EA confirms Dante's Inferno protest was staged

Kinda reminds me of all the fake voters that were hired last year.

Two things,
First, how many drinks did it take before this became a good idea?

Second, another example of blogs just posting a happening without researching all elements of the story. I hope you feel a little dirty after getting used and abused for free publicity.

BEST.MARKETING.EVAR!!!

I thought it was awesome!

I knew this was staged. Many of the picket signs were too cleverly based off of in game references for regular protestors to come up with on their own. ESPECIALLY if they're against that kind of videogame or videogames in general. How would they know enough about it unless they've read about it or played it? Who ever the marketing rep was who came up with that little debacle needs to be fired or given an assignment in the basement mailroom.

SO... Fake protests inspire fake controversy inspires fake interest over a game (not all that much) inspired by a real literary achievement based on a fake version of Hell for said game which is apparently a carbon copy (y'know, fake?) of a another game based on a fake version of Greek Myth...

I know, that was lame but...

I think they just trivialized the game's subject matter even further... Kotaku article (here: http://kotaku.com/5278242/should-we-expect-more-from-electronic-arts-inferno) on the game was very interesting. This game could have been great; but I believe that Hell really exists, so my looking forward to Dante's Inferno was based on the idea that it was going to be treated maturely and bring the gamer some profound and inspired gaming experiences.

The God of Wars would have been good action games without their meaningful stories - instead they were great games because they were deep, compelling, mature (well; aside from the mini-games) and had very-well-paced storytelling.

I'm bummed about this one though. Even though I didn't expect accurate depictions of Dante's version of Hell or the Bible's - Now, even worse, they're treating it like its a big joke - even in the advertising. Make's me think they are making a very "dumb" game instead of the very smart one they could be making.

Right Wing Christian here who plans to buy the game

Whatever you may believe about the issues involved; I don't think anyone can argue that they weren't slamming on Christians there. 'We' do tend to use stupid slogans a lot.

I died a little the day I saw a church sign say "God answers knee-mail."

I think the funny part is that religion has way of making people do such stupid things, that you can actually assume such a silly protest is legit.

Most of the children here bashing Christianity know nothing about true Christianity anyways.
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

Why does Christianity bother so many people? Anyone have an answer for that?

No Dogma, Religion doesn't MAKE anyone do anything. People have free will and choose to do stupid things. That's like saying video games make people go out and murder.

@ Mathew,

He's correct in his reply your attempt at being clever/insulting back fired and you got called on it. Nice try however, especially ditching out on an actual reply rather than the lame excuse you gave to not answer him.

At any rate, I still plan on purchasing this game. For me, the bigger point it made was to point out the bigotry, hatred and ignorance that is all too often attributed to people of faith but more often than not found within the very ranks of those who "preach" about diversity and togetherness, accepting others.

http://www.newscholars.com/papers/Killing,%20Christianity,%20and%20Atheism.pdf

Every gaming website that ran with this story was filled to the brim with the most vile, disgusting, hateful comments and a WHOLE lot of ignorance of not only facts based on the faith but of history in general. The level of hypocrisy is amazing but then again living in a God less gut less society I shouldn't be surprised. Far more have suffered and died at the hands of those who were hell bent on some self righteous political goal than religion. And yet and still, we look to the state to answer and solve all our sorrows, ignorant of facts, ignorant of history, ignorant of the truth. Christ wasn't joking when he said they'd hate you because of me.

Nothings new under the sun.

I LOVE THIS! That is too funny. And the people they hired look just like those jesus freaks that would do something like this.

I think it's a bit funny.

EA taunting Christians... nice. I'll be passing on this title, as well as most of EA's, now

Protesting a game based on one of the most referenced, redone and just plain rehashed works of the last 200 years? It had to be fake! Only renaissance freaks and librarians would do that!

Captain Planet - read the comment a little more carefully. I'm not opposed to the game. I thought the "people protesting" were going too far.

What I'm opposing is EA and trying to exploit their subject by poking fun at people who might have a problem with their game. Big difference.

Hate to disappoint you, but no life boycotting for me any time soon.

what a waste of money.

Captain Planet - why would I thump a Bible? What did it ever do to me?

The "boycott" is simple - I have no desire to play the game and EA ticked me off. This isn't like a "Oh, I so wanted to play your game, but now that you did this, NEVAR!"

I don't see it being stupid because it's nothing more than a response to something stupid. You can say there was no "group targeted"; but why does everybody here some to know exactly what "group" they were portraying? Soooo . . . that's an invalid point.

But, to specifically rebut your point, THEY DID TARGET A SPECIFIC BELIEF: Protesters held signs that called the game "Anti-Christ," one of the protestors told the LA TImes they were opposed to the game taking place in hell and a character using a cross as a weapon, and all of the protestors were handing out brochures leading to the site: http://wearesaved.org (not currently up, but apparently will eventually lead to a promo site). So, the only religion that deals with the idea of "salvation" and also involves hell and a cross iiiiiiiiissssss . . . that's right, Catholicism/Christianity. Soooooo . . . yes, group = targeted.

I don't get what you mean by "reverse blasphemy." Explain it, and maybe I can see better where you're coming from.

Again, I'm being a little emotional here because when I read the initial story, I let out a sigh and an exasperated "Why?!" at people ignorantly overreacting (Yes, I know the storyline - so I was upset at the people ignorantly protesting).

Whoops. I meant http://wearesaved.com. Guess the .org's an actual site. :-)

Sad site. Could use an upgrade . . . but there it is.

@ Captain Planet,

To say that what you propose is a stretch in logic would be an understatement. The stupid thing that was said was by you in the form of referring to this as "reverse blasphemy"? Your actually going to claim that you put any type of thought into your deduction and that's what you came up with?

I suppose....

I think it's clear what EA wanted and what they achieved and they did both. No press is bad press as the old saying goes, and what better way to get the word out about your product than to rile up one of the most vocal consumer groups in the world. Anytime anyone says or does anything about gaming, gamers will attack. Unfortunately, most of the time making us look as bad or worse in some cases...as those who "don't get" gaming already think of us.

EA didn't need to single out any particular denomination because they knew that knee jerk haters would do the job for them. No gamer, not one, thought to themselves "damn those crazy Muslims for protesting" or "There goes the Taoist again!". Instead all we got was stupid, fat, red-neck rightwingneocons, Christians.

I'm not claiming that we don't have issues within our faith to deal with, to the contrary ALL groups of people...faith based or not...have some house cleaning to do. However, as we all know it's open season and accepted to attack and demean Christians any chance that's given.

I'm still going to get the game because it looks awesome and I like stuff like that but like I said, IMO what EA did is help illuminate something about our community (gamers) that we should be ashamed of.

dogmaticatheist, you are obvious delusional, because if you knew what you thought you did, you would realize how wrong you are. At 34 years old and a father of 3, I have been from atheism to christian..and all it took was a little education and some common sense. I could go round and round with you all day, but sooner or later you will be on your knees before the Alpha and Omega..either as your Savior or your Judge.
Sawyer..it is not about religion and it is more about fact. Christianity isnt "better" it is just true.

Dogma..for someone who claimed to know alot about Christianity, you are only showing your true ignorance. Murder is a sin in the bible..as is mutilation, suicide and certainly anti-semitism..as Gods chosen people are Jews..it would be illogical to be anti Jewish and be Christian as Christ took the form of a Jew.
Hitler wasnt Catholic..again you have people who claim to be one thing, but couldnt be if they knew the Lord..
Romans 13:9 - The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

RFFLMMAO!!!! Ok, I'm done...

Lets protest the protesters that are protesting against the fake protesters.

Oh my god, now you are going to throw in politics too. Are we reaching?

Let me just say this, I WAS a Christian for about 20 years. I believed in god and heaven and all that BS. Yes, I was brain washed at an early age. It wasn't until I watched my Mom die from cancer, slowly and painfully. She was a "Christian", went to church, said her prayers, etc. And god chose to kill her slowly and painfully. Now you will probably say, it wasn't god, it was the devil, or some BS like that. Well, god didn't do anything to help. That is went I stopped believing. The preacher came over one day and said, "We don't know what god's plan is, but this is part of it". What plan? To make me stop believing? Give me a break. And don't give me BS about testing my faith and whatever.

I actually hope there is a god. So when I stand in front of him on judgement day, I can spit in his face and leap in the firey pit myself.

Crap, that was supposed to be directed as a reply to my previous post. Ah well!

Well, shit like this explains how EA can sell 10 million+ copies of games and yet still lose money...

So true. And to follow that logic further, I'm happy to declare I've "boycotted" every Madden game EVAR! YAYS!

I immediately got that it was marketing, I don't really see how you could ever think it was real!

Moreover, when did this become racist or anti religious??? What is wrong with people, so insecure.

"There's got to be a better way to promote the game."

Except that they just got you to devote a post to the game.

ea just makes it to easy to hate them

Well screw EA.

There are enough sterotypes of Christians as it is.