This is not a joke, EA have actually mailed game journalists with US $200 cheques as a part of a promotion for Dante’s Inferno.
The promotional idea is based on the fourth circle of hell, greed and puts the journalists in a rather odd position. The cheques arrive in a wooden box with two skeletons on top and has the cheque placed inside along with a message.
Hit the jump for more and to see what Kotaku’s Brian Crecente did with his cheque.
First off, these cheques are in fact real, we know this because Kotaku had accounts verify it. According to the message, you have to make a choice, here is what it says:
In Dante’s Inferno, Greed is a two-headed beast. Hoarding wealth feeds on beast and squandering it satiates the other. By cashing this check you succumb to avarice by harding filthy lucre, but by not cashing it, you waste it, and thereby surrender to prodigality. Make your choice and suffer the consequence for your sin. And scoff not, for consequences are imminent.
Now there is no doubt that this approach is classified as thinking out of the box (no pun intended) but you really have to ask yourself if something like this should have even taken place.
I see this kicking up a whole lot of dust in the industry, making me wonder if people are going to try and put together lists of which reviewers took the money and which didn’t.
I am actually guessing that EA assume that most people won’t actually cash the cheque, although it isn’t as if the money loss will even leave a mark. I for one do not think that this was a good idea at all and I hope that EA gets a lot of flak for it.
Video of Kotaku’s decision below.
Source: Kotaku
Last Updated: September 10, 2009
easy
September 10, 2009 at 10:06
i think its not a good idea either, seeing as ea was accused of bribing review sites to up the scores of their games.
the 9.9.9 on the cheque was a nice touch :tongue:
Ruslan
September 10, 2009 at 10:34
I dont see the problem with this seeing as our government does it for everything they ratify as well? :biggrin:
Kale
September 10, 2009 at 11:02
I think it’s very cleaver. A game based on sin is causing game reviewers to sin and creating a stir. What a brilliant way to promote this game, especially this game.
I see nothing in there that says give Dantes inferno a 9/10, it’s just cleaver advertising. The problem is cause it’s cash. If it was a $300 set of night vision goggles no one would question it.
Kale
September 10, 2009 at 11:05
Money is the root of all evil. The game is based on sins which in turn are evil.
BRILLIANT!!
koldFU5iON
September 10, 2009 at 11:13
I also think this is brilliant, many people seem to be in the mind that this is EA paying off their press, I really think you need to take a step back from that type of mind set and look at the idea behind it.
The temptations around greed and money are always there and the actions you take show character.
Personally I think this is a well executed idea, and I’d hope that EA will show exactly who did and didn’t cash their cheques.
SlippyMadFrog
September 10, 2009 at 11:24
I would have just cashed the cheque and give it to charity. I win EA! :devil:
LazySAGamer
September 10, 2009 at 11:25
I also highly doubt that any of the larger websites are going to blink at a $200 bribe.
It’s enough to make the journalists talk about it (which is the idea) but not enough to throw your name away for.
Puppystuffer
September 10, 2009 at 12:17
It’s an awesome idea and a great marketing plan, thats seems to really be working.
Kudos to them and their agency
easy
September 10, 2009 at 12:17
i hear you, but once bitten twice shy… plus i don’t see how a non-cashable check would’ve diminished the concept, which i agree was executed pretty well.