EA says sorry over booth babes compo
Winner won't actually get "Night of Lust".
Electronic Arts has apologised for any offence caused by a competition which encouraged entrants to "commit acts of lust" with booth babes.
As shown on Kotaku, the "Sin to Win" competition is being held at Comic Con to promote Dante's Inferno. The winner is promised "a night with the hottest girl at Comic Con, dinner, booty and more". The implication of "more" being obvious but the actual meaning probably being an EA-branded beachball and USB stick.
To enter, Comic Con visitors must "commit" the aforementioned "acts of lust" with any booth babe and post the pictures on the internet. Without getting arrested, presumably.
Some people have found the idea of encouraging teenage boys to photograph themselves simulating sexual acts with hired women a bit offensive, and complained.
Take actual booth babe "Iola", who writes on the Ars Technica forum: "A Con does not suddenly suspend personal rights for anyone with breasts. Gals who go there to dress up and have a good time get sexually harassed, NEVER MIND the "booth babes" who "signed up for it" and then have their employer put them out for a contest.
"I've been a "booth babe" at many comic, sci-fi and anime Cons for the last several yrs... I have a four-yr degree and my day-job is in the comic industry. But I guess I'm ASKING to be groped because I'm one step up from a hooker, right? Even if I WAS a f***ing hooker, that gives no one the right. I can walk around in a thong and pasties and it's nobody's license to touch."
She concludes, "Why aren't you guys p***ed that EA thinks gamers or con-goers are all socially-inept virgins anyway? Way to p*** on ALL of your gaming audience." Perhaps EA reckons they'd enjoy that. EA Watersports Active, anyone?
They've apologised anyway, via a Twitpic statement (spotted by Negative Gamer).
""Commit acts of lust" is simply a tongue-in-cheek way to say take pictures with costumed reps. Also, a "Night of Lust" means only that the winner will receive a chaperoned VIP night on the town with the Dante's Inferno reps, all expenses paid, as well as other prizes," the statement says.
"We apologise for any confusion and offense that resulted from our choice of wording, and want to assure you that we take your concerns and sentiments seriously... Keep watching as the event unfolds and we hope you'll agree that it was all done in the spirit of the good natured fun of Comic Con."
Dante's Inferno is out for PSP, PS3 and Xbox 360 next year, though that isn't really the point here is it.
Eurogamer is currently ordering 38 sets of "thong and pasties" for staff members to wear at this year's Expo - get your tickets now.