EA does something cool, yet illegal.

EA sent promotional kits to gaming media members and it contained one illegal item in most states of the U.S.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/04/11/ ... ckles-back

On Tuesday GamePolitics broke the news that Electronic Arts had shipped brass knuckles to some game reviewers as part of its press kit for The Godfather II.

While the promo materials for the game were cleverly done, brass knuckles are, as we pointed out, illegal in Pennsylvania, where GP is headquartered. Merely possessing them is a first-degree misdemeanor. Apparently, that's the case in a number of other states, as well.

We asked EA for comment on Tuesday; a P.R. rep returned our call on Thursday afternoon. After delivering a brief script, the EA rep did the conversational equivalent of invoking the Fifth Amendment. Our chat went something like this:

EA: I hope you're enjoying our Godfather II press kit, including the novelty brass knuckles. To help you take proper care to dispose of the item, we're sending you a pre-paid shipping package.
And I can't discuss this any further.

GP: Are you doing this with all of the journalists who received the brass knuckles? Or just me because I wrote about them?

EA: I can't discuss this any further.
Despite the rep's exercising his right to remain mostly silent, it's now clear that EA has been contacting other media outlets in an effort to put the toothpaste back in the tube retrieve the brass knuckles.

Over at Joystiq, Justin McElroy writes that he's waiting for EA's return mailer to arrive. At Kotaku, Brian Crecente reports an EA phone call quite similar to mine:

The [EA] representative that contacted me said that the company wanted to make sure that the brass knuckles were "properly disposed of." He declined to comment any further... Electronic Arts did not respond to emails seeking comment about the legality of the items they shipped and whether they faced any legal actions for shipping them across state lines.

EA should send out a decapitated horse head next time.

Ah, those wacky suits in marketing...

Great. EA does make another small headline. Is that their way of marketing their games in this recession?

Possibly, but probably just something someone didn't think all the way through. Kind of like the vibrating Harry Potter broomsticks.

I wonder if it was actually a threat in disguise. Give our game a good review, or your going to need these brass knuckles.

Wait, what were the vibrating harry potter broomsticks? lol

They released toy Harry Potter broomsticks that vibrated to simulate flight. Of course, it was meant to be held between one's legs while you run around pretending to fly which meant that they essentially released a sex toy for little kids.

Hi-larious.

Hahahahaha.. That is so awesome. Well not awesome, but awesome in a funny way

It's amazing that not one suit thought about it and said "Wait a moment, what if..." when they were getting ready to release that. Or perhaps he did but they accused him of having a dirty mind, giving him the last laugh when they were left red-faced.

Lol at vibrating harry potter broomsticks.

It was definitely a merchandising faux pas.

Well... adults might get the wrong ideas, but what if it's really fun for kids.

Well, that was the problem. Some little girls were having too much fun with them, which is what brought the flaw in the concept to light.

i also heard something along the lines of adult female sales of that broomstick were rather high and that raised some eyebrows...

That too, which of course played right into the hands of the "Harry Potter is immoral/evil" crowd of crazies including that crackpot woman who goes around to schools telling children that 500 years ago Harry Potter and his friends would've been burned at the sake. A compelling argument if only it wasn't so backward, not to mention hypocritical given that as a woman speaking her mind in public, she too wouldve probably been burned at the sake or otherwise publically executed.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plug ... ii/1316670

EA can learn a thing or two from THQ

The Nintendo Wii has positioned itself as the gaming console for everybody. As it turns out, that includes the Queen of England. Well, sort of. It's not like Her Royal Highness went down to Wal-Mart and bought one with her summer job savings. Rather, she was given a special version by gaming company THQ.

What makes the Queen's "Royal Wii" different? It's gold-plated, sucka!


— the Queen needs her bling! Gaming blog Joystiq reports that the gaming company is hopeful that the PR stunt "will amuse Queen Elizabeth."

However, should the Queen declare her love for the gift, expect the title to get a right honorable boost in the Buzz. Silly as that sounds, it's not out of the realm of possibility -- according to insiders, she was "addicted" to playing Prince William's Wii last Christmas. Now she'll have one of her own

where can we get those vibrating broom sticks?

hope EA will give a Howard's Sleeves for NBA Live 10

Please don't bump 3 month old threads unless it is entirely relevant to the topic.