Burnout ads hit with UK ban

By Phil Elliott, GameSpot UKPosted Jun 27, 2007 9:17 am PT

The UK advertising watchdog upholds complaints about Tube posters "likely to cause serious or widespread offence."

Following on from the furore surrounding the banning of Manhunt 2 and the previous outlawing of some Xbox 360 ads in April, the UK's Advertising Standards Agency has now ruled that posters promoting EA's Burnout Dominator pushed the boundaries of taste a little too far.

The industry standards body received complaints, which centered on two points. Firstly that the "reference to and the depiction of violence in the poster was offensive," and secondly that it was "likely to encourage violence, dangerous driving, and antisocial behaviour."

The poster itself, seen on London's subway system, showed a smashed-up car with the slogan "inner peace through outer violence." In response to the complaints, EA explained that the text and images were designed to portray the "consumer experience within the game environment" and that playing the game might help to relieve stress.

There had been some reservations expressed by the Committee of Advertising Practice (a body administered by the ASA to establish codes of conduct in the area), but EA had maintained that it thought people seeing the advertisement would be aware that it represented a game and wouldn't be taken seriously.

But following 37 complaints, the ASA decided that the text was too strong after all, and it has now stated that the "irresponsible" ad, which is no longer being displayed on the Tube, "must not reappear in its present form." EA has agreed to comply with the decision and has stated its intention to seek further advice from the CAP before any future advertising of the product.

There was no additional comment from EA on the matter as of press time.

48 Comments

  • gta4life247

    Posted Dec 30, 2007 2:14 am PT

    lol
    this is simply hilarious
    chiiil out and grab a cold drink or sumting

  • blue_mage1

    Posted Oct 6, 2007 2:08 am PT

    yeah... this is just stupid. one time they're banning manhunt then they're banning ads! some people need help these days...

  • Edman1

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 5:08 am PT

    WTF? I dun live in London but who actaully cares about a poster for Burnout Paradise anyway? Lets face it, the game wouldn't be interesting if it had 'Magical pixie cars and confetti' on it wouldn't it? I think they people who made complaints should actaully GET a life instead of whinging over some poster put up in the subway advertising Burnout Paradise. But, in a good way, they can go back to watching The Bill and be bored stiff until they can complain about something else. So, kind of a blessing in dusguise I suppose, considerin they'll shut up for a while

  • Robert-ace

    Posted Jul 7, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    WOW, a whole 37 complaints! I guess thats why anything remotely interesting or fun is banned nowadays.
    I still think its a great slogan

  • sxeserriph

    Posted Jul 1, 2007 5:00 pm PT

    uhh....DOWN WITH THE MAN!!! YEARGHHH!

  • icarus212001

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 5:32 pm PT

    some ppl have a LOT of time on their hands

  • KOSMOSEngineer

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    While I agree with all of you, there's a certain unfairness in all of this. IF Burnout happened to be a Sony game and used the same ad, everyone would be saying that Sony's too cocky and they deserved this for putting up this ad.

    (And yes, I know the white psp ad was out of line, that's not the one I'm talking about)

  • killarse

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 8:12 am PT

    This is another attempt by the government to have more control over you. First they ban it, then they will set up a task force to control it, then they'll tax you for it. And soon we'll all be playing Barney games.

  • psymon_05

    Posted Jun 30, 2007 5:03 am PT

    What kind of a loser complains about that?

  • pfuture5

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 5:24 pm PT

    RIDICULOUS

  • gkclassof2005

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 4:34 pm PT

    all these bans and lawsuits are gettin rediculous...

  • zombie_hellspaw

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 2:18 pm PT

    the advertising standards agency in the UK is really senceative about complants, some ads have been removed beacuse they literaly got 2 complaints. Its sad i know

  • furius51

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 12:18 pm PT

    WTf is just a game of races

  • shrink45

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 8:57 am PT

    I agree Blade_of_Athens! This is all a sh*load of bullf*ck! It's f*cking lame and f*cking f*ck! #$!@%* @$%!# #@$!!@#%$ !@%$%^!!!

  • RoC1909

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 10:22 pm PT

    Yup, similar to the Ford Edge commercial. It shows a car driving on the side of a building. Now, am I to take that as this car now has the ability to 'defy gravity'??? It's a shame since there are so many stupid people that inhabit the planet, Ford had to create in small print a sentence that states that this vehicle CANNOT really drive like this. It's also unfortunate that Ford has to be held liable for MORONS who might attempt to drive their vehicle off the side of a building and if they survive the fall, they want to SUE the manufacturer for 'false advertising'. Can we not in this day and age find the 'MISSING GENE' in people that precludes the use of common sense?? And if so, do something with these individuals....preferably something drastic!!

    Moral of the story:

    Let's not be held accountable for our OWN actions. Let's blame someone else for being stupid!

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 6:41 pm PT

    lol nice lamprey nice.

  • storm1110

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 5:51 pm PT

    ROFLMAO! good one Ghostmeister! and its SO true, i think we should too!!!

  • ERoBB

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 3:08 pm PT

    A racing game.....? When will it end?

  • kalkhaja

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 2:50 pm PT

    Who the heck would "be influenced to drive dangerously" or "act antisocially" because of a game poster?

    "Ooh, that poster looks nice "*acts antisocially and drives like a manic*

  • StarfoxmCloud

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 2:32 pm PT

    lol lamprey263, awesome post

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