Advocacy Group Angry That Moms Hate Dead Space 2

[Thaius]

Good for them. Seriously, I think, for the most part, Common Sense Media is one of the more reasonable and awesome groups out there for that. Rare groups like them, Reviews4Parents, and... well like I said, they're rare. Point is, they understand and respect the medium to a degree while also helping parents be careful what they allow their kids to play. And EA was way out of line with that ad campaign; it's degrading, demeaning, and patronizing. They're treating mature gamers like rebellious teenage brats. Anyone and everyone is right to act against them for this.

Honestly, I think the age requirement for games like this in America should be lowered. We can have sex at 16 but god forbid we shoot virtual aliens. My 7 year old sister played DS2 and had fun just stomping corpses, if parents actually parented, we wouldn't have these groups or these ad campaigns.

While I'm not sure about the first bit, I agree with the comment about parents entirely. Unfortunately, people are stupid and parents suck (a generalization, obviously), so there will always be a need for groups like these.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

so, a parental advocacy group is complaining because a commercial is portraying what parents actually think about a game?


did........did we tear a rip in the space-time continuum?

Spoiler: Yep

OT: Atleast they don't have any problem with the GAME, they are just worried about how it is being advertised, which is a positive step up from most of these organizations.

 

[shintakie10]

People over 17 can still be rebellious over their mom's.

Do you think there is larger number of people over 17 who would want something purely because their mother hates it rather than under 17?

I'm 21 and my mom hates Dead Space 2.

Was your mom's hatred for it the driving factor for you wanting the game.

This ad campaign is so obviously targeted at the rebellious teenage kids who would jump at the chance to get something their parents would disapprove of. Most people who are old enough to buy the game are mature enough to not care that their parents hate it, or at least not be driven by their parents reaction to go buy the game.

Anyone who is older than 18 who gets all giggly at the thought of their parents disgust in something of theirs really needs to grow up and get past the phase of needing a reaction from your parents.

Isnt it entirely possible that the ad was just meant to be...ya know...funny? Bulletstorm ads generally are meant to simple just be funny and no one raises a giant stink over it. I personally got all giggly over the idea for the ad campaign than anythin. Did it make me go "Must have Dead Space 2!" Nope...but it made me actually talk about Dead Space 2 when I normally wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Seriously...I havent seen a pepsi commercial in the last maybe five years that actually had anythin to do with the product until the last half second where they actually show a bottle of pepsi.

 

[RoBi3.0]

One thing they fail to remember is that the ESRB ratings are still only a suggestion in America. There are no rules surrounding them. As long as they say "Rated M" in the advertisement, they're informing the viewer of the rating of the game.

This is wrong ESRB has game developers/publishers sign contracts that force them to uphold ESRB's advertising and marketing practices. So while rating and the distribution of games are not legally enforceable, how a publisher markets a game is, as long as that publisher/developer has sign a contract. Any company that has had the ESRB rate a game has signed those contracts.

Furthermore, I doubt the ESRB is going to fine EA over this. As the article stated EA had the campaign approved by the ESRB before it aired. So the best that will come out of this is that the ESRB will be a little more selective about the campaigns it approves. <----- This assumes that EA this telling the truth.

 

[II2]

I hate to be the one to say it but.... the advocacy group is right. That's exactly who the ad is targeting.

Truely. Who, of age to buy entertainment legally gives a shit of how their moms would look at their pulp scifi horror shooters? When I saw the ad, my only thought was what a "waste of man hours", in concept. I stand corrected though, since looking at it from a purely advertising perspective, it has done it's job and then some.

 

[JoeThree]

I hate agreeing with these people, but they're right. People over 17 don't care what's "edgey" or "hardcore" unless they're idiots. This campaign really is geared towards minors, and I could see them seeing that as double talk with the M rating.

 

[Aerowaves]

Be honest...who actually gives a shit about what your parents think about a game? I'm 90% sure that mine would hate Dead Space 2 but I'd play the damn thing even if they were full of praise. I might mock them if they described it as "cool" or "edgy", but the fact remains that my parents' opinion does not affect my game purchases at all, and would only do so if I felt I needed to prove myself as rebellious and edgy i.e. if I were under 18. Hell, if I were under 16.

 

[Senaro]

People over 17 can still be rebellious over their mom's.

Do you think there is larger number of people over 17 who would want something purely because their mother hates it rather than under 17?

I'm 21 and my mom hates Dead Space 2.

Was your mom's hatred for it the driving factor for you wanting the game.

This ad campaign is so obviously targeted at the rebellious teenage kids who would jump at the chance to get something their parents would disapprove of. Most people who are old enough to buy the game are mature enough to not care that their parents hate it, or at least not be driven by their parents reaction to go buy the game.

Anyone who is older than 18 who gets all giggly at the thought of their parents disgust in something of theirs really needs to grow up and get past the phase of needing a reaction from your parents.

Since it was based around whether or not "Your mom" would hate it (personally, my mom wouldn't care), EA is making one of three assumptions about you, the customer:

a) You're a teenager, still at home with your mom, and that you'll be 'cool' if you get this game, because you'll be 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

b) You're not a teenager, but you're still under the thumb of your overbearing mom, possibly living with her long after you should have moved out, and that you'll be 'cool' if you get this game, because you'll be 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

Or c) You're not a teenager, and you don't live at home with your mom, but you still have to prove how 'cool' you are by 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

That's exactly what it is. Either they are targeting people who are teenagers, or they are targeting adults who has matured mentally as much as a teenager, and thus are appealing to teenagers still.

I didn't buy Dead Space 2, but I had to give them credit for having such a creatively funny ad campaign. It was just like the one for Jackass this last year where they had this etiquette instructor telling everyone how offensive it was and that it shouldn't even be allowed to exist. Good humor goes a long way.

 

[SamElliot'sMustache]

I didn't buy Dead Space 2, but I had to give them credit for having such a creatively funny ad campaign. It was just like the one for Jackass this last year where they had this etiquette instructor telling everyone how offensive it was and that it shouldn't even be allowed to exist. Good humor goes a long way.

You thought that was funny and creative? Well, there's no accounting for taste.

 

[AvsJoe]

Yeah, Common Sense Media is displaying common sense. I thought the campaign was funny but it can't be a good thing if you look at the big picture.

 

[bob1052]

Isnt it entirely possible that the ad was just meant to be...ya know...funny? Bulletstorm ads generally are meant to simple just be funny and no one raises a giant stink over it. I personally got all giggly over the idea for the ad campaign than anythin. Did it make me go "Must have Dead Space 2!" Nope...but it made me actually talk about Dead Space 2 when I normally wouldn't have given it a second glance.

Seriously...I havent seen a pepsi commercial in the last maybe five years that actually had anythin to do with the product until the last half second where they actually show a bottle of pepsi.

The advocacy group isn't saying "the game is bad" or "the ad campaign is utterly pointless to any but teenagers". It isn't unreasonable for you to find the ad funny, but you just proved their point. For you, the ad campaign doesn't make you go "Must have Dead Space 2!". For teenage kids who have spent their entire life living under their "obviously unfair, oppressive parents" they will probably have an entirely different response, which is what the advocacy group is saying.

 

[Lullabye]

Crappy advertising for a crappy game. Surprise, surprise.
I think the advocacy group is right.

 

[Project_Xii]

Of course, even if the ad campaign was aimed at children, it shouldn't matter. The kids can't buy the game, they can only complain to their parents that "Omg I want this game so bad". Once again, no one is pointing a gun at the parents of these kids and telling them to "Buy the freakin game or else". If they cave in and buy the game for their child, they've got no one to blame but themselves. No one can ever say "This ad campaign forced me to buy this 17+ game for my son, and now he's dismembering people with a buzzsaw", especially when the ad campaign is campaigning the direct opposite.

So... what's the point?

 

[IamGamer41]

All those women in that ad looked to be in their late 40s early 50s.So one would think if they had kids they would be around 17 or older.Also when you say children I think of kids like in elementary school not the 13-16 teen crowd who can sneak into movies that are just as bad as the game.I guess if people would use some common sense about these things they would be less fuss.

 

[lacktheknack]

Of course, even if the ad campaign was aimed at children, it shouldn't matter. The kids can't buy the game, they can only complain to their parents that "Omg I want this game so bad". Once again, no one is pointing a gun at the parents of these kids and telling them to "Buy the freakin game or else". If they cave in and buy the game for their child, they've got no one to blame but themselves. No one can ever say "This ad campaign forced me to buy this 17+ game for my son, and now he's dismembering people with a buzzsaw", especially when the ad campaign is campaigning the direct opposite.

So... what's the point?

Real world scenario: Fourteen year old goes in and attempts to buy Dead Space 2, and the clerk, who doesn't care, lets him.

 

[Noctis_XZ]

People over 17 can still be rebellious over their mom's.

Do you think there is larger number of people over 17 who would want something purely because their mother hates it rather than under 17?

I'm 21 and my mom hates Dead Space 2.

Was your mom's hatred for it the driving factor for you wanting the game.

This ad campaign is so obviously targeted at the rebellious teenage kids who would jump at the chance to get something their parents would disapprove of. Most people who are old enough to buy the game are mature enough to not care that their parents hate it, or at least not be driven by their parents reaction to go buy the game.

Anyone who is older than 18 who gets all giggly at the thought of their parents disgust in something of theirs really needs to grow up and get past the phase of needing a reaction from your parents.

Since it was based around whether or not "Your mom" would hate it (personally, my mom wouldn't care), EA is making one of three assumptions about you, the customer:

a) You're a teenager, still at home with your mom, and that you'll be 'cool' if you get this game, because you'll be 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

b) You're not a teenager, but you're still under the thumb of your overbearing mom, possibly living with her long after you should have moved out, and that you'll be 'cool' if you get this game, because you'll be 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

Or c) You're not a teenager, and you don't live at home with your mom, but you still have to prove how 'cool' you are by 'defying' your parents, big rebel that you are.

That's exactly what it is. Either they are targeting people who are teenagers, or they are targeting adults who has matured mentally as much as a teenager, and thus are appealing to teenagers still.

I didn't buy Dead Space 2, but I had to give them credit for having such a creatively funny ad campaign. It was just like the one for Jackass this last year where they had this etiquette instructor telling everyone how offensive it was and that it shouldn't even be allowed to exist. Good humor goes a long way.

What exactly was creative and funny about that Dead Space 2 ad? The fact that there are people, in this case those conservative mothers, who disagree with the game and find it disgusting?

Differing opinion is funny because it is different than my own! Ha ha ha.. -.-

The only thing creative about this ad is how it creatively gave the other side a legitimate reason why video games are for children.

You're just proving to me that this ad was catered to the lowest common denominator..

People keep missing the point of what this group is trying to express. There are rules set in place.. and REGARDLESS of how stupid you and I think the rating system is and how actual retailers probably don't enforce it.. the POINT is, this game was RATED M for Mature (17+). Their argument, which has some merit to it, is that this ad was aimed at people below the designated age of play.. why is it so difficult to understand where they are coming from?

Like I said in an earlier post. Lets save our "This group is stupid.. Lol" for the people who truly deserve it. Not at a rational group of people who in reality make a very good point.

 

[shintakie10]

The advocacy group isn't saying "the game is bad" or "the ad campaign is utterly pointless to any but teenagers". It isn't unreasonable for you to find the ad funny, but you just proved their point. For you, the ad campaign doesn't make you go "Must have Dead Space 2!". For teenage kids who have spent their entire life living under their "obviously unfair, oppressive parents" they will probably have an entirely different response, which is what the advocacy group is saying.

Eh, bein able to judge how a 15 year old will react to somethin is like ice fishin when ya dont know what you're doin. Sure you might catch somethin, but most of the time your butt just gets cold. I remember showin that ad to one of my teenage friends and his reaction was that it was hilarious, then proceeded to ask what Dead Space 2 was (poor sheltered child). I could show it to another and they might think it was a stupid campaign. I could show it to yet another and this one might actually have the reaction "My mom hates it? That means I have to have it!" Then those kids proceed to go to a game store and be turned away because they cant buy the game due to age restrictions.

Is the add campaign immature? Sure as heck it is, but that doesnt mean it was aimed at kids in the least. Your average 18-35 year old can still laugh at a fart joke as much as a 13 year old. Tryin to make the argument that this advocacy group is makin is nearly akin to sayin the opposite though. It'd be amusin if it weren't for the fact that its so pretentious.

Real world scenario: Fourteen year old goes in and attempts to buy Dead Space 2, and the clerk, who doesn't care, lets him.

There was actually a news story some time ago about this exact thin actually. A independent study was done to determine how well companies were of makin sure that age restrictions were actually followed. Think it was like...theaters, movies, video game places, and like...music I think? Game shops scored the best with only about a 5ish percent rate of an underage child bein able to walk out with mature games.

 

[hem dazon 90]

HAHA! Fantastic, im surprised EA came up with clever marketing tactics like that usually its lowest common denominator mindlessness or just adding "EA challenge everything" to the end of every game commercial.

Good to see the advocacy group hates dead space 2, i would likely hate everything they stand for so we're probably about equal. For those in this thread who side with the group of moms... hand in your gamer card guys lol...

If being a "gamer" (I hate that word) means I have to be an unthinking automata who simply dislikes anything older people like then you can take it.