Christians decry fake Dante protest

By Oli Welsh Published 15 June, 2009

Accuse EA of making "God of War rip-off".

EA is being attacked by Christian bloggers for staging a fake religious protest against Dante's Inferno during E3 week.

A viral marketing agency hired 20 people to picket the game outside the Los Angeles Convention Center, bearing signs reading "Hell is not a game" and "Trade in your PlayStation for a PrayStation". They even blamed a rare day of rain in LA on the godlessness of EA's game, based on Dante Aligheri's Divine Comedy.

Although the LA Times fell for it, Associated Press later exposed the stunt.

Now Christian, specifically Catholic, bloggers are taking exception to EA's marketing tactics, reports GamePolitics.

"It's been clear for a while now that the entertainment industry views Christians on the whole as priggish, thin-skinned fun-killers," said Maragret Cabaniss of InsideCatholic. "Has anybody at EA actually read the Inferno?"

Catholic Video Gamers was more direct: "Gamers of all varieties will buy this product if it's, well, actually a good game. So instead of engaging in a shamelessly anti-Christian stunt to promote your poor excuse of a product, maybe you ought to work on making this game, you know, something better than a blatant God of War rip-off and make it, ya know, something worthwhile?"

Touché. Dante's Inferno is out next year for PC, 360, PS3 and PSP.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (66) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • menage #1 3 years ago

    Like God of War didn't indulge in weird promotional activity.

    And seeing as the Dead Space team is doing this and they actually made a Resi better than Resi I doubt this will be actually bad. In fact, I think it's going to be quite good.

  • ChthonicEcho #2 3 years ago

    Sounds like a pretty poor marketing attempt. It's not witty, clever and doesn't get the point across (buy our game 'cause it's x and y and z!). Seems as if they wanted attention, but didn't know what to do with it.

  • giant_frying_pan #3 3 years ago

    "Dante's Infer-NO!"

  • Wastelander #4 3 years ago

    Down with this sort of thing!

  • giant_frying_pan #5 3 years ago

    @Wastelander: Careful now!

  • Pastici #6 3 years ago

    Well the game has been noticed, mission accomplished I say.

  • Wastelander #7 3 years ago

    :D

  • Dizzy #8 3 years ago

    /gets pitchfork

  • Eraysor #9 3 years ago

    Hilarious. Good work EA.

  • The-Bodybuilder #10 3 years ago

    Good work? Not only is it bad, but EA got owned.
    stop making rip offs.

  • DutchDemons #11 3 years ago

    Christianity is so 2000!

  • Gearskin #12 3 years ago

    How can you say it's looking badly designed when we haven't seen any gameplay?

    All we have it CGI trailers which amazingly good art direction.

    And the previews, from those who have seen it in motion, have been very positive.

    The last time EA ripped something off... we got Dead Space. Explain to me how this is a bad thing.

  • ZuluHero #13 3 years ago

    touche Christians, touche... It’s good to see religious groups taking the moral high-ground for once.

  • menage #14 3 years ago

    @Gearskin

    Exactly, Dead Space was freaking awesome.

  • ChthonicEcho #15 3 years ago

    How can you say it's looking badly designed when we haven't seen any gameplay?

    That's not the sort of 'design' they had in mind, Shirley. I'm quite positive they meant the overall direction, or art design. And, admit it, aside from penis-mouths, the game does look fairly horrendous. Thrusting a magical cross forth to defeat generic enemies? Puh-lease.

  • makeamazing #16 3 years ago

    I'm not religious, and it gets on my nerves when a group of religious people complain about something (street protests, burning of things etc etc)... but in this case as it was all fake and meant to trick us into shaking our heads in disgust at them, I think very poor show EA.

  • DFawkes #17 3 years ago

    I'd have thought it'd be more Christian to just ignore it and let God sort them out when they die. If he has any objection I'm sure they'll have the chance to do some re-enactments at the gate of HELL! Though to be honest, I'd think the Devil would be more interested in paedophiles and rapists than people who engaged in some marketing.

  • menage #18 3 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    I haven't seen any real good gameplay footage to say it will be horrendous. And the puh-lease argument can be applied to 99% of the games out there imo.

  • ZuluHero #19 3 years ago

    Oh DFawkes, true perhaps, but has history not taught us anything?

  • The-Bodybuilder #20 3 years ago

    >"The last time EA ripped something off... we got Dead Space."

    That wasn't the last time they ripped off.
    /glances over at EA active.

  • VandelayIndustries #21 3 years ago

    menage "And seeing as the Dead Space team is doing this and they actually made a Resi better than Resi I doubt this will be actually bad. In fact, I think it's going to be quite good."

    It's the same studio but a different team, according to gamesTM.

  • Crembo #22 3 years ago

    @DutchDemons - Maybe you mean "Christianity is so stone age!"?

  • Razorus #23 3 years ago

    lol, I have to admit; Catholic Video Gamers has a good point.

  • davisorle #24 3 years ago

    Amazed by the bitchiness on this game, if worth the slightest ill get it just for that lol. Plus ill have to agree with Gearskin on this one. Things are simple.. If you cant do it as good as someone that even copies you then the copycat is more worth than you if you think about it if they make it work on the first try.. Whats wrong with that?

  • RexRunti #25 3 years ago

    I suppose EA have to do something to promote games in the mainstream media now Jack Thompson's been perma-gagged. Shows what games companies actually think of "morale outrage" at any rate.

    /Wonders if that Manchester priest was on Sony's pay roll.

  • dudefella #26 3 years ago

    Weirdest publicity stunt ever, and not really a good one either.

  • Raziel #27 3 years ago

    It's by the team behind Dead Space?
    That was surprisingly good actually. I'm somewhat interested now...

  • menage #28 3 years ago

    @dudefella

    How about killing a goat?

  • ChthonicEcho #29 3 years ago

    I haven't seen any real good gameplay footage to say it will be horrendous.

    Since when do you need gameplay footage to judge art design/direction?

  • Plewt #30 3 years ago

    maybe you ought to work on making this game, you know, something better than a blatant God of War rip-off

    This.

    And Dead Space's script makes someone like George Lucas look like a freaking genius in comparison. You can feel the stench of this upcoming atrocity from miles away.

  • Valis #31 3 years ago

    Maybe Christians should learn to, you know, write properly.

    You'd think Catholics in particular would be trying to keep their heads down these days.....

  • peak_performance #32 3 years ago

    These bloggers are also part of the marketing campaign, since absolutely no-one heard about the "Dante protests".

  • wizbob #33 3 years ago

    Maybe this will make religious groups reconsider the effectiveness of their protests. Perhaps they can come up with some kind of arrangement with EA whereby EA can send staff to cover for them if the Christians can't make it on the day.

  • #34 3 years ago

    welcome to last weeks news...again.

  • sneetch #35 3 years ago

    At the risk of insulting a bunch of people who care more than they should: surely it's more of a Devil May Cry rip-off than a God of War rip-off? DMC did pre-date God of War by about 4 years didn't it or am I going crazy?

    Other than general similarities in the enemies (various Greek gods + mythological creatures + angriest man in the world in GoW, various demons and other denizens of hell + world's ass-kickingest poet in Dante's Inferno, more demons + guy called Dante in DMC) the game-play style is the main similarity and that was DMC's invention. Or am I mad?

    Personally, I like the art style of the parts of the game we've seen, I'll be looking forward to seeing more. Now, if only we could somehow harness the power from Dante Alighieri turning in his grave... world energy crisis: solved. ;)

  • Mr_Bogus #36 3 years ago

    It wouldn't be a Christian protest without an "ADAM AND EVE NOT ADAM AND EA" placard in the crowd.

  • Spekingur #37 3 years ago

    I just think all sides are a bunch of idiots.

  • monkeylite #38 3 years ago

    I dislike Christian groups (and Christianity in general), but EA really got pwned there. Serve them right really for being twats.

  • Gearskin #39 3 years ago

    @ChthonicEcho

    The CGI trailer, specifically the one where the shades are falling, looks all kinds of stylish. Way more visually interesting than God of War III. Assuming the game can reach that level of scale and fidelity it'll look amazing.

  • 3william56 #40 3 years ago

    Christianity is so 0000, surely?

  • J_C_X #41 3 years ago

    Catholic Gamers, Preists playing video games how odd if my gran was alive to see this.

  • joe90 #42 3 years ago

    I predict, this game will be a 5/10.. 6 at a push.

    Also no publisty is bad publisty...
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 13:09

  • Xerx3s #43 3 years ago

    "HOW DARE YOU MOCK OUR LOONY BIN DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST ANYTHING GOOD?!" - Christian, yesterday.

  • Lemming81 #44 3 years ago

    Meh, poking fun at Christians isn't fun anymore. They are a paradoy of themselves now.

    Scientologists on the other hand...


    ...never gonna give you up!

  • wayn3h #45 3 years ago

    I like how they could have taken the piss out of almost anything and no one would have said a word.. But the minute you mention someones religion... watch out.

    I've never understood why religion is held in such high regard. You can question and criticise almost anything that someone stands for and that's fine, as soon as you move onto their religion it's a different story.

    Really grinds my gears...

  • menage #46 3 years ago

    It's because they think their opinion (and religion is a form of opinion imo) is fact, Kinda hard to argue with facts or people who believe they are absolutely in the right. It's not even worth discussing with them, as they will never change they're stance about they're belief 99% of the time, which makes a discussion kinda pointless, seeing as in a discussion both parties should be willing too adjust they're view.

    Kinda like fanboys:D
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 15:07

  • layleeloo #47 3 years ago

    For crying out loud - bloody Christian doo gooders!

    Well done "Christians" for making the game sell four times more than it would have previously. Blind idiots.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 15:15

  • TitusCrow #48 3 years ago

    I like hack em ups, especially ones with bizzar setanic / demonic crap in it. what i have seen and hear so far is very interesting. If this turns out to not be piss Im on it like a homeless guy on a wedge of cheese! Oh and ill get GOW as well.

  • MrJoeSnow #49 3 years ago

    priggish hahahahahh church folk are funny

  • sneetch #50 3 years ago

    @layleeloo
    For crying out loud - bloody Christian doo gooders!

    Well done "Christians" for making the game sell four times more than it would have previously. Blind idiots.

    What the hell are you talking about? Two random blogs on the internet get a bit prickly about the fact that EA faked protests and that's "Christians making the game sell four times more than it would have previously"? How does that work? Who the fuck reads those blogs for a start?

    Not just you layleeloo, other people in this thread too.

    Seriously, some of you guys need to read the articles before switching on auto-bash [group of the month] mode.

    Edit: Forgot angle brackets = html tags.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 15:55

  • zedzee #51 3 years ago

    I don't think the barrage of blogs was about Christianity itself. It seems to be more how EA has hijacked a perfectly acceptable form of (peaceful) behaviour and kind of watered it down and turned it into a stunt.

    I think if it was in the name of animal rights or GM foods, the response might have been the same, if not heavier. But obviously, EA would not dare to do it against what they'd perceive as a 'legitimate' protest group/organisation; they'd rather pick on someone who's peaceful and who's entire message is about love and peace.

    I grant you that there are some who don't get it. They've started wars, killed, abused and maimed in the name of God. And that is a HUMAN misinterpretation of the true message of Christianity and indeed most other religions. I confess that some of these people are complete nutters and take religion to the extreme...Again, they've got it wrong.

    But to specifically pick on a 'type' of group and mock their basic human rights is not acceptable behaviour. It kind of makes fun of it so then nothing sacred, nothing can be cherished, nothing can be held in high moral standards.

    Religion is a deeply personal thing. It's about having faith in something, rather than just believing that 'this is it, so make the best of it and damn everyone else'. It's a message for salvation and a personal code to live one's life by. Non-offensive, non-judgemental and non-aggressive.

    I'm sure atheists would not want their rights to protest be trampled upon or 'mocked' and neither does any religious group. EA just don't need to do this - they've got some very clever people (I'm sure) working in their marketing departments that can do better than this cheap tactic.

  • wayn3h #52 3 years ago

    zedzee;

    I put it to you that people committing atrocities in the name of religion are most of the time actually following the words of the sacred texts moreso than the peaceful 'christians' who go to church every sunday.
    What people like you do is read the bible or whatever your holy book is, take the good bits and ignore all the savage and unjust teachings in there (of which there are a LOT if you care to take a look in the old and new testament). Your God yaweh is a jealous, vengeful god.
    And don't get me started on faith. The word is basically defined by another word. Ignorance. Faith is believing something for no good reason other than wanting to. No critical thinking or evidence needed.
    pffff.
    What I can see/touch and measure ftw.

  • kungfubob #53 3 years ago

    Has anybody here read the Dante's Divine Comedy?

  • kungfubob #54 3 years ago

    Yes i have read the other posts and it seems very few have read it. If anyone hasnt i suggest you do as it really is an absolute masterpiece.

    Here is a link if you want to read the poem and learn whats its all about http://et cweb.princeton.edu/dante/index....
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 17:58

  • sneetch #55 3 years ago

    @kungfubob
    Yes i have read the other posts and it seems very few have read it. If anyone hasnt i suggest you do as it really is an absolute masterpiece.

    Well, seeing as how people have barely (if at all) even mentioned Dante's Inferno in this thread I don't know how you can say that "it seems very few have read it."

  • Hexagon #56 3 years ago

    Oh my, do I feel the schadenfreude building up in me.

  • kungfubob #57 3 years ago

    @Sneetch

    Some people have mentioned reading Dantes Comedy on other threads. I have read them all concerning this subject.

  • Oh-Bollox #58 3 years ago

    We know this is fake, EA said they're not evil any more. There's no way they'd rip something off.

  • SFG_Clan #59 3 years ago

    I think what they don't get about this is the irony, EA had to hire an advertising company to pretend to boycott this game. Hmmm it begs the question are the religious groups who stick their nose in aboslutley everything getting lazy?

    I mean come on, all it's going to do is give American fundamentalist Christian boys what they want, now they kill evil godless non believers with a gigantice flaming cross.
    Edited by 1 at 15/06/09 @ 21:50

  • morbidflyer #60 3 years ago

    “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

  • immateriaux #61 3 years ago

    "It's been clear for a while now that the entertainment industry views Christians on the whole as priggish, thin-skinned fun-killers,"

    So, the Entertainment Industry just caught up with everybody else then I presume?

  • menage #62 3 years ago

    @CountFapula

    I agree, DMC, Ninja Gaiden, Otogi, Castlevania, GoW, Darksiders, etc. Just freaking action games with different themes and settings. God of war certainly wasn't the first.

  • penhalion #63 3 years ago

    See! This is what happens when you let the marketting department have too much power!

  • cagool #64 3 years ago

    Did anybody check out the Catholic gamer site? It has a very optimistic criteria for what it wants from video games. This is from their review of Call of Duty 4:

    "Will this game entertain? For some, yes. Will it make you holy? I don't think I can stretch it that far."

    Will we ever see a computer game that can make us holy?

  • laudy #65 3 years ago


    I hear LEGO: Missionaries! is in development...

    You need to bring christianity to remote islands where they'd never heard of Jesus Christ, convince them that their lives will be better off if they start believing in the guy...and then monitor the coffers as they swell with the new devotees hard earned.

  • laudy #66 3 years ago


    You can see the scope can't you? Women tortured, drowned and often burnt at the stake, lands conquered, sections of society ostracised...

    If that doesn't make you holy...