What happens when adverts for a video game get pulled as a result of real life violence? Why, someone gets sued of course.

In the run-up to the release of Grand Theft Auto IV, the game’s publisher Take-Two Interactive wanted to advertise the game in a variety of different ways, using different media, and in many locations. One of the places they chose was Chicago, where posters advertising the game were plastered on the sides of buses and transit display places due to a deal struck with the Chicago Transit Authority.

Unfortunately, the first few days of the viral advertising campaign coincided with a spate of violent crimes occurring in the American city, and one FOX News affiliate decided to run a report questioning the suitability of adverts for a violent game being displayed at this delicate time.

So of course, being the lily livered organisation that they are, the CTA removed the adverts post haste, even though none of the posters depicted any violence whatsoever.

Now, according to Reuters, Take-Two are suing the Chicago transit Authority claiming that the ads were pulled with no explanation, and doing so had broken the $300,000 agreement the two had made which meant the ads would appear in prominent places for six weeks between April and June.

Take-Two now want the adverts to be run as they should have been, and is looking for monetary damages of at least $300,000. The Chicago Transit Authority have so far been unavailable for comment.

While we can’t really comment on a legal case, if the adverts were pulled as a direct result of the FOX News piece linking them to crime, then it completely shos up the media yet again for a total overreaction, and unashamed hatred for games, and gamers.

Following on from Jack Thompson and MADD, these people seem to be confused by real life, and what happens in a virtual setting. What’s strange is that it’s a confusion which 99.999% of gamers never have. We know it isn’t real, so don’t treat us like criminals. Surely FOX would be better off running a piece asking for help in catching real crooks?

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New PS3 adverts unveiled - Enough to beat Wii and Xbox 360?

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 at 1:59 pm under Games, Industry, Media, Opinion, PS3, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.