Slashdot Mirror
'Misleading' COD2 Ads Pulled From UK
GamesIndustry.biz reports that Activision has been ordered not to air Call of Duty 2 ads in the U.K. that use pre-rendered imagery to sell the game. Three Television viewers apparently complained to that country's Advertising Standards Authority that the imagery constituted misleading advertising. From the article: "The adjudication is likely to send shockwaves through the industry as it focuses on the question of whether pre-rendered footage is an acceptable representation of a computer game - in its defence, Activision didn't argue that it was, but rather that using pre-rendered footage was "common practice"."
So wait... When McDonalds shoots photos of their giant delicious burgers, they don't just grab the next big mac off the line and snap a shot? They grill a prime patty to perfection with delicately sliced tomatos and onions and put it together like it was "staged" or something!? BOO!
I think this makes the offence so much worse. Since it's plausable that what you see on the screen is what you'll get, then you're far more likely to believe what you see is what you'll get. They can give incrimental improvements in smoothness and texture then when you plunk your money down, you'll find out it isn't what you had thought it would be.
Put another way, If I told you I saw batman today, you'd know it was some kind of joke. But if I told you I saw the president, it's plausible, especially if you live in the DC area like I do. Saying I saw the president wouldn't be a joke. It would be a lie.
TW