Stranglehold Ads Pulled From British Tellys

Initial complaints registered to the ASA said that the violent ad was being shown too early in the evening and was available for anyone of any age to see. In combination with the constant gunplay and the voice over speaking of “honor” and “vengeance” the ad reportedly created an image that glorified violence and gun crimes. Apparently the board has a problem with the advertisement’s potential to raise a generation of gun happy youngsters. Well if guns aren’t acceptable in games, what weapons are acceptable these days?

Picture Production Company, Midway’s advertising agency, claims that they did everything they could to make sure there were no images of violence’s consequence such as bullets entering or exiting people. Furthermore the advertisement clearly displays the 18-age requirement at the end. Regardless, the ASA insisted the spot would have to be pulled.

The other media watchdogs, Clearcast, had previously given approval for the ad to be played after 7:30pm stating that the violence depicted was ”stylized, unrealistic and had a fantasy quality.” The ASA kindly disagreed stating that “We considered the ad was likely to be seen as encouraging and condoning violence.” Issuing the official edict that "The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form."