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5 of the most controversial videogame commercials

mistermostyn | August 17, 2007 | News | Playstation 2 Dreamcast 
Censorship is never a good thing. Being told what we can and cannot watch on our televisions is censorship designed to 'protect' the hard-of-understanding from potential self-harm... but it's still censorship.

In that sense, videogames and their advertising campaigns are always a ripe target. Click the source for 5 of the most controversial TV ads to fall to the censor's hammer!
The sole purpose of any TV advertising campaign is to tempt potential consumers into purchasing any given product. Videogames being what they are – an influential form of interactive entertainment – they require a certain punchy, cutting-edge, and often daring promotional approach to capture their target audience. Furthermore, to set videogame ads apart from more traditional advertising, they also tend to employ boundary pushing, shock tactics, and morally debateable content delivery in order to gain gamer attention. But what happens if said tactics are taken that little bit too far?

GamerSquad presents a selection of the five most controversial videogame-related television adverts of recent times...
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  • 0 thumbs!
    Cruxis Mana | August 18, 2007
    I remember so many people hating the Life's Short advert for the Xbox - I wasn't really a fan of it either to be honest ... Lawlz at the German Dreamcast advert though !

    I don't see the problem with the 360 advert though ... I really liked the one with the finger shootout in the station ^^ Some people must just have nothing better to do then ring up and complain about TV adverts.

    However I am surprised that the PS3 This is Living advert wasn't included ... I mean that had it all !
  • 0 thumbs!
    MrSponget | August 18, 2007
    That PS2 one was *bleep*ed up.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Kafani | August 19, 2007
    Life's short for XBox was crazy hilarious. That guy shot out of his mom and straight into his grave. I think in order to attract a younger audience, these tactics are required.
    • 0 thumbs!
      JJBDude | August 19, 2007
      I remember that advert, sure did have me chuckling everytime I saw it.
  • 0 thumbs!
    twilightprince | August 19, 2007
    Willst thou get the girl? Or play like one?

    Haha.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Capn Droid | August 20, 2007
    Super lol at the PS2 commerical. I can see that and Xbox getting banned.

    Nintendo was rather intelligent, however.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Gothic Girl | August 20, 2007
    I thought the Legend of Zelda commercial was funny, rather than being offensive.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Storm | August 20, 2007
    I agree, I don't see that Zelda commercial as being offensive, but meh. Who cares about ads, though?

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