Game companies try to have a sense of humor in order to draw in their target audience. Sometimes though, advertisements backfire -- Sony's recent attempts sure did, anyway.

But the rage didn't come from gamers this time, or any particular group of people. Instead, Sony managed to upset the Nigerian government when the actor in an ad said, "Bernie, you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Otherwise I would be a Nigerian millionaire by now."

Nigeria promptly got all butthurt and demanded an apology from the Japan-based corporation, suggesting Sony was undermining their business integrity as a nation. Lulz.

Anyway, the dialogue has since been altered: "Bernie, you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. That's how World War I got started."

Video at the source.

At the end of August, Sony was churning some lighthearted PlayStation 3 ads, poking fun at gaming journalists and other nonsense. All in good fun, right? Nigeria did not agree.

The Nigerian government took offense to one of Sony's ads on price cuts. Originally, the silly dialogue went something like this: "Bernie, you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Otherwise I would be a Nigerian millionaire by now."

Nigeria was not amused. The government promptly demanded an apology from Sony, for allegedly damaging (or attempting to) the nation's upstanding reputation. Apparently, the Nigerian federal government really does believe this advertisement is an attempt to damage Nigeria's international business interests.

Information and Communication Minister Prof. Dora Akunyili released a statement in relation to the offense:

quote

It is on record that Sony Corporation has operated in Nigeria since independence and has enjoyed tremendous patronage from Nigerians at home and abroad.

Over these years, there is no established record that the company has recorded any major fraud by Nigerians.

While Nigeria accepts that there are few criminal-minded people within her population like any other country including Japan, the home country of Sony Corporation, the Federal Government has put in place institutions to rid the country of fraudulent practices.

RabidChinaGirl via neoseeker.com »