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Editor's notes:
As with most circumstances of public outrage,
the furor fades with time and people tend
to forget. Let me encapsulate: EA Sports,
the makers of various video games for kids,
released game called Freekstyle, which was
no big deal. It was just in bad taste, which
is no crime.
However,
they ran a television commercial (animated)
that showed thuggish-looking helmetless
punk on dirt bike, running rampant though
a pristine forest, blasting though trees
and bowling over cute little animals. It
ended with baby bunnies getting roosted
with rocks and mud, and then the punk set
the forest on fire with his bike.
When
I saw this, I went nuts! What made it even
worse, was that EA Sports was the prime
sponsor of the AMA Supercross Series.
Well,
for the last four months, I have waged a
personal campaign against EA Sports and
urged the readers of ORC to let EA Sports
know just what they thought about the situation.
And I'm happy to report that EA did get
swamped with some
Very
powerful emails.
One
good thing has come of this, so far. Next
year, EA Sports will not be a title sponsor
of the Supercross Series. Instead, a rival
video game maker has stepped in. Is it possible
that the people who run the AMA actually
were behind this? And is it possible that
the feedback from your ORC readers helped
contribute to that?
Either
way, unless there's new development, this
is the last installment of the Freekstyle
Feedback.
Rick
Sieman
Somewhere in Baja at the moment
Dear
S.H.,
I
have just spent the last hour reading all
of the responses that were posted in regards
to the Freekstyle roast. I stand with you,
and hold the same opinion about EA's marketing
techniques. Hopefully EA will do the intelligent,
mature thing, and respond so that it is
beneficial to everyone.
The
console game industry can make serious inroads
to promoting off road sports as easily as
causing it problems, all the while making
money. It's always about money.
If
there is a bright side to this, it is that
if anything has come from your scathing
and witty articles and corporate admonishments,
at least you have made a good percentage
of people actually try to watch their grammar,
punctuation and spelling! Now if only people
will listen and stop trying to nurse all
of those sad YZ490s...
Thank
you for the many years of ridicule and insight.
Chris
Dispina
When
I first read Rick Sieman's article on Freekstyle,
I expected a reply from EA Sports that
would contain at least some degree of
apology from Jillian Goldberg-Director
of Marketing. However, as Rick Sieman
states, the response was, "pure, 100%, unadulterated BS" and
I for one agree.
Any
person who responds with, "People who
like video games and that type of entertainment
generally understand the difference between
cartoon mischief and the very serious issues
behind arson and animal cruelty" is
completely misunderstanding the basis of
the complaint.
I
know and am related to many dirt bikers
who are very civil, intelligent well mannered
citizens; none of my friends or family share
any traits that the dirt bikers in Freestyle
emit.
I
would also like to emphasize that rational
that Jeff Brown uses, for example, in
the reply to Rick Sieman, Brown states, "[Freekstyle]
is based on fantasy and was not designed
to be reflective of your business." Well
Jeff, thanks for stating the obvious, but
what about the kids who watch JackAss on
television and then end up in the news
because they strapped themselves with twenty
pounds of meat, jumped on a giant BBQ and
severely burned themselves?
The
truth is that not all people do understand
the difference between one "type" of
entertainment and others, especially
when the product is merchandised to the
underdeveloped brains of children who
sometimes lack the ability to distinguish
between what's real and what's fake.
Jeff
Brown states that the game is not meant
to reflect the dirt biking industry. Instead
it is obvious; marketed to children, packaged
in shiny boxes, and sent to every electronic
store in the US, where it is then shown
to underdeveloped minds who go out and copy
things they see on MTV's Jack Ass.
When
companies such as EA market "entertainment" such
as Freekstyle to children, they give the
child the wrong impression by promoting
unsafe riding as well as many other unsafe
practices. By releasing Freekstlye, EA
has portrayed dirt biking as something
it is not and hopefully will never be.
If
dirt biking ever becomes a tat-wearing,
inexorable sport, I'll have to find pleasure
in something else, like hitting a ball or
something (hopefully not golf).
An
Avid Off-Road Reader,
Derrick Snow
This
is what greeted me when I rolled up to
a riding area today. I haven't been there
for a while, but often thought about "The
Playground".
The
Bonnet Carre' spillway earned that nickname.
It was a great place to spend the day. My
wife and I have spent many days just casually
riding around taking in the sights. Dog
training, archery, skeet shooting, 4x4 trucks,
ATV's, dirt bikes, even skiing and fishing
could all be enjoyed on the same day.
After
many good memories, we decided to go back
today and bring the camera. My heart sunk
when we drove into the area. Areas were
lined with markers and iron gates. We couldn't
look in any direction and just see natural
terrain.
I
did speak with a park Ranger,(Army Corps
of Engineers). He seemed quite proud of
their work. He didn't have a clue about
why we were so disappointed. I spent about
thirty minutes talking to him about how
my friends and family spent many weekends
riding and enjoying the nearby lake. Now
we can't even get to the lake.
It
felt like we were riding on a muddy corner
lot with all the neighbors watching.
We
have ridden in several areas in Mississippi
that are maintained by the Forestry office
and local clubs. These areas are kept clean
and in great shape. We are able to ride
trail systems from 6 miles long up to 35
miles. We ride and are able to enjoy the
woods and the wildlife.
I'm
sure you have heard this all before, but
this is the hardest slap in the face I have
ever had. It hurt.
Thanks
for listening,
Your long time fan,
Mike Dufour
Poplarville, MS
Editor's
notes: This is the kind of land closure
that results from the commercials that
EA Sports ran. Government flunkies
see the commercial and vow to keep
the "evil
dirt bikers" from destroying the forest.
More land gone.
Hey
SH,
Do
any of the 'backlash people' know who you
are? I bet they do not. I remember you getting
arrested during the 1980's I believe for
land closure issues....and the comments
my father was making about the 'lunatic
on the dirt bike' who was wasting tax payers
money.
At
the time I had just started racing MX and
I knew at that time I had to sit down with
him and set him straight about your role
in this great adventure of off road riding.
Once explained, he acquired a GREAT admiration
for the 'Super' one and actually went to
the races with me to take in the action....a
very large accomplishment. He now looks
at most forms of off road as vital and began
riding and building dune buggies in his
retirement.
PS,
my son is 3 yrs...rides a PW50 and will
never see a video game in my house ....
video games ... stupid .... put your kids
out doors, for god sakes.
Mark
Ansara
Canada |
