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Fox News / EA Spar Over Mass Effect 'Controversy'

Posted by Zonk on from the nothing-to-see-here-move-along dept.

The whacked out rantings of Kevin McCullogh have been a hot topic on games blogs in recent weeks, as his lurid description of Mass Effect prompted vitriol from actual gamers. That exchange would have been easily left behind if not for the fact that Fox News stepped into the fray, adding a measure of 'fair and balanced' to the discussion. Their 'Sexbox Sexpose' drew in veteran games journalist Geoff Keighley, who optimistically thought he'd be given the chance to set the record straight. Instead they filled the airwaves with plainly false generalizations about the game's sexual content. Kotaku is reporting that EA is fighting back, protecting BioWare's property and demanding a correction. From EA's letter to Fox: "The resulting coverage was insulting to the men and women who spent years creating a game which is acclaimed by critics for its high creative standards. As video games continue to take audiences away from television, we expect to see more TV news stories warning parents about the corrupting influence of interactive entertainment. But this represents a new level of recklessness." I hope the EA folks aren't holding their breath.

6 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Oblig Boondock Saints Quote by techpawn · · Score: 4, Informative

    She pointed out that it was an almost gratuitous manner in which they used curses and was probably unnecessary to tell the story. That could probably be arguable but she likened that swearing to people using the bathroom. Everyone does it but we don't see it in movies unless it's got an important plot point (see Pulp Fiction or Unforgiven).
    Rocco: Fucking... What the fuck. Who the fuck fucked this fucking... How did you two fucking fucks...[shouts]
    Rocco: fuck!
    Connor: Well, that certainly illustrates the diversity of the word.
    --
    Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what your country did to you
  2. Re:Definitions by Pojut · · Score: 4, Informative

    If the argument is to make Mass Effect accessible only to 17 & 18 year old people, then I don't see a problem with this argument.


    Mass Effect is rated M, you know...
    --
    Living With a Nerd
  3. Re:Batshit insane by sammy+baby · · Score: 2, Informative

    To give Mass Effect its due, its pacing and story was better than plenty of "name" flicks out there (you listening to me, Sunshine? I had such high hopes...). But to suggest that it's better than, say, There Will Be Blood... I mean, c'mon now.

  4. Re:Faux News by jandrese · · Score: 2, Informative

    You know, most of the complaints about Fox News aren't about their conservative bias, but rather their piss poor investigation and fact checking skills. Is it any wonder that people who get their news from Fox News continuously score at the bottom of polls trying to determine how well informed the average person is? The Internet is a better source for news than Fox News, and that's just scary. I mean it is their job to report on stuff, you think the least they could do is some basic journalism.

    --

    I read the internet for the articles.
  5. Re:Definitions by enderjsv · · Score: 3, Informative

    Maybe he'd have trouble walking into an R-rated movie in a theater, but according to a recent study...

    here

    They are able to purchase an R-rated movie far more often then they are able to purchase an M-rated game. What say you now?

  6. Re:Definitions by zoips · · Score: 2, Informative

    He said 17 & 18. 17 & 18 == 16. Giggity.