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Joystiq

EA Sports MMA won't be sold in Denmark because of energy drink law

by Griffin McElroy on Aug 27th 2010 5:30PM

Let's play a quick game of "which of these two things is the craziest thing you've ever heard?" So, there's this Scandinavian law which prohibits any form of marketing for energy drinks, which EA Sports MMA (with its energy drink-branded fighter shorts and environments) would flagrantly violate. That's weird, right? Here's what's weirder: EA Sports has decided to cancel the game's release in the region outright to preserve the game's authenticity.

So, which is more bizarre? The fact that fans of dudefights living in Denmark won't be able to get their EA Sports MMA fix due to energy drink pants? Or the fact that EA Sports refuses to change the energy drink pants into Taco Bell pants because it would ruin the authenticity of the MMA experience? We're leaning towards the latter.

Source: CVG

Tags: ban, denmark, ea-sports, EA-Sports-MMA, law, microsoft, playstation, ps3, xbox

Reader Comments (39)

Let's be honest, it's an obvious decision. Altering the game for such a small market would probably cost EA more money than the potential profit. Also, the game's probably partially sponsored by the brand.

@Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar

Well if you live in Europe you can get this game from your neighbors and EA saves money and time. Certain laws are kinda ridiculous.

So, coffee is illegal in Denmark?

@LaughingTarget

Coffee doesnt have like cups of sugar in ever cup

its also proven its good to drink two cups or so of coffee a day. At least thats what I've been told/read.

@LaughingTarget
"...Scandinavian law which prohibits any form of marketing for energy drinks"

@LaughingTarget

not ilegal just ilegal to advertise, Ithink theres a similar law regarding cigarettes over here in the UK

Joystiq could use a staff member that understands MMA. These energy drink items in the game come in the way of "sponsors", and thus lead to funds.

Wow that's stupid, WE ALL hate advertising and when i play a game i don't play it to stare at silly advertisements, They should just patch it to show something else.

Monster Energy drink FTW!

@The MARIO like condoms or engine lubricant.. or deodorant..

@Mazrael
I highly doubt those gamers buy that stuff.

Rockstar is gross as shit anyway, Red Bull for life.

@Unknown Hero Monster ftw.

@Unknown Hero

Screw that, Bawls all the way.

@Unknown Hero I hate the regular Rockstar, but have you had the Recovery in the yellow cans? Its damn delicious.

Balanced diet and full nights rest for the win.

@Bubbameister33 Not to mention way cheaper.

@Unknown Hero
You guys are lightweights; cocaine is the only way to go.

Uhm, I'm going for the former. That law is ridiculous. And if you can't see the real reason why EA isn't publishing, you may be an idiot. It sure as hell isn't for authenticity.

just remove the shorts completely and i will buy!

Really? Energy drinks? THAT'S what you choose to ban advertisements for?

Not overindulgent pharmaceutical drugs or alcohol? But energy drinks are what society should not be exposed to?

@Lerkero
Well, it's not exactly the only the thats banned in Denmark, genius.

@REBDK
Where in my post does it say that energy drinks are the only thing I assume to be banned? I just think it's ridiculous that energy drinks are something to be concerned about on that level. Its an over-caffeinated beverage just like coffee and many soda brands. Why would that be banned?

"It's okay for two men to beat each other unconscious in a cage, but I'll be damned if they tell people to buy an energy drink while doing it."

Video game companies complain that they're losing sales because of things like "used game sales," and then they do something like this. *shakes head in disgust* Do they even want sales?

@Mouthsmasher look at the size of denmark. why would they make a special version of the game for such a small populations. i doubt the costs associated with altering the game would be worth the trouble

@Mouthsmasher
the game company DID nothing. it's the government that is banning the game.

@Mouthsmasher
This is Denmark, not the U.S. or any other huge country. The cost to change the game would probably be far more the the profit from sales in Denmark.

It has nothing to do with either -_-. Clearly it's because Rockstar is supplying some pretty beefy advertisement funds for development. Probably more than could be made up if they dropped all the energy drink related stuff and sold in Denmark.

@Sally
It's a Mexican fast food restaurant and I don't know.

Well maybe EA is gambling that they'll make more net profit by letting those gamers import from surrounding countries (Denmark isn't that big, and I wonder how online retailers will get around it anyway, so can either cross the border, or try an online retailer) than by taking the expense to alter the game code. I'm sure Denmark isn't a massive market anyway.

@KirbyCommando Calling Taco Bell a Mexican restaurant is like calling McDonald's a steakhouse.

I'm going with the former.

@SeaKnigge I agree with you. In every Strikeforce fight the center of the cage is filled with Rockstar advertising. Obviously Rockstar are popping down some serious coin to be a sponsor therefore EA can't just scrap them from the game because of a local law in a small market.

def. the former. why should EA have to alter thier game for one country thats the size of frickin west virginia!! That would be stupid

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Oh... nevermind. That was just some Rockstar stink I burped up.

its a bell made out of tacos

I don't get it. We have a lot of advertisements for energy drink (Red Bull, Burn, etc.) on the TV here in Denmark. What's the difference, between advertisements in games and TV?

yeah here in denmark the public space is filled with adds for energy drinks... other EA titles are filled with the same kind of adds like the skate series... this ban is not logic at all

rockstar energy drink is not even for sale here

Don't know about "Scandinavian law"? I've seen Red Bull commercials on TV here in Sweden. But then again, there recently was a new law prohibiting anyone under 18 from buying energy drinks. So maybe it really is a Scandinavian law and not just Danish. Anyhow, it's not a big problem since most scandinavian webshops aren't limited to nordic releases.

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EA Sports MMA

EA Sports MMA won't be sold in Denmark because of energy drink law

Reader Comments (39)

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:34PM Dark Archon PSN Archonik XBL Dar said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:06PM pickupdoctor said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:35PM LaughingTarget said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:41PM Faenix said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:59PM gevenstaines said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:33PM dosed150 said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:36PM HeroCasey said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:40PM The MARIO said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:54PM Mazrael said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 3:33AM daytripper said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:44PM Unknown Hero said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:46PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:51PM Anticrawl said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:51PM Dirty said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:31PM Bubbameister33 said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 7:10PM raz4life said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 3:35AM daytripper said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 5:59PM Iamdude said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:02PM gevenstaines said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:02PM Lerkero said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 6:55AM REBDK said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 10:19AM Lerkero said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:04PM Mouthsmasher said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 7:17PM TB said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 7:49PM gevenstaines said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 11:39AM thenutman69321 said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:05PM Anticrawl said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:08PM KirbyCommando said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:24PM mrmobius said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 6:35PM Faceless Troll said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 7:10PM SeaKnigge said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 10:57PM x2Jiggy said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 7:13PM TB said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 10:43PM Chareth Cutestory said

Posted: Aug 27th 2010 11:02PM aughscreennames said

Posted: Aug 28th 2010 7:14AM cph said

Posted: Aug 29th 2010 10:28AM choplifta said

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Posted: Aug 30th 2010 6:14AM DaveGeorge said

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