Namco hails Chilean miners, causes offence

By Fred Dutton Published 15 October, 2010

Publisher pulls Mr Driller image, apologises.

Namco Bandai has removed an image of Mr Driller from its website that it created to celebrate the successful rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners earlier this week.

The Japanese publisher posted the image on its Twitter feed. It shows its Mr Driller character, some kind of cute puppy, the Chilean flag and a cheery message which translates as "Welcome back!".

Apparently though, some deemed this highly offensive, and Namco Bandai has since removed the image, tweeting, "We would like to offer a profound apology to everyone. It was inexcusable."

We're off in search of a Chilean miner for comment. We'll update if we can dig one up.

Mr Driller's last videogame appearance was on WiiWare last year in a revamp of his classic jewel-excavating puzzle formula.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (30) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Optyk #1 2 years ago

    Some people are too sensetive.

  • CosmicFuzz #2 2 years ago

    Eh? Offensive?

  • miiiguel #3 2 years ago

    Charming? Yes!

    Offensive?! Why?...

  • Alf-Life #4 2 years ago

    Dig one up. DIG ONE UP. Geddit?

  • Saxo #5 2 years ago

    I really fail to see how that could be offensive in anyway.

  • captain_Carl #6 2 years ago

    How the hell is that offensive? Made me giggle

  • bad09 #7 2 years ago

    Namco dug themselves into a hole they can't get out of there...

  • Lotos8ter #8 2 years ago

    Apparently Gary Glitter's moving to Chile:

    It's the only place you can slide a minor down your shaft and get a round of applause afterwards

  • thepiedpiper #9 2 years ago

    at least it wasn't manic miner!

  • dr_faulk #10 2 years ago

    Possible shame on cashing in on near tragedy?

    Otherwise, I love the image!

  • Shikasama #11 2 years ago

    DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING

  • MiniAmin #12 2 years ago

    Perhaps i'm distasteful but I think that's hilarious! It's a novel way to celebrate what's been a brilliant display of all the best aspects of humanity.

    They had the best intentions...Must we turn everything into a protest?

  • Vin #13 2 years ago

    People are fucking wimps at times.

  • FogHeart #14 2 years ago

    <a href="http://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/funny-photos-26.jpg">Ninty ftw![/i]

  • Artemis_Matsas #15 2 years ago

    It was a nice gesture from Namco. The outcome was good so why not celebrate it?

  • Lusterpurge #16 2 years ago

    It's insensitive to some because it uses a tragedy to advertise a videogame. Not that I think it is that bad, but it can be taken in a very bad way, and companies like Namco should know better. Imagine if Activision created an image of some CoD guy rescuing the miners. I don't know if that works - I don't play CoD games. But you can bet there would be outrage and hatred going on here.

    Edit:
    I can understand why people get so upset over my comment. It doesn't conform to the rest of the thread. I don't mind all the negs, in fact I enjoy going against the grain. But I just wanted to give people an idea why some might be offended.
    Edited by Lusterpurge at 16/10/10 @ 18:16

  • Phishfood #17 2 years ago

    They should have posted the email of the so-called sensitive person

  • Golgo #18 2 years ago

    But isn't Namco's stint quite fun, and optimistic and...nice?!

    Less attractive is the fucking media circus blowing up all around, each clamouring to do the first novel/movie/series, etc.

    Anyway, for the film: I predict Antonio Banderas as the stoic foreman and Benicio Del Toro as the edgy one who goes a bit stir-crazy (that'll do for vaguely Latino looking cast); then Danny De Vito as the corrupt and sleazy mine boss, Ed Harris as the harsh-but-fair head of rescue operations. And Guardian readers complaining about lack of Chilean actors.

  • Machetazo #19 2 years ago

    Clever advertising/insensitivity, where's the line? I think it's blatantly clear that this cute effort by Namco is well clear of the latter. I think it's nice, that a big organisation took the opportunity to warmly celebrate their return, and to welcome those people back in a special way, like that.
    Edited by Machetazo at 15/10/10 @ 21:07

  • HermitArcader #20 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 09:17:39 22-12-2011

  • Feanor #21 2 years ago

    Whoever complained should be stuck down the hole.

  • Kagutsushi #22 2 years ago

    chilean here and I don't find it offensive at all

    and yes, some people are too sensitive

  • MerricK #23 2 years ago

    I'm glad eurogamer didnt take it self to seriously with this article!!
    Edited by MerricK at 16/10/10 @ 00:19

  • IMD1_Pk #24 2 years ago

    Different cultures have totally different behaviors and react to things in very different ways. A homophobic person in certain parts of the world would be accepted in open arms and in other places be killed. The media in most parts of the world still have a bad perception about what video games are and what they can be. They see things differently.

    Namco wasn't trying to bring any harm and they were just showing their happiness with something related to it. The fact that it was a tragic event involving the direct possibility of death/harm to the miners was probably what ticked off people. That's my guess.

    PS. I don't care if I get negs for this comment -_-

  • Oh-Bollox #25 2 years ago

    IIRC one of the miners was using a Mr Driller or Manic Miner sprite on his Twitter.

  • Sunyavadin #26 2 years ago

    "Anyway, for the film: I predict Antonio Banderas as the stoic foreman and Benicio Del Toro as the edgy one who goes a bit stir-crazy (that'll do for vaguely Latino looking cast); then Danny De Vito as the corrupt and sleazy mine boss, Ed Harris as the harsh-but-fair head of rescue operations."

    You forgot that Shia LeBollocks twat as the maverick US marine who disobeys orders and organises the rescue, against the wishes of the Chilean government....

  • Razz #27 2 years ago

    LOL! xD

  • Kaminari #28 2 years ago

    "They had the best intentions."

    You're talking about Namco.

  • beckyh #29 2 years ago

    I bet nobody asked the miners whether they were offended. The thing nowadays is to be offended on behalf of someone else, even when like in this case it is unwarranted.

  • Zaiz #30 2 years ago

    Shia LeBollocks twat as the maverick US marine

    Shia would be the miner who stares off into the distance while whining about how his family is the most precious, or something.