Weave]

Cut a hole in the box!

[GRT]

i came in here thinking hookers

[Eticket]

EA needs all the pub they can get.

Only seen one review so far but the video in the game made it look like it was a ps2 title.

[BRP]

I think it's safe to say that most videogame journalists have never thrown a punch in their lives.

This is the smartest thing you will ever say in your entire life. Soak in the moment.

[Katlan]

Pics of the toy

http://www.gameblog.fr/images/blog/T...ain_EA_USA.JPG

Guess they assume all journalists have fat fingers also, things look huge

[Zilong]

I wonder what journalists are gonna get if the reviews are poor.

Horse's head

[MF Perm tha Fineass]

Guess they assume all journalists have fat fingers also, things look huge

Sorry to break your allusions but brass knuckles aren't really made to fit unless you've got some dough and know a metalworker. Any set of bras knuckles I've seen dating from high school to last week have always had wide slots for fingers, which I'm assuming were made with the intention of meatheads using them. They're still pretty effective regardless of the finger size of the user though