A series of television ads run in the UK for the PlayStation 3 game Heavy Rain rankled a few feathers due to their timing and violence.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) reported receiving 38 complaints in response to four Heavy Rain ads, with viewers criticizing the violence of the ads and a perceived glamorization of violence. The objectors also worried that the ads were run at a time of day when children could view them.
The last complaint about the ads was that they were run around the same time that a shop keeper in Huddersfield was killed in an armed robbery. The Heavy Rain ads all depicted a scene in which a shop keeper was repeatedly threatened by an armed man with Heavy Rain character Scott Shelby watching. The versions differed in how the Shelby reacted to the situation; he either intervened, attacked or negotiated with the armed robber.
Gurmail Singh, of Cowcliffe, Huddersfield, died from head injuries received in a February 20 attack in his store, according to the BBC.
Sony called the overlap of the ads with the death of Singh “unfortunate,” to which the ASA added, “We considered that the ad was likely to be viewed by most people within its context of an ad for a videogame, rather than as a reference to or comment on a current news event, and would therefore expect to see footage that was representative of the games genre.”
The PlayStation maker also argued that “the ads were based on the content and storyline of the game Heavy Rain and were in no way intended to glamorise violence.”
The ASA additionally stated that the ads were run in appropriate time slots and ruled against all complaints.
One of the ads in question is embedded. All four can be viewed in this PlayStation EU blog post.
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ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
May 12, 2010 -
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Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm
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Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm
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Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm
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Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm
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Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm
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Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm
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ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm
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MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm
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Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm
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MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am
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Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am
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quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
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quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
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quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm
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Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm
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Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm
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Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm
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james_fudge: I think Evan killed it. He's a great guy and super smart.10/17/2014 - 6:38pm
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Technogeek: Papa Midnight: I kind of figured "it's horrible" was implied by "CNN".10/17/2014 - 5:07pm
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james_fudge: Matthew I mean outlets that don't cover games normally.. and conservative sites looking for clicks10/17/2014 - 4:39pm
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Comments
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
People need to STFU, then get off their crosses, use the wood to build a bridge, and get over it.
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
Hmmm, I need to remember that line, thanks.
Hunting the shadows of the troubled dreams.
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
In Canada, all you need is one person to complain about an ad to get it pulled.
Anyways... I find it very annoying that it's likely only because this is a videogame. There are all kinds of movie trailers that have significantly more violence (and definitely promotes violence) than that particular scene in Heavy Rain. In fact, that scene handles violence very well I think.
In that scene, Shelby can either intervene and get shot, sneak up and disarm the robber or try to reason with him. This is a pure knee jerk reaction and ONLY because it's a game.
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
Over-sensitive much? What? It´s is wrong to despict crime or violence because actual crime and violence happen?
------------------------------------------------------------ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
Seriously, how can people be such pussies that they are going to report a TV ad to the government because it hurt their fragile minds by depicting violence? How are these types of people able to function in the real world?
Re: ASA: UK Heavy Rain Ads Not All Wet
Cause 38 complaints obviously means that millions hated the ads...
Really? So much to do over only 38 complaints? They should ignore them, and keep running the ads.