Gaming
Xbox ad banned for "glamorising street car racing"
Published Thursday, Apr 5 2007, 09:17 BST | By David Gibbon
Microsoft has come under fire from the Advertising Standards Agency for its latest Xbox 360 television advertisement which was, claims the ASA, "glamorising street car racing".
The commercial features a driver weaving in and out of traffic, while being chased through a busy city centre. The car then overturns and - when the driver gets out - he is handed a police badge,
The company behind the making of the advertisement, McCann Erikson, says care had been taken to avoid any misconception that it was encouraging dangerous driving. The firm also claims they had worked closely with the Broadcast Adverting Clearance Centre and had taken its advice to run the ad after the 9pm watershed.
The advertising firm also states it had placed text on-screen during the ad to inform viewers the ads were being performed by stunt men, but the ASA, who had taken note of the text, said it, "reinforced the sense that the events were real, rather than fantasy, and were therefore capable of being copied".
The ASA added, "We were concerned that the ad gave the impression that reckless street car racing was exciting and fun".
The commercial features a driver weaving in and out of traffic, while being chased through a busy city centre. The car then overturns and - when the driver gets out - he is handed a police badge,
The company behind the making of the advertisement, McCann Erikson, says care had been taken to avoid any misconception that it was encouraging dangerous driving. The firm also claims they had worked closely with the Broadcast Adverting Clearance Centre and had taken its advice to run the ad after the 9pm watershed.
The advertising firm also states it had placed text on-screen during the ad to inform viewers the ads were being performed by stunt men, but the ASA, who had taken note of the text, said it, "reinforced the sense that the events were real, rather than fantasy, and were therefore capable of being copied".
The ASA added, "We were concerned that the ad gave the impression that reckless street car racing was exciting and fun".
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