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How Protests Against Games Cause Them To Sell More Copies

blog.wired.com — Those who organize protests about violent video games would do well to realize that the net effect of said protests is inevitably to cause the game to sell even more copies than it would have with no attention.

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 31, 2007

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  • dagooh, on 11/03/2007, -0/+34All publicity is good publicity ; )
  • allaboutdatiki, on 11/03/2007, -3/+31Say anything you want about me. Just spell my name right.
  • KingBunny, on 11/02/2007, -0/+17Here's how it works:
    Person A: "Don't purchase those cookies which are on sale, because they'll give you instant super-aids"
    Person B: "That's a blatant, retarded lie from someone who knows nothing about what they're protesting... and that reminds me, I need some cookies."
  • motang, on 11/03/2007, -1/+17Haha, well that's cause protesting those games more people know about it, and those who don't care will buy the game just piss off the people who are protesting...like me! I am going to pick up Manhunt 2 just cause people made so much commotions about it.
  • Gryffydd, on 11/01/2007, -0/+11Except for maybe being on To Catch a Predator"
  • Matt174e, on 11/03/2007, -1/+12Praise Allah BootDatiki
  • charlescheese, on 10/31/2007, -0/+10I have better things to do with my money than make a political point with my money that nobody will hear. Now I may buy Manhunt if it keeps getting 7 and 8 scores...when it's reduced to $20.
  • carterbaldwin, on 11/01/2007, -0/+9When you're Paris Hilton, bad publicity is ALL of you're publicity.
  • Kenelm, on 11/03/2007, -1/+9The same applies to Jack Thompson...
  • Genjeta, on 11/01/2007, -0/+8I agree, I had no idea Manhunt 2 was, let alone what the game contained, until it got so much attention.
  • str3ama, on 11/01/2007, -0/+7If Australia pre-emptively bans your game - you're game's a success!
  • haiduz, on 11/03/2007, -0/+7I think youre a kind and humble person, allaboutbukaki
  • moskaudancer, on 11/03/2007, -0/+6It's great that you're so willing to hear criticism, Mr. Alvin Bootlicker.
  • look4alec, on 11/03/2007, -0/+6GTA is not even mentioned! and Carmageddon TDR 2000 was sweetness
  • kinggimped, on 11/01/2007, -2/+7I bought Carmageddon II simply because of all the hullabaloo it raised about running over innocent people. I played it a few times and it was *****.

    I can't believe they made such a big thing about Night Trap. The Little Mermaid was 100 times scarier and more violent than that game.
  • Gryffydd, on 11/01/2007, -0/+5Geez guys...You're != Your
  • wild, on 11/01/2007, -1/+5Manhunt 2 is out?

    Be right back, gotta run to the store.
  • cloudyprison, on 10/31/2007, -0/+4Exactly. I went out and got Bioshock after hearing there was some whiny people out there talking about how you can kill children in it. I was worried a good game would get temporarily banned/re-written for bogus reasons.
  • nallelcm, on 11/01/2007, -0/+4You mean putting something in the media will cause people to know about it? You figured that one out all by yourself?
  • inactive, on 10/31/2007, -0/+4I hate the kind of people that think violent video games are bad. I hope they rot in hell.
  • itspuddingtime, on 11/01/2007, -0/+4the DARE program had the exact same effect on me. At first it's all "oh drugs are bad, just say no". Later... "wait a minute, maybe I should give this a shot and see what the fuss is all about". And look at me now...
  • Fcukbear, on 11/01/2007, -1/+4Manhunt would benefit from this, it's pretty gruesome.. but the bans seem to be effective at squashing it's sales =/

    http://www.theginblog.com/2007/10/video-game-viole ...

    regardless, with cutscenes like that.. I'd pick it up.. it looks crazy.
  • moskaudancer, on 11/01/2007, -0/+3Unless you've got a ticket for the CP Train. Catch us now, Party Van!
  • BlackholeStorm, on 10/31/2007, -1/+4The same law applies to Jack Thompson, hear that gaming news sites?!
  • moskaudancer, on 11/01/2007, -0/+3If Australia pre-bans your game, Australia needs to grow some nads. No offense to you Aussies, but many of your politicians are just as empty headed as ours. At least Australia's never started a war "just for ***** and giggles", though...
  • inactive, on 11/03/2007, -3/+5Yup this is true. I actually had people protest some of my artwork in the past for they way I depicted women in my comics... which was pretty ludicrous! These protestors bought my comic books and later realized that my depictions were not bad but actually great works of art. It's all comes down to personal tastes and education. 'Nuff said!
  • inactive, on 10/31/2007, -0/+2If you're REALLY concerned about a game, protest the competition. If anyone asks you about the game in question, just say "I find it perfectly tasteful and acceptable." I don't know why nobody ever thinks of this.
  • oldhick, on 11/02/2007, -0/+2Thanks, that was great.
  • ckup619, on 11/01/2007, -0/+2why do we need a "'how' protests against games.... "??? 'Protesting games sells more copies' speaks for itself
  • GuyeNoir, on 10/31/2007, -0/+2Sorry Luke. The Force doesn't make people buy video games. People protesting a video game gets said game more media attention, which makes more people aware of it, which means more potential buyers. It's that simple.
  • skyfire1, on 10/31/2007, -0/+2Why do I even know who that person is? Why does the name "Paris Hilton" have to exist?
  • Almadiel, on 11/01/2007, -0/+2This is news? When you need something interesting to read, check the church's list of banned books. This strategy is as old as time. Things don't get banned because they suck, they get banned because they are considered tempting.
  • staticneuron, on 11/01/2007, -0/+2Is there any other game that should be protested more, allaboutdaikatana?
  • moskaudancer, on 11/04/2007, -0/+2I'd really like to run a few of those ***** over. Or maybe gouge their eyes out. Depends on if I'm wearing my bloody apron or not.
  • cbrunet, on 11/01/2007, -2/+4Well duh. I'm pretty sure that's why they say there's no such thing as bad publicity.

    Unless your Paris Hilton.
  • MrSidnet, on 10/31/2007, -0/+2The protesters are trying to prevent the release of these games, not trying to cut back on sales. Although, reduced sales might help the protesters cause.
  • str3ama, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1you forget yourself. Such impudence...

    I just felt like saying that ... no relation whatsoever to your comment.
  • tuddy666, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1And my friends wondered why I decided to import manhunt 2 from the US...
    ...yes, I DID go through all that trouble to get a videogame that has been banned here in the UK.
  • Matri, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1Well duh! We still want him around so that he'll continue to give free publicity to all the new games!
  • freddo, on 10/31/2007, -0/+1It makes me think of the logo they put in overlay of the TV programs to indicate which audience should watch it... Before, late at night, you would change channels after a few seconds of a poor dialog from what you would though was a bad sit-com.
    Now they put a little X in pink at the lower right of the screen. You know the dialog won't improve but it might get interesting really soon...
  • MarkOfTheDead, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1extending on your idea, the people banning the games usually have no taste and a limited education.
  • MarkOfTheDead, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1It's awesome, wait till you smash the dudes head in with the toilet tank while he's taking a piss in the titty bar.
  • andrewpmk, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1At least it would be impossible, or least VERY difficult to do this is the US:

    Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
    -- 1st Amendment
  • inactive, on 11/04/2007, -0/+1You took the words out of my mouth.
  • Quaterni0n, on 10/31/2007, -1/+2Thank you Jack Thompson. Video games wouldn't be as popular as they are today if it wasn't for your lunacy.
  • moskaudancer, on 10/31/2007, -0/+1Because no one had the good sense to run her over when she was still just another stupid whore.
  • MarkOfTheDead, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1The wii one is still pretty brutal after censoring. You can also adjust the blur a little too I found some option in one of the menus. Even with that said (and being carded buying it, I'm 26 and look pretty close to it) I think if they would have slapped an M rating on it and been responsible at sales outlets not to sell it to minors, It would have been fine too.
  • Quicksilver4648, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1Manhunt 2 is only going to sell a crap load of copies because the media is making such a big deal about it. No other game got exclusives on CBS. Free publicity. If nobody talked about it then I doubt the game would have sold to well, it only appeals to a small audience.
  • dethsesh, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1manhunt 2 sucks
  • tuddy666, on 11/01/2007, -0/+1about 10 to one, approximately.
    However it differs for some albums.
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