Kane & Lynch ads banned in UK

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 9th 2008 at 3:00PM }

After receiving a whopping 26 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority in the UK has banned a "graphic" and "shocking" poster (seen above) for Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The Guardian reports the ASA ordered Eidos not to print or broadcast any ads created for the game again as they were deemed inappropriate for an "untargeted medium."

The print ad appeared in two Future Publishing magazines, while a TV ad portrayed scenes of graphic violence. The poster also included an overlay of this brilliant insight from OXM: "Grittier and nastier in tone than anything you've seen before, the violence here is visceral, brutal and very, very real." This was seen by the ASA as possibly "condoning and glorifying real violence." Sadly, none of the controversy Kane & Lynch seems to shake up makes the mediocre game any better, but it sure does help sell copies.

Tags: asa, eidos, kane-and-lynch, uk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 9th 2008 3:03PM

Well... at least UK at least ban mediocre games like this and Manhunt 2.

Phranctoast @ Apr 9th 2008 3:07PM

What?
They banned the ads, not the game.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 9th 2008 3:08PM

Ahh misread =(

McWeen @ Apr 9th 2008 3:13PM

Step 1. Cut a hole in the box.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Apr 9th 2008 5:14PM

Step 2: ????
Step 3: Profit!

Worst Review Ever @ Apr 9th 2008 3:17PM

I glorify real violence all the time, but it's a very specific kind of real violence.
For example, I fully endorse vigilante violence that results in the death or castration of rapists and anyone that abuses/kills a child.
"You gotta take a side! You molest a child, you beat a child, you're not on my side. If you see me coming, you better run, because I am gonna lay you the fuck down!"
If you haven't seen Gone, Baby, Gone yet, you probably should.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Apr 9th 2008 3:28PM

Gone Baby Gone has a fantastic and important message attached to it.

Wait...so THESE ads were banned? Hahaha wow that UK is sooooo wimpy! I'm kidding, but in all honesty this is a bit overprotective.

baby sea tuna @ Apr 9th 2008 4:07PM

Every neighborhood needs its own Bernard Goetz.

Zootittles @ Apr 9th 2008 3:33PM

OF COURSE this was banned. It's demeaning to women-- think of how much it'll sting when they rip that duct tape off.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 9th 2008 3:53PM

I was just thinking that if someone replaced the shotgun for tweezers the ad could say Kane & Lynch: Beauty Saloon.

jynxycat @ Apr 9th 2008 4:01PM

Salon?

GreyFox @ Apr 9th 2008 3:46PM

Seems a bit unnecessary but oh well at least they have a proper channel for complaints for shitty ads.

voodoo_craig @ Apr 9th 2008 3:48PM

Am I the only one thinking that this is a serious case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted?

I mean it's not like they were even going to advertise this game again, it's been and had it's time. They may as well go back and ban some adverts for piano ties and New Coke.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 9th 2008 3:49PM

You know someone should make a game like Kane and Lynch (Wait hold your torches let me finish) but without the serious tone,all the swearing and ofcourse the sh*tty gameplay.A gamespot editor can be fired too.

Have anyone watched that movie called Sultanes del Sur?
Something like that would be awesome or just forget the serious tone and make it about comedy or something.