If you are behind in the gaming news, you might have missed the recent Mass Effect report on Fox News that basically slandered the game for it's "graphic sex scenes" and "objectifying of women", despite neither the interviewer or psychology 'expert' Cooper Lawrence (who appeared in the report) ever having actually played the game. Gaming journalist Geoff Keighley tried his best to set the record straight and defend the game, but was ultimately ignored by Fox's interviewer.

Well this is what has happened since then:
A few days ago EA demanded Fox correct their unfair Mass Effect report and Geoff Keighley also stated his opinion on the botched interview. Cooper Lawrence's psychology books have also been attacked with hundreds of one-star ratings on Amazon from unhappy gamers.

And yet another chapter has been added to the Mass Effect story, with EA telling Kotaku that their detailed request to fix the errors in the report have been completely ignored by Fox. EA is greatly offended at this, and is wanting to "fight" against Fox. (We can all assume - or hope - that means legal action).

In a single line text message sent from her Blackberry, Teri VanHorn, producer of Fox News' Live Desk with Martha MacCallum, blew off Electronic Arts' detailed call for correction over the error strewn report the show did on Mass Effect earlier in the week.

Jeff Brown, Electronic Arts' vice president of communication, told Kotaku that the producer told him to contact Fox News' public relations department, which apparently now deals with factual errors in their stories.

Brown told me he wasn't surprised, but that EA will continue to "step up when someone maligns our creative teams.

"They need to understand there are 100 people in Edmonton, Alberta who dedicated years to making that game. They've got names, faces and reputations - and they've been slandered. We're angry about that."

He added that yesterday's reaction was not a one off, "it's a policy directive from Riccitiello. Anyone who tells lies about our creative teams is going to get a fight."
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Most recently commented on by on Jan 27, 2008
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  • 2
    Dance Floor Killah Jan 25, 08
    Pft, it's Fox for crap's sake. Basically the worst news channel ever!
  • 2
    Seeker X Jan 26, 08
    Legal actions alone??? *bleep* that dookie, let's go all the way to slandering too. Why not? FOX news pseudo-reporters did it, and EA has more than enough money to last through a few lawsuits, and on that note, they might actually gain more respect from gamers that way.
  • 2
    BradSK Jan 26, 08
    *bleep*ing wankers. Take 'em to court, EA.
  • 2
    Donnelly Jan 26, 08
    I'm not EA's biggest fan, but I really want them to go to court, and *bleep* Fox up the ass.

    The report was shockingly inaccurate and for Fox to air it, never mind fix it, is pretty shocking.
  • 2
    Storm Jan 26, 08
    The hell with Fox News, the gamers should know better not to pay them any attention, media-wise...especially after the catastrophe of an interview they had with Keighley.

    I do agree that EA should should fight this, though.
  • 2
    TurMoiL911 Jan 26, 08
    Haha, yeah, that's really freaking "Fair and Balanced" there, Fox News.

    EA should definitely sue them for slander.
  • 2
    Zero and X Jan 26, 08
    I dont care how big Fox is, they cant talk their way out of this. They have quite obviously lied, and there is blatant proof of these lies. The M rating for a game is the equivalent of an R rating for a movie, there is nudity in R rated movies all the time, so why cant games? There isnt even that much nudity in Mass Effect anyways, like 2 minutes. So really Fox is just being *bleep*ed.
  • 0
    The New Era Jan 26, 08
    Fox needs to get *bleep*ed, and bad
  • 1
    Oceanic Sun Jan 26, 08
    EA better fight this. Fox is mistreating them, badly.
  • 1
    Play ISDF Jan 26, 08
    EA, your being my hero lol! I think it's great that Fox is going to get a fight and it's great to hear that EA sticks up for it's own people like this. I do believe Fox shall be *bleep*ed over badly. The game industry is no newby to the court room and they aren't full of shit like Fox. I just can't wait to see Fox owned.
  • 0
    black doom Jan 27, 08
    Come on EA, the gaming community is backing you again for the first time in years. Go for it, show Fox what you are made of.
  • -1
    m xdogz Jan 27, 08
    Nice , wonder if fox will say sorry?

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