Gaming-related censorship I think we can all agree with

**Space Pirate Roberts** · 23 Feb 2006, 04:06 AM

From GameSpot:

British watchdog repels COD 2's ad-vances
UK advertising regulatory body bans Activision's TV promos for Call of Duty 2 games because graphics were "misleading."

Selling a product is never easy, particularly in a burgeoning, crowded market where the competition is fierce. This is particularly true in the gaming industry, where flashy graphics and movie licenses are often enough to make a game successful. At last year's E3, the line between "hyping a game" and "duping an audience" was blurred thanks to the latest in product promotion--the "tech demo."

The Killzone 2 trailer, shown at Sony's E3 press conference, was a prime example of "tech demo" confusion. The trailer displayed jaw-dropping graphics, but presented them as though they were actual in-game footage. Controversy rose in the fallout, when gamers asked if the trailer was prerendered (strictly scripted computer graphics) or running from the game's engine (dynamic rendering based on the user's actions).

While there's still debate about that, there's no debate about recent television ads for Activision's two Call of Duty 2 games, Call of Duty 2 for the Xbox 360 and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. The ads, which have appeared on major cable networks, depict the game's nature--namely, that World War II was extremely intense.

The commercial's point of view is that of a WWII soldier, and largely mimics the in-game viewpoints of the first-person shooters. Scenes show soldiers scampering through a war-torn Europe, with explosions, tanks, and planes a part of the action. To most average gamers, the ads are clearly cutscenes and aren't actual gameplay. However, not everyone who watches late-night TV is the average gamer.

The Advertising Standards Authority, a UK-based independent body that governs over the country's advertising codes, has banned the ads because it has received three complaints. Three viewers felt that the games' ads were "misleading because the quality of the graphics in the ad were [sic] superior to that of the game itself."

In the ASA's weekly adjudication report, the body states that Activision felt using prerendered scenes in ads for games was standard practice, and that the company had acted in good faith. However, no one told the Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre, which cleared the ads for broadcast after believing the footage was from the game itself.

The report concludes by sternly stating "The ads breached CAP TV Advertising Standards Codes rules 5.1 (Misleading advertising) and 5.2.2 (Implications). They must not be shown again in their present forms." The ads will continue to run in other regions.

This isn't the first time that an Activision ad has been brought to the attention of the ASA. In 2005, a promo for Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction (which Activision published in the UK) received dozens of complaints for "gratuitous violence" and "the use of the word 'hell.'" The complaints were not upheld, and the ad was permitted to run.
By Tim Surette -- GameSpot
Posted Feb 22, 2006 11:16 am PT

Bout damn time, I say. The most egregious example of this I've seen would have to be one for a Spyro game with near-movie quality CGI... on GBA.

**animegirl** · 23 Feb 2006, 08:38 AM

Those three people who complained are idiots.

**Diff-chan** · 23 Feb 2006, 08:51 AM

Why are they idiots? The company advertises this gorgeous CG, they buy the game expecting whats in the commercial (most people dont scour the internet for information like you do), they get some garbage that doesnt look anything like the CG. Now granted Call of Duty is not a particular egregious example of this, but its still deceptive advertising and should be stopped.

**animegirl** · 23 Feb 2006, 08:54 AM

Well, I guess you and me would know that they are cutscenes, I do see your point. Nowhere in the ad does it say that those are in-game graphics though. I don't see why three complaints should result in the ban of the ad.

**Shinobi128** · 23 Feb 2006, 09:08 AM

Final Fantasy VIII

**Bacon McShig** · 23 Feb 2006, 09:34 AM

Yeah, I was about to say. This about wraps it up for RPG commercials.

Seriously, unless they specifically made the claim that it was actual in-game graphics, this is completely unwarranted. The same claims could be made about movie trailers that make sucky movies look good.

**Diff-chan** · 23 Feb 2006, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by animegirl

Well, I guess you and me would know that they are cutscenes, I do see your point. Nowhere in the ad does it say that those are in-game graphics though. I don't see why three complaints should result in the ban of the ad.

No, it should result in those people getting some sort of award from gamers.

Seriously, unless they specifically made the claim that it was actual in-game graphics, this is completely unwarranted. The same claims could be made about movie trailers that make sucky movies look good.

I dont understand why its too much to expect honesty from our modern videogame corporations. The fact that they put CG instead of in-game graphics in their commercials is deceptive. They clearly imply that's the game you'll be getting, because they dont say different.

I dont even think Call of Duty has any CG in the game, not even as cinemas. At least FF has them on the disc.

**Gymkata** · 23 Feb 2006, 10:37 AM

If the commercial SAYS that the graphics are in game, then its wrong. No where in those commercials does it say anything about in game graphics.

**Diff-chan** · 23 Feb 2006, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Gymkata

If the commercial SAYS that the graphics are in game, then its wrong. No where in those commercials does it say anything about in game graphics.

I think the implication is clearly there and the ads are deceptive. Obviously I agree with what the UK advertising board says. You may disagree but I dont think game makers have the right to put in whatever the fuck they want in their ads and just shrug it off with a "we didnt SAY what it was". You put the graphics in there, you put the name of the game, the box art which is identical to the box art in the store, you're trying to make a connection. Look at Sony's obfuscation with the Killzone 2 trailer. Its bullshit.